The social media giant continues to help businesses of all sizes to convert their followers to customers and become successful in the business world. While the world continues to battle it the COVID 19 pandemic, shopping online gains more traction and many businesses shifted businesses online to survive this period of uncertainties. Facebook makes the biggest move towards not only connecting users to friends and loved ones but also to their favorite brands and products. In May, Facebook announces a number of new features both within Facebook and Instagram app that allows shopping for products to be done without hassle. Here, Jesse Levine explores more on Facebook’s newest eCommerce feature.
Instagram: your shopping destination
Instagram no doubt is moving closer to its vision of becoming your one-stop-shopping mall destination. Instagram is now offering more than tagging products on photos or video contents, consumers can now make purchases from different brands on a dedicated shop page on the explore tab without the need to exit the platform. “From clothing items to beauty products, consumers can browse selections from favorite brands or creators and make a seamless purchase. This will eventually become a permanent button on the navigation bar so that you can easily get to shop only with a tap.”Jesse Levine says.
Moreover, with the Checkout feature being roll-out, the hurdle of being directed to a third-party page for payment or re-entering your payment information is about to be forgotten. With Facebook Pay, you can simply input your card information, make a purchase with no need to reenter information as it is saved to make purchases as easy as possible. This means you can easily make a purchase on Instagram, get to pay for it, all without having to exit the platform. Shopping made easy! Although the checkout features have started out in the US, but the organization plan on expanding globally.
Facebook shops: helping businesses to grow
Facebook has always strived to gain a foothold of eCommerce for decades. Only a few years ago, the social platform introduced a facebook marketplace in which you can buy or sell new or used items for people in your community. However, the new feature is quite different and it is called the Facebook shop. See it as your digital mall, a shopping destination where you can get a variety of products from different businesses without leaving the app.
The company stepped in to help small businesses during this period of crisis as brick and mortar stores closed and many countries are on lockdown. This has pushed many to transition their businesses online. Whether mega-brand or a small start-up, the aim is to connect brands to consumers and making shopping seamless, quicker, and secure.
The amazing thing is these shops are at zero-cost, fast, and easy to create unless companies avail of the checkout option. What’s more, they are integrated across different Facebook apps such as Instagram profiles including stories and ads. Hence, leveraging different means to position products for your target audience. Consumers will only have to go through the catalog of products, save, share, or buy a product: all without leaving the platform!
Plus, just like you can easily ask for help in the physical stores, asking questions or support, or tracking deliveries are made available through the Whatsapp, messenger, or Instagram direct.
Other new eCommerce tools for businesses
Another amazing thing is that businesses can customize “these shops” according to their taste and preferences to make a full-fledged online shop. This includes new design layouts to feature single or group of products, real-time preview of collections, and new insights to observe and analyze results. This means businesses can create their desired look and feel of products while consumers get to preview in real-time and analyze results. “With all these features, this could be a major win for Instagram and businesses alike,” says Jesse Levine.
Facebook is partnering with organizations such as Shopify, Woocommerce, CedCommerce, Channel Advisor, Feedonomics, Tienda Nube, and Cafe24 to help businesses to transform their social platforms to “shops”.
