Social commerce definition: Benefits & differences from ecommerce

Social commerce is a type of ecommerce that lets people shop on social media without leaving the app. Social commerce enhances customer engagement and amplifies the reach of products. It creates a dynamic shopping environment where customers can chat and shop in one place.

The global revenue of social commerce was valued at $724 billion in 2022 and is expected to surpass $6 trillion by 2030.

There are many benefits of using social commerce while selling online 👇

1 - Enhanced customer engagement

It allows your brand to engage with your customers in a dynamic and personalised way. By integrating shopping with social media, you can interact directly with users through comments, likes and shares. This fosters a sense of community and builds loyalty.

2 - Increased brand visibility

You can expand your brand's reach by leveraging social platforms. As users engage with your products, their activities are shared with their network, boosting visibility and attracting new customers through shared content and recommendations.

3 - Seamless discovery and purchase

Social commerce offers the convenience of product discovery and purchase within the same platform. Your customers can smoothly transition from exploring your products to making a purchase without leaving the social media environment. This reduces friction in the buying process.

4 - Real time customer feedback

You can receive instant feedback on your products and services as customers can share their experiences, reviews and concerns in real time. This allows you to address issues promptly, enhance satisfaction and build trust.

5 - Data-driven insights

Social commerce provides you with valuable data on user behaviour, preferences and trends. You can leverage this data to gain insights into customer preferences, optimise your product offerings and tailor your marketing strategies for better results.

6 - Community building

With social commerce, you can build a community where customers can connect, share experiences and become brand advocates. You can strengthen brand loyalty and encourage word-of-mouth marketing through this sense of community.

Although both social commerce and ecommerce involve selling products and services online, there are many differences between the two 👇