4 Examples of Successful Social Commerce

Pia Heßler 8/14/2023

These examples show you how you as a creator or entrepreneur can use social commerce.

Table of contents
  1. What is Social Commerce (S-Commerce)?
  2. Almost every industry addresses target groups for whom Social Commerce is relevant. These four successful examples of Social Commerce show how diverse companies can present themselves:
  3. Even in 2022,
  4. In the USA and China, Social Commerce is already the new normal. Germany, on the other hand, has only recently discovered this form of

What your intuition probably already suggests, is confirmed by Greven Medien: Many Germans (one third of the respondents) have previously purchased products and services via social media. IFH Köln concludes in its study that social media channels could potentially become popular digital shopping centers in the future. Find out about the so-called "Future of Commerce", how to make your social media shopping experience (Social Commerce) attractive, and how to successfully implement it in just three steps in this article.

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What is Social Commerce (S-Commerce)?

Definition Social Commerce.png

This is what Social Commerce can look like in practice (source: https://sproutsocial.com/social-commerce/).

E-Commerce includesall sales over the internet (e.g., via websites, apps, and social-media channels). Relationships are often built through social media (e.g., Social Selling on LinkedIn), letting internet users encounter products and services in inconspicuous ways through posts and ads on social media platforms. Users click on an ad and are thus directed to a company's online store or a marketplace. Social Commerce works similarly, however, the entire customer journey generally takes place on social networks. S-Commerce could be described as a

merging of social media and e-commerce: Internet users experience the entire shopping process – usually from discovery to purchase of the product – all in one channel. Social Commerce means you sell your products and services through social media while communicating with (potential) buyers. Messenger services (e.g., Facebook Messenger) and chatbots can also be integrated into the Social Commerce process. Through the Buy-Now-Function, users, for example, at Facebook can complete purchases using stored user data.Types of Social Commerce

Not all Social Commerce is alike. These are the most well-known kinds:

Peer-to-Peer Sales

  • on online marketplaces (e.g., on Etsy)Native Shopping Solutions
  • on Social Media (e.g., Instagram shops)Curated Shopping Lists
  • (e.g., shopping lists on Pinterest)Live Shopping Events
  • (e.g., via Facebook Live)Shoppable AR Filters
  • (e.g., Shoppable Lenses on Snapchat)Group Buying
  • (e.g., Groupon)Promotions
  • on social networks (e.g., discount codes)Crowdfunding
  • (e.g., Kickstarter)Who uses Social Commerce?

Does your target group consist of teens and young adults between 20 and 35 years old? Particularly generations Y and Z love or even expect your products or services to be available online. According to the

Status of Social Commerce Report, the majority (97%) of Gen Z names social media as the most important source of inspiration for their purchases.4 examples of successful Social Commerce

Almost every industry addresses target groups for whom Social Commerce is relevant. These four successful examples of Social Commerce show how diverse companies can present themselves:

1. MACHN Festival

Festival tickets

can be purchased via MACHN Festival's Instagram. Through the "View Shop" button, users can access the shop, where they can select products as in any other online shop, add them to the shopping cart, and place orders.2. Let’s Skip The Bla

Social Commerce Beispiel Festival.png

machn-feed-post.jpg

The

IT doctor Dr. Bauer addresses typical IT fails, which IT workers have to deal with: funny, authentic, and charming. Users can access the website directly from Instagram via a link and subsequently to the agency's online shop.3. K.TZE

Social Commerce Beispiel IT.png

The

Gaming YouTuber presents his products directly next to his published videos on YouTube. By clicking on the desired product, the item opens up in the provider's online shop.4. Anita Girlietainment

Social Commerce Beispiel KTZE.png

Besides videos about horses, users can find

Anita Girlietainment's products such as shirts, cushion covers, and mugs with corresponding designs.Social Commerce in 3 steps: here’s how!

Social Commerce Beispiel Anita.png

Even in 2022,

Facebook remains the most popular social media platform with 32 million active German users. Instagram takes second place with 21 million active German users. Other popular platforms are Pinterest (13 million) and Twitter (12 million).Step 1: Determine target group relevant social media platforms

First you need to

deal with your target group. Ideally, you already know them well and can multiply your sales potential by choosing the relevant platforms. Not sure which channels to focus on? Definitely read our article on Social Media Basics for Businesses.Step 2: Develop a content strategy and set up a technical setup

Devise a goal-oriented

content strategy. There are various tools to assist you in implementation. Spreadshop, for example, takes a lot of work off your hands with the function YouTube Merchandising. This allows you tocreate a completely free online store

  • to customize and market,design your own merchandise
  • and sell it,design individual products
  • and sell them risk-free at your desired price,integrate Instagram, Facebook and YouTube
  • (products can, for example, be presented and sold directly under your YouTube videos).Step 3: Get going

The world is now open for you and you can approach it with smaller actions.

Merch Marketing

You can run

Merchandising Marketing independently or as a licensing business. This means that you visually present your products, as you know from fan articles and promotional items. Depending on the occasion and goal, it can be Community Merch and Fan Merch (e.g., Game of Thrones products), Moment Merch (e.g., Corn Boy) or Fundraising Merch (e.g., fundraising products from NGOs).Product Review

Customer Reviews

can have a great impact on the purchasing decision of other interested parties. Additionally, they can initiate conversations between you: thank them for positive feedback, react professionally to negative feedback, and answer questions about your products.Interaction through actions

Motivate online store visitors

through actions in your shop to participate. You can conduct polls, ask specific questions, and interact with your target group in any imaginable way.Influencer Marketing and Micro-Bloggers

Influencers

are well-known and popular people who introduce your products to their fans. These can be public figures, but also "regular" people with a great influence in your niche.Social Marketing

In social marketing – also called non-profit marketing – you benefit from a vast audience or a small, targeted community. It does not necessarily have to be related to social media, although it sounds like it. Social marketing is characterized by a

marketing concept that is not profit-oriented and typically used in governmental and non-profit organizations.Conclusion: Social Commerce is also possible with a small budget

In the USA and China, Social Commerce is already the new normal. Germany, on the other hand, has only recently discovered this form of

social media sales for itself. Nevertheless, one thing is already clear: A personalized customer dialogue, based on user-specific purchase histories, can help you as a creator or entrepreneur to make quick deals and tremendously strengthen your customer loyalty. With tools listed on OMR Reviews – like Spreadshop – you can get on board the wave of success and get started even with a small budget. – kannst du auf die Erfolgswelle aufspringen und selbst mit einem kleinen Budget durchstarten.

Pia Heßler
Author
Pia Heßler

Pia war mehr als 10 Jahre im Vertrieb und Marketing verschiedenster Unternehmen aktiv. Danach gründete sie ihr eigenes Unternehmen und betreibt dieses zusammen mit ihrer Geschäftspartnerin.

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