6 Ways to Use Social Media for Ecommerce in 2024

Social media and ecommerce are two peas in a pod. Ecommerce marketers are using social platforms to build brand awareness, connect with customers, and promote products through organic posts and targeted ads.

What is social media ecommerce marketing?

Social media ecommerce marketing is the practice of using social media to promote an online store by generating brand awareness, interest in products or services, and sales.

Popular social media ecommerce tactics include:

• Promoting and driving traffic to an ecommerce website or branded app
• Selling products directly on social media
• Engaging with customers and prospects directly on social channels
• Providing pre- and post-sale support to customers
• Collecting insights about your industry and market
• Building an online social media community around your brand

Many brands use all of the above tactics to create a thriving social media ecommerce marketing strategy.

Social media ecommerce marketing vs. social selling vs. social commerce

You’ve likely heard the terms social media ecommerce marketing, social selling, and social commerce. They’re often used interchangeably, but they’re not the same thing.

Let’s take a look at how they’re different.

Social media ecommerce marketing

This is when ecommerce businesses use social media as a marketing channel to promote their brand, product, or service to drive more sales and connect with customers.

Social selling

This is when brands use social media to identify, connect with, and nurture sales prospects. It’s a tactic that helps businesses reach and engage with sales targets via social media.

Think of social selling as modern relationship-building. The goal is to connect with potential customers, and offer support and guidance. Then, when that person is in buy mode, your product or service comes to mind first.

Social commerce

This is when brands sell products or services directly on social media using native solutions like Facebook Shops, Instagram Shops, Pinterest Product Pins, or TikTok Shop.

Social commerce lets customers shop, select, and complete purchases without leaving social media apps.