8 Free Social Media Marketing Strategies for E-commerce

There is a ton of competition online for eCommerce businesses, so knowing how to set yourself apart and get your name out there is essential. Your eCommerce marketing strategies should focus on capturing people looking for products and actively using several outbound strategies to get people to want to find you.

There’s a large number of different eCommerce marketing strategies out there, and in this post, we’re going to take a look at 14 of the most essential strategies you can use to set yourself apart and get more sales.

In this article we are going to present you 8 free Social Media Marketing Strategies for E-commerce Businesses:

1. Sharing, not selling

This may seem like counterintuitive advice when we are discussing sales and marketing strategies. However, it is important to remember that the primary intent with which people visit social media is not shopping, even though the initial phases of the purchase journey begin here. Above everything, marketers, therefore, must use social media to build relationships. Sharing helpful information and building trust, therefore, pip any sales efforts on social media. Sustained interaction with content on social media, however, eventually leads the consumer to a product purchase. To build relationships, brands need to undertake a number of activities, such as:

• Interacting with followers
• Participating in groups
• Hosting live chats, and more

2. Employ Hashtags 

Hashtags have become a staple on most social websites. On destinations like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and others, hashtags provide retailers with a means to enhance their organic discovery by reaching folks who search for those specific terms. However, merchants should keep in mind that “hashtag etiquette” is different for each site. While it may be okay to post nine hashtags on Instagram, Facebook may frown on that same tactic. Therefore, retailers should take the time to learn how to use hashtags for each platform they leverage. 

3. Build Trust & Authority Through Your Blog

A blog is a digital asset that not only helps in SEO but also facilitates sharing thought leadership and engaging content on social media channels. It also serves as a pitch to launch new products and services and can redirect a lot of traffic to your website. Tying your blog with engaging social media posts can string together a path for a smoother buying journey for your customers.

4. Creative Communication Design

In designing social media posts, make sure the entire aesthetics and color scheme of the post reflects the core values of the brand. Identifying brand values and targeting your content accordingly can go a long way in staying true to your brand’s personality. Using high conversion keywords in your social media posts can also drastically increase your product’s visibility and reach. It is already proven that well-researched keywords have the potential to reach beyond your immediate followers. Similarly, making use of hashtags makes your content more discoverable on social media platforms. A/B Testing of post creative or content is another effective way of conversion optimization.

5. Promotional Offers

Discount &  giveaway campaigns can be a very effective e-Commerce social media marketing strategy. A perfect example of this is Lenskart which is an e-Commerce company for eye care and spectacles. They have gained a lot of success in their promotional social media campaigns where they provide a free coupon of Rs. 150 on any new registration. One of their campaigns had garnered as many as 1.6 million hits on Facebook and 6000 plus tweets on Twitter, which is no small feat to achieve. Similarly, incorporating polls in your posts will not only magnify engagement but also provide you with deep insight into your audience’s thought process and behavior.

6. Create a Video Strategy for YouTube

With YouTube being the third most visited website in the world, it is a great addition to the social media marketing strategy for eCommerce platforms. In fact, there are many different ways in which you could use YouTube effectively for your eCommerce business. Primary among them being:

• Take a content marketing approach to generate brand awareness. With YouTube visitors watching as many as 5 billion videos
  every day, is the perfect platform to show your brand to a large audience so they remember you when it’s time to buy.
• Use YouTube ads to reach out to a large audience base
• Partner with other YouTube Channels, especially those run by influencers to inspire connection and trust.

Remember however to stay true to your brand voice as also to be consistent as it takes 5-7 brand impressions on an average for recall.

7. Showcase Social Proof

Customer reviews are a great way to build social proof that in turn vital for earning sales online. In fact, 84% of consumers are known to trust product reviews, as much as they would trust a recommendation from a valued friend or a trusted family member. Instead, one of the most powerful ways to share reviews is to utilize user-generated content to show how much other customers love a brand and its merchandise. A lot of these reviews could be leveraged through social media. 82 percent of consumers say that user-generated content is “extremely valuable” when considering if they should buy an item.

8. Be Consistent

The answer to a successful social media strategy for the eCommerce business is being consistent. Not only does it increase your reach but also helps in audience engagement. Having a posting schedule can go a long way in ensuring consistency. Pro-tip- In posting on social media, abide by the rule of thirds- 1/3 promoting your product or services, 1/3 interacting with others, and 1/3 sharing industry news and tips that your followers could benefit from. Consistency in terms of social media posting also means staying consistent to your brand persona while resonating with the needs of your target audience.

Conclusion

These are some social media marketing strategies for eCommerce websites, which can certainly make your customer’s process of product discovery much smoother and can in turn, boost your conversion rate.