7 Social Commerce Platforms to Get More Moolah in 2023

Social commerce is slowly taking the world by storm. While ecommerce still reigns as the top online shopping structure, social media networks are getting in on the bandwagon. Social commerce, also known as social shopping, combines ecommerce and social media. Brands can sell their products on social channels, and customers can browse and purchase products without leaving the network. This fast-rising new online selling concept is more convenient for social media users. Social media isn’t only a platform to find out what you’re friends and celebrities are up to anymore. It has become an avenue to discover new and unique products. And these are the top seven social commerce platforms to start with. 

1. Facebook 

The most prominent social media platform is one of the pioneers of social commerce platforms. With over half of the world’s population on Facebook, brands leverage Facebook Shops to increase sales and conversions. Facebook gives you an easy way to create and integrate a custom digital storefront within its many apps. 

The platform prompts you to convert to the channel’s Shops feature if you have a Facebook or Instagram Page Shop. You can then create this storefront in the Commerce Manager. From there, showcase your products by creating collections and customizing your shop to attract more customers. Setting up your online shop on Facebook provides a unified presence in the channel’s family of apps and marketplaces. 

2. Instagram

Another Facebook subsidiary, Instagram, offers social commerce features for convenient shopping. And while both channels are consistently improving their services, a recent announcement says brands can no longer “host a shop” on Facebook or Instagram. They can no longer tag products in their posts starting August 10, 2023. However, this feature will be available for businesses in particular markets, which means goodbye VPN or proxy services. Here are the market eligibility criteria.

The Instagram social shopping feature Checkout lets users complete the buying process from your business channel without leaving the network. That said, update your Instagram Shopping account with the Checkout feature. This way, users can directly buy from the Instagram App, scaling your brand. 

Brands with the Checkout feature on their Instagram accounts can launch products, receive Partner Permissions access, and do live shopping. 

3. Pinterest

Pinterest is an excellent platform for advertising products and services. Due to its visually-oriented channel, many brands take advantage of posting captivating product images to attract customers. It’s a network to find inspiration and valuable ideas, as well as finding useful products. Overall, Pinterest is a social media network for discovering new products. 

Pinterest works by pinning your images, whatever the niche may be. And it all starts with the feature called Catalogues. Once you set up your product images on Catalogues, the network automatically consumes your product feed. Enjoy valuable tools like dynamic retargeting, automatic bidding, and immersive shopping ads. 

You will be surprised once your brand scales through Catalogues! Brands who upload products here will notice their impressions increase up to five times more!

4. TikTok

TikTok is one of the most emerging social commerce platforms for younger demographics. If you’re a brand that caters to users between 18 and 34, TikTok is the appropriate social commerce platform. Attract more customers through interactive and engaging videos. Whether you’re launching a new product or promoting a current one, these quick videos are highly compelling to TikTok users. 

You can start your TikTok storefront by signing up as a seller, regardless of how much your follower count is. You can promote your products and services through short videos, live videos, and product showcase pages. Being a new TikTok online seller also comes with comprehensive learning materials and excellent customer support. 

After procuring and presenting some verification documents, such as identity documents, company, and certifications, you can now sign up for free. It takes four simple steps:

• Sign up with your number and email
• Verify your identity by presenting the required documents
• Wait for the results and an email notification within one to two days 
• Start selling!

5. WeChat

A popular social networking platform developed in China, WeChat offers brands a way to market to their target audiences. They can sell on either the social channel or WeChat’s ecommerce platform counterpart Wei-Store. Customers can link both channels, browse products on the online store, and finish the whole purchase on WeChat by clicking the menu bar. 

WeChat stores are highly innovative and could be your mini-e-commerce site offering instant e-payments. This social media channel is highly customizable, with easy payment processes. If you want a unique and seamless online and offline shopping experience and excellent integrations, WeChat is the channel for you. 

6. Twitter

The new Twitter Shops was launched in June 2022 and now sees a boon in the social commerce niche. You will enjoy Twitter’s straightforward interface that allows brands to choose a collection with up to 50 products for online buyers. Twitter users will be able to browse their favorite brands’ products with ease. Users will see a “View shop” button above the Tweets when Twitter Shops is enabled. After clicking this button, it will direct them to the merchant’s shop. 

Social selling on Twitter lets brands enjoy several features, such as Live Shopping, Shop Spotlight, and Shopping Manager. 

7. YouTube

Video marketing is making waves in the advertising hemisphere, and it’s not slowing down anytime soon. Videos are more digestible and entertaining, making this a favorite among marketing teams. When it comes to videos, YouTube remains the most significant platform for users who love consuming fun videos. 

You can sell your products through YouTube Shopping and enjoy many features. You can sell products from other brands or your own, provided that you pass the eligibility criteria. Check out more details on the official YouTube Shopping page.

Final Thoughts

Social commerce is the new way to sell your offers online. This way, you can cater to all your target audiences that are spread out through different social media networks. Of course, succeeding in social shopping requires consistency in advertising and customer relationship nurturing. Once you get into the flow of things, you’d be surprised by the sales from these social commerce platforms.