When friending turns to spending.
Your customers are already spending a lot of their time on Facebook, but now they can spend their money there too. Facebook Commerce allows your Facebook fans to browse and possibly even buy products without leaving the social media realm. Some businesses are already seeing as much as half of their online sales coming from Facebook** – and the numbers show why the combination of social media and online commerce is so powerful.
- 90% of online consumers trust recommendations from people they know, while 70% trust opinions of unknown users. (Econsultancy, July 2009)*
- 83% of online shoppers said they are interested in sharing information about their purchases with people they know.
- 74% are influenced by the opinions of others when deciding to purchase a product. (Manage Smarter, September 2009)*
- 67% of shoppers spend more online after recommendations from online friends. (Internet Retailer, September 2009)*
- 61% of people rely on user reviews to influence a buying decision. (Razorfish, 2008)*
The Pros of Facebook Commerce
- Your fans can be the first to know about new product launches, share product information with friends, spread the word about favorite items and direct traffic to product pages all without even stepping foot on your website.
- It allows time-strapped consumers to click on a featured product and see highlighted features without going in-depth. And XML feeds allow product information to be updated instantly.
- You can stay top of mind without using a more intrusive medium like TV, emails blasts or radio commercials.
Something to consider
Most third-party software doesn’t allow for transactions within the Facebook platform, but many businesses are using apps like Storefront Social or Payvment to link their Facebook stores to their sites for purchases. Your existing e-commerce software may even offer a Facebook storefront at no extra charge – so look into it before setting up alternate third-party software.
While most consumers still don’t view Facebook as a transaction center or marketplace, keep in mind that six years ago most consumers had never viewed Facebook – period. So have faith in the future, and consider making the leap into Facebook Commerce. It could pay off beyond your wildest expectations, kind of like Facebook itself.
*Social Commerce Stastics, Bazaarvoice.com
**3 Facebook Commerce Success Stories, Mashable.com
