Facebook is ramping up its efforts and tools to support small businesses.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the launch of Facebook Shops. According to Zuckerberg, Shops will make it easier for small businesses to sell their products on Facebook and Instagram. In the future, Facebook Shops will also allow businesses to sell products to customers through the chat features of WhatsApp, Messenger and Instagram Direct.

Facebook has previously let businesses list products on Facebook and Instagram. Facebook Shops will let them upload their catalogs once to make them accessible across Facebook’s various apps.

“It’s one simple and consistent experience across this family of apps, which means it is easier for people,” Zuckerberg said in a live stream on Facebook. “That, of course, means there’ll be higher conversions and more sales for small businesses.”

Zuckerberg indicated that Facebook is ramping up its efforts to support small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. He also said that he personally was involved with the development of the feature.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the company has announced a $100 million program to support small businesses through grants and a way for small businesses to sell gift cards directly to consumers through Facebook.

The upside to this is, lots of local small businesses already have a presence on Facebook. And except for advertising, much of the services are free to use.

There are also downsides, if you ever have a dispute with a giant online company, you could lose the ability to access the site. It’s your business.

Mark Zuckerberg said small businesses make up the vast majority of Facebook’s more than eight million advertisers.

In the past weeks, other major online social and eCommerce giants have announced initiatives and tools aimed at small businesses. In addition to direct contributions to Coronavirus relief programs.

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