With 1.8 billion active users on Facebook, 800 million users visiting Instagram each month, and more than 150 million people using Snapchat on a daily basis, to name just a few examples, the reach of social platforms is enormous. Not surprisingly, they are the best places to sell.

According to numerous studies, it is confirmed that people trust the recommendations of their friends more than anyone else, which is why social networks have been so popular in the last ten years. Increasingly, the e-commerce buying process is driven by customers who buy within an experience they have already created for themselves, surrounded by people, brands and services selected by them. For start-ups in particular with low marketing budgets, social selling is a relatively inexpensive way to effectively reach large numbers of potential customers and maximize return on investment. So, if you’re looking to run easy http://www.harisg.com/social-media/[color=#000099][/color] keep reading.

Create your store on social networks: 10 tips to get started

1. Choose the right social network for your target audience

There are many social channels. Each one is different and attracts its own audience, Snapchat and Instagram tend to attract a younger audience. LinkedIn is a more professional social network. Twitter is for opinion leaders. Find out where your target audience is and position your business there. There are many free analytics tools available online, which provide a breakdown of social media audience demographics to help you choose the right social network and build your social media strategy plan. For your info, you can read this social media plan PDF to get more info about making your plan.

For example, tools like “Facebook Audience Insights” will segment followers by age, gender, lifestyle, relationship status, and job title. It will also give you a detailed view of the behavior of your target audience, what time they are most active and how much time they spend connected. With all this information, you can schedule your content to impact them at the right time.

Another advantage of social channels is that most of the platforms are global. It does not matter if you sell from your home but being present on social networks allows you to reach customers all over the world. Different social networks can help you sell locally or around the world. It depends on you.

2. Understand the social sales funnel

Trust is a pillar of social selling, which is why brands need time to establish a relationship with their potential customers. Selling “soft” is often the most effective strategy – taking time to build followers, gain their trust, and build brand loyalty will all build a long-term habit.

3. Keep them interested

Create interesting and original content to connect with your audience and keep them engaged for longer. A longer commitment means a greater possibility of purchase. If you are a small bakery that creates custom designs for their customers, Instagram would be a good advertising platform. It gives you the opportunity to fill your channel with colorful and attractive photographs of your creations. This makes people scroll through your channel, and if they like what they see, they will visit your website and maybe buy something. Great content, on the right platform, also encourages sharing with friends on social media, which will make your reach even greater.

4. Use hashtags

Hashtags are an important way to link your content with the people who are searching for it. Consider carefully which hashtags you are going to use, think beyond the product you are selling and also consider other topics that may lead you to customers. For example, for a jewelry brand; Instead of limiting yourself to the hashtags #jewelry and #fashion, think about times when people might want this product. Think #gifts, #birthday gifts, #wedding ideas … Get to know your customers and their behaviors and choose your hashtags accordingly.

5. Talk to people

Listen to their conversations and interact with them. Answer their questions. Build a relationship with new and existing clients. In this way you will build trust and they will keep you in their minds when they decide to make a purchase. There are many tools that can help you manage an online customer service.

Nimble, for example, is one of the most intuitive CRM tools on the market. It allows you to communicate with your clients through any social media channel, in real time. By taking care of customer relationships, your sales will increase.

6. Work with brand prescribers

One of the most effective and organic ways to spread your brand message on social media is to work with influencers. They often have their own blog where they write on a specific topic and have a loyal fan base. Due to its popularity, your endorsement of a brand or product can often be much more effective for sales than paid advertising, as it is considered more authentic.

7. Establish your call to action well

Once you’ve hooked a visitor with your content, the crucial step comes in turning that interest into a sale. Make your call to action clear, and make sure the buying process is simple. Something as simple as adding the “buy” tab below the photo of the product that they liked on Instagram will help you get positive leads. Do not lose this opportunity.

On the other hand, if you are telling a more complex story, use the episodic nature of social media to attract customers. Nobody gets married on the first date, especially when persuaded to buy a more expensive item. So use a call to action like “next steps” or “learn more”, to naturally attract your customers to your sales funnel.

8. Encourage customer feedback

The vast majority (92% according to a global survey) of people read customer reviews when they first consider a product or brand. The reviews are considered more authentic and reliable than the advertising messages of the brand itself. Use this and create a space where satisfied customers can share the positive experiences of your product. However, keep in mind that this works both ways and customers can post a negative review. Stay tuned and respond to complaints quickly.

9. Use provocative language

Make questions. Encourage discussion. Find out what people need. If people want to know the answer, they will often follow the question. After all, you followed a question to end here, didn’t you?

10. Learn and improve

You may be new to selling on social media, but there are many ways to progress. LinkedIn’s “Social Selling Index” is a valuable tool that measures your success in establishing your brand, in finding the right people, in building relationships. Use it as the basis for setting new goals and objectives and become an expert in social selling. You can use another tool, such as free social media strategy template. Read this social media strategy template PDF to get more info.

We hope these 10 tips can be really useful.

Nowadays selling in small business without crm is impossible task. You can use free or paid crm system. As I am beginner in online sales I prefer to use espocrm software. Dp not forget about free security roles which define what kind of information and how it is accessed by users and teams.