Shopping through Social Media: Tips to
get the best shopping experience
Online shopping: two
words that changed how many people in the world shop. This means no malls, no
long lines, and no fighting over items when stores have big sales. Online
shopping made its debut many years ago. But what has recently made its debut is
the use of stores using social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and
Instagram to communicate to their customers. For customers, this is a great way
for them to see what stores have to offer without ever going into the store.
For those of you new to shopping through social media, or looking to expand
your use of shopping through social media, these tips will help you get your best
shopping experience.
Tip
number one: “Follow,” “Like,”
or “add” any store that interests you
This tip is very important. How else are
you going to see what a store has to offer if it does not show up on your
newsfeed? No matter where the store is located, if they interest you, add them.
When stores add new items, update their status or photo album. It will show up on your newsfeed
making it easier for you to see what they have to offer and if you are
interested in their products. For the most part, all stores will gladly take
your information over the phone and ship your purchases to you. This makes it
easier for you to get the best deal. By adding different stores, you will be
able to compare prices and products without ever leaving the computer.
Tip
number two: Look for prices and similarities throughout the different stores
For the most part, fashion trends throughout
the United States are similar. Since most people are looking for similar items,
most stores have those items in either the same or different colors. For some
that are looking to stand out rather than blend in, this is probably
frustrating. But for those that are interested in getting the newest fashion
trend in their closet, this is helpful when shopping. Now,
the main attribute to compare is the price. Is it worth paying forty dollars
for the blouse at the local store or pay twenty dollars for the same blouse and
five dollars for shipping? By looking at stores through social media, one can
find the best prices. Before social media, this would mean that one would have
to leave a store, go to another, compare items, and then make a decision. This
process could take hours depending on where the locations of the stores were in
comparison to one another. Now, this can be done with just a few clicks of the
mouse. Looking for prices and similarities throughout many different stores is
no longer a long hassle.
Tip
number three: Remember sales tax & shipping
Most of us are used to sales tax.
However, it is important not to forget that sales tax changes from state to
state. Sales tax can make or break a shopping experience. When shopping through
social media, remember sales tax is a factor in the final price of the item.
For example, sales tax in Mississippi is seven percent. However the neighboring
state of Alabama only has a sales tax of four percent. This is something all
customers should take into consideration. Shipping can also be expensive
depending on how much one spends at a single store. Look for deals on free
shipping or flat rate shipping prices. This will save you money and allow you
to spend more in the future. Stores that
use social media often run more free shipping deals than those that don’t due
to their audience being online and not particularly in the same state. Shopping
through social media can help save money one would otherwise spend not
realizing how much they could actually be saving.
Tip
number four: Shop around before committing
I know some of you are thinking, “It’s
just a top.” But
this will save you money and allow you to get the most out of social media
shopping. Options are literally one mouse click away. Successful stores that
use social media update their new items almost immediately after they receive
them. If you were looking for a certain top, whether it was in a certain color,
style, or price, you will be able to find just what you are looking for. There
is no shame in having ten website windows open comparing prices from ten
different stores that you follow through social media. This way, you can look
at all your options and find the one that best suits you.
Tip
number five: Look for sales
Who doesn’t love saving money when they
find a good sale? Times are hard, but looking cute doesn’t have to be. Through
social media, stores are able to run more sales through their store pages and
to “fans” online. By accessing their page through social media, a customer can
open the door to many sales that they would otherwise miss out on. Many small businesses will send out specials
through their Facebook pages, Instagram, or Twitter that only last that day. All
it takes is a few minutes to shop around and make a call to the store. This
makes shopping easier for the customer and makes selling easier for the store.
Tip
number six: “Share” and “Retweet” the store page you like
Businesses love free advertisement. But
now, businesses are rewarding customers that advertise their business for
them. Why not receive an award for what
you would be doing anyway? Through social media, businesses are able to see who
“likes,” “retweets” or “shares” a photo or
status. This can help benefit the customer. When businesses give away free gift
cards or items, they will give it away to those that support them through social
media. This will help a customer build a relationship with a store as well as
win free products.
Tip
number seven: Use more than one social media outlet
How many social media sites does one need
to use on a daily basis? For retail shopping, the more the better. Businesses
are going to reach out to their customers through social media sites their
customers use. In order to get the best deals and see everything a store has to
offer, a customer needs to use all sources possible. Businesses are going to
add certain items to certain social media sites to get their customers attention.
For example, a store may use Instagram to star a certain outfit style they have
in their store. This outfit may not be posted on Twitter. Customers could miss
out on a great deal and outfit if they didn’t follow the business on certain
social media sites. Pinterest is a very popular social media site that allows
users to “pin” styles and items they like. This site will benefit a business
and customers by allowing them to travel to the direct link where they can
purchase the item.
Tip
number eight: Jump on the bandwagon
What bandwagon should you jump on?
Shopping through social media. Although people use social media daily to
connect and reconnect, few are using it to shop. This new way of shopping has not
grabbed the attention of everyone, but those that it has grabbed, hold on
tight. However, those that haven’t used it will certainly use it soon. Shopping
through social media is only going to increase, join now.
According to Jacinda Tutty(2013), more than fifty three percent of online shoppers search
social media for fashion. It is important to use and get acquainted with social
media and shopping now, rather than later. According to Petra Jung (2013), by 2014 sales through social media should rise by
forty-four percent. Stores that show off their products have influenced their
viewers. Studies show that this will result in half of the sales made in 2014
(Jung, 2013). This is a huge increase
and a positive impact on stores that use social media as an outlet to their
customers. According to the article “Social Media Impact on Retailers’ sales
uncertain”(2012), social media can be the first
place someone hears about something. Also, social media is a way for customers
to discover deals (“Social media impact,” 2012). Most deals are offered through
social media. Facebook has one billion users, imagine if all of those users
were shopping through social media. Shopping would be easier and less hassle
than one can imagine.
Retail shopping through social media is
not going anywhere. This form of shopping is going to grow and increase rapidly
over the next few years. Shopping, as we once knew it has evolved. There is no
need to travel to malls and use money getting there when shopping options can
be done through the same source you connect with friends and family. Using social
media is the newest form of shopping people are using, and businesses are
realizing it.
Shopping through social media can be a
bit tricky and confusing sometimes. The options are unlimited. Sales and deals
can be seen without ever leaving your home or computer screen. If you haven’t
tried shopping through social media, I encourage you to try it out at least
once. Remember these eight tips. By
following these eight tips, one can get the best social media shopping
experience.
Works Cited
Tutty, J. (2013, June 15). Social media
driving online fashion sales in brisbane as savvy shoppers tag a bargain. Courier
Mail. Retrieved from http://www.news.com.au/national-news/queensland/social-media-driving-online-fashion-sales-in-brisbane-as-savvy-shoppers-tag-a-bargain/story-fnii5v6w-1226663436035
Jung, P. (2013, June 16). Social media is
a highly valuable tool for retailers. . Retrieved from
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media-network-partner-zone-ebay/social-media-retail-brands-ebay
Social media impact on retailers'
uncertain. (2012, November 28). . Retrieved from
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2012/11/28/social-media-retailers-shopping-black-friday/1731745/
This blog goes into great detail about using social media to enhance your online shopping experience. The body of this blog is really on point with all the information that is given. This blog seems to be missing certain aspects that could give it a more dynamic and depth perspective. The introduction of this blog could be more expanded by broadening the information that is presented to the readers. With that being said it is important to be very specific when relaying information as such. Although, in today’s world most are comfortable with the internet and all it has to offer you should assume some of your audience may not be the best in terms of the internet; hence they are reading your blog for help.
ReplyDeleteAdapting your point of view to a broader audience can really make this blog more successful. Using more outside sources can strengthen your blog as a whole and at the same time help you adapt to your audience as well. While the organization makes this blog easy for many readers to understand I think it could use more explanation in the introduction. Some readers might be new to social media sites as a whole and it is important to keep them in consideration when writing. It would be helpful if you started off by discussing how stores are now utilizing social media sites to promote their businesses (Mittal & Srinivasan, p. 3).
Next another aspect that is never touched on is the downfalls of shopping through social media. Yes, this can be a more convenient way of shopping but it can lead to problems. Items purchased may not look the same in person and/or could not fit. One major negative of shopping through social media is that you don’t get to try on clothes. That is why it is important for shoppers to be aware of online reviews. They can see how other shoppers felt about the clothing from certain stores and even learn if the clothing being sold are true to size or run a little small.
When informing your audience about the perks of utilizing social media sites to enhance their shopping experience I think it is also your job to inform the readers off the downfalls as well. It’s important for the reader to be able to find all the information they need in one spot and not have to resort to looking at various blogs for further information. While, I think it is great to highlight the positives about using social media you do not want to be misleading to your readers. Even if you list the negatives you can counteract them by providing solutions to the problems that can occur when shopping via the internet such as informing readers about online reviews. I think adding that criteria to this blog will give it more of the balance that your readers may crave, as well as, keeping them from having to do further research on this topic.
Works Cited
Mittal, S. & Srinivasan R. Leveraging Social Media To Drive Retail Sales And Enhance Customer Experience. Abstract. Retrieved from .
In Response To: Retail Shopping through Social Media: Tips for the Best Experience
ReplyDeleteNow that social media is such a large portion of the way people of the world communicate, it would only make sense that you can also buy things! Cheyenne did a great job expanding my knowledge about how to shop for things online by “Liking” a page, shopping around before committing to one thing, and also reminded me about tax and shipping. My response, however, is going to be geared towards the retailer of merchandise and how you can raise sales numbers by using social media. By the end, you should be ready to start your own business; Okay, maybe not!
The first impression is the most important thing in selling, especially online where you cannot have face to face conversations with customers. I recommend showering the viewers of your page with awesome invitations to your site. Make sure that your page is inviting, fun, and lists the purpose of your business, make sure the potential customers know you are willing to help in any way. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “The greatest gift is a portion of thyself.” Sending out samples of product will benefit you and the customer. They will get to try the product and at the same time, see that you love what you’re selling and that you believe in the quality. “Product samples are a way of creating excitement,” explains Rico Cipriaso, a corporate marketing veteran who has spearheaded product sampling campaigns for major international beauty brands. “Sending samples is one of the best ways to reproduce a store experience in the customer’s home.” (Cipriaso, 2010)
The next thing that will help your company with production through social media is by offering bargains when a customer uses social media. If you are humble and not stingy, a consumer WILL notice and buy from your company again. Lure them with discount-loaded coupons or the exciting “free” logo on them. If you make your fans and customers feel priviledged, they will keep coming back for more! Another great resource for business owners using social media is by conducting polls. Polling is a great way for new customers to get their ideas and concerns to you without feeling that they are under any type of pressure. By creating surveys and discussion posts, your site gets shared and you are gaining insight to the customers concerns.
Even if a customer is unable to physically make it to your store, make them feel as though he/she is actually there, through pictures! You can even post photos of merchandise, they will get tons of insight on the store! Make sure that you are replying to comments that are posted so the customers get the information they are hoping for. Finally, make your store easy for fans and customers to locate. Make sure that you are using the “location” features on your social media outlets. This could possibly show the customers that your store is in walking distance!
If you are a business owner, or aspire to be one in the future, try using these tips when you set up the social media sites for your company. They are beneficial tactics for increasing sales and informing your customers about you and your business. I am sure that you will succeed in your preparation for the social media linked world we live in today.
Work Cited
Rhodes, B. (2010, Feb 26). Why product sampling works so well. Retrieved from https://delivermagazine.com/2010/02/why-product-sampling-works-so-well/
Sophie Molaison
Social media has revolutionized many industries’ including the online shopping world. Online shopping has been popular for over a decade, long before social media ever stepped onto the scene. Two of the most popular online shopping sites of today, Amazon and EBay, launched their sites in the year 1995. That was about 18 years ago and they are still going strong. In 2012, U.S. e-commerce sales amounted to 289 billion U.S. dollars, up from 256 billion U.S. dollars in 2011 (statista). Just how much of this online shopping is being pushed through social media sites? In Cheyenne’s blog post she explores retail shopping through social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pintrest. I myself am guilty this online shopping through social media craze. I recently saw a blouse I loved on a boutiques Facebook page and I immediately called the store to purchase it. Just a simple picture and I was sold. It didn’t matter how it was going to fit, I was certain I needed it. This social media shopping has led to a new website called TheHunt.com, which is a new community driven shopping experience backed by Ashton Kutcher and Tyra Banks (eonline.com). Through The Hunt, users can help each other "hunt" for outfits that they find through social media like Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and Tumblr. This newly constructed site is just one of the many signs that shopping through social media is here to stay. Another reason social media shopping is becoming more popular is the availability of apps on your mobile device. You have instant access to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pintrest, etc. Just a scroll on a screen or a push of a button and you stumbled upon your next outfit for the night out. A statistic from statitista (online shopping statistics and facts) reported that in 2012, mobile commerce revenue in the United States reached approximately 10 billion dollars. Currently, more than 37.6 million people in the United States are mobile buyers, using their tablets, smartphones and other connected devices to shop online (statitista.com). How could shopping ever be so convenient, right? Just like Cheyenne said, there is no need to spend money traveling to mall when your shopping can be done through the same source as your friends and family. According to mediabistro.com, 30% of social media shoppers respond better to brand offers when they have been reposted by a friend, and almost two-in-five moms are more likely to purchase from brands they “Like” on Facebook than other women (mediabistro.com). If you haven’t tried shopping through social media yet, there is a first time for everything. Take the time to “like” your favorite brands or “follow” your favorite stores. Chances are you will find something that you wouldn’t have seen in the store shopping. I think that Cheyenne provided a very detailed list of tips for the best shopping experience possible.
ReplyDeleteKril, J. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.statista.com/topics/871/online-shopping/Kril, J. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.statista.com/topics/871/online-shopping/
Bennett, S. (2013, May 13). How Does Social Media Impact Shopping? [INFOGRAPHIC] - AllTwitter. Mediabistro: jobs, classes, community and news for media professionals. Retrieved July 20, 2013, from http://www.mediabistro.com/alltwitter/social-purchases_b41300
Chan, J. (2013, June 15). Tyra Banks and Ashton Kutcher Invest in TheHunt.com, New Social Shopping Site | E! Online. Entertainment News, Celebrity News, Celebrity Gossip | E! Online. Retrieved July 20, 2013, from http://www.eonline.com/news/439156/tyra-banks-and-ashton-kutcher-invest-in-thehunt-com-new-social-shopping-site?cmpid=rss-000000-rssfeed-365-topstories&utm_source=eonline&utm_mediu
ReplyDeleteThese are great tips for online shopping since adverting through media technology is becoming very popular. More and more companies are developing social media pages in order to advertise deals and products. That’s why it is a great idea to follow and join the groups of some of your favorite stores.
In a recent article from CNN’s Heather Kelly, “Twitter and Amex to let you Pay with Hashtag,” it is now possible to make purchases through a tweet by simply adding their specific hashtag (2013). Twitter is a social networking cites where people constantly share statuses, pictures, videos, and links; however, now Twitter and American Express have partnered together to turn this social media network into an e-commerce cite (Kelly, 2013). This means that individuals have the ability to make a purchase of a product they like by tweeting the product and adding their hashtag; this involvement is now called “tweet-buying (Kelly 2013).” Nevertheless, Facebook has also jumped on bored with “Facebook Gifts,” which allow you to purchase gifts for your friends on the site. This eliminates you ever having to leave their page (Kelly, 2013).
In addition, Media networks are making it extremely easier for customers to compare prices to help them get the best deals though apps and cites. For example, if you are interested in finding a specific product you could “Google” or “Bing” the products’ and get price comparison, reviews, store information and more all in one page. This eliminates you having to clutter your social pages with different type of companies. Also, if you subscribe to websites like Groupon, they will daily/weekly send emails to notify their usurers of coupons and sales at different places. Similar to this, John D Sutter wrote about the Holiday Apps right after thanksgiving season. Sutter notifies his audience that CNET praised “TheFind,” which is an app that allows users to see deals and discounts around their location. So you can know what near by store to attack next on black Friday (Sutter, 2010). Lastly, the Scanner app is another media network that allows you to compare near by prices by scanning the barcode of the product your interested in. The barcode will pick up what other markets you can find this product at and how much it cost. RedLazer, ScanLife, ShopSavvy, and Barcode Scaner are the names of the apps that are mentioned in the article (Sutter, 2010).
Lastly, Even if you have a hometown walmart or Target, their website have many products that you will probably not find at your local store. I personally like to follow random fashion pages on Instagram –a social website where people share and view pictures and videos- because regular people are able to sell costume made clothes online. I’ve even seen people have online boutiques of clothes that you won’t find on regular stores in the mall or even in town. Most businesses build accounts for promotions; however, they get the opportunity to gain customers by relating to them and communicating through these technologies. Some companies will provide customer service through these sites by communicating with their customers. Happy customers means good reviews, which mean possibility more customers. This is an easy way for local business to connect with potential local customers.
Moreover, for those who don’t feel comfortable shopping online, need to let go of the fear and jump on board. Some websites offer online discounts for simply shopping online. There are too many pros to online shopping. Even if you don’t actually buy online, there is no denying that media technology is a great way to find the best deals. Being able to use these app and websites for coupons, discounts, and sales is a great way to save money when shopping. Try it!
Kelly, H. (2013, 02 12). Twitter andamex to let you pay with hashtag. CNN, Retrieved from
http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/11/tech/social-media/twitter-hashtag-purscase
Sutter, J. (2010, 11 25). Holiday shoppin goes mobile, social. CNN, Retrieved from
http://www.cnn.com/2012/TECH/gaming.gadgets/11/25/tech.tools.shopping/index.html