Making the Most of Social Commerce Table of Contents

Table of Contents...... 01

Introduction to Social Commerce...... 02

What Is It about Social Media?...... 03

Using Social Media to Sell...... 04

Problems with Social Media Marketing...... 06

Custom Social Media Services from i95Dev...... 06

Why i95Dev...... 07

01 Introduction to Social customers, they can also sell using Focal Points Commerce social media, which is a very excit- ing addition to social commerce and Social commerce is the newest Social media is a truly makes it a part of the ecom- addition to ecommerce; because of medium that has merce world. the abilities that social networking taken the Internet has been taking over the world. market by storm. Retailers are now starting to recog- Social Commerce Benefits Within less than a nize the value of social media and for Retailers how getting involved with social There are a few things that retailers decade, sites like media and social commerce can do not realize social commerce can Facebook, Twitter, help market their business. It is do for them like marketing, interact- Pinterest, and for- making or breaking businesses and ing, and selling their products on merly MySpace, have their ability to get new customers, social media. It’s hard to imagine especially since the Internet is now how social media has turned into had billions of users, a vast space being filled with something that retailers can use but most of whom are millions of web stores and hundreds look at websites like Groupon and active on their of millions of people on specific Living Social. Those websites are networks. It is a retailer’s dream to exclusively for purchasing things, accounts on a daily be able to reach a large group of which is a great way for retailers to basis. With all that people for a minimal amount of get involved in social media by exposure, it’s no money, and it is here. providing products for those types surprise that compa- of sites. Social commerce was not like the nies are learning to typical type of practice where it It is a very overwhelming process, profit from these took years to be accepted; it was but for retailers, it is worth all of the interactions. After all, truly an explosion. The art of “word hassle they have to go through of mouth” has turned into some- because of how much more profit a what other medium thing truly innovative and almost retailer can get from using social can allow users to alive. The ability to tell people commerce to their advantage. interact with friends about your product has shifted. Retailers have been using their and family when it’s Now retailers can reach unlimited websites to sell their products for as numbers of people each and every long as the Internet has been convenient for them? day through social media, but the around, but now that the world has Websites, product trick is to learn how to use social accepted and devoted their time to info, or just pleasant- media adequately to their advan- social media, it is time for retailers ries can be tage. If retailers do not use social to take advantage of that. There is commerce accurately, it can back- room to grow. Only 8 percent of exchanged – all when fire or worse, do nothing. purchases made in the US were and where users made online. That means that want to interact. It used to be that bad advertising ecommerce is nowhere near its was better than no advertising, but maximum growth potential. now with social commerce, that is not true at all, which is why retailers Not only do social media allow need to pay attention to what they retailers to reach a larger number of put out there about their company people, it also enables them to have and what people are saying about a broader experience on marketing products that come out. Not only and keeps them up to date with can retailers take advantage of what people are looking for through social media for marketing, interact- live feeds, tweets, and so forth. ing, and learning about their Those types of updates are what 02 retailers find invaluable, because can monetize their social media Focal Points customers are constantly looking for investment. transparency from retailers. That’s The possibilities of something retailers need to under- Social media is such a waste of time using social media to stand. for some people, but for retailers sell products are there is no such thing as wasting endless. It is an Not only can retailers benefit from time, especially when money is comments customers make, but coming in. Social media is able to incredible tool that they can also see ratings of items bring in money and solve your retailers should not they are purchasing for their stores. problem of social media ROI, or pass up on. Making Often this can prevent a retailer Return on Investment. Make no from making a bad purchase, mistake, these things take time to an investment does especially if customers are saying work, but when retailers find the not have to be en- they will never buy that product for right company to work with for tirely based on how whatever reason they have. When these types of things, the returns much money you retailers are “friends” with their are amazing. customers on Facebook, they learn spend but also the more about the products that their When customers are looking at time that you spend customers like. Catering to their something and want to buy, they online trying to customers enables them to be will go online to look for that involved in the customer-centric particular product and see if there market your product retailing style that has taken over are any in-depth ratings about that or store. As a retailer, retail. very product. If a retailer does not your time is money. watch those ratings and sell around With all the changes going on, their customer base, they’re going retailers are learning that the old to have an excess of products on way of selling is no longer “good the shelf that customers do not enough,” especially since people are want. That is not the only thing now purchasing online, using social customers are using social media media to talk about things and rate for; they are also talking about their businesses, determine what kind of retailing experience at any given products they will be purchasing, store or website. Gathering market and so forth. insight is a critical step for retailers.

What Is It about Social Retailers now have to keep their Media? nose clean in front of customers. The possibilities of using social The best way to learn from mistakes media to sell products are endless. is to watch out for customers that It is an incredible tool that retailers are unhappy and find out why. should not pass up on. Making an Before social media came around, investment does not have to be most people would rather talk entirely based on how much money about a good experience than a bad you spend but also the time that experience at any given store. This you spend online trying to market goes back to the concept of bad your product or store. As a retailer, advertising is better than no adver- your time is money. If you were told tising. Now that Facebook and that it was possible to monetize Twitter are around, they can your social media investment, immediately say something about wouldn’t you do that? Retailers are your store and how terrible the just now discovering that they truly service was. They also evaluate how 03 quickly you respond and fix the especially if they don’t know where Focal Points problem. Not only that, but the to start. retail page you put up on Facebook Before social media can bring traffic back to your site Using Social Media to Sell came around, most and boost ecommerce sales. Yes, retailers are now discovering people would rather the beauty of selling items on social talk about a good If a retailer does not understand media sites. Retailers understand how these social media sites work, that social media is something that experience than a they could be in big trouble, espe- people enjoy using and love, but bad experience at cially since they’re losing out on all then they are told that they can sell any given store. This the chances to share information on social media? What kinds of goes back to the about new products, learn about social media allow you to sell? older products, and so forth. Before There are quite a few ways to sell concept of bad ad- a retailer focuses entirely on selling on social media sites that are pretty vertising is better their products, they should also useful. Before retailers are to think than no advertising. think about giving their customers a about what kind of social media different type of service. One kind Now that Facebook they want to work on, they should of example that any retailer could understand these two types of and Twitter are do is a blog. social commerce: around, they can immediately say One example of a blog that a Social media on ecommerce retailer could write is a how-to blog. platforms, a market where items something about If your retail store is about garden- are sold and also have a way for your store and how ing, focus on different plants, how customers to interact with each terrible the service to plant them, what kind of plants other giving feedback and informa- not to plant in your climate zone, was. tion about the products they are what kind of fertilizer to use, and so about to purchase and on top of forth. Customers really enjoy those that, the retailer that sells those kinds of blogs and continue to come products. The second kind of back, especially if your retail store is platform is ecommerce on social Social commerce is focused and dedicated to educating media platform. One of the your customers. You are, in a way, examples of that would be the new truly about the providing a free service, but the Facebook store. When there is a people, not the tech- service would bring in more social platform people are already nology. There are no customers than if there was nothing on and they see an advertisement set rules on how to for them to benefit from other than for something they like, they can the purchase of your products. just click on it and purchase and not use social commerce leave the social media site. for your benefit but There are several other examples of getting some support blogs or sites you could create for Here are a few things to remember your customer, and they are: through the process before reading about social com- shopper show and tell, product merce and how it can make your is a great idea. page discussion, and project future brighter: social commerce is journals. The most important thing truly about the people, not the for retailers to understand is that in technology. There are no set rules order for them to stay ahead of the on how to use social commerce for game, they need to make them- your benefit but getting some selves unique and different. Using support through the process is a social media to market themselves great idea. can be a very grueling process, 04 Facebook Store tweets only visible to people that Focal Points Facebook has over six hundred follow them. When you do that, Through Facebook’s million people on their social media you’re able to come up with some site. Yes, six hundred million way to give your customers “incen- platform, businesses people! Even if your page views do tive” to follow you. When people can reach quality and not reach 1/10th of the number, re-tweet your tweets, it could go relevant customers. your page is still visible through viral! Because of the very many other ways. However, now Facebook has made it possible for Facebook Coupons nature of the site, you as a retailer to sell your prod- With your Facebook page, you can users provide specific ucts on their site! Right now Face- also pass out coupons for products. self-information, book does not take anything out of There are things that they need to your sales on their site, making the create, such as a welcome tab, a such as likes, hob- process cost nothing to you! There page for customers to go to auto- bies, even age and are a lot of apps you could use but matically. On that page to which gender. This allows which app is the right one for you to they are automatically directed companies to target use and why? The questions seem retailers are able to present to be endless! coupons for new customers! users that will be most relevant to Groupon their ad sales. Groupon is a website where With these tools, you are able to customers have a chance to get an provide coupons, sell things on a incredible percentage off their Facebook store, provide ways for product. However, the only catch is customers to save money on your there must be a particular number products through Groupon, and of people that signed up for the create coupons that customers can product discount. While this sounds get through Twitter/Facebook. With like a huge opportunity for your a basic understanding of what each customers, it is also amazing for of these things are, retailers now retailers because of the amount of understand the value of using social traffic people give Groupon. If your media to not only market but sell product was on sale that day, their products. people are going to go to your website to check out what they can The next issue is how do retailers get for the gift card they can get for make time to do everything on 50 percent off, such as $10 for a $20 Facebook, Twitter, Groupon, Living gift card, and so forth. While this Social, and so forth. There are too might be a big cut in your profits, many sites to keep up with, but you can limit how many customers there is a way for retailers to be can sign up for the deal. Sometimes able to focus on the development this is a great idea for things you are and growth of their business trying to get rid of and can’t seem without sacrificing time, and that is to get people to buy. to find a good company to work with. Twitter Coupons Using Facebook for advertising is a no brainer, but some retailers have not thought about using Twitter to send out coupons. Some retailers will create a profile and make their 05 Problems with Social Media available to work with retailers. Focal Points Marketing Several things that they offer are social networking profile selection Retailers can take A lot of these are great and seem real easy for retailers, but some- and development, online virtual advantage of the times retailers are overwhelmed marketing video promotional ability to use social with all the options and opportuni- campaigns, social media audits, media through any ties to bring new customers in. It blog development and promotion, brand management using social venue they wish to can be confusing, and nobody really knows where to start, or do they? media monitoring, LinkedIn Direct use to market, inter- There’s no shame in not being good ads, and Facebook advertising. act, and learn more at everything. Remember, people Some of these are pretty about their custom- come to you for help with your self-explanatory but to understand specialty. If you are a gardener how the team works with retailers, ers. Part of customer working at a garden store and you here are some highlights. centered retailing is want to sell tulips online, you’d go focusing on the cus- to a company that can help you Social networking profile tomers and what with the networking part of sales selection and development online. They would go to you for Developing your social media they want, what help picking out the prettiest tulips profile can be a bit confusing. You better way to do that for their garden. Now, after feeling want to present yourself the best than discover what better about not understanding way possible. With i95Dev, they are they like and don’t social media and how it works, able to design your profile to what kind of things are out there for maximize marketing without like about the store? retailers to get help with? sounding pushy to customers. What better way to Customers are now leery of retailers sell than on the hot- Retailers are looking for a reputable that do not market themselves very company to work with, one that can well. That’s something that a lot of test market ever. support them through the process. retailers do not understand how to The company, i95Dev, is here to do, which is why it’s important to help you through that process and get help doing this. Without a good guide retailers down the right path. online set-up, your Online virtual marketing Custom Social Media great video won’t be video promotional Services from i95Dev campaigns seen by the thou- Magento is a great platform for Customers enjoy watching videos. A sands or millions of ecommerce. I95Dev did not stop at lot of promotional campaigns people that it should a point of sale platform when should have great videos. Without a be viewed by. A great determining what they wanted to good online set-up, your great video provide for retailers. Looking for won’t be seen by the thousands or product can go social media services, retailers are millions of people that it should be ignored without the often confronted with a lot of viewed by. A great product can go proper assistance of cookie-cutter services that are not ignored without the proper assis- what they need. What a retailer tance of marketing. People need to marketing. needs is a social media service that be encouraged and motivated; is customized and fits their needs. i95Dev knows how to reach the And that’s where i95Dev comes in. right audience at the right time through the best kind of set up so Whatever a retailer wants, they can your virtual marketing campaign is get with the social media team not a big flop.

06 highest quality users – combined Focal Points Blog development and with Facebook advertising platforms. Businesses can help If you were able to Promotion I95Dev can also help retailers create create an efficient and streamlined discover the best way blogs, which can educate and excite process for promoting social to discover your customers about upcoming prod- commerce. Online services, com- target audience with ucts. Created as an informational bined with years of experience, allow i95Dev to create a quality and Magento by i95Dev, platform, readers will be enter- tained and able to learn about successful experience for their you’d want to be able company issues or products without social commerce customers. to use the same com- the pressure to buy. With the ability pany to drive your to market to your customers online, The i95Dev team is a strong team you’ll find yourself being less with the ability to analyze your marketing goals and pressuring in person when meeting business requirements and build an reach the same group with customers, because they are incredible marketing campaign to of people. There are already coming to you with knowl- promote your company. Not only edge about your products. would your brand name be spread- several tools that ing out, you will see an increased i95Dev provides for If you were able to discover the best visibility, higher ranking in major you to use. way to reach your target audience search engines, and the ability to with Magento by i95Dev, you’d reach your targeted traffic. want to be able to use the same company to drive your marketing goals and reach the same group of people. There are several tools that i95Dev provides for you to use.

Why i95Dev When it comes to social commerce to get the best results, it’s best to work with those who have experi- ence in the business. Look for past statistics, charts, and customer loyalty to find the best information source or company to handle the social commerce for each website. With i95Dev, business owners can be assured they’re working with www.i95Dev.com experienced, knowledgeable staff Maryland members. Take the social com- 3 Bethesda Metro Center, Suite 700 Bethesda, Maryland, 20814 merce market by storm by integrat- Phone: 301.760.7499 ing company profile pages to work New York 1430 Broadway, with mobile devices. I95Dev will 7th Floor New York NY 10018. also monitor fan interaction to help Ph: (646) 259.3662 Texas ensure users are getting the best 5646 Milton St#100, possible experience. Dallas, Texas – 75206 Ph: (214) 396-2121

Australia Other online tactics, such as Sydney, NSW – 2145, keyword research, analytics, and Ph: (02) 8015 5446 more, are used to help attract the 07