“Add To Cart,” “Proceed To Checkout,” “Submit Order.” The process of online shopping is quick and painless, which is the main reason why consumers tend to lean toward online shopping versus in-person. In order to keep up with this change, Facebook Shop and Instagram Shop are two big social media platforms that businesses are turning to, in order to sell their products via social commerce. Read on to find out the capabilities of Facebook Shop and Instagram Shopping, as well as how these online storefronts and social commerce channels can benefit your small business!

What is Facebook Shop?

A Facebook Shop gives you your own customizable digital storefront where you can provide consumers with a simple and appealing shopping experience. This digital storefront allows you to choose specific products you wish to feature on your catalog, customize the look and feel of your overall shop, and create a cover image with accent colors to showcase your brand. When consumers enter a business’s shop, they are able to browse the full collection, save the products that they’re interested in, and place an order directly with Facebook. If consumers run into any problems or have any questions, they can easily reach out to your business through Facebook Messenger. Facebook Shop is a great way for any seller to bring their business online, no matter their size or budget!

What is Instagram Shopping?

Instagram Shopping is very similar to a Facebook Shop, in how people can shop photos and videos anywhere within the app. Businesses can set up their own digital storefronts that are listed in Instagram’s Shop Directory. Just like in Facebook Shop, businesses can choose to use the in-app checkout feature so online shoppers don’t have to leave the app in order to pay. Instagram also sorts products into individual “Products For You” categories to recommend specific products for each Instagram user. This feature is great for small businesses because it directly places your product in the hands of your target audience. Instagram also connects your activity across all Facebook products to show relevant ads and recommendations for your business. Because of these similarities, Facebook and Instagram Shop are great online interfaces for you to showcase your products and brand!

What do I need to get started?

Now that you’re more comfortable with how these online storefronts operate, it’s time to take the necessary steps to build your social commerce business online. The process is quite simple on both interfaces and you’ll get used to handling these features the more you practice. Here’s what you need to to get started:

1. A Facebook/Instagram account
2. A Facebook/Instagram business page
3. Physical items to sell (there’s no way to sell digital products from your shop)
4. Agree with Facebook’s Merchant Terms
5. Link to a valid bank account
6. Have a tax identification number

Once you have completed these steps, you will be able to create your Facebook and Instagram Shops. These shops are FREE for businesses to create, so design your social storefront now! For a step-by-step guide on how to set up each e-commerce shop, you can find more information on Set Up a Shop on Facebook and Instagram.

How Are Payments Collected?

Payments are securely collected from customers on both Facebook and Instagram through Facebook Pay. The process is simple:

1. Users open the Facebook or Instagram app in which they choose to purchase an item
2. They enter their payment information, including the credit card, debit card, or PayPal account they wish to use
3. Users create a Facebook Pay PIN in order to protect themselves from unauthorized transactions
4. Users can manage payment information in their Facebook Pay settings to change the method of payment anytime they prefer to change

Once Facebook Pay is set up, users will not have to repeat any setup steps and all payment history will be available to them on both apps. Facebook Pay does not cost anything for a business to enable it in their storefront, since it is a peer-to-peer payment platform. No need to worry about collecting payments, Facebook Pay has you covered!

Why Should I Invest In Facebook and Instagram Shops?

Why should you take the time out of your busy schedule to create and manage a Facebook/Instagram Shop? These shops are a simple and easy process to get products out to the online shopping community. With your products being seen by a larger audience, you will be sure to increase your total revenue within your company. If you don’t already have your own online platform, take the time to create a shop. If you do have your own shop, you can sync it with your Facebook Shop so that it stays up to date with inventory, pricing, etc.

Facebook/Instagram Shops reduce the number of upset customers with your business. These shops help your business in two ways with payments and an easier checkout process. The payment details auto-fill after the customer makes their first purchase, making the checkout process quick and efficient for users. Plus, users can go from one app to another (say from Instagram to Facebook) and complete the purchase that they had saved from the other platform. This makes the purchasing process trouble-free for customers and limits the number of complaints that you receive about your business, while also helping to increase the number of 5-star reviews.

Your brand and products are more likely to receive attention from consumers when they’re posted on social media. Facebook and Instagram both use features and user analytics that help users to find the right products for them. You are also able to post about your online storefront on your business profile, pointing your followers in the right direction to your products. Your followers can also share your posts, leading others to not only your products but to your brand as a whole. A larger audience means an increase in brand awareness which is exactly what your business needs!

Start getting your online storefront set up today to show off your products through the online shopping world! The capabilities that these apps have are endless and will surely benefit your small to medium-sized business. Get started today!

Overwhelmed when it comes to social commerce? Not sure this is really the best move for your brand? Let’s talk it though! We’re here to help businesses like yours leverage every opportunity available to you online, but that doesn’t mean every channel is the right fit for every business. Get in touch with our team today and we’ll help you make sense of digital marketing.