The next big thing for e-commerce is coming soon to Australia according to the trends from Asia and other overseas countries.
For those already online with a mobile friendly website and the goal of building a community via social media platforms (as opposed to just interested in followers and likes) are well placed for the next e-commerce wave.
And, hose in small to medium business who can innovate quickly will have it over the “big end” of town as this trend gains popularity among businesses and consumers alike.
But those who, despite the pandemic, are still yet to get online, build communities and embrace the online space, will again find themselves in a position of “hard to compete”.
So, what is the next big thing coming for e-commerce?
SOCIAL COMMERCE – Selling whilst live on a social media platform.
This is yet another trend fuelled by the e-commerce boom arising from the global pandemic.
Recently launched in select markets such as Australia and New Zealand, TikTok live event is a new tool that lets creators schedule, manage and promote LIVE videos.
TikTok is fast becoming a platform of choice over Facebook and Instagram for creators and for many, having the ability to go live and sell live via this platform is opening up a new sales strategy – especially for those many retailers already on the platform.
Although live selling isn’t new, in fact, I’d say MLM businesses probably use Facebook groups for live selling (social commerce) the best of many I’ve seen.
But this functionality introduced on TikTok of watching lives and taking action with their credit card (aka buying products they are watching in real time) is a new consumer behaviour that will soon sweep through Australia, no doubt embraced firstly by our Gen Zs and Millennials who are the first adopters of all things new!
Social Commerce has exploded for Asian businesses operating in the e-commerce space. They are quickly picking up on the potential of social commerce to engage with consumers at the heart of their online experience in the realm of social media.
At its core, the strategy gives brands a presence right where their consumers are spending many of their hours online – and it now occupies an estimated 44 per cent of the $109 billion Asian e-commerce market.
With Australian e-commerce businesses heading into their busiest season – Christmas and Summer – building an innovative strategy around social commerce will put you ahead of the game and help you stand out from your competitors.
So, what do you need to do to be Social Commerce ready?
- MOBILE FRIENDLY DIGITAL PRESENCE
Firstly, and most obviously, have a mobile ready e-commerce space to send your hot customers who want to buy!
If you don’t currently have an e-commerce space with a secure checkout, then this is priority number 1.
Consider marketplace platforms such as www.spendwithus.com.au, especially if you’re a small rural or regional business, which helps you get your products online, gives you a secure checkout for customers, free marketing and a community of like-minded people to help you grow, as well as an online community, reaching almost ½ a million a month, to get your products in front of. They will be embracing social commerce heading into Christmas!
Otherwise, platforms like Shopify and Square offer fast solutions for getting your products online, so you can begin embracing this new wave of social commerce.
- COMMUNITY BUILDING
Once your products are online the second step is to change your thinking from more followers and likes to thinking community – community building.
Business is now all about community. Building a community of consumers who know, like and trust you. A community of buyers. And more importantly – a community of buyers who will refer you to their friends and family because they, as above, know, like and trust you.
Communities need leaders. So, the best tip for how to build a community is to show up and be a leader in your space.
The space of social commerce is a very exciting one for e-commerce businesses and consumers alike here in Australia. And if it is embraced here, a third as much as it has been in Asian countries, it will be the way most of us do our Christmas shopping for 2022!
Let’s chat further about this exciting new trend. Come over to the place where I have built a fabulous online community – my Like Minded Business Owners Facebook group! Or, let’s hang out and get social on social – you’ll find me on Instagram, Facebook and my fave LinkedIn.
CONTACT JENN:
If you would like to chat to me about how social commerce can level up your business, please reach out! Simply book a discovery call with me here!
And don’t forget to go and join my Like Minded Business Owners Facebook group. It’s such a great community of people and a brilliant place to connect with other small business owners.
Or you can DM me on Instagram or send me an email jenn@jenndonovan.com.au
I wish to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land, the Yorta Yorta People, on which I conduct my business today and pay my respects to their Elders past and present. I extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples reading this blog post today.
About the Author:
Jenn Donovan of Social Media & Marketing Australia. Jenn’s an expert marketing coach and mentor from rural NSW. She is all about empowering business owners to earn what they’re worth so they can make a bigger difference in the world. The Founder of Buy From a Bush Business, Co-Founder of Spend With Us – Buy From a Bush Business Marketplace and host of the very popular podcast Small Business Made Simple, Jenn is all about community and humans interacting with humans! H2H Marketing – human to human marketing. Jenn talks the talk but importantly walks the walk! Jenn’s online community is over 320,000 with her famous Facebook Group currently at almost 365,000 members and still growing every day. She’s the mayor of her own little online city!
Get in touch – www.socialmediaandmarketing.com.au
On Instagram – @jenndonovan_
On Facebook – Jenn Donovan
Or on LinkedIn as Jenn Donovan
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