3 Tips for Social Selling Success
Fact: consumers are more than happy to shop on Instagram. The platform is booming for brands right now as younger consumers rely on Instagram to discover and research products they’re interested in. But selling on Instagram isn’t as simple as posting product photos, sitting back and calling it a day.
If you want to turn your fans and followers into customers, follow these simple, yet effective tips:
EXPLAIN YOURSELF!
Without a full understanding of how social selling works, customers will be apprehensive to take part. To help them get there, create a highlight reel on your Instagram account explaining your social selling policy and procedure. Include an overview slide, and then define each step of the process with a dedicated slide showing for at least five seconds. Make sure to also include any curbside pickup or shipping options you’re currently offering.
Tip: If you are unfamiliar with posting Instagram stories/highlights here’s a helpful guide.
PRESENTATION MATTERS!
Remember, presentation is everything! When showcasing your products, it should be no different. Make it more appealing to look at and people will be more likely to purchase from you. Showcasing clothes? Make sure to steam out any wrinkles and remove any blemishes. Showcasing a handbag? Take a variety of pictures with multiple views including the inside, front facing, close-up, does it have a zipper or multiple pockets—let the consumer fully see it. Imagine yourself as the buyer, and create an image that would be acceptable for you!
No matter the item you’re showcasing, the picture quality is key! Don’t make the picture busy, make it clean so their eyes are drawn solely to the product you’re trying to sell. Try using a plain white backdrop, keeping it simple. Consider investing in a ring light and/or a tripod to elevate the quality.
Quick tip: if you’re using an iPhone, take the picture in portrait mode to make it look even nicer. Without being able to see these items in person, this is the only snapshot of the product the customer will get, so make it count!
KEEP IT RELEVANT!
Update posts as soon as you can. Your customers are going to be asking you general questions about the products you’re trying to sell. If they don’t hear back from you for a long time, they’re likely to lose interest. You need to make this process as easy as possible for them and stay on top of all customer queries in order to close the sale. If a product gets sold, update it! Customers will get frustrated if they “claim” an item only to find out that it’s no longer available. Make sure to include all the product details; brand, size, and price. Try to use relevant hashtags, think of them as search keywords. If you don’t think people will put those words in the search bar, there’s no reason to include it as a hashtag. The broader the hashtag, the more reach but also, the more posts you have to compete with. Lastly, all of this hard work will be a waste if no one is seeing your feed. Think about investing some ad spend to get your posts in front of more customers.
When it comes to social selling ask yourself, “If I was a brand-new customer, by seeing this post, would I know how to purchase this item, and based on the photo would I want to purchase it?” Being an owner, it’s easy to get lost when it comes to the little details, you know more about your business than anyone else, your customer on the other hand may need more information. With the purchasing process fully explained, a clean presentation, and relevant updated posts, you’re streamlining the process for your customers making it easy for them to continue shopping from your store. Right now, more than ever, people are sitting at home on the Internet. This is your opportunity to get your products in front of them!
