Whether it’s social selling or social commerce, combining social platforms with sales has been proven to boost revenues, as studies confirm. Leveraging social networks as sales and lead channels has become the gold standard in sales. Statista data highlights the growing importance of selling products directly or indirectly via social media platforms, unlocking significant revenue opportunities, particularly in B2C social commerce.
A Mega Market with Billion-Dollar Potential
According to Accenture’s study *”Why Shopping’s Set for a Social Revolution”*, the global B2C social commerce market is projected to reach an impressive $1.23 trillion by 2025. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube already offer purchasing features, enabling businesses to showcase products through catalogs, collections, or digital storefronts. Pinterest supports this trend with product pins linked to existing stores, and Facebook enhances customer interaction through specialized tools, as discussed by Frank Hussendörfer and Severine Thiel in the *Sales Excellence* issue (5/2024).
Instagram Shoppable Posts: Simplifying Purchases
Instagram’s *Shoppable Posts* make it easy for businesses to tag products in posts and stories. Users can tap on these tags to be directed to product pages, streamlining the purchasing process. Grzegorz Chodak elaborates on this trend in his book *”The Future of E-Commerce”* (Springer, p. 169).
Meta Platforms Leading Social Commerce
In both Germany and the U.S., Facebook and Instagram are the top platforms for online shopping within social networks. Global market forecasts between 2021 and 2025 reflect significant growth in social commerce. This underscores its increasing importance as a sales channel.
Impressive Growth in User Numbers
Datareportal figures from Statista highlight the vast potential of social commerce: as of January 2024, approximately 5.04 billion people used social commerce platforms worldwide—a striking rise from just 1.86 billion social media users a decade ago.
Positive Consumer Sentiment and Usage Trends
The Consumer Barometer by KPMG and IFH Köln confirms the growing influence of social commerce, with 87% of consumers expressing a positive attitude towards the concept and 75% having already made purchases through these platforms. The most popular product categories include:
– Fashion and accessories (23%)
– Consumer electronics (16%)
– Leisure and hobbies (14%)
👉 Want to know more? Explore strategies for success in both B2C and B2B social commerce, and learn how to optimize the customer journey on social platforms. Read the full article here!