Social Commerce

Social Media in 2020: 4 Trends to Watch
January 6, 2020 at 11:28 am

Social media is already transforming retail, and the pace of that transformation is likely to accelerate in 2020. Retailers that embrace social media and are willing to take calculated risks are the ones most likely to benefit from this transformation. At Socialbakers we get to see what some of the most innovative social media marketers…

Social Spending: Does Convenience Trump Safety?
January 2, 2020 at 9:54 am

There’s little doubt that online shopping is on the rise. It’s convenient, there's unlimited choice, and consumers find it easier than ever before to find a bargain. In fact, in 2018 global online sales increased 18 percent, reaching almost $3 trillion. By 2024, the total transaction value of remote payments for digital and physical goods…

Magical (Mobile) Holiday Shopping
November 22, 2019 at 10:27 am

Do you truly enjoy shopping? In my experience, fewer than half the people I ask answer this question with a “yes.” Contrast this to how it feels to have made a truly meaningful purchase. The kind of purchase that feels personal and special, whether you’re buying it for yourself or as a gift for someone…

b8ta Launches Community-Driven Retail Concept in Los Angeles
November 5, 2019 at 1:15 pm

b8ta, the experiential retailer and pioneer of retail as a service (RaaS), is launching a new community-driven fashion and lifestyle retail concept focused on discovery and meaningful engagement. The store, called Forum, is opening in Los Angeles on Nov. 15, and will connect the modern consumer with forward-thinking brands that prioritize quality, design and sustainability.…

Why and How Social Proof Influences Consumers
October 31, 2019 at 9:22 am

It’s safe to say that in today’s consumer landscape, customers don’t only look at one form of marketing when making a purchasing decision. They amalgamate a number of factors such as advertising, word-of-mouth, sponsorships, brand, and social proof, the latter possibly the most important of the bunch. Social proofs such as reviews, social likes, “trusted…

Marketers See the Full-Funnel Potential of Instagram Stories Ads
October 3, 2019 at 3:19 pm

While retailers are doing plenty of creative things with organic (i.e., free) Instagram Stories already, on the paid side, Stories ads have officially taken off in a material way for the first time since their 2017 release. The Instagram business page about Stories ads states: “ … of the 500 million accounts using Instagram Stories,…

Tap Into the Power of Social Commerce, Part 3
August 12, 2019 at 10:06 am

Shoppable ads are just one part of the social media retail zeitgeist. The future of social shopping could give buyers more power. Instead of passively feeding data into an algorithm that decides what comes up in a social media display, consumers are seeing more options to make this kind of shopping truly personal through apps from startups that focus on social capital, loyalty programs and networking.

Tap Into the Power of Social Commerce, Part 2
August 6, 2019 at 12:30 pm

Almost every social media platform has its own form of advertising, and not all of it is currently shoppable. However, the social shopping trend demands widespread shoppable ad functionality. Therefore, it’s imperative for e-commerce marketing leaders to become familiar with at least the heavy hitters in the shoppable ads game:

Tap Into the Power of Social Commerce, Part 1
July 30, 2019 at 9:56 am

Social shopping has taken off thanks to millennials and Generation Z’s preference for using their mobile devices for everything. Mobile e-commerce is booming, and being able to shop directly through social media-based ads is no exception. Social media is the most relevant advertising channel for 50 percent of Gen Z and 42 percent of millennial…

Pinterest Enhances its Platform for Product Discovery Through Visual Search
July 1, 2019 at 12:15 pm

While attending the IRCE at RetailX conference in Chicago, Total Retail's Joe Keenan sat down for an interview with Amy Vener, head of retail strategy at Pinterest. Vener discusses how Pinterest is enhancing its platform for retailers, bringing consumers through the entire purchase journey, from inspiration and ideas to research and purchase. Furthermore, Vener touches on…