Shopping platforms have come a long way in recent years. No longer are people limited to brick and mortar stores when it comes to finding the perfect product. A variety of online shopping platforms now offer users the opportunity to browse an endless selection of items, filtered by their specific interests. But with so many options available, which platform is the best for you?
In this article, we’ll explore what social commerce platforms are and how they differ from regular online shopping platforms. We’ll also take a closer look at some of the most popular social commerce platforms and show you how to get started using them. So whether you’re looking for a new platform to shop on or just want to learn more about social commerce, this article has you covered!
What Is Social Commerce?
Social commerce is a term used for online platforms that allow customers to buy products or services from businesses using social media. These platforms combine the functions of social media networks with e-commerce, providing a space for customers and businesses to connect and transact.
While there are many different social commerce platforms available, they all offer the ability for customers to browse products, read reviews, and make purchases without leaving the platform.
This makes social commerce an ideal solution for busy shoppers who want convenience and simplicity. Additionally, social commerce platforms provide businesses with a new way to reach potential customers and build relationships with existing ones.
Top 8 Social Commerce Platforms and Apps of 2024:
1. Amazon Live
Amazon Live is a live-streaming social commerce platform that enables Amazon shoppers to watch and shop for products in real-time. Launched in June 2019, Amazon Live is available exclusively to Amazon Prime members in the United States. Amazon Live streams live video content 24/7, featuring both Amazon and third-party brands.
The platform also offers a chat function that allows viewers to ask questions and interact with the host. To date, Amazon Live has featured a variety of product categories, including beauty, electronics, fashion, and home décor. In addition to enabling shoppers to buy products directly from Amazon, Amazon Live also provides an opportunity for brands to connect with customers and promote their latest products.
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2. Instagram Shopping
Instagram Shopping is the best social commerce platform that allows Instagram users to shop for products directly from Instagram posts. It lets you view product details, such as pricing and availability, without leaving the Instagram app.
You can also tap on a product tag to buy the product or learn more about it. To use Instagram Shopping, you must first connect your Instagram account to a Facebook Shop. Once you’ve done that, you can start shopping! Just look for the Instagram Shopping icon (a small white shopping bag) on product posts. When you see it, just tap on the icon to view product details.
3. Snapchat Shopping
Snapchat Shopping feature makes Snapchat a popular social commerce platform to purchase products directly from Snapchat. It is available on Snapchat’s website and app. It allows Snapchat users to browse, purchase, and review products from Snapchat.
Moreover, Snapchat Shopping also allows Snapchat users to share products with their friends. Snapchat Shopping is a convenient way for Snapchat users to shop for products. Snapchat Shopping is a safe and secure way to shop for products.
Just open Snapchat and tap the Profile button in the top-left corner. Next, open Settings. Click the ‘Snap Store’ tab and start browsing.
4. Pinterest Shopping
Pinterest has always been a visual discovery engine and a place to save ideas for projects, products, and places. Just like other social commerce platforms on the list, Pinterest Shopping is a new way to discover and buy the things you love on Pinterest. It’s easy to find the right product at the right price from the thousands of brands and retailers who are promoting their products on Pinterest.
When you see something you like, just tap “Buy it” to start your purchase. Pinterest Shopping is available in the US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Australia. Pinterest will soon be adding more countries and languages. They want to make Pinterest Shopping available to everyone in the world.
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5. Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace is a feature of the Facebook social media platform that enables users to buy and sell items within their local communities. Launched in October 2016, Facebook Marketplace is similar to other online marketplaces such as eBay and Amazon, but with a few key differences.
First, Facebook Marketplace is integrated with the Facebook platform, which makes it easy to use for Facebook users who are already familiar with the site.
Second, Facebook Marketplace uses Facebook’s vast network of users to connect buyers and sellers, which can potentially lead to better deals and more qualified leads.
Finally, Facebook takes a hands-off approach to transactions between users, allowing them to work out the details between themselves. This makes Facebook Marketplace a great option for those looking for an easy and convenient way to buy and sell items online.
6. TikTok Shopping
TikTok Shopping is a new feature that allows TikTok users to browse and purchase products directly from TikTok videos and this is what makes it a great social commerce platform. TikTok Shopping is available on both the TikTok app and the TikTok website. TikTok Shopping videos are labeled with a “Shop Now” button, and viewers can click on the button to see more information about the product, including pricing and availability.
TikTok Shopping is currently available in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. TikTok plans to roll out TikTok Shopping to more countries in the future.
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7. WeChat
WeChat allows for the growth of social selling through its mini-programs. These are pivotal to success on this platform because they allow people who share eCommerce-related content and shopping experiences within them to communicate with each other as well as vendors, giving buyers an opportunity that is not available anywhere else: affordable pricing with no high-pressure sales tactics!
Some popular ones include Pinduoduo which gives discounts if you team up with others during bulk purchases; OEM Shop has been around since 2014 – it helps manufacturers sell directly
8. Google Shopping
Google is the world’s largest search engine, so it’s no surprise that the company has also entered the social commerce space. In fact, Google Shopping (formerly Google Product Search) was launched in the United States in 2002, and it has since expanded to include tens of millions of products from hundreds of thousands of retailers. The service is available in more than 30 countries.
Google Shopping allows businesses to create a product listing on the platform. It also allows users to filter their search results by product category, price, brand, and other criteria. It lets you compare prices and this makes it easy for users to find value-for-money products and make purchases without leaving the platform.
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Conclusion
It’s not hard to see the potential in social commerce. Platforms and apps that can harness the power of social media and create a seamless buying experience for users are poised to take over the eCommerce world. We’ve seen some amazing advances in social commerce over the past few years, and we can only expect more innovation in this area as time goes on.
What do you think will be the top 8 social commerce platforms & apps of 2024? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
