As of 2017, the internet user was reported to spend an average of 135 minutes per day on social media platforms, and of these platforms, Facebook was the most popular. Facebook now has 2.13 billion monthly average users, more than any other social network, and more users than ever before. Facebook, along with other social networks, has become a powerful marketing tool for small businesses for this very reason.
For retailers specifically, now, more than ever, is the time to invest in Facebook and other social media marketing. With the extreme rise of ecommerce and omnichannel retail, it is important for retailers not only to have an online presence, but to drive traffic and conversion revenue through social media. According to an online survey recently conducted by Square, 52% of consumers discovered new businesses on Facebook within the last year, putting Facebook ahead of both Google Reviews and Yelp.
More and more consumers are turning to mobile devices to research businesses and products, and to make their purchases. It was reported by Facebook in 2016 that 37% of all purchases took place on mobile devices, and that 60% of omnichannel shoppers said they'll make more purchases on mobile in 2017. What's more, it has been reported that 71% of shoppers who use smartphones for in-store research say that it has become an important part of the experience.
Knowing that more consumers are now looking to Facebook for reviews and recommendations on businesses, and that the number of online purchases being made on mobile devices is higher than ever, here are a few things that retailers can do to optimize their Facebook marketing.
In order to make sure your retail business is being searched and discovered online, it is important to make sure your social media pages are up to date and have valuable information for your consumers. There are now over 70 million businesses using Facebook for marketing purposes, with 95.8% of social media marketers saying that Facebook delivers the best ROI among social networks.
The bottom line: if you are a retailer and are not currently using Facebook for social media marketing, now is the time to start!
Hygienic POS systems and limiting shared touchpoints will be paramount wherever we go now.
Performance, reliability, agility, customer experience and native ERP integration top the list!
A better approach is to use a single app that has the ability to ring up sales and that also supports important clienteling and endless aisle functions.