March 25, 2025
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, there’s no denying that social media has seeped into almost every aspect of our daily lives. It’s how we consume news, curate the perfect aesthetic, and even stalk exes.
Business owners have found another use for these crafty platforms. Social media buying, or social commerce, is expanding beyond the traditional realms of eCommerce. The fusion of content and commerce has yielded a literal goldmine for big and small businesses.
Forbes predicts the sector will hit $1.2 trillion by the end of the year, and those are just conservative figures. Consider this: nearly 5 billion online users globally are low-hanging fruit ripe for the picking. It presents a unique opportunity to establish direct connections with consumers, driving sales and revenue streams.
Below, we’ll explore how your business can leverage social media to reach a wider audience and increase earnings.
According to the 2025 Sprout Social Index, Gen Z lives on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.
Young people use these apps to have fun and keep in touch with friends and family. However, social platforms know how appealing their reach is to businesses.
TikTok, for example, reportedly aimed to grow its U.S. eCommerce sales to a massive $17.5 billion by the end of last year. They rolled out a TikTok Shop.
While businesses have mixed feelings, the Consumer Trends survey found that 69% of users are open to buying products directly from the app.
Other platforms have jumped in as well. Pinterest makes it easier to sell by launching a shopping API that helps brands manage catalogs and beef up their product information.
Whether selling SaaS software video games, or a physical product, consider working with an omnichannel method in your business strategy.
Entrepreneur reports that social media is constantly evolving and keeping up with users’ demands. What they want is to shop while scrolling.
Brands are leaning into consumer behavior by making it easy to shop in the app. Do you see something you want? Just buy it without leaving your favorite platform or the influencer you’re following.
Implementing in-app purchases doesn’t have to be a gargantuan headache. PayPro Global says that by partnering with the right payment platform, global payment barriers are eliminated.
A flexible checkout plug-in to your website and or app enables hassle-free purchases.
Despite having a large social media following or likes, it doesn’t mean it will translate into sales.
One of the biggest challenges for businesses getting into social commerce is earning trust.
People might scroll through social media for hours, but their mindset changes when it’s time to buy something from your brand. It's a bigger commitment, and not everyone feels ready for that just yet.
The good news is that the tide is slowly turning in the opposite direction. A survey found that trust is built over time for older shoppers.
This group cares a lot about security and sticking with brands they already know, which is where the big names have the upper hand.
However, younger shoppers rely more on reviews and what other buyers are saying. Even if your brand isn’t as strong, offering real value can go a long way in earning trust, especially when happy customers start spreading the word.
AI has great payoffs and offers valuable insights when scaling content, getting discovered, and keeping people engaged.
Business.com says Instagram is the best platform for connecting with your target audience. Generative AI can give you a competitive edge by tweaking product photos and writing captions that align with your brand while still speaking your audience’s language.
Businesses can use AI to boost visibility on TikTok by tapping into customer data. AI generates targeted hashtags and descriptions to reach the right audience. These additions help the algorithm understand who the content is for, making it easier to get discovered.
Social commerce may be in its infancy, but all the signs point to a sector worth exploring. About $1.2 trillion is a lot of Goober Dollars. Factor in 5 billion global online users, and that's prime real estate.
Yes, consumers remain skeptical, but if you can get them to trust you as a brand, it could open more doors and other opportunities. When eCommerce first came onto the scene, shoppers were doubtful. It took them a while to warm up to buying everything online.
Businesses can no longer ignore the shift to social commerce. You’re halfway there by leveraging AI, brand loyalty, and implementing an omnichannel approach.
