Facebook has continued to bring significant updates to benefit the retailers and brands, to thrive in the current pandemic situation. While the big announcements started back in May 2020 with the clue of “Facebook Shops”; the social media giant has come up with fresh Commerce updates providing businesses with an array of ways to connect with customers and tools to sell effortlessly across the platforms.
Let’s dive in deeper on each update:
Facebook Shop Tab in the App
Introducing a new “Shop” tab in its app, Facebook is creating a new place to discover businesses and shop for products in the Facebook app. The Shop tab on Facebook will allow people to find and buy products from creators and brands, all in one place.
The Facebook Shop tab will be available in the “options” menu and will showcase the products from the brands and businesses who are directly selling on the platform. Currently, Facebook is testing the feature in the US, complementing it with the newly launched Instagram Shops in July 2020.
A Plethora of New tools for Commerce on Facebook
“More than 85% of people are now shopping online” – The accelerated shift towards online shopping gave birth to Facebook and Instagram Shops, the virtual storefronts that could help people purchase products they love right at the moment of discovery.
In the latest update, Facebook is making Shops available to all the eligible businesses around the world with some of the exciting features relating to customization, messaging and shopping insights. The prime features revealed are:
- A range of new design layouts to feature single products or groups of products in Shops
- Real-time preview of your designed collections
- Ease of creating the Shops for new sellers automatically.
- New and advanced insights to measure your results in Commerce Manager
These options will be available in the ‘Customize Your Shop’ tool within the Commerce Manager. The box-full of Facebook tools for small businesses will help merchants to create attractive and engaging shop displays.
Extending checkout on Instagram
In the series of subsequent updates, checkout on Instagram will be rolling in for all eligible businesses in the US. To leverage this feature, businesses need to work with the partners who will help them set up the Facebook Commerce Manager. It’s been a while since checkout on Instagram was open for selected US brands on an invite basis.
87% of people say that influencers inspire them to make a purchase. Instagram has always been a medium of inspiration and product discovery; and checkout on Instagram makes it quick, easy and secure for people to buy products they find on Instagram, without leaving the app.
Waiving off Facebook Selling Fee
In the light of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Facebook is waiving off all selling fees till 30th June 2022. By this move, Facebook has contributed to reducing the hardship and costs for small and medium businesses, especially during the current economic crisis.
Connect More with Messaging and Live Shopping
Keeping the in-store experience of real-time communication with the merchants and the convenience of online shopping in balance; Facebook is testing the new “messaging button on Shops”; which will make it easy for prospects to contact the sellers through Messenger, WhatsApp or Instagram Direct soon.
Facebook is establishing its dominant presence not just as a social media platform but also in the growing eCommerce regime. While there is an 80% increase in time spent watching videos on Instagram; Facebook is also testing the Live Shopping feature on both Facebook and Instagram Shops.
The Live Shopping feature of Facebook creates a live experience; where businesses can feature products from their Shop and sell directly from the video. With these series of updates, Instagram Live Shopping will now be available to all businesses and creators using checkout in the US.
Grab the most out of these Updates!
These significant moves from Facebook are evident to establish the fact that, with more and more people shopping online; brands and creators need to harness these social channels to increase their presence and growth.
CedCommerce being one of the listing partners of Facebook is all set to help brands and SMBs scale this opportunity; easing the entire eCommerce ecosystem — right from onboarding to hassle-free selling across the Facebook channel.