Want to boost sales with social media? But without sounding like a walking billboard? That’s where social selling comes in.
What is Social Selling?
Salesforce describes social selling as a lead-generation technique allowing storefronts, like yours, to connect with prospects over social media platforms. It means showing up with purpose… not transactionally, but intentionally.
Build trust, earn attention, and make it easy for people to buy from you. Start by keeping an ear to the ground. And do away with traditional, outbound marketing.
No cold DMs.
No cringey pitches.
No midnight infomercials.
Seize smart, simple strategies which leverage user-generated conversations. Pay mind to what’s being posted, picked apart, or praised in your industry. Does your product or price point disrupt the dialogue? Bridge the gap? Offer a solid solution?
That’s your cue to sync up with the masses and enter the online chat. It doesn’t matter if you’re an e-commerce giant or a single-use manufacturer. The marketing playbook is essentially the same. That’s good news!
Ready for the best part? In this post, we’re unboxing effective, inbound social selling strategies for B2C verticals. Boost sales with social media whether you’re a brick-and-mortar, third party distributor, or direct-to-consumer retailer.
Take your digital engagement to new heights. We’re talking 30 to 60 days to see an uptick in inquiries as well as supply and demand. Let’s get started.
Social Selling is Really Social Listening. Here Are 5 “Secret Whispers” That Consumers Can’t Ignore. And Neither Should You.
📣 First Things First: Build a Strong Social Media Presence
Here is the truth: your audience wants to hear from you on social media.
A whopping 93% of consumers expect brands to be online and in step with today’s high-tech digital culture. That means staying relevant, consistent, and engaging. A strong presence builds trust. And trust builds sales. It’s that simple.
💬 Get ‘Em Talking: Charm and Disarm Loyal Customers
If you’re not connecting with a target audience, you’re missing conversions.
Start with these five quick wins:
- Respond to comments—don’t ghost your followers.
- Repurpose internal content—parcel blogs, press releases, etc.
- Use social listening—tap into trending topics and consumer perceptions.
- Invite feedback—publish polls, stickers, and insightful questions.
- Share the love—repost content from reputable leaders in your space.
Let’s get even more granular. Here is how to keep your message on point:
- Instagram → Visuals are everything. Think reels, carousels, and stories. Post 3–7x per week with 3–5 hashtags. NOTE: hyperlinks aren’t permitted in captions; direct folks to your bio section instead.
- Facebook → Keep it short and scrollable. Brief captions, 1–2 hashtags, and product-driven videos are keystones. Aim for 1–2 posts per day.
- LinkedIn → Bring your brain. Share articles, tell behind-the-scenes stories, and ask open-ended questions. Post 2–3x per week to stay top of mind.
Want more? We compiled a true-blue guide to engagement (read it for the full rundown).
🛍️ Turn Posts Into Paydays: Set Up Your Social Shop
Once they’re hooked, how do you turn followers into buyers? Ultimately, you make shopping seamless. Let’s start with two platforms that make it easy: Instagram and Facebook.
Instagram Shops act like an e-commerce storefront embedded directly into your profile. You can organize products into collections, tag items right in your posts, and allow visitors to save itemized wish lists.
To get started, you’ll need:
- An Instagram Business account
- An eligible e-commerce site
- A presence in a supported market (US, Canada, UK)
Here is a quick tutorial for further guidance.
Facebook Shops are also a free enterprise, which conveniently integrates with Instagram. You can link the two platforms, manage your product catalog in one place, and reach potential buyers simultaneously.
Streamline a point of sale (POS) system in two ways:
- Redirect to your website: customers tap a product in socials and check it out on your website, instantly, via an in-app browser.
- Use in-app checkout: customers buy directly within the app using Facebook Pay. Approved payments are sent to your linked account.
Bottom line: social storefronts are worth their weight in gold. In fact, by the end of 2025, 1 in 5 online purchases will likely happen on social media. Give your profit and loss statement a healthy dose of dollars and cents. Go digital, friends.
🛒 Curtail Empty Carts: Showcase Content That Sells
Once your shop is up and running, your content needs to drive sales. That means showing products in real situations, creating a sense of connection, and making next steps fluid.
Social selling may include:
- Behind-the-scenes looks at your process or team
- Quick product demos or tutorials
- User-generated content with real people and real results
- Before-and-after transformations, especially for beauty or home care categories
To make content convert, focus on structure. Promotional posts need a clear benefit, a product tag, and a single call to action. Keep captions short, averaging 10 to 20 words, ideally.
Want to add personality? Insert one to three emojis that fit your signature brand. As always, tag products directly to make checkout a breeze.
Want to boost reach? Mention mutual partners, suppliers, or creators. These shoutouts often lead to reshares by third party affiliates, fueling broader engagement.
Make sure visual aids are doing their job too:
- Use full-screen images that work well on mobile
- Include faces, roving graphics, or bold colors to stop the scroll
- Add short, readable text overlay for headlines and taglines
- Keep layouts clean, not cluttered to attract attention
Of course, check your Commerce Manager insights regularly. Are people clicking? Buying? Sharing? Use that data to fine-tune what you post and present to the public.
Lastly, don’t forget to refresh collections and product pages. Bundle items that go together, feature seasonal favorites, and write short, clear descriptions. Help customers imagine the feeling of using your product. Sensory and immersive experiences can’t be beat.
🎯 Hit the Bullseye: Boost Sales With Social Media Ads
It’s every retailer’s dream to reach the right audience—fast. To take social selling further, invest in paid social media ads.
Make every penny count:
- Target smart. Segment by location, interests, and behavioral filters to display ads to intended shoppers.
- Include product tags. As previously mentioned, shoppable ads let users buy directly from Instagram or Facebook.
- Boost what’s working. Put dollars behind posts receiving high engagement organically; this will increase conversions exponentially.
- Test, then scale. Run small campaigns, track results, and refine your strategy over time.
🚀 Ready for Ignition? You’ve Got the Tools to Rule the Digital E-Commerce Space in 60 Days (…Or Less). Make Social Selling a Part of the Plan.
You’ve just walked through the strategies that help retailers boost sales with social media—without being pushy or boring. From content that connects to storefronts that convert, your social selling toolkit is officially stacked.
The next step? Putting it into action. Whether you’re just starting out or ready to scale, I’m here to help make it easier. And way less stressful.
Book a free, 30-minute strategy call with me (Melissa 👋) and get clear, customized tactics to grow your online presence.
Because social media is moving swiftly—and your sales should keep pace too.