Social platforms are making moves in eCommerce

This won’t come as a surprise to anyone, but the big players in social media are finding new ways to monetise their platforms. The shift towards full eCommerce platforms has been particularly apparent in recent weeks, with the introduction of new storefront features. So, what’s new? And more importantly, what does it mean? We’re glad you asked:

What’s new

  • Facebook and Instagram have launched ‘Shops,’ which will allow visitors to make purchases without having to leave Facebook and Instagram apps. While eCommerce features have been available for some time on both platforms, the update will allow accounts to act as a full-fledged storefront. Businesses will be able to create a shop for free — they just upload their catalogue, choose the products they want to feature, then customise it with a cover image and accent colours. Visitors can then browse, save and order products.
  • Pinterest has also made some serious eCommerce advancements, with the launch of a new ‘Shop’ tab. Users can now find buyable items based on an image. The process is enabled through the expansion of Shoppable Pins, making it easier for Shopify merchants to upload their entire product offerings to the platform.

What this trend means

These updates point to a new trend in the way customers do their shopping. Rather than compiling desired items and creating lengthy lists, consumers want to be inspired by real-world imagery and examples. This image-based shopping is as close as it gets to the real thing, imitating the act of wandering through store shop and browsing at sales items.

If you’re a B2C brand looking to up your e-commerce game on social media, drop us a note.

Latest Posts

Everyone said Threads was just another desperate attempt by Meta to copy Twitter – and, well – they were right. But two years down the line and Threads is slowly building its own case…for itself, and against its rivals X and Bluesky. In July 2023, Threads emerged gaining 2 million…
Read More
AI is accelerating. Reels are rising. And your content plan deserves better than guesswork. I know you’re busy. You’re juggling campaign deadlines before summer, trying to keep pace with platform changes, and just when you thought you had the hang of it – eek! Social moves…
Read More
If you’re creating social media content regularly, you know how chaotic things can get. Endless campaigns, shifting priorities, last-minute changes… It’s a lot. That’s why design templates are more than a convenience; they’re a strategic foundation for marketing on social. Done right, they can boost consistency, save hours, and improve…
Read More