Any online store or e-commerce solution requires internet traffic in order to earn a profit. So many different stores and businesses now sell products and services through the web that there is ample competition in virtually every niche. The frustration for a brand just starting out can be massive, especially when they discover just how much work it takes to break into the top rankings of Google and other search engines. Fortunately, there are other venues through which you can sell products and services. Social media is one great example, and we’ll outline today how you can use social media to boost sales.

Be Active on the Right Networks

Above all else, boosting sales of your products and services is easy to do – when you’re putting them in front of the right audiences. Not all social media networks are equally beneficial to your brand; using a variety of data-points and consumer information can help you determine where best to spend your time. Pinging users on Instagram, for instance, may not be as productive if you’re offering a business product. By figuring out where your audience is – and in what quantities – you can  be sure to allocate as much effort as possible where it’ll pay the most dividends.

Use Retargeting

Your greatest chance of selling a product or service to someone is when you’re targeting people who have already made a purchase. The notion of retargeting is huge in today’s marketing world and makes it possible for you to advertise and reach those who have already engaged with your brand. Whether you want to target those who have made a prior purchase or merely those who visited your site – but who didn’t follow through with a purchase – there is ample benefit in this strategy. Most social media advertising platforms allow for retargeting, so you’ll never have to miss a sell because someone was too busy to follow-through with their purchase the first time.

Use Live Video

Last but not least, be sure to give your audience an intimate taste of the brand by interacting with them in real time. Research shows that in-person forms of interaction can drastically improve the likelihood of making a sale, and there is evidence that suggests live video qualifies as such. Whether you’re holding Q&A sessions about your offerings or merely showcasing them, be sure to interact with anybody willing to join the conversation and you’ll be much more likely to earn their business.

Allocate Funds

Social media advertising seems to be the next big thing – and with good reason. An increasing number of online businesses are forgoing SEO entirely, opting instead to invest in paid social media ad campaigns. While we don’t recommend giving up on search engines entirely, businesses that focus on paid advertising via social media do tend to generate more sales than those that don’t. As long as you keep a responsible ad budget in place, you can be pinging users every day with links to fresh products and services.

Increasing sales is arguably the biggest goal of any business or brand. What are some other ways that you’ve tried to increase sales of your products? Tell us below in the comments.