Social Media
Our social media marketing coverage addresses management tools, educational courses, platform tips, social analytics, and strategies for Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and more. We’ve interviewed merchants who rely on social media traffic, and vendors who provide specialized services.
-
Social Media
Optimize Facebook Ads with Better Images and Copy
October 28, 2020 • Kaleena Stroud
Despite the chatter around its dwindling reach, Facebook remains hugely popular. It has twice the number of users than Instagram, for example, according to Sprout Social. But gaining users’ attention on Facebook via advertising can be difficult.
-
Social Media
How 20 Leading Brands Use Facebook to Engage Audiences
October 6, 2020 • Sig Ueland
According to its March 31 quarter-end results, Facebook has 2.60 billion monthly active users and 1.73 billion daily active users. For brands, Facebook can be a place to engage and inspire. Here is a list of brands that have successfully grown audiences on Facebook.
-
Social Media
14 Tools for Selling on Facebook and Instagram
September 28, 2020 • Sig Ueland
Shopping on Facebook and Instagram is finally here. With the recent launches of Shops on both apps and Live Shopping, Facebook is facilitating easier commerce across its platform. Here is a list of tools to help you sell on Facebook and Instagram.
-
Social Media
9 Pointers for High-converting Instagram Ads
September 27, 2020 • Kaleena Stroud
Instagram ads appear in users' feeds. The ads look like a regular post but with a sponsored label and a colored call-to-action button. What follows are nine tips for high-converting Instagram ads.
-
Social Media
8 Ways to Drive Product Sales on Instagram
July 29, 2020 • Kaleena Stroud
More than 130 million users tap on an Instagram shopping post at least monthly. That activity, combined with new shopping features, confirms that Instagram is quickly turning into one of the largest mobile shopping platforms. In this post, I'll review the top avenues for getting your products in front of an Instagram audience.
-
Social Media
Advanced Strategies for Selling on Instagram
June 28, 2020 • Kaleena Stroud
Last month I addressed content ideas to maximize an Instagram feed to attract followers. In this post, I'll discuss strategies to optimize Instagram posts to retain and engage an audience of potential buyers.
-
Social Media
Writing Instagram Captions to Drive Sales
May 31, 2020 • Kaleena Stroud
Instagram is a hotspot for building an audience and selling products. Each image caption allows up to 2,200 characters, or roughly 300 words. In this article, I'll discuss posts and captions that drive sales on Instagram.
-
Social Media
Facebook Shops Are an Ecommerce Game Changer
May 22, 2020 • Armando Roggio
When the world's largest social media network decides to become an ecommerce platform, you can bet it will impact the industry and make a difference long-term. On May 19, 2020, Facebook added ecommerce Shops to Facebook business pages and Instagram business profiles.
-
Social Media
17 Free Tools for Social Media Analytics
April 6, 2020 • Sig Ueland
Social media can help brands distribute marketing content and engage customers. Free analytics tools can ensure that a brand's message is connecting with the right audience. Here is a list of useful analytics tools to optimize your social media accounts.
-
Social Media
20 New Social Media Tools for Merchants
March 2, 2020 • Sig Ueland
Take advantage of new and updated social media tools to enhance your ecommerce business. Here is a list of recent launches from social media platforms. There are tools for content management, video production, 3D images, content monetization, micro-loan financing, networking your business, and more.
-
Social Media
28 Helpful Marketing Tutorials for Facebook
February 3, 2020 • Sig Ueland
Facebook Blueprint offers free courses and learning paths about marketing on Facebook and its platforms, including Instagram, Messenger, and Audience Network. Here is a list of recent tutorials for Facebook.
-
Social Media
16 Tools to Grow a YouTube Channel
January 13, 2020 • Sig Ueland
Here is a list of tools to grow an audience on YouTube. There are tools to produce and distribute content, manage campaigns, improve search engine optimization, find the right influencers and consultants, and track results.
-
Social Media
What’s the Value of Social Media?
December 18, 2019 • Anna Kayfitz
Ecommerce companies have different approaches to social media. Some view it as a way to generate brand awareness, such as with print and television ads. Others use it as a customer service portal for engagement. Regardless of the approach, a company that spends time or money on social media should measure the results.
-
Social Media
13 New Social Networks for 2020
December 16, 2019 • Sig Ueland
Social networks can help merchants reach prospects, establish professional contacts, and research markets. They can also be a good way to share experiences and meet people.
-
Social Media
22 Free Tools for Facebook Marketing
November 25, 2019 • Sig Ueland
With 2.45 billion monthly users, Facebook is the largest social network worldwide. It’s also an essential marketing platform for many businesses to reach new and existing customers. And there are plenty of free tools for marketing on Facebook.
-
Social Media
Top 15 Brand Channels on YouTube
October 15, 2019 • Sig Ueland
Interested in using video to promote your business or product? Try looking at what’s working for other companies. Here is a list of the top 15 YouTube brand channels in the U.S. by total views.
-
Social Media
An Ecommerce Social Media Plan for the Holidays
September 19, 2019 • Armando Roggio
Social media posts can play an important role in a retailer's holiday promotions by engaging, informing, and encouraging potential shoppers. Social media is typically most effective when marketers plan and schedule well in advance. For your company's holiday social media campaigns, consider the following questions.
-
Social Media
23 Twitter Feeds for Ecommerce Merchants to Follow
September 9, 2019 • Sig Ueland
Here is a list of Twitter feeds for online merchants to follow. Most feeds are from individuals although a few are from application platforms. The feeds are separated into ecommerce, marketing, and design categories.
-
Social Media
15 Buzz-worthy Giveaway Contests on Social Media
August 19, 2019 • Sig Ueland
A giveaway contest is an enduring promotional tool. A contest attracts and rewards fans, and the item is usually the prize. Here is a list of notable contest examples on social media.
-
Social Media
10 Impressive Social Media Campaigns from Brands in 2019
July 29, 2019 • Sig Ueland
Here is a list of recent social media campaigns from large brands. Several of the campaigns revolve around broad social and cultural issues, such as climate change and the #MeToo movement.
-
Social Media
12 Ways to Attract Instagram Followers and Drive Engagement
June 7, 2019 • Viktoria Kanevsky
Instagram plays an enormous role in social media marketing and advertising. In this post, I'll offer 12 ways to improve Instagram performance — to attract followers, engage them, and ultimately generate traffic and sales to your ecommerce site.
-
Social Media
15 Top Brands on Instagram, for Inspiration
May 20, 2019 • Sig Ueland
Studying prominent brands on Instagram can help merchants generate ideas for their own marketing campaigns. Here is a list of the top brands on Instagram ranked by followers. To attract followers, the brands use behind-the-scenes and do-it-yourself content and inspiring images and videos.
-
Social Media
17 Instagram Accounts for Design, Color, Illustration, More
April 29, 2019 • Sig Ueland
Here is a list of Instagram feeds to follow for all aspects of web design, including color, illustration, animation, photography, typography, and storytelling. The accounts are from independent designers and artists, design studios, and creative ad agencies.
-
Social Media
12 Apps for Creating Instagram Stories
January 14, 2019 • Sig Ueland
Using Instagram Stories, businesses can attract followers with dynamic product and brand content. Here is a list of tools for creating Instagram Stories. There are templates, easy-to-use video editors, and full content production platforms. All of these tools are free, though most offer premium add-ons.
-
Social Media
10 New Social Networks for 2019
December 10, 2018 • Sig Ueland
New social networks help merchants reach customers and team members. Here is a list of new social networks — building on our comprehensive list from 2017, "105 Leading Social Networks Worldwide." Several new networks are from established social media companies, while others offer independent, open-source, and ad-free alternatives.
-
Social Media
20 New Tools from Social Media Platforms
November 19, 2018 • Sig Ueland
By following the launches and updates of social media platforms, merchants can discover new ways to reach customers and prospects. Here is a list of recent updates from social media platforms. There are tools for interactive video, customer service, analytics, artificial intelligence, visual search, and shoppable images.
-
Social Media
An Email List Isn’t Just for Emailing
November 13, 2018 • Michael Stancil
An email list is one of the central components of many marketing campaigns, beyond email marketing. Having email addresses is the difference between a targeted message versus scatter. The best email lists contain more info than just the address.
-
Social Media
Use Facebook Groups to Promote Your Ecommerce Business
October 22, 2018 • Armando Roggio
Ecommerce businesses can use Facebook groups to help potential customers, build strong reciprocal relationships, and encourage sales. Maintaining or contributing to a Facebook group is a form of both social media ...
-
Social Media
11 YouTube Channels for Digital Marketing
October 8, 2018 • Sig Ueland
YouTube is a helpful resource for learning digital marketing strategies from expert influencers. There are a variety of channels, offering plenty of practical tips and techniques to market your brand. Here is a list of YouTube channels for digital marketing.
-
Social Media
3 Tips for Hiring (or Not) a Social Media Marketer
September 18, 2018 • Michael Stancil
You’ve made a critical decision for your company: It’s time to hire a social media marketer. Or is it that time? I ask because it’s important to know the answer ...