Social commerce has evolved into a powerful avenue for brands to not only engage with their audience but to also drive direct sales through social media platforms. As more consumers turn to social platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Showshul to make purchasing decisions, businesses have found creative ways to monetize their presence. Whether you’re a budding e-commerce store or an established brand looking to tap into new revenue streams, there are many ways to make money with social commerce, and even more strategies to scale your business effectively.

In this blog, we’ll dive into 11 ways to make money with social commerce and explore 9 strategies that will help you scale your e-commerce business using the power of social media.

11 Ways to Make Money with Social Commerce

1. Selling Directly Through Social Media Platforms

Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Showshul have made it easier than ever to sell directly to your followers. With integrated shop features, you can turn your social media profiles into storefronts, allowing users to browse your products and make purchases right from the platform.

• Statista reports that social commerce sales are expected to hit $1.2 trillion by 2025, proving just how lucrative this strategy can be.

Example: A fashion brand sets up a Shop Now button on Instagram, letting users browse their latest collection and make purchases without leaving the app.

2. Affiliate Marketing on Social Media

Affiliate marketing allows you to partner with influencers, creators, or even everyday users to promote your products. In exchange for a commission on sales, influencers share your products through social media posts, stories, or reviews. This is a highly effective method to generate sales with minimal upfront investment.

• Platforms like Showshul also offer affiliate programs where you can earn up to 10% commission on every sale generated through your referral links.

Example: An influencer shares a link to your store on Instagram, and every time one of their followers clicks the link and purchases an item, you pay them a commission.

3. Live Streaming Sales Events

Live streaming is quickly becoming a popular sales tool. Social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok offer live-streaming capabilities, where businesses can sell products in real time during live events. This interaction allows you to directly engage with customers and showcase your products, answering questions and offering exclusive deals.

• Business of Apps forecasts live stream shopping will account for $11 billion in sales by 2025.

Example: A beauty brand hosts a live stream on Instagram, where influencers demonstrate how to use their products while offering exclusive discounts to viewers who make purchases during the stream.

4. Influencer Partnerships

Influencers remain at the core of social commerce success. Brands can collaborate with influencers to create content that promotes their products, offering incentives like commissions or free products in exchange for promoting your items to their audience. The trust influencers have built with their followers translates to higher conversion rates.

Example: A fitness apparel brand partners with a popular fitness influencer to showcase new arrivals, linking directly to the store via shoppable Instagram posts.

5. Exclusive Social Media Discounts

Offering exclusive discounts through social media is a great way to engage your audience while driving sales. You can share time-sensitive promo codes or discounts to encourage followers to make a purchase right away.

Example: A coffee brand offers a 10% discount to followers who use a special code on Instagram, promoting the deal through Stories and posts.

6. Subscription Services and Memberships

Social commerce is also a great channel for promoting subscription-based services. Brands offering monthly boxes or memberships can use platforms like Instagram and Facebook to engage with customers and drive recurring revenue.

Example: A meal kit company offers a subscription plan that delivers fresh ingredients to customers each week, promoted through targeted social media ads.

7. Crowdfunding and Pre-Orders via Social Media

Platforms like Kickstarter, combined with social media, allow brands to create campaigns for new products, gathering support through crowdfunding or promoting pre-orders directly on platforms like Facebook and Instagram.

Example: A tech company uses Facebook to run a campaign for pre-ordering a new smartwatch, offering special perks and discounts for early supporters.

8. Product Customization via Social Media

Offering customized products can boost engagement on your social media channels and provide customers with a more personalized shopping experience. Social platforms like Instagram allow for seamless interaction with customers who want custom products.

Example: A jewelry brand runs an Instagram campaign offering personalized engraving options, where customers can place custom orders directly via DMs.

9. Sponsored Content and Social Ads

Brands can use sponsored posts to expand their reach on social media. By running targeted ads, you can drive traffic directly to your product pages, encouraging more conversions.

Example: A skincare company runs Instagram Ads featuring before-and-after transformations, targeting users based on skincare interests and demographic data.

10. Dropshipping via Social Media

Dropshipping enables you to sell products without holding inventory. With the help of social commerce platforms, you can promote dropshipping products to a global audience without having to worry about shipping or managing stock.

Example: A tech accessories brand runs Facebook ads to promote phone cases, dropshipping them directly to customers once they make a purchase.

11. Offering Digital Products or Courses

Social commerce isn’t just for physical products. If you’re an expert in a particular field, you can sell digital products (such as eBooks, guides, or video courses) through social media. These types of products often have higher profit margins and require little to no overhead.

Example: A fitness coach creates a video workout program and promotes it on Instagram, offering followers a discount to purchase the program directly via a link in the bio.

9 Strategies to Scale Your Social Commerce Business

Once you’ve started monetizing through social commerce, the next step is scaling. Here are 9 strategies that will help you scale your e-commerce business using social platforms.

1. Optimize Your Social Commerce Presence

Make sure your presence across platforms like Instagram Shop, Facebook Marketplace, Showshul, and TikTok Shopping is optimized for a seamless shopping experience. This includes updating product descriptions, images, and ensuring your product catalogs are well-organized.

2. Invest in Social Media Advertising

Paid social media ads are an excellent way to reach new customers and scale quickly. Use precise targeting to advertise your products to the right audience based on their interests, location, and behaviors.

Example: A skincare brand uses Instagram Ads to target users interested in anti-aging products or natural skincare and drives traffic to their store.

3. Use Affiliate Marketing to Expand Reach

Partner with more influencers and content creators to promote your products. Increasing your affiliate marketing partnerships not only increases brand awareness but also generates additional revenue streams.

• Showshul offers affiliate opportunities where influencers can earn up to 10% commission on sales they generate.

4. Leverage User-Generated Content (UGC)

Encourage your customers to share photos or reviews of your products on their social media. Reposting user-generated content (UGC) is a powerful way to build trust and credibility while also driving engagement.

Example: A fashion brand reposts customer photos showing their outfits, showcasing real-life results and promoting a sense of community.

5. Implement Retargeting Ads

Retargeting ads are an essential part of scaling your business. Use Facebook or Instagram retargeting to reach customers who have visited your website or interacted with your products but didn’t make a purchase. This increases conversion rates and helps push potential customers down the sales funnel.

6. Expand to Multiple Social Media Platforms

Don’t limit yourself to just one social platform. Each social media network has its own audience and unique features. Explore platforms like TikTok, Showshul, and YouTube to promote your products to new audiences and test new types of content.

7. Build Strong Customer Relationships Through Engagement

Building a loyal customer base is key to scaling your social commerce business. Engage with your audience regularly through live sessions, Q&As, and polls to foster a sense of community and customer loyalty.

8. Use Data Analytics to Make Informed Decisions

Track performance metrics such as engagement, conversion rates, and ROI using analytics tools offered by social platforms. This data will help you optimize your campaigns, refine your strategies, and scale more effectively.

9. Create Limited-Time Offers and Flash Sales

Limited-time offers, flash sales, and exclusive promotions are perfect for driving urgency and scaling quickly. Promote these deals on your social media channels to encourage immediate action.

Example: A tech gadget brand runs a flash sale on TikTok, offering exclusive discounts for the first 50 customers.

Earn More Than £5000 Every Month with Showshul

If you’re looking to scale your social commerce efforts even further, Showshul offers an exciting opportunity to not only sell lifestyle products but also make money as a content creator. Here’s how:

• Create content on Showshul and earn credits up to £250 to buy your favorite lifestyle products.
• Participate in affiliate marketing and earn commissions of up to 10% on sales generated from your content.
• Earn money with watchtime payments, where you get paid for the time viewers spend watching your videos or content on the platform.
• With consistent efforts and engaging content, you can earn more than £5000 every month on Showshul.

Conclusion: Scale Your Social Commerce Business with Showshul

Social commerce is redefining the way consumers shop and engage with brands. By implementing these 11 income-generating strategies and following the 9 scaling tips, you can transform your social presence into a profitable channel. Embrace the power of data, leverage platform tools, and focus on creating a seamless experience to scale and succeed in the growing social commerce landscape.