With 72% of Egyptians buying more online since the pandemic, e-commerce is one of the best options if you want to know how to make money online in Egypt. Although lucrative, selling online is also highly competitive. If you’re just starting out in retail or have a small business, you need to make sure your products find their way to your target consumers.
How does brand discovery happen? In Egypt, shoppers find new sellers on popular social media platforms, Facebook (83%) and Instagram (43%). Social commerce has become a game-changer for businesses worldwide, especially for new or unknown brands. Egypt is no exception, with many entrepreneurs and established brands tapping into the immense potential of social media platforms to market and sell their products.
How do you use social media for your e-commerce business? What can you do to maximize the lucrative benefits of social media?
How to Use Social Media Platforms for Selling
Although you may already be selling on e-commerce platforms like Amazon and maximizing your store’s potential with services like Amazon Advertisement, social media can still be useful for its extensive reach and affordability. But you must use the right approach to benefit from it.
Here’s how to leverage social media to sell your products.
- Set up your shop through:
- Instagram: Use Instagram Shopping to tag products in posts and stories. Ensure your account is set up as a business account to access analytics and advertising options.
- Facebook: Create a Facebook Shop, allowing customers to browse, share, and purchase products directly from your Facebook page.
- Create content using:
- High-Quality Visuals: Invest in professional photography or high-quality images to showcase your products. Clear, attractive visuals are essential for capturing attention.
- Engaging Videos: Use videos to demonstrate product features, share customer testimonials, or provide behind-the-scenes looks at your business.
- Promote and advertise your shop through:
- Sponsored Posts: Use sponsored posts to reach a wider audience. Both platforms offer targeted advertising options to reach specific demographics.
- Collaborations and Influencers: Partner with local influencers or work with other companies to expand your reach and credibility.
- Interact with your customers by doing the following:
- Respond Promptly: Answer customer inquiries and comments promptly to build trust and show that you value their engagement.
- Post User-Generated Content (UGC): UGC is a good way to establish brand awareness because it’s content from consumers. Buyers share their experiences with your products, which you can then highlight on your social media pages.
Tips for Creating Engaging Content
Although posting on social media sounds easy enough, it rarely is when the goal is to attract and convert. Try the following tips for creating effective content.
1. Create for Your Target Audience
Know and understand your target audience’s preferences and interests. This way, your content will resonate with them, whether it’s through humor, inspiration, or education.
2. Be Consistent
Maintain a consistent posting schedule to keep audiences interested and engaged. A content calendar will help you plan and organize your posts.
3. Use Storytelling
Connect with your audience emotionally through stories. Share the journey of your brand, customer success stories, or the inspiration behind your products.
4. Present Interactive Content
Use polls, quizzes, and live videos to encourage interaction. Interactive content can increase engagement and create a sense of community.
5. Use Hashtags Wisely
Look up and use relevant hashtags to increase the visibility of your posts. Avoid overloading your captions with too many hashtags; focus on quality over quantity.
5 Best Practices for Social Selling
Aside from creating engaging content, make sure your store or presence on social media is always working toward attracting and converting customers.
Here are five ways to do it.
1. Build Trust
Establish credibility by providing accurate product information, transparent pricing, and clear return policies. Credible testimonials and favorable reviews also enhance trust.
2. Provide Seamless Shopping Experiences
Ensure that the shopping process is smooth and user-friendly. Simplify navigation, provide multiple payment options, and optimize your checkout process.
3. Leverage Analytics
Social media analytics help you understand what’s working and what’s not. Use this data to refine your strategy and improve your content.
4. Stay Updated
Social media trends and algorithms change frequently. Be informed about these updates and change or adapt your strategies accordingly.
5. Practice Good Customer Service
Be responsive and helpful to provide excellent customer service. A good way to achieve this is to resolve issues professionally and quickly. This will help you maintain a good reputation as a seller.
The Advantages of Social Media for Sellers
Through social media, you’ll have access to millions and millions of customers. With the right strategies, you’ll have a captive audience that could become regular shoppers.
What are the benefits of social media for sellers?
1. Wider Reach
Facebook has more than 45 million active users and Instagram has more than 18 million in Egypt in 2024. This extensive reach provides a massive opportunity for businesses of all sizes to find and connect with a bigger audience.
2. Cost-Effective Marketing
Social media marketing can be more affordable than traditional advertising. Paid promotions on Instagram and Facebook offer flexible budgeting options, helping businesses of all sizes to leverage their marketing budgets effectively.
3. Direct Engagement
Social media facilitates direct interaction with potential customers. Businesses can respond to inquiries, gather feedback, and build relationships, inspiring loyalty and fostering a sense of community.
4. Visual Appeal
Instagram and Facebook are highly visual platforms, so they’re perfect for showcasing products. High-quality images and videos can attract and engage customers more effectively than text-based content alone.
5. Data-Driven Insights
Both platforms provide robust analytics tools that help businesses track performance, understand customer behavior, and refine their strategies based on data-driven insights.
Leveraging social commerce through platforms like Instagram and Facebook offers a wealth of opportunities, helping you make money in Egypt.
Tap into the big potential of social media to grow your digital store and connect with customers in meaningful ways. Embrace the power of social commerce and watch your business thrive in the digital age.
