Social media websites have begun to start adopting various forms of ecommerce into their websites for some time now. Ecommerce allows consumers to purchase and sell goods electronically. The idea for social media sites to use more forms of commerce is that it will simplify purchasing decisions and the actually act of purchasing a product for consumers. With the current technology we have today, social media landscapes change quite often and very fast, as more and more social media companies are looking to incorporate ecommerce into their websites. We are going to take a look at five social media websites that are looking into or already incorporating ecommerce into their sites.
5. Pinterest
Image sharing social media website Pinterest has recently improved its ecommerce feature for various users, specifically companies and brands. The social media website recently included features to allow users to follow brands, ways for companies to optimize their content, and they also introduced ways to promote certain post for companies (i.e. pay to promote).
4. Bandcamp
Bandcamp is a social media website that is all about independent music. This site is no stranger to ecommerce and it utilizes it in a way that helps many up-and-coming artists. Bandcamp allows users to discover many different types of artists and then listen to their music. It is expensive for up and coming artists to manufacture their own records or to post their music on Spotify, so Bandcamp allows them to do that for a cheaper cost. Users of the site can post their own music or merchandise and then sell it through the social media site. Bandcamp allows users to sell their music for all kinds of prices, or allows consumers to name their price. Bandcamp makes 15% on digital download and 10% on merchandise.
3. DeviantArt
DeviantArt is very similar to Bandcamp however it is for the visual arts. On the user end it allows people to browse various artistic pieces from both professional and amateur artists. Additionally artists can also sell their art through the website or promote their art to others.
2. Twitter
During the end of July, Twitter had purchased the company CardSpring, which allows users to make mobile payments right to your debit or credit card. This was a big sign that Twitter was making a push to compete in the mobile e-commerce field with other companies and social media sites. Additionally, Twitter brought on the former president of Ticketmaster to help push them forward with ecommerce. Twitter is also experimenting with a “buy now” button that would be attached to certain promoted tweets.
1. Facebook
Facebook has recently announced that it is starting to test and incorporate a “buy” button that will be located next to advertisements and pages for specific companies and business located in the United States. Facebook wants to allow users to be able to purchase and buy products from their website, allowing users to make their purchases without ever leaving the social media giant. Facebook has also experimented with ecommerce before as it allowed users to purchase gifts for friends through a virtual gift shop, however they no longer do that. However Facebook still accepts various payments for games featured on the website.
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