Social commerce is an aspect that has gained immense popularity in the modern world. Notably, the presence of advanced technology has led to the practice of social commerce. Globalization is also one of the drivers of online business where the customers shop their goods and services. (Hajli, 2014) Social commerce is a new concept that involves the aspect of purchases and transactions through online platforms. Most importantly, the idea revolves around the business carried through the internet by various customers and merchants.
Social commerce has characterized by the presence of social media platforms and other online tools. For instance, the presence of company websites and personal blogs has instigated the eruption of social commerce. Numerous customers like spending their time on the internet which influences them to socialize and share ideas (Pelet, Jean, & Panagiota, 2016). The above aspect has also made customers compete online over brands and fashion making them browse for the latest trend of goods. Moreover, consumers believe that the online world has a lot to offer regarding the various types of products and services. Additionally, the customers use Facebook to window shop and purchase the various commodities of their choice.
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The other platforms used include the use of YouTube and Instagram. A significant number of customers worldwide get overwhelmed by the presence of YouTube channels regarding the various goods. The other driver of social commerce includes the introduction of globalization across the globe. Internationalization is a concept that made firms to cross their borders and serve international customers. Some of the multinational firms had access to modern technology in production and made them diversify their services (Pelet, Jean, & Panagiota, 2016). On that note, they utilized information technology to market their goods online through various platforms. This paper provides a coherent discussion and analysis of social commerce.
The Aspect of Social Commerce
Social media is one of the most potent tools online in the modern world. Millions of consumers spend their time online each day browsing through the new products. Moreover, the internet has led to the culture of sharing information regarding various aspects online (Hussein, Toland, Tate & Mary, 2015). Electronic mode of communication is more comfortable and convenient as people do not have to move physically. The approach has reduced the spatial distance of customers that seek to provide the interaction with the world.
The internet has led to the massive development of online trade that involves the use of various social media platforms in transacting. Notably, the changing business trends have led to a fundamental shift of the market as the consumer's patterns keep changing. As well, numerous investors focus on adopting a business strategy for online businesses (Hussein, Toland, Tate & Mary, 2015). The modern world is multifaceted with various interaction carried through numerous platforms. For instance, a significant number of customers of the youth’s adults have access to online platforms to interact with other peers. The teens have a culture to spending a considerable amount of their time over the internet browsing through the profile of other individuals. Sometimes, customers may plot to discuss the changing brand of new goods and service while referring to social media channels and accounts of some merchants and other international companies.
The advancements made in technology have also led to the introduction of social commerce. One of the most notable aspects of social commerce include electronic means in conducting business. The customers are one of the biggest players of social commerce. The online culture has compelled the customers to spend a significant amount of their time shopping online. Arguably, the use of an online platform has increased immensely due to the availability of efficient communication and transaction infrastructure (Barnes, 2014). Additionally, the presence of massive advertising and marketing has enhanced social commerce. The manufacturers spend most of their time developing strategies to strengthen the relationship with their customers. On that note, the majority of the suppliers prefer the use online tools to market their goods and service. The company websites have played a crucial role in enhancing social commerce.
The use of appealing graphics counts a lot in ensuring that the customers get attracted to the goods advertised by the company. The social commerce usually adopts all forms of social media platforms to sell and purchase products online (Hajli, 2014). Nowadays, a significant number of firms have changed their strategy and focused on social media platforms to get in touch with their respective customers. The approach also helps the multinational companies to win more customers. Majorly, Facebook has played a critical role in promoting social commerce. The above scenario gets attributed to the presence of numerous customers on Facebook. For instance, Facebook involves one the most adopted social media platforms that take less time to register and navigate through. The tools have changed to a platform that not only provides a basis for the socializing but also for conducting businesses online. A significant number of stakeholders have adopted the approach due to its tremendous advantages compared to its disadvantages.
M-commerce is an aspect of social commerce associated with the transactions carried out through the use of mobile gadgets. The above tools have influenced the presence of conducting trade via the internet. Moreover, mobile devices get configured with the features that support social media platforms (Hajli, 2014). For instance, a significant number of mobile gadgets can get used by the customers and merchants to sell and purchase goods. Many times the customers conduct their transactions due to the influence of social media features embedded in their mobile phones. The digital economy is vital for the economic growth of a nation.
Moreover, the firms should compete favorably by ensuring that they lay strategic plans that would help to acquire more customers. The physical shops are not enough for companies to achieve their mission. Moreover, they do not fully satisfy the customer’s needs. On that account, social media sites play a significant role in boosting the business.
Impact of Social Commerce
The social media platforms act as a site for building trust for the customers and promoting an idealistic experience of conducting a business vial online sites. The most notable aspect of social commerce is that it involves distinctive features like reviews, customer ratings, online communities, social shopping tools, referrals, and user recommendations (Barnes, 2014). The social commerce has led to numerous advantages on the consumers. Majority of the consumers prefer the shopping online due to the presence of useful tools of communication. Social business has the enabled the customers to gain the trust of the company due to effective communication between the suppliers and the consumers. For instance, more customers can achieve an enhanced customer shopping experience through the presence of a social media platform. The customer reviews usually help the manufacturers to correct the mistakes while helps the customers to increase their response rate from the producers.
Conclusion
In summary, social commerce is a global aspect that involves reliance on the internet to effect transactions. The customers are the biggest players on the above element as they prefer to conduct their purchases via the internet. The social commerce involves an alliance with the other customers. The above reviews confirm that online business has gained immense popularity since its inception. A significant number of consumers have embraced online commerce due to its flexibility. The four sources reviewed are relevant and surround the topic. Moreover, they contain substantive knowledge supports the discussion of social business. The scenario portrays the concept of social networking and its rationale on consumer purchases. Social commerce gets effected through the interconnection of customers via social media platforms. The primary social media platforms enumerated in the annotated bibliography include the use of websites, Facebook, and Youtube. The platforms act as the point of interaction between the customers.
Moreover, the consumer’s socialization via the internet enable increases heir shopping experience and purchasing of products and services. The most notable advantage of social commerce is that it enhances convenience and saves time since the clients shop online. As well, it enables the consumers to build a fruitful relationship between themselves and the merchants. Secondly, m-commerce involves the use of mobile phones to transact via online. The trend has gained immense popularity due to the massive use the mobile phones. Above all, social commerce is a subject widely discussed across the global scale, and the above literature justifies its impact on consumers. Social commerce has led to numerous advantages to customers. The consumers are one of the key players in the industry that have gained immensely on the availability of social business. Some of the benefits achieved include the convenience received from purchasing goods online, improved customer reviews and feedback rate. The above aspect benefits both the customers and the merchants. Most notably, the spatial distance gets reduced as consumers can use the social media platforms to shop and complete their transactions online.
References
Barnes, N. G. (2014). Social Commerce Emerges As Big Brands Position Themselves to Turn “Follows”, “Likes” and “Pins” into Sales. American Journal of Management , 14 (4), 11-18.
Hajli, M. N. (2014). A study of the impact of social media on consumers. International Journal of Market Research , 56 (3), 387-404. Doi: 10.2501/ijmr-2014-025
Hussein, S. Toland, J Tate, Mary. (2015). Why customers participate in social commerce activities? – A laddering analysis .
Pelet, J. E., & Papadopoulou, P. (2015). Social media and m-commerce. International Journal of Internet Marketing and Advertising , 9 (1), 66.
