If you are running a small business or aspiring for it, this is a great opportunity amidst this unforeseen pandemic phase. There are a million businesses around the world, who are struggling to survive this crisis; they are moving online to cope with the economic breakdown from COVID-19.

On Tuesday, Facebook announced this new update through which businesses can easily set up their shops and sell things directly. The initial phase of the Facebook Shops rollout has been released beforehand due to the pandemic. As an owner, you'll be able to choose products you want to feature from your catalogue and customize the appearance of your shop.

Your shops will be showcased through business pages, Instagram profiles & through targeted ads. If someone visits your shop, they'll be able to see your story, the featured products & can buy directly from the apps. Due to the lockdown, people are being told to stay home and this way physical storefronts are having a hard time.

The crazy thing is - IT'S FREE OF COST!
Facebook Shops are free and easy to create. When you set up your shop, it will appear on your Facebook & Instagram accounts currently and will be soon available on Messenger & WhatsApp too.

The company's update on May 19 started with this statement -
"Facebook has always been about connecting you to what you love. That means friends and family, but also products, brands and businesses. For years, people have used our apps to buy and sell things from the early days of posting a photo of a bicycle with the caption “for sale,” to selling your coffee table on Marketplace and now shopping styles from your favourite brands and influencers on Instagram. It was the people who use our apps who envisioned social commerce. We’re helping them make it a reality."

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According to the director of product management, the primary focus will be to ensure small and medium-sized businesses have a presence online in surviving the current situation.

Once a buyer decides to buy, they will be directed to the company's website to complete the transaction. If problems emerge or a buyer wants to ask questions, they can do so through Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, or Instagram Direct messages, some of which are already used by companies for that purpose.

The rollout is part of a broader range of changes planned for shopping across Facebook, including:

1. A loyalty scheme that will link things such as points from local coffee shops to Facebook
2. A Shop button, where products and brands will be showcased, on Instagram's main navigation bar.

With the current update, Facebook is working on a dedicated shopping tab for Instagram & a destination inside Explore, where people can find and buy the products they are interested in. Soon, they will also launch a Live shopping feature across Facebook & Instagram, allowing people to shop in real-time. Mark Zuckerberg said, Shops will use AI & augmented reality tech for better shopping experiences in the future.

A powerful way to make use of the digital medium, in surviving these unprecedented times. You can now use a whole suite of tools available and run your business, even from your living room.

To know more about Facebook Shops go here - https://bit.ly/3e6rPku

If you need guidance or any sort of online support for your business, we’ll be happy to assist. You can contact us through business@sociomark.in or you can DM us on our Social Media.

Stay Home | Stay Safe

Author : Naveen Mani (SEO Executive)

Reviewed By : Heta Baandal , Managing Director - Sociomark