As Facebook has hundreds of millions of users, it comes first as a social media optimization for websites and blogs. It has millions of individuals, companies, institutes, etc. advertising/promoting/selling their products and services through it. Facebook has been hitherto minting in billions via its advertising services. We can now see it starting off well with its e-Commerce Platform.
1. Starting e-Commerce on Facebook : e-Commerce on Facebook is regarded as f-Commerce.
- The profit growth of Facebook is already experiencing greater heights with the new addition.
- Popular e-Commerce platforms like Pavyment, Storefront Social, BigCommerce, have an option to sell directly on Facebook instead of asking potential customers to visit their site to make the purchase.
- With a bunch of e-Commerce start-ups, state of-Commerce will soon leave behind mammoth online sellers like Amazon Inc and eBay.
- Oodle, Fab.com, BeachMint, are a few startups persuading their potential customers to buy directly from Facebook for the users’ convenience.
2. How startups are handling e-commerce on Facebook : startups are excited to use this new addition of Facebook more than any other. They believe this will enhance their product sales and also drive traffic to their website tremendously.
- E-commerce on Facebook is customized and made just like an e-commence platform, i.e. Amazon, eBay, etc.
- Potential customers are allowed to preview images, etc. before purchase.
- Standard options for clearing payments are offered. Invoicing and shipping are automated.
- Making purchasing easier through apps, facebook apps and hybrid apps.
- The best known apps are Pavyment, Storefront Social, BigCommerce and 8th Bridge.
3. Right now how we see Facebook as an E-Commerce platform: From what we can see, the e-Commerce on Facebook seems to grow, but a little slowly.
- Customers, being more regular in purchasing from established e-commerce ventures, Facebook seems to stand at a considerable level competition to face.
- Entrepreneurs and investors have suggested Facebook will leave behind companies like eBay and Amazon, but we are yet to see that happen.
- We can say it won’t take much time for that to happen because Facebook is already popular among millions of people; anything it starts has to have the support of at least half that users.
4. Strategy and objective : Investors say that Facebook understands the importance of having an e-commerce plan. It is very true indeed. Consider yourself, when you turn your computer on you will for sure log into Facebook at least once to glance over what’s up with your online network on Facebook. You look around and find ads displayed, click on those ads and find that you can make purchases instantly. This is what e-commerce is all about. It is for your own convenience. What we can picture this e-commerce platform as is;
- Facebook as an e-commerce platform has a bright future.
- It’s getting positive responses from big and small retailers and buyers as well.
- The response though doesn’t seem meet expectations. Not many even know about f-commerce yet. Facebook is still more popular in being only a way to connect with friends.
