Discover expert insights and actionable strategies from digital marketers to boost your social selling success.
In the fast-paced world of digital marketing, mastering social selling has become essential for brands and individuals alike. Social selling is more than just pitching products on social media—it’s about building meaningful relationships, sharing value, and ultimately guiding potential customers toward a purchase in a natural way. Today, we’re diving into the best practices from top digital marketers, seasoned in social commerce, to help you up your social selling game.
Build Relationships, Not Just Sales
When I started freelancing, my friend Sarah, a top freelance content writer, taught me an essential lesson about building relationships in the digital world. She used social media, not just to sell her services, but to engage in meaningful conversations with potential clients. One time, she connected with a small business owner on LinkedIn, offering helpful advice on content marketing without asking for anything in return. A few months later, that same business owner reached out to her with a lucrative contract.
Sarah’s approach mirrors the core principle of social selling: it’s about offering value before expecting anything in return. In fact, digital marketers like Neil Patel emphasize the importance of making connections first and focusing on nurturing relationships over time. You don’t always have to push for the sale. Instead, share content that your audience finds valuable, join conversations that matter, and be genuinely helpful.
Quick Tips:
- Share industry news, helpful insights, and tips rather than just promotions.
- Engage with your audience’s posts. Comment, like, and start meaningful conversations.
- Personalize your outreach—cold DMs won’t get you far!
Leverage the Right Social Platforms
Not all platforms are created equal when it comes to social selling. My friend Emily, a digital marketer who focuses on e-commerce, found her sweet spot with Instagram and Pinterest when promoting her handmade jewelry line. She knew her target audience loved visual content, so she doubled down on creating beautiful images and engaging stories to attract potential buyers.
But Emily didn’t stop there. She experimented with other platforms like Facebook Shops and Shopify’s integration with Instagram Shopping to streamline the purchasing process. As she tells it, once she started using Instagram Shopping, her sales increased by 30% in just three months. The lesson? Know where your audience hangs out and meet them there.
Quick Tips:
- For B2B sales, platforms like LinkedIn work wonders for building professional relationships.
- B2C brands can thrive on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest, where visual content reigns.
- Don’t be afraid to try social commerce tools like Instagram Shopping and Facebook Shops.
Content is Still King—Tailor It for Your Audience
My long-time friend Jake, who runs a social media agency, once told me, “If you want to sell, you have to share what your audience wants to hear, not what you want to say.” This stuck with me because it speaks to the heart of content creation in social selling.
Jake has seen success with creating tailored content for different platforms. On Facebook, he posts long-form content, like detailed posts about digital marketing trends, but on Instagram, he switches to quick, punchy infographics that are visually compelling. By meeting his audience where they are and crafting the right content for each platform, Jake consistently drives traffic to his website, turning leads into customers.
Quick Tips:
- Use analytics to understand what content your audience engages with the most.
- Repurpose your content to fit each platform—don’t just copy-paste from one to another.
- Use a mix of videos, stories, infographics, and articles to keep your content fresh.
The Power of Social Proof
Let me tell you about Tom, a small business owner I know who grew his clothing brand by leveraging user-generated content. One day, a customer posted a photo on Instagram wearing one of his products and tagged his shop. Tom shared the photo with a heartfelt caption thanking the customer, and to his surprise, it went viral! This led to a surge in followers and sales.
Tom’s success is a perfect example of social proof—a powerful tool in social selling. People are more likely to buy when they see others doing the same. Whether it’s reviews, testimonials, or photos of happy customers, leveraging social proof can enhance your brand’s credibility and encourage more people to make purchases.
Quick Tips:
- Encourage your customers to share their experiences and tag your business.
- Use testimonials and reviews to build trust.
- Highlight user-generated content in your stories or posts to engage your audience.
Be Authentic—Your Audience Will Know
This section reminds me of my friend Ryan, a digital marketing strategist who built his personal brand by staying true to himself. Ryan’s strategy was simple—he never tried to be something he wasn’t. He shared his expertise, his challenges, and even his failures with his followers.
In one particular instance, Ryan launched a product that didn’t perform well. Instead of hiding it, he openly discussed what went wrong in a live stream, answering questions and sharing lessons learned. This kind of transparency made his audience trust him even more, leading to more sales down the line.
Being authentic is not just a buzzword in digital marketing—it’s essential. Audiences today are quick to see through insincerity. By showing your human side and being real, you can build stronger relationships and increase customer loyalty.
Quick Tips:
- Share behind-the-scenes content to humanize your brand.
- Don’t be afraid to show your failures or challenges.
- Be consistent in your messaging and stay true to your brand’s values.
Use Data to Drive Decisions
It was my friend Leah, a data-driven marketer, who first showed me how crucial it is to back up decisions with data. Leah runs social media campaigns for an international tech company and relies heavily on analytics to inform her strategy. By regularly monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs) like engagement rates, click-throughs, and conversion rates, Leah is able to refine her approach to social selling.
For instance, Leah once ran a campaign for a new software product but found that Instagram wasn’t driving as many conversions as LinkedIn. Instead of abandoning Instagram altogether, she analyzed the data, adjusted her content, and saw improved results within a few weeks.
Quick Tips:
- Regularly review analytics to see what’s working and what isn’t.
- Use tools like Google Analytics, Hootsuite, or Sprout Social to track performance.
- Don’t be afraid to pivot your strategy based on data insights.
Adapt to Trends, But Stay True to Your Strategy
My friend Jenna, a trend-savvy marketer, is always ahead of the curve when it comes to the latest social media trends. She’s the type who jumped on Instagram Reels before it exploded, and now she’s reaping the benefits of early adoption. But despite her enthusiasm for trends, Jenna also knows the importance of sticking to a long-term strategy.
In one of her campaigns, she tested out TikTok’s growing influence on social commerce but quickly realized it wasn’t the best fit for her luxury home decor brand. While it was a fun experiment, she refocused her efforts on Instagram and Pinterest, where her audience resonated more with high-quality, aesthetic visuals.
The key takeaway? Always be open to experimenting with trends, but don’t stray too far from your core strategy. Social selling isn’t about chasing every trend—it’s about finding what works for your brand and scaling it.
Quick Tips:
- Experiment with new features like Instagram Reels, TikTok, or LinkedIn Stories.
- Evaluate whether a trend aligns with your overall brand message before diving in.
- Keep a balance between trendy content and proven strategies that work for your business.
Final Thoughts
Social selling is a powerful strategy that, when done right, can dramatically increase your sales and grow your brand’s presence online. From building authentic relationships to leveraging the right platforms and using data to inform your decisions, the lessons from these top digital marketers can help you master social selling.
By incorporating these tips into your strategy, you’ll be well on your way to navigating the ever-evolving world of digital marketing and social commerce. Happy selling!
If you enjoyed learning about social selling and want more in-depth, informative articles on topics like digital marketing, passive income strategies, and freelancing tips, don’t forget to subscribe to my blog at PassiveWriting.com.
For those curious to know more about my journey and personal experiences, feel free to check out my story on Medium: About Me — Kaspar Moon, originally published in the About Me Stories publication.
And if you’d like to connect directly, I’d love to connect with you on LinkedIn. You can find my profile here: LinkedIn. Let’s keep the conversation going!
