5 BIG Social Selling Ideas for Small Businesses

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Are you looking for some practical social selling ideas that will let you leverage the ah-MAZing audience you’ve built on social media?

Because let’s be real: while using social media for your business can be fun, the end goal is ultimately to make money!

Updated: March 29, 2021

In case you’re new to the phrase, “social selling”, it’s simply using social media as a lead generation strategy.

As you share content, build relationships, and earn the trust of your audience on social media, sales will follow.

BUT…many business owners also want to know: what strategies can you use that will actually lead to sales?

That’s exactly what this post is about. Following are 5 social selling ideas you can start implementing today!

5 Social Selling Ideas For Businesses

You don’t need to be “salesy” to sell on social media. These social selling ideas will help you build trust and generate leads and sales without the hard sell.

1. Sell Via Images.

 

social-selling-using-images

It’s pretty clear that visual content is the most popular type of content on social media, hands down.

Captivating images are great for “stopping the scroll”, and are one of the most important types of content for marketers. In fact, according to a recent survey, marketers said images and videos are the #1 most important element when creating a piece of content.

Captivating images are great for “stopping the scroll”, and are one of the most important types of content for marketers. In fact, according to a recent survey, marketers said images and videos are the #1 most important element when creating a piece of content.Click To Tweet

So…why not use visual content to increase sales?

There are a bunch of ways you can do this, including via:

  • Promo codes: Create eye-catching graphics announcing discounts or coupon codes
  • Product features: Show off the features of your product in a graphic rather than just listing them off
  • Image-based contests: Use an image to promote a contest, or ask your fans or followers to submit their own photos
  • Product pins: Using product pins on Pinterest allows you to include a price on your product images. Bonus: Pinterest even notifies your customers of changes in price or availability!

2. Do Weekly LIVE Trainings.

 

social-selling-thru-live-trainings

Teaching is a great way to earn trust that will lead to sales…often much sooner than you think.

According to one recent survey, 80% of people would rather watch a live video from a brand than read a blog post.

According to one recent survey, 80% of people would rather watch a live video from a brand than read a blog post.Click To Tweet

Fortunately, almost all major social media platforms are now set up for livestreaming.

Schedule weekly live trainings for your audience that will not only provide them with super-practical ideas and tips, but that will help them get to know you.

This will boost your “know, like, trust” factor in no time at all, leading to a steady stream of leads and sales…all without sounding salesy!

3. Schedule Your Content.

 

scheduling-content-social-media

We all know the benefits of scheduling your social media content ahead of time.

But what does this have to do with social selling?

Well, as with relationships, being consistent on social media is one of the best ways to build trust.

When you post helpful, valuable content day in and day out, your audience comes to not only trust you, but to rely on you as a source of help.

Posting regularly also means you’re always top of mind – so that when it does come time for your followers to buy, YOU are the one they think of first.

To ensure you’re posting on a regular basis, I highly recommend scheduling your posts ahead of time using a tool like Agorapulse. We all know “life happens”, and scheduling your posts will ensure life never gets in the way of a regular posting schedule!

4. Share Testimonials and Reviews.

 

share-testimonials-reviews

Image via Oberlo

It’s getting harder and harder to trust ANYONE online…amiright?

One way to stand out and earn trust on social media is to share testimonials and reviews from past customers and clients.

According to Trustpilot, nearly 9 out of 10 consumers read reviews before making a purchase.

According to Trustpilot, nearly 9 out of 10 consumers read reviews before making a purchase.Click To Tweet

So, if you’re not collecting and sharing reviews and testimonials, you’re probably missing out…big time!

Some ways to share them with your social media followers include:

  • Create short video testimonials from past clients
  • Turn a positive review or testimonial into a graphic you can share
  • Encourage happy customers to leave a 5-star review on your Facebook page or local “Google My Business” page
  • Use testimonials in your social media ads

5. Engage in One-on-One Conversations.

 

social-selling-one-on-one-conversations

According to research done by LinkedIn, 76% of buyers are ready to have sales conversations on social media.

According to research done by LinkedIn, 76% of buyers are ready to have sales conversations on social media.Click To Tweet

And one of the best ways to have really productive, effective conversations is to move from one-to-many conversations (which is what social media posts are), to one-on-one conversations.

This could be simply addressing people by their first name when responding to comments, or it could mean inviting people to have more in-depth discussions with you via a DM or email.

If possible, I also recommend moving important one-on-one conversations offline.

For instance, when I connect with potential clients on LinkedIn, I reach out and ask for a phone or in-person meeting as soon as possible. This allows me to really connect with them, and to show them exactly how I can help them.

It also helps me stand out as a REAL PERSON!

Final Thoughts

Need more social selling ideas?

My mini-training, 4 Simple Steps to Crafting Social Media Posts That Will SELL Your Product/Service, will walk you through exactly what you need to know to start selling on social media.

I’ll show you how to get more people to look at and click on your posts, the secret to creating social media headlines that can’t get ignored, and more.

Get started with social selling today!

What are your best social selling ideas? I’d love to hear your thoughts…Share with us below!

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Yolanda Crowley
Yolanda Crowley
9 years ago

Great post! Thanks for sharing!

Kim Garst
Kim Garst
9 years ago

Thank you, Angela 🙂

Let me know how we can help!

Kristi
Kristi
7 years ago

Super great info! It’s so easy to get excited about the benefits of your product and truly wanting to help people that I tend to forget that people who don’t know me need to know just what the heck it is we got going here and let them get warmed up first.

Rafa Montilla
Rafa Montilla
5 years ago

The first time I am visiting your blog, It has great tips. Thanks for sharing

America Deals
America Deals
2 years ago

Very nice work

What is In
What is In
2 years ago

Great tips for engaging with audience on social media. Thank you!

Kim's Team
Kim's Team
Reply to  What is In
2 years ago

You’re welcome!

Santhosh
Santhosh
2 years ago

Awesome post very useful for me

Kim's Team
Kim's Team
Reply to  Santhosh
2 years ago

Thank you, Santhosh. What’s your favorite from among the 5 social selling ideas?

Prabhash Kumar Sardar
Prabhash Kumar Sardar
2 years ago

Such amazing and useful info. Appreciated your effort and time.

Prabhash Kumar Sardar
Prabhash Kumar Sardar
2 years ago

your post is amazing and helpful.

friv 2019 free
friv 2019 free
2 years ago

Thanks For The Great Content. I Will Also Share With My Friends And Once Again Thanks A lot. Waiting For Another Good Content.

Kim's Team
Kim's Team
Reply to  friv 2019 free
2 years ago

Glad to see you got some value from the article! New articles every week so keep posted!

Claudio Dias
Claudio Dias
2 years ago

The issue of videos and images with product details and social proof, really makes a huge difference, where in social networks and the internet people are very suspicious and even rightly so, but this breaks any objection from the customer

Fact Ideas
Fact Ideas
2 years ago

Hi,
This blog was really helpful .

isabella manson
isabella manson
2 years ago

Hi, just wanted to apploud you, for this great blog post. Very detailed and very informative. Wish I could find more posts like these. This post is going help me a lot. Thanks again for your wisdom.

Kim's Team
Kim's Team
Reply to  isabella manson
2 years ago

Glad you picked up a few things, Isabella. New blog post every week!

waris
waris
2 years ago

Great info…
thanks for sharing a good post…

Kim's Team
Kim's Team
Reply to  waris
2 years ago

Glad you got some value here, Waris.

MOHAMED GALAL
MOHAMED GALAL
2 years ago

IT IS GOOD POST

Kim's Team
Kim's Team
Reply to  MOHAMED GALAL
2 years ago

Thanks for dropping in!

Seck Dunta
Seck Dunta
2 years ago

Your post is perfect to understand

Kim's Team
Kim's Team
Reply to  Seck Dunta
2 years ago

Glad you picked up a few things, Seck.

Felipe
Felipe
2 years ago

Great sales tips for small businesses! Congratulations!

Kim's Team
Kim's Team
Reply to  Felipe
2 years ago

Glad you got some value here, Felipe.

Imarah Marketing PVT LTD
Imarah Marketing PVT LTD
2 years ago

Thanks of your posts.

sarkarinaukriyo
sarkarinaukriyo
2 years ago

Your post is very useful and we also got an idea about small business. Thank you so much

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