Bring in More Sales: Connect Your Facebook Shop on Cafe24
Almost everyone today has a Facebook account.
We use it to stay connected to family and friends, from receiving updates through their posts or chatting through Facebook Messenger. You’ve probably used it for school projects too or to keep in touch with past co-workers. Through time, you’ve probably joined different interest groups as well. Once in a while, you may have found yourself going through Marketplace to find a good deal or to sell second-hand items as you move away to a new city. The connections made on Facebook tie together every facet of our lives, from communication to commerce. Buying and selling have been around since the beginning of the civilized world, now commerce has moved online and businesses are catching up.
According to a July 2021 report by Hootsuite, approximately 57% of the world’s population are social media users. It’s hard not to stay connected when our social accounts are fast becoming pervasive aspects of our daily lives. Today, shopping for essential goods is mostly done online. Medium, small, and large businesses now have an online delivery option, and going on monthly shopping deals on online marketplaces is fast becoming a global pastime. These days, a burgeoning social media presence for businesses is no longer an option but a necessity. So when the COVID-19 pandemic happened, Facebook quickly responded by introducing Facebook Shops in May 2020.
“ Buying and selling has been around since the beginning of the civilized world, now commerce has moved online and businesses are catching up.”
What is Facebook Shops?
Simply put, Facebook Shops is an online store within your business’s Facebook Page. It allows businesses to sell their products within their page through features like a product catalog, a checkout button that allows users to buy in-app or on your website, and a simple inventory management system that keeps track of available stocks. They also have a feature that allows users to check out through Messenger or WhatsApp. You can also open a shop on Instagram and use the tagging tool to highlight your products. These features along with existing Facebook business tools give online sellers the basic ecommerce tools to respond to needs related to customer service, marketing, logistics, and payments all in one social platform. It’s no wonder that businesses prefer Facebook. For one, your target audience may already exist in the millions of active Facebook users.
Why should you sell on multiple channels?
Existing marketplaces allow online sellers to engage with consumers that already have the intent to buy. You’re also able to reach your target market on different channels. Aside from gaining access to millions of potential customers you, as a business owner, gain a chance to increase your revenue without significant costs as most marketplaces, like Amazon or Shopee, are free to use and have minimal fees. Unlike listing on marketplaces, with Facebook Shops you are better engaged with customers through the social aspect of sharing meaningful posts, creating campaigns, and curating catalogs to best fit your followers.
However, while having multiple channels may be advantageous to your business model, there are certain disadvantages that you should also consider, such as difficulties syncing your inventory, security issues, and website costs. When you sign up for Cafe24 managing multiple sales channels is a breeze. Your online store is supported with technology and infrastructure from the leading ecommerce solutions company in South Korea. You can sync your Lazada, Shopee, and Facebook Shop all in one platform for free. There are no upfront costs, commission fees, or monthly fees when you create your online store website.
“Existing marketplaces allow online sellers to engage with consumers that already have the intent to buy. You’re also able to reach your target market on different channels.”
Expand your sales channels with Cafe24
Cafe24 is Facebook Shops’ only partner in East Asia and was the first to integrate the platform. The Facebook Channel by Cafe24 connects your Facebook or Instagram Shop to your own online store website. Through the channel you can sync your inventory, get Facebook Pixel, and create product categories and options that are automatically matched in real-time. Through it users can add products on their Cafe24 website, complete with all the images and descriptions, and it will be published on their Facebook Shop simultaneously. The guide below shows you how to set up your Facebook Shop and connect to Cafe24.
How to open a Facebook Shop and sync on Cafe24
- Create a Facebook page for your business by entering ‘facebook.com/pages/create’ in the address bar.
2. You may then create a Facebook Business account to access Commerce Manager, the platform that handles sales on your shop.
3. In your Page settings, find the Templates and Tabs button and enable your shop.
4. On your business page click the ‘Shop’ tab to start the ‘Set up shop’ guide then click ‘Go to Commerce Manager’ and follow the instructions to finish your shop.
5. For the Checkout method. FB provides three options: the first one is on your website, in-app, or on Messenger. Select your preferred method.
6. After selecting the ‘Checkout method’ link it with your business manager account in step 2. Add your shipping details, then create a ‘Catalog’ and review your changes before you finish.
7. Log in to your Cafe24 store, go to ‘Channels’, and sign in with your Facebook account.
8. Link your Facebook Business Manager, Facebook Page, and Facebook Shop by clicking the ‘Get started’ buttons to add your business information.
9. Sync your Facebook product catalog and give users the option to checkout on your Cafe24 store website.
The lasting impact of social commerce
The landscape of buying and selling online is changing. Consumers are getting smarter. While most product prices fluctuate, the value of a brand’s product quality and perception remain steady and ultimately scalable. Aside from knowing your market and providing an irresistible product, today a strong business needs to connect and engage with customers to aid in buying decisions. Opening up a Facebook Shop is just one of the many ways you can jumpstart your business and delve into social commerce. While selling on multiple sales channels or marketplaces from one platform, on the other hand, augments your business’ reach and interaction with customers.
Online shopping is not just an enjoyable activity — it’s a social experience shared by everyone. While the price, place, and positioning of your product will help you gain a much-needed advantage in the world of online selling, only a brand that’s able to truly connect with its market will remain for years to come.
