In an effort to help small businesses hit hard by the COVID pandemic19, Facebook has launched Shops, a feature that will allow business owners to create virtual stores within Marc Zuckerberg’s social network (and on Instagram as well).
Facebook’s philosophy is to connect with what you love. This means not only getting closer to friends and family, but also to products, brands and businesses. For years, users of the social network have been able to list and buy things through the Marketplace.
Now, the social network has launched Shops, new functionality to support small local businesses with physical establishments greatly affected by the health crisis due to the coronavirus. The goal is that any seller can set up an online store and thus be able to connect with their customers.
This is Facebook Shops
Facebook Shop makes it easy for companies to create an online store from which they can upload their product catalog, connect with customers and the possibility of selling to any part of the world without this being a problem for them.
Users will be able to access these stores through the Facebook company page, Instagram profile or discover them through stories or advertisements. They will be able to browse the collections, save products that interest them and place an order, either on the brand’s website or from the application itself if payments have been enabled (temporarily available only in the United States).
They can also contact the seller easily. This is because the function of sending direct messages from Messenger, Whatsapp and Instagram will be available. They will be able to ask questions about the products, shipping, tracking, return policy …
How to create a virtual store
Adding a virtual store to your Facebook company page is an easy process. Follow the next steps:
- On a computer, log in to the Facebook account you have linked to the company page;
- Click the Store tab from your company page. If you don’t see this tab, you have to change your page template to the store template;
- When the Store tab appears and you have clicked on it, follow the instructions that will appear on the screen to create a store for your change. You will have to complete all the required fields.
- Click Finish when you’re done.
Please note that by adding a store with Facebook Shops, you are agreeing to the Merchant Terms. Users will be able to see your store from your company page when you have added at least one product and it has been approved by the social network.
Facebook’s next step in online sales is Instagram Shop
In this line, the company has announced that this summer in the United States, Instagram Shop, the version of Facebook Shops, will be available but for the photographic social network. From it you can discover products, search for brands, filter by categories and buy those items that you like the most from Instagram Explore. Later, they will add the Store tab in the app in the navigation bar so that these stores can be accessed with just a touch.
Likewise, Facebook will allow you to insert products from your store into live videos on Facebook and Instagram. These products will appear below the video streams. Viewers will only have to tap on them (as you see in the following image) to be able to buy them.
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