How Social Media Affects Consumer Shopping

It seems in today’s world many consumers don’t go to an actual store anymore, instead now doing their shopping online.

Why not? It’s simple, fast and easy.

All you have to do is select the items you want, add them to the shopping cart, put in a credit card number and viola, your items are at your doorstep. Social media has had a huge effect on consumer shopping through platforms like Facebook and Pinterest. It makes it easy to find the perfect gift for your parent, sibling or spouse,.

And here is why.

When a consumer is on the hunt for that perfect gift, whatever the special occasion, all they have to do is read reviews, recommendations and directly follow the brand/product via social media. A study that was recently done shows that 92 percent of consumers’ trust was earned more by social media than any other means of advertising. Out of the 92 percent polled, two out of three shoppers purchased a gift they found via social media.

We are easily influenced by what others have to say on social media sites. Facebook has become the number one platform which influences gift purchases. If you have a friend or family member who shares their opinion on a new product they really love, then you are more likely to take a larger consideration in buying it for them.

The top social media outlets that influence this are Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter.

So, in the long run what does all this really mean? For brands/products and stores, it means it is imperative to stay on top of your social media efforts. The summer is quickly ending and before you know it, holiday shopping will begin. It is advisable to keep your pages up to date with quality content and useful information for the consumer.

As for the buyer looking for the perfect gift, keep up to date with what your peeps are doing through their social media accounts. As the holidays quickly approach us, many of them will begin dropping subtle hints on their pages of what they are interested in for themselves. It’s a great way to make sure you find a gift they will truly enjoy

What’s your opinion on how social media has changed our purchasing habits? We’d love to hear from you!