Today, Facebook launched a new shopping solution for businesses as traditional brick-and-mortar stores across the country continue to struggle due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The solution? Facebook Shops.
Facebook Shops, which was announced by Mark Zuckerberg on Tuesday, will enable retailers to sell products directly to consumers on both Facebook and Facebook-owned Instagram without ever leaving the apps if the business has enabled checkout in the US. Creating a virtual storefront is simple and free.
To set up, businesses can choose the products they want to feature and then customize the look and feel of their shop with a cover image and accent colors that represent their brand. This feature is available to all sellers, no matter the size or budget, shifting their business online, attracting new customers, and keep the revenue flowing.
If you have a question about the product, you can easily message the business through WhatsApp, Messenger, or Instagram Direct, and you can also track deliveries through there. Facebook Shops began rolling out this week and will be more widely available in the coming months.
In addition to Facebook Shops, the company also announced Instagram Shop. This summer, Instagram will begin rolling out Instagram Shop, a new way to discover and buy products on Instagram Explore. Users will be able to browse through selections from their favorite brands and purchase them all in one place. Instagram will be adding a new shop tab in the navigation bar later this year.
But wait, there’s more! In a move ripped out from the Home Shopping Network’s playbook, soon, brands will be able to tag a product from their Facebook Shop or catalog before going live. Those products will be shown at the bottom of the video so that users can tap on the items and learn more.
Facebook announced that it will partner with e-commerce giants including Shopify and BigCommerce to help businesses operate their online shopping platforms.
These announcements come at the heels of Facebook acquiring Giphy for $400 million dollars. Damn, it must feel good to be Mark Zuckerberg right about now.
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