The Rise of Social Commerce: What Retailers Need to Know

Published On
July 25, 2025
Social commerce is changing retail by allowing people to buy products directly within social media apps. Retailers must embrace this trend using influencers, live shopping, and mobile-first strategies to stay competitive and boost engagement.

Social commerce is quickly changing how people shop online. Instead of going to a store or a website, people now buy things directly from social media apps. This is called social commerce. In this blog, we will explain what social commerce is, why it is growing, and what retailers should know to stay ahead.

What Is Social Commerce?

Social commerce means buying and selling products or services right inside a social media app. It is not just about seeing ads. It is about clicking a button and buying something without ever leaving the app.

  • Example: You see a cool shirt on Instagram. You tap the picture, pick your size, and buy it inside Instagram.
  • Why it matters: It makes shopping easy and fast for customers.

Why Is Social Commerce Growing So Fast?

A lot of people use social media every day. In fact, over 5 billion people use social media worldwide. This means businesses can reach many new customers.

  • More people shopping online: About 80% of people do some shopping online.
  • People like to shop on social media: 27% of internet users prefer finding new products on social media over other ways.
  • Easy to buy: Social commerce lets people buy things in just a few clicks.
  • Fun and interactive: People can talk to brands, see reviews, and watch videos before buying.

Important Social Commerce Facts

Here are some key facts and numbers about social commerce in 2025:

  • Big market: Social commerce sales are expected to reach over $900 billion globally in 2025.
  • Growing fast: The market is growing about 12% every year.
  • US leads the way: The US social commerce market is expected to be worth over $90 billion in 2025.
  • Asia is catching up: The Asia Pacific region will reach about $626 billion in social commerce sales in 2025.
  • Young people love it: Millennials and Gen Z are the biggest shoppers. Millennials will make up 33% of social commerce spending, and Gen Z will make up 29%.
  • People buy after seeing ads: About 58% of US shoppers bought something after seeing it on social media.

How Does Social Commerce Work?

Social commerce uses the power of social media to help people buy things easily.

  • Product discovery: People see products while scrolling through their social feeds.
  • Direct buying: They can click and buy without leaving the app.
  • Customer interaction: People can ask questions, read reviews, and get help right away.
  • Personalized shopping: Social media learns what you like and shows you more of it. 

Why Should Retailers Care?

Retailers need to pay attention to social commerce because:

  • Reach more customers: Social media has billions of users.
  • More sales: People buy more when shopping is easy and fun.
  • Better customer experience: Shoppers get help and answers quickly.
  • Stay competitive: If you don’t use social commerce, your competitors will.

Top Trends in Social Commerce for 2025

Here are the biggest trends retailers should watch:

  • Live shopping: Brands sell products during live video streams.
  • Influencer marketing: People trust recommendations from influencers.
  • Short videos: Platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels are popular for product discovery.
  • Easy payments: Most people pay with credit or debit cards, but mobile wallets are growing.
  • Personalization: Social media shows people products they are likely to buy.

What Retailers Should Do? 

To succeed in social commerce, retailers should:

  • Be on the right platforms: Choose where your customers spend time.
  • Gen Z loves TikTok and YouTube.
  • Millennials prefer Facebook and Instagram.
  • Make buying easy: Let people buy with just a few clicks.
  • Engage with customers: Answer questions and respond to comments.
  • Use influencers: Work with people who have lots of followers.
  • Show real reviews: Let customers share their experiences.
  • Try live shopping: Host live events to sell products.

Challenges for Retailers

Social commerce is not always easy. Here are some challenges:

  • More competition: Many brands are trying to sell on social media.
  • Need to stand out: You must be creative to catch people’s attention.
  • Customer service: You need to answer questions quickly.
  • Trust: People need to trust your brand before they buy.

The Future of Social Commerce

Social commerce is not going away. It is growing every year. Experts think the global market could be worth over $8 trillion by 2030. That is a lot of shopping!

  • More people will shop on social media.
  • New features will make shopping even easier.
  • Retailers who use social commerce will have an advantage.

Conclusion

Social commerce is changing the way people shop. Retailers need to be on social media, make buying easy, and connect with customers. If you do this, you can reach more people and sell more products. The future of shopping is social, and the time to start is now. Want to utilize social media for selling products? Connect with Vigyapan Mart today!

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