In today’s connected world, where sharing is second nature, having social share for WooCommerce can make all the difference for online stores. Giving customers the option to share their favorite products can increase visibility, build brand awareness, and attract new customers—all without the high costs of paid marketing. This blog will explore how social sharing benefits WooCommerce sites, the best tools and strategies, and real-world examples to inspire you.
Why Social Share for WooCommerce Matters
In online shopping, recommendations from friends or family can be as valuable as gold. When a customer shares a product they love, they’re vouching for your brand, amplifying it to an audience that trusts them. Here are a few key reasons why social sharing can boost your WooCommerce store:
Key Benefits of Adding Social Sharing
- Expanded Reach: Each social share extends your products to a larger audience, without any additional advertising cost.
- Customer Trust: People are more likely to trust recommendations from someone they know, so social shares can significantly boost your brand’s credibility.
- Higher Site Traffic: Social sharing brings in traffic from various platforms, potentially converting into new customers and higher sales.
Setting Up Social Share for WooCommerce
Adding social share options to your WooCommerce site is easier than you might think. Let’s go through a few simple steps to make it happen.
Step 1: Select a Social Share Plugin
Choose a plugin that aligns with your store’s goals and aesthetic. Some popular options include:
- Social Snap: Known for its user-friendly design and rich analytics.
- Social share for WooCommerce: A versatile plugin with highly customizable options.
- AddThis: Offers powerful customization and analytics for understanding social engagement.
Step 2: Define Button Placement
Position matters. Place social share buttons where they are easily accessible, like the product page, blog posts, or checkout pages. For example, buttons at the end of a product description encourage sharing once the visitor has all the product details.
Step 3: Customize for Your Brand
Select button shapes, colors, and sizes that complement your brand design, so they enhance rather than disrupt the user experience.
Best Practices for Social Share Success
Just having social share buttons isn’t enough. By following these strategies, you can ensure that your buttons encourage customers to share:
1. Offer Sharing Incentives
Incentives such as discounts or loyalty points for sharing a product can greatly increase shares. This gentle nudge can turn a happy customer into a brand advocate in seconds.
2. Highlight User-Generated Content
Spotlight customer-shared posts on your website or social media to show appreciation. When customers see their photos featured, they’re likely to share more often, creating a positive feedback loop.
3. Use Clear Calls-to-Action (CTAs)
Adding a brief CTA like “Share with friends who’d love this!” can increase the likelihood of customers sharing. A small, well-placed reminder can have a big impact.
4. Focus on Visuals
Product images matter. Customers are more likely to share visually appealing items, so make sure each product image is high quality and tells a story about the product.
Case Studies: Social Share Success Stories
To see the power of social sharing in action, let’s look at two businesses that integrated social sharing and saw results.
Case Study 1: Gourmet Gift Shop Goes Viral
An online gourmet gift shop added social share buttons to each product page, paired with a small 10% discount on the customer’s next purchase when they shared a product.
Outcome:
Within three months, the shop’s online engagement had doubled. The most-shared items were seasonal gift baskets, and the brand noticed a steady rise in social media followers, leading to higher traffic and sales during the holiday season.
Case Study 2: Eco-Friendly Apparel Brand Builds Community
A sustainable clothing brand encouraged customers to share product images using their branded hashtag, #EcoWearEverywhere. They spotlighted some of these posts on their website and social media pages.
Outcome:
The brand’s followers grew, engagement increased by 45%, and traffic to the site saw a noticeable boost. Customers were more likely to buy when they saw real people loving the products.
Best Platforms for WooCommerce Social Sharing
Knowing where to focus social share efforts can lead to better results. Here’s a breakdown of the most effective platforms for WooCommerce businesses:
1. Instagram and Pinterest: Highly Visual, Perfect for Products
Both platforms are ideal for visually appealing products like fashion, art, and home goods. High-quality product images on Instagram or Pinterest can attract new visitors to your WooCommerce site.
2. Facebook: Broad Audience, Perfect for Engagement
Facebook’s massive user base and sharing culture make it a great option for WooCommerce stores looking to reach a broad demographic. Encourage customers to share their favorite items on their feeds or in groups they’re part of.
3. Twitter: Ideal for Quick Updates and Sales
Twitter’s fast-paced platform is excellent for announcing limited-time offers or flash sales. Use Twitter’s sharing buttons to encourage tweets that can boost your products’ visibility in real-time.
4. TikTok: Emerging for Ecommerce, Great for Engagement
If your products cater to a younger audience, TikTok offers a unique opportunity for engaging content. Encourage customers to share their product experiences on TikTok, creating authentic, influential promotion.
Tracking Social Share Performance
Once your social share strategy is live, it’s essential to track its effectiveness. Here are some key metrics to measure:
- Social Shares per Product: Which products get shared the most?
- Traffic from Social Networks: Track which social networks bring the most visitors to your WooCommerce store.
- Engagement Metrics: Use your plugin’s analytics tools to see how many likes, comments, and shares each product receives on social media.
Tools for Analytics
- Google Analytics: Tracks traffic and conversion data from social media.
- Social Snap and AddThis: These plugins often include built-in analytics to measure the effectiveness of social sharing on your site.
Tracking helps you learn which platforms and types of content resonate with your customers, allowing you to fine-tune your strategy for even better results.
Social Sharing and SEO: The Indirect Benefits
Social shares may not directly boost SEO, but they can increase engagement, drive traffic, and improve brand credibility—all factors that benefit SEO indirectly.
1. Increased Traffic Signals to Google
Social shares drive organic traffic, which signals to search engines that your content is valuable, indirectly boosting search visibility.
2. User-Generated Content
Social sharing often leads to user-generated content, which can be another signal of your brand’s popularity and relevance, making your site appear more trustworthy and reputable to search engines.
3. Potential Backlinks
A popular product or post on social media can attract attention from bloggers or media sites, resulting in backlinks to your store.
Conclusion
Adding social share for WooCommerce creates an interactive shopping experience, amplifies your reach, and allows customers to act as brand advocates. By strategically integrating social sharing, you’re not just adding a button but opening up a powerful marketing channel. Give your customers a reason to spread the word, and watch as your WooCommerce store grows in engagement, traffic, and sales.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Can I customize social share buttons in WooCommerce?
A1: Yes, most social sharing plugins offer customization options for colors, sizes, and placement.
Q2: Does social sharing impact my store’s SEO?
A2: While social shares don’t directly influence SEO, they increase traffic and brand visibility, which indirectly benefit SEO.
Q3: How can I track social share performance?
A3: Many plugins provide built-in analytics, and you can also use Google Analytics to track social traffic.
Q4: Which social platform is best for product shares?
A4: Visual platforms like Instagram and Pinterest are great for product-based sharing, especially if your items are visually appealing.
Q5: Is it possible to offer incentives for social sharing?
A5: Absolutely! You can offer small discounts or rewards to customers who share products, encouraging more social engagement.