More consumers are becoming comfortable buying through social media

Really I agree with you People are now start buying in social media. They like to spend time on social networking sites. Where they connect with people and seen various posts or advertisements in the feed. If they like any product advertisement they do not hesitate to buy it.

That's true. Confirmed.

The Fat Cat of IM,
George Troy.

Perhaps it's because "The know, like and trust" factor is easily achieved because, the transactions are made by real people and not between a human and some online automated processes. Which often experienced glitches in the sales systems. The transactions happen where the credit card is billed, but the products/services are not being delivered to the purchaser, and the after sales service sucks.

Market places on social media are similar to any other classified advertising platforms like gumtree.com, Craigslist and....

It's safer to deal directly with the seller than their "gatekeeper" website, that kind of takes away that human interactions where we can bargain and add our own personal touch to sweeten the deal

Yes, consumers are buying goods from social media. It is because the new generation is becoming comfortable with the digital world and latest technologies which provide a great platform to all for almost every kind of work one wants to do. Selling stuff and buying stuff on social media sites is very common nowadays and is very successful. Through social media one can get a vast amount of audience/customers of almost every age group and the same is with buyers they can get access to multiple sellers/businesses by just sitting at home using their mobiles.

So this is interesting...

...in one recent thread we have a "social media doesn't replace your website" concept...and in this, we have a "people definitely buy through social media" idea.

They sure seem contradictory.

My own experience, over the past 10 years in IM, is that people definitely buy off social media. Most of my company's credibility and warm-up comes from social media posts and especially videos. Then they reach out to a social media account, like LinkedIn, and we connect there. That leads to a sales call.

The company website, while a handy "cubby hole filler" so there's something competent there when an individual goes looking, isn't responsible for much. Based on the traffic, it typically gets toured by people looking to prospect for their own sales...not potential buyers.

So in my world, the social media element is far more important than websites.

Also I believe it's key to consider these days, ie. after 2016 or so, influencers are far more powerful as a buyer filter. Influencers are far more trusted by buyers than company websites as information sources. And influencers use... what? Their own websites? No. Social media, of course.

I think the post has answered most of the queries. Just to emphasis, the younger generation go for second hand items because they are affordable . The millennial and boomers don't have the time to visit departmental stores. While the older generation are used to going to departmental stores

People def feel comfortable and have for a while now. But the methodology is flawed. 70% of respondents were female. The gen pop is 51% female. So they over-sampled females. They created scientific sounding propaganda that supports their company. Nothing wrong with that IF you understand that's what they did.

Plus about 40% were from their own platform which would skew it as well. But they present it as if it was just a gen pop study. ;-)

I agree with this...and they are using their PHONES to do so....Adapt

True, but it may take some time to build up traction and subscribers in social media - particularly in markets with stiff competition (ie, lucrative),

In addition, consider that some substantial demographics may not be primary consumers of social media content. I have found offline prospecting is still an extremely viable and perhaps an essential synergistic marketing component.

By including offline media into a marketing strategy, you can reach users who may not be in front of their phone or computer or who aren't actively on the platforms you are already reaching.

Having an online/offline presence in multiple platforms where your targeted prospects frequent (which may or may not include social media) is still the most viable marketing strategy

as the decades go by you will see more and more people more comfortable with buying online. Soon you'll have seniors that grew up in the social media age.

The downside being that you're building your business on a 3rd party platform.

I prefer to own my assets and maintain 100 % control

I think this can only be good, still definitely good to have a website and keep all options open though.

As a consumer, I would only buy off social media if:
The business has a legit looking website (linked with social media account)
There are client testimonials from Google, or TrustPilot, or they collaborate with social media influencers that I trust.

Social media is not a replacement for a website, but it is there to supplement ecommerce sales. Social is good for impulsive buys or if they have strong visual content.

The important step its to know how to sell .If you know how to sell people will buy from everywher ,you need to deliver value ,a good product and tou need to be an authority