Selling vs Promoting Products on Social Media: Which Method Works Better?

[Nomad]

On social media, you can either sell your products directly or promote them to drive traffic to your online store. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok have built-in shops where you can list your products and sell to the social media users, without the need of registering on ecommerce marketplace or even building your own website.

When you are promoting, you are basically attracting users to click on your link and visit your external store or marketplace. When you are selling, you either sell through shop page on social media or sell through your own page. Both strategies have pros and cons, and the best approach depends on your products and the audience.

By the way, what has worked for you?

 

[Dominique]

Promoting builds awareness and trust over time, while selling focuses on immediate transactions. I find combining both, engaging content plus clear calls-to-action, works best.

 

[Nomad]

Well, combining both is certainly good. But whether you have noticed or not, most social media users do not like to visit third party links, in other words, they rarely visit the product shared. However, they do engage with the products listed on the platform

 

[Cpvr]

My sisters have had more luck promoting products on social media by creating videos around the product. it's a lot easier to promote a product when it's backed by a video as potential buyers may be more interested in buying it after seeing it showcased.

However, promoting products on social media also helps, as long as you stay engaged with your audience.

 

[Brain555]

Not all social media platforms are created equal. Some are better suited for selling digital products than others. So it is to choose the one that works for you. I use Facebook

 

[Niyi Brixx]

If you can get my attention on social media, why do I have to be redirected to complete the purchase. It is more effective to advertise on social media and sell directly on social media. It makes the entire process of buying after seeing a social media ad simpler.

 

[koyala]

From my experience, promoting products on social media tends to work better than just selling. When I focus on promotion, sharing stories, benefits, and engaging content, it builds trust and interest. Direct selling feels pushy and often gets ignored, but promotion creates connection and drives sales more naturally.

 

[Teegold]

Personally, I don't like clicking links on social media that will direct me to a third party website. If I'm interested in buying something or social media, I'll just go to Facebook marketplace.

 

[Nomad]

A lot of people are like you, they don't click on third party links. One reason they do this is because they are afraid of scams, clickbaits and phishing links.

 

[samsun56]

It depends on each case, there are people who only promote better, there are others who sell better and there are others who do a mix, selling both through social networks and through their own page, I would recommend the mix, so you can sell to anyone who searches for your product, no matter if it's through social networks or in your own store.

 

[Niyi Brixx]

I think it is easier to sell directly on Facebook than trying to route traffic to a product page on an e commerce store. Customers would find it tasking navigating to another platform to complete the purchase. It is easier to complete the purchase through the Facebook inbox.