Everything you need to know about live shopping.
Live shopping is sweeping across China and Europe and is starting to gain traction in the US. It’s where livestreaming and eCommerce meet. Essentially, it’s the latest way to connect with your target audience, tell your product story, answer questions and turn followers into customers. You should be paying attention to live shopping because it’s rapidly growing and looks like it’s here to stay. If that doesn’t entice you, then consider this, China’s Lipstick King sold an astonishing $1.7 billion in goods in 12 hours.
Where To Start
Livestreaming is as simple as picking up your phone and ‘Going Live’ on almost any social media platform. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. A full-service live shopping experience includes click-to-buy buttons, discount sharing, order management, customer service and more. You can do this on your own or hire a plug-and-play studio that’s already set up and prepared to take your eCommerce experience to the next level.
Hostess With The Mostess
You’ll want a host who is energetic, engaging, and knowledgeable about your products. This can be you, someone inside your business, or an influencer who appeals to your community. They need to be able to multi-task as it’s important to explain product features, answer questions as they’re coming in, and keep the flow of the production going.
Plan In Place
Lastly, you’ll need a detailed plan in place. Live shopping is driven by its sense of urgency as it only lasts so long or perhaps you only have a limited number of products. Some milestones to hit during the broadcast include discounts, price drops, and special guest appearances. More excitement around your live shopping experience means more interaction, sharing, and hopefully, bigger audiences and more sales.
Of course, things happen along the way and you may not stick to your plan exactly, so no sweat if you knock over a lamp or mic – that’s part of the real-life human experience that makes live shopping so popular.