Facebook Shops - Sell Directly From The Platform

Facebook are releasing a new function called "shops" ahead of schedule in an effort to help businesses affected by COVID-19

Facebook announced on Tuesday the 19th of May that it is adding shopfronts to it's long list of features paired with some new functions across it's spread of apps.

These new features put it in the same ring as Amazon, Etsy and eBay being a platform where users can purchase goods directly from!

Facebook Shops will allow business page admins to create digital storefronts on the platform where they can host a range of products and either send users off-site to complete their payment, or take a payment directly through Facebook.

Basically, Facebook could potentially be your new ecom store!

* An example of what Facebook Shops could look like, shared by Facebook

On top of that, users will also gain access to a function to tag their products in live video. Enabling people to purchase products in a very warm manner, by seeing them live either for the first time or after seeing the benefit they provide.

Facebook said these features were pushed ahead of schedule with COVID-19 affecting small business owners.

“We’re seeing a lot of small businesses that never had online presences get online for the first time,” Mark Zuckerberg said on Tuesday. “For a lot of small businesses in this period, this is the difference between staying afloat and going under.”

 My thoughts 🤔

I love it

I just imagine an even lower barrier to entry for new and aspiring business owners to enter the market with product and immediate have access to all the tools they need to thrive.

Could it possibly negate the need for a website? No more shopify? No more squarespace? No more landing pages?

And don't get me started on tagging products in Facebook Live videos! Flash sales here we come!

We'll see how this all fares in due time