People are using social media more than ever. From socializing to shopping, social media offers everything. This growing trend of social commerce makes it a necessity for your brand to establish a social commerce business where your audience is. Offering shopping opportunities on your audience’s favorite social media apps leads to higher conversion and better engagement. 

Dubai-a land that speaks the digital language and home to thousands of influencers, is the perfect city for embracing social commerce. Businesses in Dubai witnessed an enormous sales growth on platforms like Instagram and TikTok in the last decade. In this blog, you’ll understand the importance of social commerce and how you can implement it in your business.  

Before heading further, let’s first understand- 

Imagine scrolling through a social media app when a product catches your attention. You want to purchase it instantly. So, social commerce allows you to do just that-without being redirected to an external site or another app. You see a product, click “Buy Now”, and you're done!  

This seamless shopping through social commerce is perfect for today’s digital-first customers. It allows an exceptional shopping experience with fast and hassle-free check-out. 

The Rise of Social Commerce in UAE 

The UAE is the one of the largest hubs of internet users in the world. With over 10 million people online, this is the perfect time to embrace social commerce trends.     

As social commerce platforms continue to grow, Instagram Shops and TikTok Shopping are gaining momentum. In-app purchases through these platforms are expected to boost even more in the coming years. 

Social Commerce Benefits for UAE Brands 

1. Effortless Shopping Experience: 

Allows customers to enjoy a seamless shopping experience without being redirected to other apps. This embraces them to purchase products with quick and smooth features. 

2. Higher Conversion Rates:  

With in-app purchasing, more and more consumers are likely to complete their purchases, as social commerce offers a quick and steady process. This boosts conversion rates through an intuitive shopping experience. 

3. Unfiltered Engagement: 

Social commerce harnesses social media features to stay connected with customers in real-time. By interacting, responding to queries, and solving issues through DMs and comments, brands can foster strong engagement. This entire experience creates an ideal roadmap to gain unfiltered connection between your brand and customers. 

Social commerce platforms like Instagram and TikTok display content based on user’s needs and interests. This allows audiences to explore products across numerous categories with varied features. Showcasing the right products to the right people at the right time is the most effective way to enhance audience targeting. 

How to Sell Directly on Instagram & TikTok? 

Social commerce benefits are an effective way to multiply a business's revenue, but using the right social commerce strategies is what truly makes your brand stand out in the fierce competition of the internet.  

VGEN Media has mastered the art of amplifying social commerce marketing for our clients, here’s how we do it: 

Firstly, let us tell you this-Instagram selling is everywhere! Ever seen your mom is scrolling through Instagram, stumbling upon a random product, and despite your efforts to explain why she doesn't need it, she insists on buying it anyway. Yes, that's the power of social commerce! Consumers can hardly resist when they see a bright pop up of “Buy Now” on their screens. 

Imagine your brand dominating Instagram Shops, where your products are right in front of customers on their profiles. 

What Exactly Do You Need to Do? 

a) Set up Instagram Shopping:

Connect your catalogue via Facebook Commerce Manager.  

b) Tag and Mention the Products:

Tag your products in stories, posts, and description. By tagging products, every post becomes shoppable, making it easier to convince customers to purchase.  

c) Enable In-app Checkout:

Activate Instagram Checkout feature to let customers finish their purchases without leaving the app-keeping the shopping experience smooth and hassle-free. 

d) Harness Instagram Live:

Just like ecommerce sales strategies, social commerce follows the same rule-showing consumers live demonstration of products. Showcasing your products in real time on Instagram influences customer’s purchase effectively. 

2. Sell on TikTok with TikTok Shopping: 

Believe it or not, thousands of product-based businesses worldwide don’t even have a dedicated marketing team, yet they manage to multiply their revenue by 75% within just six months-all thanks to TikTok selling.  

Case Study: TikTok’s Best Selling Campaign 

Stanley Quencher Tumbler 

This Stanley Quencher Tumbler became a sensation on TikTok, thanks to its ability to keep water cold for hours, and perfect fit for car cup holders. But its success wasn’t just about the product-it was TikTok’s social commerce marketing with relevant features and engagement.  

By leveraging User-Generated Content (UGC), they encouraged real customers to share their experiences, making the bottle feel like a must-have. Keen influencer partnership allowed its reach to skyrocket, while TikTok Shop features made purchasing seamless, turning engagement into instant sales.  

The result? Their revenue boosted from $70 million to over $750 million in 2023. By embracing TikTok video marketing and trending online challenges, Stanley successfully built massive hype, proving the power of a strong social commerce strategy.  

What Exactly Do You Need to Do? 

a) Set up TikTok Shopping:

Create a storefront in your bios, description, and videos with direct product links. In-app shopping makes purchases faster and convenient. 

b) Shoppable Organic Content:

Focus on video marketing strategies that showcase products in real-time. “How-to” or demo videos work exceptionally well to influence purchase decisions, especially with a pop-up of “Shop Now”. 

c) Collaborate with Influencer:

Collaborate with influencers who align your ideal audience to drive organic traffic. TikTok creators showcasing your products help engage viewers skyrocketing more conversions.  

d) Go Live with TikTok Shopping:

Hook TikTok users by hosting live product demonstrations with instant purchase options, encouraging real-time sales. 

Gearing up for social commerce 2025 is all about adapting user’s needs and delivering hyper-personalized experiences for your audiences. With AI advancements for marketing, AR shopping experiences, and seamless payment integrations, Dubai businesses can stay ahead in this rapidly growing digital landscape. 

Conclusion 

The future of online shopping will always be on top. Social commerce platforms like Instagram and TikTok can be a game-changers for businesses in Dubai, maximizing revenue through smart social commerce selling.  

Create a strategy. Engage your audience and sell it on Instagram & TikTok. You will watch your profits soar by offering seamless shopping experiences to your audience. Social commerce trends are for the new generations, turning your followers into loyal customers. 

Let VGEN Media handle your social commerce needs so you can achieve higher conversions and ROI with the top marketing partner in Dubai.

- By Sumaiya M. Kalim