10 Social Selling Tools Every Small Business Needs
Discover the social selling tools that help your small business build real customer relationships.
Key takeaways
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Choose social selling tools that match your audience and the platforms they already use.
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Combine in-app selling features like TikTok Shop and Instagram Shopping with outreach tools like LinkedIn Sales Navigator.
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Use social listening and social proof to build trust and turn followers into paying customers.
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Start with free plans or trials to test each tool before you commit any budget.
What is social selling?
Social selling is a sales and marketing technique that uses the relationships brands build on social platforms to drive sales.
There are a few social selling strategies you could use. You can make sales using tools built into social media channels or promote your offer by creating valuable content that features your products.
Benefits of social selling
There are several benefits of social selling:
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Converting followers to customers
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Creating more social media posts
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Building community connections
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Improving your online presence
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Enhancing brand awareness
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Shortening the sales cycle
All of these benefits ultimately lead to growth in your business’s sales.
What are social selling tools?
Social selling tools are software offerings that support various parts of the social selling process.
Some of this technology is built directly into social media platforms, like Instagram, TikTok, and similar apps. Others are standalone products designed to enhance the tools provided by social platforms.
Social selling tools focus on one-to-one relationships and turning conversations into revenue. Social media marketing tools focus on reach, awareness, and growing your audience.
What are the best social selling tools for small businesses?
Let’s take a look at some tools that can help you with social selling success.
1. LinkedIn Sales Navigator
Prospecting on LinkedIn — This tool helps you find and connect with potential prospects on LinkedIn. You can tailor your outreach based on customer insights (interests and activities).
2. HubSpot Sales Hub
Social insights and CRM — This tool integrates with popular social media platforms and delivers valuable insights (read: data) into your customers’ and prospects’ activities. These insights allow you to personalize your outreach campaigns.
3. Hootsuite
Social media management — This tool helps you manage your social media platforms from a single dashboard. It also provides scheduling, analytics, and reporting tools.
4. Sprout Social
Social selling and CRM — In addition to Hootsuite’s features, Sprout Social offers dedicated social selling tools, such as a lead capture form and a social CRM.
5. Salesloft
Sales automation — This tool can automate your sales process, from lead qualification to closing deals. You also get insights into your pipeline so you can focus on the right opportunities.
6. EveryoneSocial
Employee advocacy — EveryoneSocial enables brands to reach more customers on social media by distributing content more broadly.
7. TikTok Shop
In-app selling on TikTok — TikTok Shop is a feature built into TikTok, a popular social media app focused on short-form videos. This social selling tool allows creators to sell products directly in their videos.
8. Instagram Shopping
In-app selling on Instagram — This is a social selling tool fully integrated into the Instagram user experience. It enables users to shop for items with links added to images published on the app.
9. Facebook Shop
In-app selling on Facebook — Another social selling tool from Meta, Facebook Shop is managed in the same suite as Instagram Shopping. However, social selling efforts come via Facebook instead.
10. Vidyard
Video selling — Vidyard is an online video platform that enables users to create powerful sales videos to connect with their audiences more effectively. This platform uses AI video messaging to help you customize your social selling efforts.
Tips for successful social selling
Now that you’re more familiar with the best tools for social selling, let’s dive into a few tips for amplifying your efforts.
Study success stories
As mentioned, TikTok has emerged as a powerhouse for social selling thanks to its vast, engaged audience. TikTok’s unique platform allows businesses to create engaging content that resonates with viewers, turning followers into customers.
A prime example is SoFi, a personal finance company that leverages TikTok to showcase its services. It demonstrates how effective TikTok can be in promoting financial services in an accessible and relatable way.
For instance, SoFi uses TikTok to demystify financial terms by explaining the difference between APY and interest rates. This engaging strategy showcases their services, educates the audience, and has helped garner more than 175,000 followers.
Streamline team communications
Since social selling requires collaboration from several departments, it’s crucial to streamline team communication to enhance productivity and cohesion. Integrating an employee communication app is valuable for effective collaboration within small businesses. It provides a centralized platform for team members to connect, share ideas, and collaborate on sales strategies.
Leverage social listening
Social listening means diving into the comments, threads, and chat feeds where your audience talks about your brand or product. Reviewing those interactions gives you valuable insights. Use them to improve your offer or sharpen your messaging so you connect better with your community.
Incorporate social proof
Another great way to build trust and increase sales is to incorporate social proof into your social media content. This could include reviews, testimonials, and demos from happy clients.
Social proof and other user-generated content are valuable because they give your brand legitimacy and reassure potential customers about the quality of your product.
Start your social selling journey
With so many great social selling tools available, it’s time to level up your sales and marketing by tapping into social channels. Which tools and channels you use depend on your brand and your audience, so it’s worth exploring different options to find the tech stack that works best for you.
The right social selling tools help you win customers and keep better control of your cash flow. When you’re ready to manage the money side with less stress, Sign up for Melio.
Social selling tools FAQs
What tools help with social selling?
Social selling tools include social listening apps, customer relationship management software, direct messaging platforms, and analytics dashboards. Together they help you find buyers and build trust.
Are there free social selling tools for small businesses?
Yes, many tools offer free plans or trials. Free options are a smart way to test what works before you pay.
What is the difference between social selling and social media marketing?
Social selling builds one-to-one relationships that lead to sales. Social media marketing focuses on reach and awareness across a wider audience.
Which social media platforms are best for social selling?
LinkedIn works well for business-to-business selling, while Instagram and Facebook suit business-to-consumer brands. The best platform is where your customers already spend time.