Best Social Commerce Tools To Drive Sales and Growth in 2026

Social media is now a constant presence in people’s daily lives, and platforms have responded by weaving commerce directly into the experience as they compete for user attention. For consumers, the upside is obvious: making a purchase is just a few taps away, right within the platforms they already use. 

For brands, though, the rise of social commerce is even more significant and in some cases, a must to stay relevant. Before we dive into how brands should leverage social commerce, let’s break down what it means.

Social commerce is when people buy products or services through social media. It started with brands posting their products on social media and directing users to their websites, but now, shopping mainly happens directly on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. That means people can browse and buy using TikTok Shops, Product Tags and other e-commerce marketing solutions without ever leaving the app. 

While social media still plays a role in guiding people through the buying journey, the number of steps to make a purchase has shortened. Brands and consumers alike now see that social commerce is no longer just an option. It is essential for growth.

Social Commerce vs. E-commerce

Social commerce happens directly on social media platforms, think buying something through Instagram or Facebook without leaving the app. E-commerce, on the other hand, includes all other online purchases usually made on a brand’s website or online store. 

Both social commerce and e-commerce sales are continuously growing, with US sales on platforms like TikTok Shop climbing every single year. As many brands look for new ways to scale, improving the online shopping experience has become a top priority.

While social commerce and e-commerce are technically separate, the most successful brands know how to use them together. Attracting customers on social media and making it easy for them to complete their purchases, whether in-app or on a website.

Social commerce is an important element of a brand's strategy because it helps it meet consumers where they already are. This ultimately creates a more seamless transaction and enables brands to leverage creators, community, and real-time engagement to build trust and drive more authentic, conversion-ready interactions.

A strong social commerce strategy is no longer an option for brands; it is a necessity. Here are just five of the instant benefits you will reap once you start focusing on social commerce.

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Shortened path to purchase

Social commerce excels at simplifying the customer journey. Integrated tools, like Instagram’s in-app checkout or TikTok's connected e-commerce platforms, let customers discover and purchase products within the app. This reduction in friction increases the likelihood of purchase completion, creating a more streamlined shopping experience for users. 

LikeShop is another great tool for brands looking to drive sales. It lets you turn your link in bio into a shoppable experience, directing users to key product pages. Options include a specific item, a custom landing page with seasonal picks, or the latest arrivals. It’s an easy way to add another sales touchpoint and guide users further down the funnel.

Gained insights for more targeted content

Another advantage of social commerce lies in the ability to personalize the customer experience. Social platforms provide robust analytics that offer deep insights into user preferences and behaviors. This data enables brands to tailor content, product recommendations, and promotional strategies to individual customers, ultimately increasing satisfaction. By tapping into social media analytics tools, brands can identify what resonates with their audience and refine their approach to optimize both engagement and sales outcomes.

Boosted conversion rates

By tapping into customer insights from social media and social commerce, brands can significantly improve their conversion rates. Conversions tend to drop when buyers face too many steps. However, when brands deliver the right content and make it easy to purchase directly on the platform people already use, those extra barriers disappear, and conversion rates climb.

International market reach 

Social commerce isn’t just a local phenomenon; it has unlocked pathways for brands to reach international markets. With platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook boasting global audiences, brands can expand their audience without needing physical retail spaces. This accessibility opens doors to customer segments that were previously difficult to access, leveling the playing field for smaller businesses to compete on a global stage.

Real-time engagement

Social commerce is a powerful way to deepen customer engagement. With interactive features built into the experience, brands can create moments that feel more personal and memorable than traditional e-commerce. 

Take live-stream shopping, for example. Brands that go live see conversion rates between 9–30% (Firework Live Shopping stats, 2025), a huge jump from the typical 2–3% on standard e-commerce sites. Pair that with augmented reality (AR) try-ons, and shoppers can see how products look on them before they buy, making the path to purchase not only smoother but a lot more fun.

E-commerce and social media have been intertwined for a long time, with each platform offering something different. From product discovery features to integrated checkout, many tools are available to grow your brand’s online presence and fine-tune your discovery-to-checkout process.

Here’s a look at some of the most popular social platforms and the social commerce features they offer:

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TikTok Shop

TikTok is a major player in social commerce, especially among younger audiences. TikTok Shop lets brands and creators sell directly through videos, live streams, and a shopping tab on profiles.

Set up checklist for TikTok Shop:

1. Verify eligibility by region, business type, and follower count.
2. Register a TikTok Shop Seller account through the Seller Center.
3. Complete identity and business verification.
4. Upload your product catalog with accurate information.
5. Link products to videos and enable live shopping features.
6. Monitor performance through TikTok Shop analytics and adjust strategy as needed.

TikTok’s algorithmic discovery can make products go viral quickly, giving smaller brands access to large audiences. The platform’s focus on authenticity means content that feels natural performs best.

Instagram Shopping

Instagram is a strong platform for social commerce, offering tools that turn engagement into sales. With Instagram Shopping, brands can create a digital storefront within the app so users can browse and buy products without leaving it.

Set up checklist for Instagram Shopping:

1. Check eligibility by reviewing Instagram's commerce policies and supported markets.
2. Convert to a Business or Creator account and connect to a Facebook Page.
3. Upload your product catalog through Commerce Manager or a supported e-commerce platform.
4. Submit your account for review and wait for approval.
5. Enable Shopping features and start tagging products in posts, Stories, and Reels.
6. Track performance using Instagram Insights and Commerce Manager analytics.

Key features include product tags in posts and Stories, a Shop tab on profiles, and checkout options. The platform’s visual focus suits lifestyle, fashion, beauty, and home brands, showcasing products in aspirational ways.

Facebook Shops

Facebook Shops offers customizable storefronts and integrates with Instagram Shopping, making it useful for managing both in one place.

Set up checklist for Facebook Shops:

1. Confirm your Facebook Business Page is active and compliant.
2. Open Commerce Manager and choose your checkout method: on-platform or through your website.
3. Create or connect your product catalog with detailed listings.
4. Customize your shop layout, collections, and branding.
5. Publish your shop and enable product tagging in posts and ads.
6. Use Commerce Manager and Meta Business Suite to track sales and engagement.

With options like live shopping events, curated collections, and built-in messaging, Facebook Shops supports brands targeting a wide audience. Its advertising tools also help retarget shoppers and drive repeat sales.

Other platforms to watch

While Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook lead social commerce, others are growing. There are many other platforms and services that brands are using every day for social commerce.

• Snapchat: Introduced AR try-ons and shoppable ads appealing to younger users.
• YouTube: Expanding shopping tools that let creators tag products in videos and live streams.
• Pinterest: Offers shoppable Pins and an intent-driven user base, good for home, fashion, and DIY brands.

Additionally, platforms like Twitch, WeChat, and Amazon are all making their mark, allowing brands to reach audiences and boost social commerce sales like never before.

Like any marketing strategy, getting the most out of social commerce means following a few best practices. While they’re not make-or-break, these tips can help you improve performance, boost ROI, and ultimately drive more sales through your social channels.

• Leverage influencers to reach different audiences: Partnering with influencers and creators allows brands to reach niche audiences through authentic, relatable content that often leads to higher engagement, stronger brand loyalty, and increased conversion rates. 
• Utilize social proof by sourcing UGC: UGC is an effective form of social proof because consumers trust seeing real people use products in everyday situations. Manually source UGC through tags and mentions, or use UGC platforms like Dash to efficiently discover customer content. 
• Upgrade your bio with a link: A link-in-bio is essential for converting social traffic. Tools like LikeShop create a customizable landing hub that can direct users to websites, product pages, campaigns, contests, and other key conversion points. 
• Implement shoppable galleries: On-site galleries help create a seamless experience between social media and a brand's website by displaying familiar social content users already recognize and engage with. Keeping these galleries updated strengthens consistency and increases the likelihood of conversion. ‍
• Don’t forget about email marketing:Email marketing remains a critical part of a successful strategy because it helps nurture hesitant buyers after their initial social interaction. Aligning email campaigns with social promotions or reminding users of products they viewed is a great starting point.

There is no better way to learn than by doing or, at least, by seeing how other brands do it. Below are standout examples of brands putting social commerce strategies into action, along with takeaways you can start applying to your own strategy today.

CB2

CB2 brings authenticity and a fresh perspective to its brand imagery by tapping into content creators and UGC as part of its social commerce strategy. Using LikeShop, CB2 seamlessly links its social media content to its website, helping make the connection between inspiration and purchase.

Why it Works: CB2’s strategic use of content across various formats has heightened brand awareness and directly influenced conversions and social commerce for the brand.

Brand Takeaway: Leverage creators that your audience is already familiar with as a part of your commerce strategy to build trust and foster engagement. 

Read more about CB2’s social commerce strategy

eos

eos uses social media to build conversation around products its audience already loves. The brand’s playful, product-led content drives engagement, increases visibility, and helps create demand that can translate into sales.

Its approach shows how social commerce works best when content and commerce feel connected. Social becomes more than a place to promote products. It becomes a place to understand what people are excited about and turn that momentum into action.

Why it Works: eos creates content people want to engage with, which helps products stay top of mind and move quickly.

Brand Takeaway: Use social engagement as a demand signal. When your audience responds to a product, make it easy for them to take the next step.

Read more about eos’s social commerce strategy

Urban Outfitters

While Urban Outfitters prefers to keep its commerce strategy separate from social, its focus on fun, trend-driven content still boosts sales. By staying in tune with what’s popular, the brand ends up driving social commerce even without directly pushing products.

Take the tomato lamp, for example. This quirky, glowing tomato went viral when it hit social media. Urban Outfitters used their link in bio to guide interested followers straight to the product page, and demand was so high that the lamp ended up on backorder.

Why it Works: Urban Outfitters keeps tabs on what is trending, allowing the brand to anticipate what’s coming and be prepared. 

Brand Takeaway: Ensure your social commerce tools (like your link in bio) are flexible and active so you can react to viral moments and point customers in the right direction. 

Read more about Urban Outfitters’ social commerce strategy

Dash Social is the ultimate all-in-one social media tool for marketers who want to put their best creative forward and drive measurable business and social commerce results. 

You can analyze your social performance, turn your content into an online catalog, and optimize how many customers you are sending to checkout. Dash Social has the Social Commerce tools you need to get started today.

How does social commerce work for brands?

Social channels allow brands to sell their products through integrated product catalogs which let you sell directly through the platform using a built-in storefront and product tagging. They also offer e-commerce platform integration which allows you to connect your online store (like Shopify) to your profile for a seamless shopping experience. Lastly, direct linking lets brands share direct links to product pages or special promotions right in your posts.

What is social shopping?

Social shopping is when people discover, explore, and buy products and services directly through social media. Many channels now offer storefront pages that allow brands to sell products on social through one simple interface that is only a few taps away.

Why is social commerce important? 

Social commerce is important for brands because it brings shopping to where people already spend their time, on social media. Instead of asking customers to leave their favorite apps to make a purchase, brands can now meet them right there, making the path to purchase faster and easier.

How do I measure social commerce success? 

Measure social commerce success by tracking metrics that are tied directly to conversions and revenue, like click-through rates, conversion rates, and total sales generated from social channels. 

To add another layer of context, also monitor engagement metrics like saves, shares, and comments to understand what content is driving purchase intent. 

Which platforms are best for social commerce? 

The best platforms for social commerce are the ones that have shopping/checkout capabilities right in the app. Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook all give users the chance to do this, making their purchase experience much faster and more convenient. 

What is live-stream shopping, and how effective is it?

Live-stream shopping combines live video content with real-time product promotion, allowing brands and creators to showcase products, answer questions, and drive purchases during broadcast. It’s an effective tactic because it creates urgency, encourages direct interactions, and mimics the personalized experience of in-store shopping.