How to Use Social Trends in Business: A Practical Guide for UK SMEs in 2025.
Did you know that one in four of your potential customers will be shopping through social media in 2024? That's right - social trends in business are reshaping how UK companies connect with their audience.
In fact, social commerce generated a staggering amount, with projections showing growth exceeding one trillion pounds by 2028. Furthermore, 82% of consumers now use social media for product discovery, whilst 58% have made purchases after seeing products on these platforms.£571 billion in 2023
These numbers tell an important story: social commerce isn't just another buzzword - it's becoming essential for business survival. Whether you're running a small boutique in Manchester or a tech startup in London, understanding and leveraging these trends could be the difference between thriving and merely surviving in 2025.
Ready to transform your business with social commerce? Let's explore how you can tap into this trillion-pound opportunity.
Understanding Social Commerce in 2025
Social commerce merges social media platforms with eCommerce, enabling businesses to sell products directly through social networks. Unlike traditional online shopping, social commerce creates an integrated experience where customers can explore products, read reviews, and complete purchases without leaving their favourite social apps.
The core features of social commerce include:
· Interactive shopping through live streams and polls
· Direct customer-brand communication
· Instant purchase capabilities
· Built-in review systems
· Seamless payment processing
Meta leads the UK social commerce landscape, specifically through Instagram and Facebook, controlling 58% of social commerce revenues. Instagram has emerged as the top choice for young shoppers, with 37.3% preferring it for purchases, followed closely by TikTok at 36.1% and Facebook at 34.3%. Moreover, TikTok's influence continues to grow, with 44% of its users making direct purchases through the platform.
The UK social commerce market is experiencing remarkable growth. Primarily driven by younger consumers, the market will reach £7.4 billion in 2024. Consequently, experts forecast this figure to more than double, reaching nearly £16 billion by 2028, growing at an impressive 21.2% annual rate. This expansion represents a significant shift, as social commerce is expected to account for 10% of total online commerce, up from 6% currently.
For small businesses, social platforms have become vital revenue generators. Specifically, 28% of small businesses report social channels as their primary revenue source, outperforming physical stores and traditional e-commerce platforms. Additionally, 82% of social media users now engage in shopping-related activities on these platforms.
Identifying Profitable Social Trends
Successful trend spotting forms the backbone of social commerce strategy. Primarily, it involves identifying emerging patterns before they reach peak popularity, allowing your business to gain a competitive edge in the market.
How to spot emerging trends
To effectively spot emerging trends, follow these essential steps:
· Assess your current market landscape and baseline metrics
· Monitor social conversations and engagement spikes
· Analyse competitor activities and industry shifts
· Study audience behaviour patterns
· Track emerging hashtags and keywords
Social listening tools reveal that 90% of consumers use social media to keep up with trends and cultural moments. Therefore, staying ahead of these trends helps you connect with your audience when they're most receptive to new products and services.
Tools for trend analysis
Several powerful tools can streamline your trend analysis process. Notably, Keyhole tracks real-time data across multiple platforms, including X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn and TikTok. Similarly, SparkToro provides insights into audience demographics and helps identify where customers spend time online.
Rival IQ offers features like competitor analysis and social listening for comprehensive trend analysis. Essential metrics to monitor include sentiment ratios, passion scores, and top keywords. These tools essentially help you understand not just what's trending but also why specific trends gain traction.
Advanced analytics platforms now offer AI-powered spike alerts that automatically notify you of unusual activity or emerging patterns. These tools can process real-time and historical data, providing a more complete picture of trend trajectories and potential longevity.
Setting Up Your Social Shop
Launching your social commerce presence requires careful platform selection and strategic setup. Primarily, your success depends on choosing platforms that align with your target audience and business goals.
Choose the right platform.
Platform selection hinges on your target demographic. For younger audiences, TikTok and Instagram offer robust shopping features. While professional audiences respond better to LinkedIn's business-focused environment. Each platform brings unique strengths:
· Instagram: Visual content and influencer marketing
· Facebook: Comprehensive shop features and vast user base
· Pinterest: Discovery-driven shopping
· TikTok: Creative video content and younger demographic reach
Create product listings
Subsequently, crafting compelling product listings becomes crucial for engagement. High-quality images and precise descriptions form the foundation of successful listings. Product descriptions should include specifications, pricing, and key features while maintaining consistent branding across all platforms.
For optimal visibility, incorporate relevant keywords in your titles and descriptions. Although this might seem time-consuming, proper optimisation enhances your chances of being discovered by potential customers. Hence, focus on creating detailed product information that helps customers make informed decisions.
Set up payment systems.
Payment integration marks the final step in your shop setup. Nevertheless, this step proves vital for conversion rates. Implement multiple payment options, including credit cards, digital wallets, and Buy Now, Pay Later services. Research shows that offering diverse payment methods reduces cart abandonment rates significantly.
Integrate embedded payment links directly into your social media posts for seamless transactions. This approach eliminates redirect friction, whilst digital wallets streamline future purchases. Furthermore, ensure your payment system includes robust security measures to protect customer data.
Building Customer Trust
Trust is the cornerstone of successful social commerce, with 92% of consumers regularly reading online reviews before purchasing. Building credibility through authentic customer feedback and responsive service directly impacts your bottom line.
Show authentic reviews
User-generated content (UGC) is a powerful trust-building tool, primarily because 91% of customers say reviews significantly affect their purchasing decisions. Rather than relying solely on marketing messages, authentic customer feedback creates genuine social proof.
To maximise the impact of customer reviews:
· Display a mix of feedback sentiments to showcase transparency
· Encourage detailed product experiences from verified buyers
· Share user-generated content across your social platforms
· Highlight specific product features mentioned in reviews
Whilst negative reviews might seem concerning, they help build trust. 77% of consumers actively seek out reviews whilst browsing local businesses. A balanced mix of opinions makes your online presence more credible and authentic.
Handle customer service
Certainly, prompt customer service through social media directly affects your revenue, as shoppers spend 20-40% more with businesses that respond to social media comments. 78% of customers expect personalised responses within 24 hours on social platforms.
Primarily, the focus should be on addressing concerns swiftly and professionally. When handling negative feedback, acknowledge the issue publicly, then move detailed problem-solving to private channels. This approach demonstrates transparency whilst maintaining customer privacy.
Social media customer service undoubtedly influences brand loyalty, with 63% of consumers stating that quality support significantly affects their commitment to a brand. Furthermore, 75% of people are likely to post positive content about your brand after meaningful social media interactions.
Conclusion
Social commerce stands as a game-changing opportunity for UK businesses in 2025. Your success depends on choosing the right platforms, setting up professional shops, and building customer trust through authentic engagement.
Numbers tell a compelling story - with social commerce expected to reach, businesses that adapt now will gain significant advantages. Though the process might seem complex, starting with one platform and expanding gradually allows you to master each step.£16 billion by 2028
Remember that customer trust remains central to social commerce success. Authentic reviews, prompt responses, and excellent service create lasting relationships with your audience. If you want to know more about how to implement social commerce into your marketing - contact us today.
Start small, stay consistent, and watch your social commerce presence grow. You can turn social trends into real business growth through careful platform selection, professional shop setup, and genuine customer engagement.
