Why Multivendor Marketplaces Can’t Ignore Social Commerce Any Longer

For marketplace owners like you, social commerce is a big opportunity. But only if you’re ready for it. The future of shopping is going social, and you don’t want to be left behind.

Social commerce is changing the way people shop. It’s no longer just about browsing websites.

Now, shoppers can buy products directly from their favorite social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

This shit is huge for online marketplaces. If you are wondering how to utilize social commerce for marketplace, no worries.

In this post, we’ll talk about what social commerce is, why it matters, and how you can get your marketplace ready for the future. So, let’s get started!

What is Social Commerce?

Social Commerce is buying directly through social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook. It’s fast, smooth, and fits how people already use their phones.

You’ve probably noticed how shopping is changing. People used to browse stores or websites. Now, they scroll social media and buy things right there without switching their apps.

And if you run an online marketplace or plan to start one, this shift matters. Because it’s not just brands that benefit. Marketplaces can win big, too.

Your vendors are already on social media. Their followers are potential customers. If you make it easy for them to sell through social platforms, you open up new sales channels without doing extra work.

It’s more visibility, more traffic, and more trust, since people believe what they see from real users, not just ads.

Benefits of Social Commerce for Marketplaces

Social commerce isn’t something you can ignore. Not anymore.

By 2026, global social commerce sales are expected to hit $2.9 trillion. That’s not a typo. And platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook aren’t just testing features, they’re investing heavily in shopping tools because they know this is where eCommerce is heading.

Now here’s the thing: if you’re running a marketplace and you’re not aligning your platform with where the traffic is going, you’re leaving money on the table.

Your sellers could be driving sales through their social reach, but if your marketplace doesn’t support that flow, it breaks. Customers drop off. Sales don’t happen.

This isn’t about hype. It’s about keeping your business future-proof. Social media isn’t just a marketing tool anymore. It’s a sales channel. And soon, it might become the main channel for many industries.

If you’re not preparing now, if your marketplace doesn’t evolve, you’re giving your competitors a head start. Worse, your sellers might start looking for platforms that do help them sell on social.

Awareness isn’t optional, it’s step one if you want to stay relevant.

How to Prepare Your Marketplace for Social Commerce

To stay competitive, you need to ensure your marketplace is ready for the social commerce boom.

This means integrating tools and features that allow your sellers to easily connect their products to social platforms, enhance customer experiences, and drive sales directly from social media.

If you’re not set up for social commerce, you’ll be missing out on a massive opportunity. Here’s how to get ready:

• Integrate Social Media Selling Features
• Enable Easy Product Sharing for Vendors
• Support Shoppable Posts & Livestreaming
• Create Social-Optimized Product Pages
• Provide Tools for User-Generated Content (UGC)
• Track and Analyze Social Commerce Data
• Educate Your Vendors on Social Commerce Best Practices

Now let’s get into the details!

01. Integrate Social Media Selling Features

To stay competitive, your marketplace needs to directly connect with social media platforms. This means giving your vendors the tools to sell their products directly through platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Social media is where your sellers already have a presence. If your marketplace doesn’t make it easy for them to link their products to these platforms, they’re likely missing out on potential sales.

Your job is to make the buying process as seamless as possible for customers, so they can purchase without leaving the social platform.

Key integrations to consider include:

• Shoppable Instagram Posts: Let vendors tag products in their Instagram posts to allow users to buy right from the post.
• TikTok Shopping: Enable integration with TikTok’s shopping features for in-app purchases.
• Facebook Shop Sync: Sync product listings with Facebook Shops, so vendors can manage everything in one place.

02. Enable Easy Product Sharing for Vendors

For social commerce to work, your marketplace should allow vendors to share their products easily across social media. The goal is to make the process as simple as possible so that vendors can quickly post their products to their followers.

When vendors can share products with just a few clicks, it encourages them to promote more frequently. This increases product visibility and drives more traffic back to your marketplace. Features like social sharing buttons on product pages can make a huge difference.

You should also consider adding tools that allow vendors to generate shareable links or customizable social media templates. These tools help vendors craft content that fits each platform’s style while maintaining consistency across their posts.

03. Support Shoppable Posts & Livestreaming

Social media is all about interaction. And now, shopping is a part of that interaction. Your marketplace needs to make it easy for vendors to use shoppable posts and livestreaming.

Shoppable posts let users buy products directly from a post. So, if a vendor posts a picture or a video on Instagram, they should be able to tag the products, and customers can click and buy right then and there. It’s that simple.

Then there’s livestreaming, which is blowing up. Vendors can go live, showcase their products, answer questions in real-time, and drive impulse buys.

Your platform should make it easy for vendors to create and manage these types of posts. If you don’t support it, vendors will look for platforms that do.

04. Create Social-Optimized Product Pages

For social commerce to work, your product pages need to be optimized for social sharing. This means clean, attractive product images, concise descriptions, and easy-to-read pricing.

When vendors share their products on social media, you want the page to look as good as it does in the post.

The goal is to make sure that when someone clicks through from a social media platform, they see a page that’s designed for conversions. This means fast loading times, mobile-friendly layouts (since most users will come from their phones), and the ability to quickly add products to their cart.

You should also add social proof elements to these pages, like customer reviews and ratings. People trust what others have to say, and seeing positive feedback can push them to make a purchase.

05. Provide Tools for User-Generated Content (UGC)

User-generated content (UGC) is one of the most powerful tools in social commerce. Customers love to see real-life experiences with products, whether it’s a review, a testimonial, or an unboxing video. It builds trust and encourages more sales.

To make this work on your marketplace, you need to provide tools that make it easy for customers to create and share their content. This could be as simple as adding a review system where users can leave photos or videos alongside their feedback.

Or even better, allow vendors to run UGC campaigns where users are encouraged to share photos or videos for a chance to win a prize or get a discount.

The more your customers can interact with the product in a real, authentic way, the more they’ll connect with it and with your marketplace. UGC is essentially free marketing. It gives your vendors a boost, shows potential buyers that others trust your products, and drives traffic back to your site.

06. Track and Analyze Social Commerce Data

If you’re not tracking how your marketplace performs on social platforms, you’re flying blind.

Vendors need to know what’s working and what’s not, especially when they’re putting time and money into creating content or running ads on social media. Your platform should offer insights like:

• Which products get the most clicks from social
• What posts or campaigns drive real sales
• Where the traffic is coming from

Even basic analytics like click-through rates, conversion rates, and top-performing channels can make a huge difference. It helps vendors double down on what’s working and fix what’s not. And for you, it shows what features or integrations are driving actual revenue.

Make sure your marketplace gives vendors access to this kind of data. If you don’t, they’re guessing. And when people are guessing, they’re usually not investing.

07. Educate Your Vendors on Social Commerce Best Practices

Even if your marketplace is fully equipped for social commerce, many vendors won’t know how to use it effectively unless you show them the way.

Not every seller understands how to create content that converts. Some don’t know how to use hashtags, time their posts, or even tag products properly.

That’s where you come in. Give them resources that help. Simple guides, short videos, live webinars, whatever works best for your vendor base.

You can also create a help center or blog section focused on social commerce. Topics like “How to Sell More on Instagram” or “Tips for Going Live on TikTok” are gold for your sellers.

When your vendors get better at social selling, they bring in more traffic. More traffic means more customers on your marketplace. It’s a win for everyone.

What Multivendor Marketplaces Can Gain Using Social Commerce

Social commerce isn’t just another buzzword. It’s a serious growth driver, especially for multivendor marketplaces.

First, you get more traffic. When your vendors actively promote their products on platforms like Instagram or TikTok, they’re not just marketing themselves, they’re bringing new visitors to your entire marketplace. Every post, tag, or live video becomes a new entry point.

Second, you boost brand awareness, without paying for it all yourself. Your sellers become mini-marketers. Their content introduces your platform to their followers. Multiply that by dozens or hundreds of vendors, and your reach expands fast.

Then there are higher conversion rates. Social platforms create impulse buying opportunities. When a product shows up in someone’s feed, with real photos or a quick video, it feels more personal and trustworthy.

That shortens the buying decision. And because people can shop right from the app, it removes friction.

Lastly, you give your vendors a reason to stick around. If your marketplace helps them grow on social, why would they leave? More visibility, more sales, and less effort, that’s exactly what sellers want. And when sellers succeed, so does your platform.

Conclusion

Social commerce isn’t some far-off trend. It’s already happening, and it’s changing how people shop. If your marketplace isn’t ready, you’ll miss out. Your competitors won’t.

If your marketplace isn’t ready yet, you can choose the Dokan multivendor plugin to create your online marketplace. It comes with all the required features to prepare your marketplace for the future of social commerce.

Social platforms are where people hang out. With the right setup, they can be where people buy, too. And your marketplace can be right at the center of it.