Top Social Selling Tools You Should Use [+ Examples]

With more than half of the world using social media, social selling is a goldmine for acquiring leads, nurturing relationships and closing deals.

According to HubSpot’s 2023 Sales Strategy & Trends Report, social media ranks third among the most effective sales channels (after in-person meetings and phone calls).

But the question is, how do you get the best possible results from your social selling efforts?

You need to integrate the right social selling tools into your sales process as well as get inspiration from brands that have enjoyed massive social selling results.

In this article, we’ll explore a list of the top selling tools, plus social selling examples from real-life brands.

*Disclaimer: The comparisons and competitor ratings presented in this article are based on features available as of September 22, 2023. We conduct thorough research and draw on both first-hand experience and reputable sources to provide reliable insights. However, as tools and technologies evolve, we recommend readers verify details and consider additional research to ensure the information meets their specific needs.

Table of Contents

• 9 Best Social Selling Examples
• How to Choose a Platform for Social Selling
• How To Optimize Social Profiles For Social Selling

9 Best Social Selling Examples

Social selling has been around for a long time and keeps getting mainstream attention. With the rise of mobile technology, social media has become more accessible than ever, so it's no surprise that more and more businesses are turning to it to boost their sales figures.

Below are nine examples of social selling by companies that are doing it right:

1. Visme

Visme is focused on helping people create infographics and other types of visual content for businesses. The company uses its blogs to showcase its products, which allows its audience to see how they can be used in real-world settings.

For example, we publish high-quality, informative articles on our blog regularly, which help us generate millions of traffic and attract high-quality leads.

Also, Visme's YouTube channel has over 204k subscribers. There, we share educational content about marketing, branding, graphic design and how to use our tools and templates.

2. Duolingo

Duolingo is a language-learning app with a cute green owl logo. Their visual brand is fun and full of characters that appear during language lessons to inspire students to want to keep learning.

Their social selling style is based on humor and relatability. When they launched their TikTok channel with the owl logo turned into a fun live character, it became a viral sensation. The owl’s silly antics around the Duolingo office are primarily for fun, but mixed in with the silliness are posts that are entirely about selling.

In this example from TikTok, they promote their learning app by comparing it to terrible Google translations. This social selling technique is effective because the owl character has become relatable and funny to their audience. They don’t need to do much at this point to be able to sell on social media, thanks to the owl and its antics.

@duolingo every time you open Google Translate, I lose a feather. #duolingo #swiftok #enchanted #languagelearning #trend #brandtok #comedy ♬ Enchanted Taylor Swift - Kaylen

3. The North Face

The North Face is an outdoor gear brand. Their social selling strategies align with their brand message to never stop exploring. Their Instagram profile bio is simple with their native hashtag, #NeverStopExploring and the posts are generally inspirational and adventurous.

In this social selling example, one of their ambassadors shows how to set up the Stormbreak 2 Tent in a beautiful camping spot. With this reel, the viewer gets to see how easy the tent is to put up and how practical it is for camping while also enjoying the view of the background.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by The North Face (@thenorthface)

4. Surreal

Image Source

Surreal is a cereal company from the UK that bases its social selling strategy on irreverent humor and ridiculous copy. Their campaigns span across all major social media channels, but the most notable is on LinkedIn. How many cereal companies can boast a high following on LinkedIn? Hardly any.

In this social selling example, Surreal took photos of actual billboards around London of a campaign based on AI-generated advertising copy. They are so good at making fun of themselves that people always react positively. Commenters claim that the cereal is pretty good.

5. Bose

Bose has a blog (Bose Stories) updated multiple times per week with news about new products, tips for using them effectively, competitions and other information relevant to their target audience (music lovers). They also have an active presence on social media, including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

They frequently post content related to their brand and products (music is a big part of their culture), as well as information about events and promotions happening at Bose stores worldwide.

6. Salesforce

Salesforce uses a combination of Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook to connect with customers and prospects and execute B2B-style social selling

They have an active presence on each platform, posting content related to their brand and products as well as information about events and promotions that are going on at Salesforce stores.

Salesforce also use LinkedIn groups to interact more intensely with customers and prospects. This example is a promotional post for their podcast. They also use LinkedIn groups to interact more intensely with customers and prospects.

7. IBM

IBM has been using social media as an engagement tool for years, and they've found that it works best when there's a call to action involved.

They use Twitter and LinkedIn to post content that's relevant to their audience. Also, they use those platforms to ask questions about things like customer experiences with specific products or services.

What's more? They host regular webinars on Facebook and YouTube where customers can interact with IBM experts.

8. The Walt Disney Company

The Walt Disney Company uses Facebook Live video streaming to connect with its audience in real time. The company uses this feature to show fans behind-the-scenes footage from filming and voiceover projects like The Little Mermaid.

9. PepsiCo

PepsiCo uses Instagram as an engagement tool because it allows consumers to see the brand in a new light. The company uses the platform to show consumers how its products are made, which can help build trust with customers.

For instance, PepsiCo used Instagram to celebrate 125 years of Pepsi. They also used Instagram to showcase its innovation lab in Mexico City, where it is developing new products for an international audience.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by pepsi (@pepsi)

How to Choose a Platform for Social Selling

Choosing the right social media platform is the key to success when creating your social selling strategy. Each platform offers unique features to help you build relationships, engage with customers and grow your business.

Let's discuss the social selling features and the type of content you need to create for each social media platform.

1. LinkedIn

LinkedIn is the best platform for B2B social selling. It's the largest professional networking platform, with 875 million users worldwide. You can connect with decision-makers and influencers, share your expertise and build valuable relationships. LinkedIn social selling offers many benefits that can help you increase your sales pipeline.

Here are the social selling features available on LinkedIn:

• Create a poll.
• Share your posts with your followers, group members or both.
• Create public and private groups on LinkedIn. Groups are an excellent way to build relationships with potential clients and influencers in your industry.
• Follow, comment and share content from your followers.
• Post articles that you think will resonate with your audience. Personalize your outreach messages with the help of automation and reach out to more relevant leads.

LinkedIn is a professional network, so creating content that adds value to your audience is essential. Here are the content types that thrive on LinkedIn:

• Informational content—news, trends and tips on your industry.
• Research-based content—best practices and data that support your claims.
• Case studies—success stories and testimonials from customers.
• Industry experts—interviews with people who have first-hand experience in your industry.
• Contests, giveaways and promotions can be fun to drive engagement and build brand awareness on LinkedIn.
• Industry insights—case studies, best practices and research reports that provide value for your audience.
• Product releases—announcements about new products and services, as well as tips on using them effectively.

Visme offers various templates to help you create stunning content for your audience on LinkedIn, including LinkedIn posts, LinkedIn headers and LinkedIn sponsored content. Here is an example template:

Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

2. Instagram

When it comes to social selling, you must pay attention to Instagram. Over 90% of Instagram users follow at least one business, making it the perfect platform for you to connect with your audience.

Instagram is a visual platform, so it's essential to create visually appealing content. The best types of Instagram posts include visual elements like photos and videos.

Here are some other ways you can use Instagram:

• Post lifestyle images of your products in action.
• Use short video clips or animated GIFs to explain how your product works.
• Feature influencers who use your product.
• Create contests for followers using hashtags.

Here are the types of content that work well on Instagram:

• Behind-the-scenes and lifestyle photos of you doing what you love (with a branded filter).
• Product shots with a creative twist (like packaging or labeling).
• Pictures of events and parties where you were speaking or performing.
• Photos of customers using your products.
• Product demos and tutorials.

With Visme, creating high-quality, visually appealing content for Instagram is easier than you think. Our extensive library includes a wide variety of Instagram post templates, Instagram stories templates and Instagram carousel post templates to help you create content in a few clicks.

Here is an example of an Instagram post template from Visme.

Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

3. TikTok

TikTok is one of the most popular apps for creating short videos. Initially designed for music and entertainment, the app has become a go-to place for marketers to share content. You can create an account with your email address or connect it to your Facebook profile.

Here are the social selling features available on TikTok:

• Create a profile and add information about your business.
• Share videos, music and other content created by other TikTok users.
• View user profiles and see what they're sharing.
• Follow influencers in your niche.

Here are the types of content that work best on TikTok:

• Videos of you or your team talking about your business.
• Interviews with users or customers.
• Branded content like product demos and reviews.
• Infomercials
• A behind-the-scenes look at your office or workspace.
• Videos of you engaging with customers and prospects.

@vismeapp Your social media videos need a makeover? Let’s do it!#videomarketing #videos #marketingnotiktok #socialmedia #contentcreator #content #videocontent #fyp #videoads #foryou #media #campaign ♬ FEEL THE GROOVE - Queens Road, Fabian Graetz

4. YouTube

With over 2 billion monthly active users, YouTube is the most popular video-sharing platform worldwide. Furthermore, a study by Statista shows that 82% of internet users use YouTube, making it a must-use social media platform for every business.

Here are some ways to use it for social selling:

• Promote your content on other channels like Facebook and Twitter.
• Create custom thumbnails and channel art.
• Get featured by popular YouTubers who use hashtags.
• Take advantage of paid advertising opportunities.
• Use YouTube Studio Analytics to track how well your videos are performing.
• Add a link to your website in your channel description.
• Link to social media profiles in your channel description.

Types of content that work best on YouTube:

• Videos that are long-form, educational and entertaining.
• Live streams - a great way to build an audience quickly.
• Live Q&As with influencers.
• Interviews with experts in their fields.
• Tutorial videos that show how to use your products or services.
• Educational series on how to use specific software or tools.
• Behind-the-scenes footage from events, interviews and other activities.

Here is a detailed guide to the 24 most popular types of YouTube videos.

To successfully sell on YouTube, you must ensure that every aspect of your channel reflects your brand personality and stands out from the crowd. Create your own YouTube Thumbnail, Channel Art and YouTube Banner using Visme's templates.

Check out Visme’s YouTube channel to learn more about creating stunning visual content.

5. X (Formerly Twitter)

X is another platform where you can build an audience and promote your content. X is a public forum where anyone can see your posts unless you make them private. The tool offers an opportunity to share your thoughts, ideas and opinions with others in the form of short messages called "tweets."

Let's discuss more about the social selling features available on Twitter:

• Promote your products or services with targeted ads appearing on users' timelines.
• Use X (Twitter) Lead Generation Cards to collect information from potential customers who visit your website.
• Use hashtags to increase visibility.
• Take advantage of Promoted Tweets that appear in users' timelines at the top of the tweets they see.
• Include links when tweeting about products, services or industry news.

Twitter is all about brevity, meaning you have to stick to 140 characters or less. That said, there are a variety of types of content that work well on the platform. Here are some examples:

• News stories, industry trends and other information-based posts that help your followers learn more about their interests.
• Short-form content like quotes, jokes and memes.
• Links to blog posts and other pieces of content you've published on your website or blog.
• Tweets that drive traffic back to your website or landing page.
• Case studies and customer stories.
• Promoted Tweets that link back to your website or blog
• Posts that include hashtags and @ mentions.

Create Twitter posts, Twitter ads and Twitter headers that grab the attention of your audience using Visme's templates.

6. Facebook

Facebook is the largest social media platform on the planet, with over 2.89 billion users monthly. While you might think of Facebook as a place for personal updates and photos from family and friends, it's also an excellent place for businesses to connect with their customers.

According to a recent study, 96% of B2C marketers and 91% of B2B marketers use Facebook. And that's because the platform offers a wide range of social selling features. Here are some of them:

• Facebook shop to create a storefront where your customers can buy products directly from you.
• Facebook events to create an online community around an event or topic.
• Promote blog posts and other content with targeted Facebook ads.
• Send your customers direct messages from your Business page.
• Use Messenger chatbots to respond to customer inquiries and improve your customer service.
• Use video to tell stories and engage your audience.
• Create a Facebook group for your customers to connect with each other.
• Use Facebook Live to broadcast live events or Q&As.

Because Facebook is so popular, plenty of different types of content work well on the platform, below are some of the content types that you can post on Facebook:

• Show off your product line by posting photos highlighting each product individually or as a group shot.
• Promote special discounts, sales events and free shipping promotions by creating an image ad with an eye-catching headline like "Buy one get one free!" or "15% off today only!"
• Post videos to help people quickly understand how-to instructions or product benefits.
• Infographics to visually represent data and information that your audience can easily digest.
• Memes to show off your sense of humor or to promote a new product. You can also use memes to get people talking about your brand and generating engagement.

The good news is that Visme offers templates to create content for Facebook as well. You can choose from a wide variety of Facebook post templates, Facebook ad templates, Facebook page covers and many others.

Here is a Facebook ad template you can customize and use for free.

Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

How To Optimize Social Profiles For Social Selling

Selling on social media effectively depends on optimizing your social profiles. Optimizing for sales isn’t the same as optimizing for brand awareness or education; you must include specific information to drive sales through your profile and branded posts.

Here are some social selling best practices to optimize the social profiles you want to sell on. Most of these apply to all social media channels, but we’ll point out when a tip is specific to one channel in particular.

1. Incorporate Branded Headers, Profile Images and Posts

Your brand must be easily recognizable when someone visits your social media profile. To achieve a branded profile, incorporate the following elements:

• A branded header highlighting your unique value proposition in brand colors, imagery and tone.
• A profile photo of your logo in high resolution and no edges cut off.
• Branded posts that show your logo and align with your company’s brand guidelines

2. Pin Relevant Posts to The Top of Your Feed

The majority of social media channels offer the possibility of pinning posts to the top of the feed, right below the header. This technique keeps the pinned posts at the top no matter how many other posts you publish.

Take advantage of these spaces to:

• Place graphics that promote your best products or services.
• Share discounts and special offers.
• Showcase explainer or promotional videos that highlight your products and services and how they solve pain points.

On Instagram, pin at most three posts at one time, so the feed starts at the second row. On LinkedIn, Facebook and X (Formerly known as Twitter), pin no more than two posts simultaneously.

Remember to change the pinned posts to match your selling campaigns and promotions accordingly.

3. Use Link Opportunities Wisely

Every social media platform offers a link for you to use as you wish. The most obvious option is to add your main website URL, but a better way is to use a “link in bio” URL. There are many “link in bio” providers, but you can also build your own “link in bio” as part of your company site to avoid sending the traffic away from your website.

Made with Visme Infographic Maker

What is a “link in bio”? A “link in bio” is a social link that sends visitors to a page with many links. It’s a way of maximizing the one-link limit on most social sites.

When you create your own “link in bio” page, you get to pick what information to include and what to showcase at the top. If you use an embedded Visme design, you can continually update the “link in bio” page without ever changing the URL.

4. Take Advantage of All Profile Fields

For every social media channel you want to sell on, take advantage of all the available profile fields. The more information you share on each profile, the better it performs.

Optimize all your profiles with branded messaging using storytelling techniques and well-crafted copy. Research your most relevant keywords and build the profile fields with the client in mind. What do they want to know, or what should they know about your company? Share it with them and remove all the guesswork.

5. Be Cohesive Across All Social Channels

Finally, the last tip for optimized social profiles for selling is to be cohesive. Every social media profile must follow your company’s brand guidelines for tone and message, as well as visuals like images and videos.

To simplify this process, create a main document with social media copy that you can apply to any social media channel anytime. Help your team members, old or new, to keep your social media profiles up to date and optimized to sell.

Use the Visme Brand Wizard to enter your assets into your Visme workspace. Input your website URL and go through creating a brand kit with your colors, fonts and style. Finally, generate a set of branded templates to use for social selling and beyond.

After setting up the brand kit, create a social media brand guidelines document and give viewing access to everyone on the social media team. Include a checklist for smooth changes when you launch a new campaign or promotion.

6. Post High Quality and Relevant Content

The best way to keep your profile relevant is to maintain constant activity by posting high-quality content that aligns with your brand and resonates with your audience.

Post images, videos, and data visualizations to tell stories that will engage with visitors to your profile and whenever they come across your content. Create and publish blog posts that will get your audience interested in seeing more. Include infographics to visualize the information effectively.

Use Visme's AI social media post generator to create your social content quickly.

Plus, there are plenty of customizable templates to choose from, and all design features are available for social graphics just like for any other project.

Here are other social selling tips to use with Visme. In our opinion, it's the best social selling tool available online.

• Use the Visme social media content calendar to post and schedule branded content to social media with compelling calls to action that will lead to sales.
• Collaborate with your team and brainstorm ideas with Visme’s Infinite Whiteboard. Compile information, brainstorm ideas and build layouts together while on a call or asynchronously.
• Share and publish social content in a variety of formats; live link, image, flipbook, video, animated GIF. Track opens and views and performance of your project using Visme analytics.

Elevate Your Content for Social Selling With Visme

The height of social selling is evident just by turning on a phone and getting on social media. Your social selling efforts compete with many others in your industry and beyond.

It’s time to elevate your social selling with a content authoring tool that can deliver. Visme can help in many ways to take your social selling to a new level. With an intuitive editor, cutting-edge features and a wide range of captivating templates, you can create high-converting social media collateral in no time.

Get a Visme subscription for your company and create a workspace for your social selling, marketing and social media management teams. Have all social content creation activities centralized on one platform, Visme.

Get started today and elevate your social selling efforts in no time.

*Disclaimer: The comparisons and competitor ratings presented in this article are based on features available as of Sep 22, 2023. We conduct thorough research and draw on both first-hand experience and reputable sources to provide reliable insights. However, as tools and technologies evolve, we recommend readers verify details and consider additional research to ensure the information meets their specific needs.

Written by Orana Velarde

Orana has been a writer for Visme since 2018, covering topics like design, visual marketing, data visualization and visual content creation. Orana has a background in graphic and web design, makeup artistry for film and theater and ongoingly takes courses on digital marketing, UI/UX and other related topics. See Orana’s work at www.oranavelarde.com.