Skip links

Share

Rags to Riches: How PR Tactics Kickstart Social Media Businesses

Published on February 11, 2021, at 12:44 p.m. 
by Emma Britt.

That snazzy jacket or fancy pair of shoes you see on your social media feed may not be the items you would generally pick out when shopping around at your local store. Let’s be honest — browsing Instagram can be a real danger to your savings. It is a platform full of shoppable links, shiny deals and decorative designs. Due to the abundance of social media and public relations tactics and tricks, there is a large number of growing accounts and small businesses that can somehow push that eager pointer finger to keep swiping up.

Instagram is one of the most popular social media shopping platforms right now. Brands and users are taking advantage of the visual-heavy concept, with good reason. According to Big Drop, almost 70% of consumers turn to Instagram to find and buy new products. SellBrite also reports that 26% of sellers use their Etsy shops as their full-time businesses.

Each seller or creator has different public relations tactics when it comes to selling products. Whether it is researching analytics, diversifying their business or treating customers with kindness and honesty, these business owners have the power to strengthen a vision and give an idea the power it needs to reach those that need it most through these platforms.

Various social media platforms have taken over these in-person shopping experiences and made them all too easy. Amazon Prime has made shopping quicker than ever; Instagram has caught our eyes with aesthetically pleasing and interactive posts; and Etsy and eBay have established personable yet practical ways to reinvent thrift and antique shopping.

Photo by Laura Chouette on Unsplash

But, it is not just the platform or large corporations that have changed the way people like to shop; it is the creative-minded individuals who revolutionize their ideas into a business and then maybe even a career. They do this through strong public relations work. You might be wondering how these specific users capitalize on public relations to boost their following?

Public relations has increased the number of ways users take advantage of these platforms — sellers are getting more creative by the minute. They capitalize on their brand’s uniqueness, build brand awareness online so it can move offline and then continuously target audiences through the convenience of social media.

Strategic choices and management tactics have allowed these small-business startups to launch into full-fledged businesses, something that may not have been possible without platforms such as Instagram, Pinterest, Etsy or eBay.

Nastygal was started by Sophia Amoruso as an eBay page. Yep, you read that correctly. She started the business by selling old vintage clothing on eBay. After four short years, she moved her headquarters from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Her idea of a small business transformed into a net worth of over $280 million by the age of 32, all thanks to eBay.

Making magic out of nothing is not impossible. By creating a unique brand, building and capitalizing on its awareness, and continuously targeting your audience, you can certainly turn that idea into a social media business and maybe even turn those rags into riches.

Return to top of page