Stop Sending People to Your Website to Die
I’m going to be blunt: if you are posting on Facebook or Instagram and your only goal is to get people to click a link, go to your website, find the product, add it to a cart, and then check out—you are losing money every single day.
Most small business owners in Brisbane tell me the same thing: "I get plenty of likes, but nobody is buying."
Here’s why. Every time you ask a potential customer to click a link and leave the app they are currently enjoying, you lose about half of them. If your website takes more than three seconds to load on a phone, you lose another half. By the time they get to the checkout page, you’re left with a tiny fraction of the people who were actually interested in the first place.
If you want to grow your business in 2024, you need to stop making it hard for people to give you money. You need to let them buy exactly where they found you.
The "Two-Tap" Rule: Why This Makes You Money
Think about your own habits. You’re sitting on the couch after a long day, scrolling through your feed. You see a great pair of boots or a local gift hamper from a shop in Paddington. You’re interested.
In the old way of doing things, you’d have to: 1. Click the link in the bio. 2. Wait for the website to load. 3. Search for the item you just saw. 4. Fill out your name, address, and credit card details on a tiny phone screen.
Most people give up at step 4. It’s too much work.
Now, imagine the new way. You see the post, you tap "Buy Now," your phone uses FaceID to confirm your payment and saved address, and you’re done. Total time? Five seconds. No typing required. This is what we call social commerce, and it’s the fastest way to increase your sales without spending an extra cent on advertising.
When you sell products without customers leaving Facebook, you are removing every single hurdle that stands between a "like" and a "sale."
Quick Wins: How to Fix Your Social Shop Today
Most Brisbane business owners I talk to have a shop set up on Instagram or Facebook, but it’s a mess. It’s outdated, the prices are wrong, or the checkout process is clunky. Here are the immediate changes you should make to start seeing more money in your bank account.
1. Tag Every Single Product
If you post a photo of a room you’ve styled or a kit you’ve put together, tag every individual item. Don't just tag the main one. I’ve seen a local furniture store double their daily enquiries just by tagging the cushions and lamps in a photo of a sofa. People want what they see. If they have to message you to ask "how much for the rug?", you’ve already lost the sale.2. Use Real Photos, Not Studio Catalogues
Professional studio shots with white backgrounds look like ads. People ignore ads. They want to see what the product looks like in a real Brisbane home or shop. Take a photo on your iPhone in natural light. It feels more authentic, and strangely enough, people are much more likely to hit the buy button on a "real" photo than a polished marketing one.3. Simplify the Information
When someone clicks a product on social media, they don't want to read a 500-word essay. They want to know: What is it? How much is it? Is it in stock? When will I get it?Keep your descriptions punchy. Use bullet points. If you’re a tradie selling a specific tool or a boutique selling a dress, tell them exactly what they’re getting and why it’s better than the cheap rubbish they’ll find at a big-box retailer.
Stop Posting for the Sake of Posting
I see so many businesses in suburbs like Chermside or Indooroopilly posting "Happy Monday!" graphics. Stop doing that. It’s a waste of your time. Every post should have a purpose: either showing off your expertise, building trust, or selling a product.
If you want to stop posting for nothing and actually get results, you need to treat your social media page like a digital storefront, not a personal diary. If a customer walked into your physical shop, you wouldn't just stand there and say "Happy Monday!" and walk away. You’d show them a product, explain why it’s great, and offer to help them buy it. Do the same online.
The Trust Factor: Why People Hesitate
The biggest reason people don't buy directly on social media is that they don't know if they can trust you. They’re worried they’ll put their credit card details in and get a box of rocks in the mail—or nothing at all.
To fix this, you need to show that real people buy from you. This is where you hear what customers say and put it front and centre.
Screenshots of reviews: Don't just type them out. Take a screenshot of a Google review or a Facebook comment. It looks more "real." Video testimonials: If a regular customer comes in, ask if you can film a 10-second clip of them saying why they love your shop. Show the packing process: Film yourself packing an order for a customer in North Lakes. It shows you’re a real business with real stock and real customers.
What’s a Waste of Money?
Let’s talk about where you shouldn’t spend your hard-earned cash:
Fancy Over-Produced Videos: You don't need a film crew. A decent smartphone and good lighting are all you need. In fact, high-production videos often perform worse on social media because they look like commercials. Buying Followers: This is the fastest way to kill your business. 10,000 fake followers won't buy a single thing from you, and they’ll actually make it harder for your real customers to see your posts because the "social media computer" thinks your content is boring since nobody is interacting with it. Complex Checkout Apps: You don't need a third-party app that promises to "optimise your funnel." Just use the built-in tools that Facebook and Instagram provide. They’ve spent billions making sure their checkout works perfectly on every phone.
The Reality of Results
How long will this take? If you set up your shop correctly and start tagging products today, you could see your first sale within 24 to 48 hours. However, building a consistent stream of income from social media usually takes about 30 to 60 days of consistent effort.
It’s not a "set and forget" thing. You need to keep your inventory updated and respond to comments. If someone asks a question about a product in the comments and you take three days to reply, that customer is gone. They’ve already bought it from someone else.
Your Action Plan
If you’re ready to stop wasting time and start making sales, here is exactly what I want you to do this week:
1. Check your Shop settings: Make sure your Facebook and Instagram shops are actually connected to your inventory. If you use something like Shopify or Square, this is usually just a few clicks. 2. Enable Direct Checkout: If you’re eligible, turn on the feature that lets people pay without leaving the app. Yes, the social media platforms take a small fee, but it’s worth it for the extra sales you’ll get. 3. Update 5 Products: Pick your 5 best-sellers. Give them clear descriptions, fair prices, and 3-4 "real-life" photos. 4. Post and Tag: Create one post for each of those products. Tell people exactly how to buy them. "Tap the image to buy now - we’ve only got 10 left in our Milton warehouse!"
Is it Worth the Effort?
Look, I get it. You’re busy. You’re running a business, managing a team, and trying to have a life. Managing a digital shop feels like one more thing on the to-do list.
But here’s the truth: the way people buy has changed. They aren't going to Google and searching for your website anymore. They’re finding you while they’re bored on their phones. If you don't make it easy for them to buy right then and there, you’re just doing free marketing for your competitors who do have a simple checkout process.
At Local Marketing Group, we help Brisbane businesses cut through the technical nonsense and focus on what actually brings in the cash. We don't care about "viral" posts; we care about your phone ringing and your shop notifications pinging.
If you want someone to take a look at your current setup and tell you exactly where you’re leaving money on the table, we should talk. We’ve helped everything from local boutiques to service businesses transform their social media from a time-waster into a money-maker.
Ready to get more sales? Contact Local Marketing Group today and let’s get your social media working as hard as you do.