#melanie elturk

[mariacallous]

On Boxing Day pro-Palestine demonstrators met customers at the Zara sale in the Westfield shopping centre, in Stratford, east London. They were not there to wish them the compliments of the season.

‘Bombs are dropping while you’re shopping,’ they chanted, as police stood by to make sure the protests did not turn violent. ‘Zara is enabling genocide,’ their placards read.

Quite what they wanted bargain hunters to do about the Israeli forces bombing the Gaza Strip, they never said. Lobby their MPs? Politicians are on their Christmas holidays. Join the Palestinian armed struggle?  It was unclear whether the shopping centre had a Hamas recruitment office.

But on one point the demonstrators were certain: no one should be buying from Zara. Even though the fashion chain has not encouraged Israel’s war against Hamas, earned income from it, or supported Israel in any material way, it was nevertheless “exploiting a genocide and commodifying Palestine's pain for profit”.

Zara, in short, has become the object of a paranoid fantasy: a QAnon conspiracy theory for the postcolonial left.

The Zara conspiracy is an entirely modern phenomenon. It has no original author. Antisemitic Russians sat down and wrote the Protocols of the Elders of Zion in the early 20th century. There was an actual “Q” behind the QAnon conspiracy: a far-right activist who first appeared on 4chan message boards in 2017 to claim that a cabal of child abusers was conspiring against Donald Trump.

The Zara conspiracy was mass produced by social media users: an example of the madness of crowds rather than their supposed wisdom. The cause of the descent into hysteria was bizarre.

In early December Zara launched an advertising campaign featuring the model Kristen McMenamy wearing its latest collection in a sculptor’s studio. It clearly was a studio, by the way, and not a war zone in southern Israel or Gaza. McMenamy carried a mannequin wrapped in white fabric. The cry went up that the Spanish company was exploiting the suffering of Palestinians and that the mannequin was meant to represent a victim of Israeli aggression wrapped in a shroud.

The accusation was insane. No one in the photo shoot resembled a soldier or a casualty of war. Anyone who thought for 30 seconds before resorting to social media would have known that global brands plan their advertising campaigns months in advance.

Zara said the campaign presented “a series of images of unfinished sculptures in a sculptor’s studio and was created with the sole purpose of showcasing craft-made garments in an artistic context”. The idea for the studio setting was conceived in July. The photo shoot was in September, weeks before the Hamas assault on Israel on 7 October.

No one cared. Melanie Elturk, the CEO of fashion brand Haute Hijab, said of the campaign, ‘this is sick. What kind of sick, twisted, and sadistic images am I looking at?’ #BoycottZara trended on Twitter, as users said that Zara was ‘utterly shameful and disgraceful”’.

To justify their condemnations, activists developed ever-weirder theories. A piece of cardboard in the photoshoot was meant to be a map of Israel/Palestine turned upside down. Because a Zara executive had once invited an extreme right-wing Israeli politician to a meeting, the whole company was damned.

Astonishingly, or maybe not so astonishingly to anyone who follows online manias, the fake accusations worked. Zara stores in Glasgow, Toronto. Hanover, Melbourne and Amsterdam were targeted.

What on earth could Zara do? PR specialists normally say that the worst type of apology is the non-apology apology, when a public figure or institution shows no remorse, but instead says that they are sorry that people are offended. Yet Zara had not sought to trivialize or profit from the war so what else could it do but offer a non-apology apology? The company duly said it was sorry that people were upset.

“Unfortunately, some customers felt offended by these images, which have now been removed, and saw in them something far from what was intended when they were created,” it said on 13 December, and pulled the advertising campaign

That was two-weeks ago and yet still the protests in Zara stores continue. On 23 December activists targeted Zara on Oxford Street chanting , 'Zara, Zara, you can't hide, stop supporting genocide', even though Zara was not, in fact,  supporting genocide. On Boxing Day, they were at the Stratford shopping centre.

Zara has apologised for an offence it did not commit. There is no way that any serious person can believe the charges against it. And yet believe them the protestors do. Or at the very least they pretend to believe for the sake of keeping in with their allies.

Maybe nothing will come of the protests. One could have argued in 2017, after all, that QAnon was essentially simple-minded people living out their fantasies online. Certainly, every sane American knew that there was no clique of paedophiles running the Democrat party, but where was the harm in the conspiracy theory?

Then QAnon supporters stormed the US capitol in January 2021. Will the same story play out from the Gaza protests? As far as I can tell, no one on the left is challenging the paranoia. I have yet to see the fact-checkers of the BBC and Channel 4 warning about the fake news on the left with anything like the gusto with which they treat its counterparts on the right.

To be fair, the scale of disinformation around the Gaza war is off the charts, and it is impossible to chase down every lie. But when fake news goes from online fantasies to real world protests, from 4chan to the Capitol, from Twitter to the Westfield shopping centre, it’s worth taking notice.

Sensible supporters of a Palestinian state ought to be the most concerned. No one apart from fascists, Islamists and far leftists believes that Israel should not defend itself. And yet the scale of its military action in Gaza is outraging world opinion. Mainstream politicians, who might one day put pressure on Israel, remain very wary about reflecting the anger on the streets.

They look at the insane conspiracy theories on the western left and see them as no different from the insane conspiracy theories that motivate Hamas, and they back away.

The Palestinians need many things: an end to the Netanyahu government, and an end to Hamas. But they could also use allies in the West who do not discredit their cause with dark, gibbering fantasies.

[mohifashion]

The Celebration of Eid across cultures and countries

Eid ul-Fitr, one of the most significant festivals in Islam, marks the end of Ramzan, the holy month of fasting. In 2024, Eid 2024 date is expected to be celebrated on Wednesday, April 10th, though the exact date may vary depending on the sighting of the moon, which marks the beginning of the Islamic month of Shawwal. This date is subject to change based on the lunar calendar and regional sighting traditions.

Eid ul-Fitr is a joyous occasion marked by various traditions and customs observed by Muslims worldwide. The day typically begins with special prayers known as Salat al-Eid, performed in congregation at mosques or open prayer grounds. These prayers are offered in thanksgiving to Allah for the strength and guidance during the month of Ramadan. After the prayers, Muslims greet each other with embraces and well wishes, saying "Eid Mubarak," meaning "Blessed Eid." Eid ul-Fitr in 2024 is anticipated to be celebrated with great fervor and enthusiasm by Muslims around the world. Some renowned countries are Pakistan, Egypt, Indonesia, Turkey, India, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Iran, UAE, New Zealand, USA and so on

Anarkali Kurtas,  lehengas, Shararas, Suits and Sarees Eid happens to fall in hot Summers and always look for the outfits that looks elegant yet airy and light weight

Eid is the time of the year that brings in new collection launches by several designers across India ,Pakistan and bangladesh. A time for celebration, sweets and yummy offers. 

Eid Festivities in New Zealand : 

New Zealand Eid Day embodies a spirit of unity and joy, drawing together the Muslim community across the country. In 2023, vibrant Eid celebrations took place in Auckland, Christchurch, Hamilton, and Aotearoa, Wellington.

 Image courtesy: RNZ / Angus Dreaver

Eid, meaning "feast," holds profound significance for nearly 2 billion Muslims worldwide, observed biannually. Eid Al-Adha, also known as the Feast of the Sacrifice, marks the conclusion of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, a sacred journey for Muslims worldwide.

The day commences with morning prayers, followed by an array of festivities at the Eid carnival. Children revel in activities like bouncy castles, cotton candy stands, Quran quizzes, and face painting. Meanwhile, adults can indulge in food stalls, henna art, and ethnic clothing counters.

The largest gathering occurred in Auckland, with over 5000 attendees joining the festivities organized by the New Zealand Eid Day Trust. It's heartening to witness such strong community spirit.

The Muslim community extends a warm invitation to engage with people of all backgrounds, fostering understanding of Islamic customs, traditions, and culture. Together, let's celebrate diversity and stand against hate.

Eid serves as a poignant reminder to spread messages of love and humanity, emphasizing unity in the face of adversity. Let's ensure that compassion prevails over bigotry and division.

It's noteworthy that the United Nations recognizes 15 March as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, underscoring the global commitment to promoting tolerance and respect for all.

Eid Celebrations in USA : 

Islam is booming in the United States, experiencing rapid growth as the number of mosques across the country approaches 3,000, according to the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding. Leading the pack are states like New York with 343 mosques, followed by California with 304, and Texas with 224.

Muslim Americans eagerly anticipate Eid not only for cherished family recipes but also for the chance to flaunt new attire. Designers such as Melanie Elturk, Lena Aljahim, and Ainara Medina unveil exclusive Eid collections, featuring eco-friendly hijabs crafted from recycled plastic bottles and sustainable bamboo.

Bridging the gap created by painful memories of 9/11, American schools are now increasingly recognizing and embracing cultural diversity. Growing numbers of school districts nationwide are accommodating Muslim students by observing Eid, marking a positive shift towards acceptance and inclusivity.

In 2023, the White House made history by hosting its inaugural Eid al-Adha celebration, highlighting the significant contributions of millions of Muslims to American society. Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff led the event, emphasizing the invaluable role of American Muslims in fostering diversity, inclusion, and religious freedom.

Chand Raat, a vibrant South Asian Muslim tradition known as the "night of the moon," epitomizes the fusion of religion and culture. This lively celebration occurs on the final night of Ramadan, marked by the sighting of the new moon. Each year, Jackson Heights becomes a hub of festivity as South Asians gather to celebrate Eid, adorned in colorful salwar kameez and intricate gold jewelry while fireworks illuminate the night sky.

Eid Celebrations in India:

Delhi

Image Courtesy: PTI

Delhi, the proud capital city of India, draws a multitude of visitors during its festivals. Each festivity in Delhi is marked by a vibrant display of fervor and enthusiasm. During eid in india, people gather at the illustrious Jama Masjid, one of India's renowned mosques, to offer prayers. The streets of Old Delhi are adorned throughout the month of Ramadan, and the popular Gali Kebabiyan near Jama Masjid serves its famous Ramzan special, Haleem. Old Delhi transforms into a mesmerizing spectacle during Eid-ul-Fitr celebration, offering an abundance of delectable food stalls and dazzling decorations, inviting visitors to indulge in mouth-watering delicacies and witness the vibrant celebrations of the Islamic faith. Ramzan special Haleem is also served at the popular Gali Kebabiyan at Jama Masjid.

Srinagar

Image Courtesy: PTI

In Srinagar, the entire city embraces Eid-ul-Fitr with exuberance and grandeur. Prayers are offered at Aasar-E-Shareef Hazratbal, while locals and tourists flock to various markets to purchase new clothes and culinary delights. Busy hubs like Lal Chowk, Regal Chowk, and Goni Market buzz with activity throughout Ramadan and on Eid day, drawing crowds from all walks of life. Additionally, Eidgah becomes a focal point as thousands gather to offer prayers in this historic location.

Mutton Yakhni is mostly prepared on the occasion of eid festival

A lip-smacking and aromatic dish from Kashmir goes by the name Tabak Maaz; composed of ribs of lamb/mutton.

Rista. Its soup is gravy and red in color, just like Rogan Josh. Rista is spongy in nature. If you like non-vegetarian, give it a try and add to your appetite!

One of the aspects that has changed in Kashmir is the traditional clothes.

For women, there was the “tilla” embroidery, handmade designs of stunning intricacy woven on garments such as the “pheran,” a loose overcoat worn by Kashmiris.

Some of the places to shop for eid are : 

Lal Chowk

Polo View Market

Badshah Chowk

Residency Road

Kashmir Government Arts Emporium

Zaina Kadal Market

Dastgir Sahib Market

Nishat Market

People from many villages come and place orders a month in advance to pick for eid celebrations. There are a lot of offers and collection availability as well at the time of eid. New designs from small boutiques are launched and displayed at varied price points . 

Lucknow

Image Courtesy: Creative Commons Attribution Licence

 Lucknow, renowned for its nawabi culture, celebrates Eid in true nawabi style. The sprawling Aishbagh Eidgah hosts prayers, alongside the popular Asifi Masjid. Visiting Lucknow during Eid is a delight for travelers, as the city exudes a festive spirit that envelops every corner. Tunday Kababi, Galouti Kebabs, and Nihari are among the popular foods enjoyed during the holiday seasons. Shopping in Lucknow for online shopping check Mohi Fashion.

Chowk

Chowk is renowned for its vibrant shopping scene during Eid festival, drawing crowds with its bustling market stalls and shops. Visitors flock to Chowk to indulge in the traditional shopping experience, browsing through a plethora of offerings including clothing, jewelry, footwear, and accessories. Of particular interest are the traditional Lucknowi treasures like intricately embroidered chikankari outfits, elegantly crafted kurta sets, and beautifully adorned dupattas. The bazaar is highly esteemed for its exquisite zardozi craftsmanship and authentic attar (perfumes), making it a favorite destination for discerning shoppers.

Aminabad

Aminabad, another cherished market in Lucknow, is a must-visit during Eid festivities. Known for its lively ambiance and traditional shopping delights, Aminabad boasts a diverse array of products spanning clothing, accessories, home goods, and electronics. The market shines with its renowned Chikan embroidery craftsmanship, inviting tourists to explore a plethora of shops and boutiques offering finely crafted Chikan creations.

Kolkata

Known as the 'City of Joy,' Kolkata pulsates with enthusiasm during Eid, adorning its Muslim-dominated areas with vibrant decorations. Families and friends gather to celebrate Eid, often visiting famous eateries to savor delectable cuisine together.

Most of the markets in the south, central kolkata extend their hours to midnight during eid every year .Markets on Zakaria Street and Chitpore Road will also remain open until midnight. 

Hyderabad

Image Courtesy: Ease My Trip

Hyderabad, the city of nizams, captivates visitors with its unique offerings during Ramadan. Charminar serves as a focal point for prayers and shopping, while Mecca Masjid and other locales attract worshippers. The aroma of Haleem wafts through the streets, enticing food enthusiasts and adding to the festive atmosphere.Some of the famous places are Madannapet, Mir Alam Tank, Masab Tank, Golcondaidgah and Secunderbad.

Charminar road turns into a paradise for the shopaholics during this festival. Rest Assured you are greeted with a welcoming smile to the shops, food stalls , Do visit with your family and indulge in the culture of hyderabad during eid. Many malls and luxury spots also offer special discounts and events around this time but if you are looking to explore culture , charminar is the place to be. 

Mumbai

In Mumbai, the bustling metropolis, Eid is celebrated with grandeur and excitement. Azad Maidan hosts prayers, while mosques like Minara Masjid dazzle with decorations. Food enthusiasts flock to Mohammed Ali Road to savor a variety of culinary delights, and Haji Ali Dargah welcomes visitors seeking spiritual solace amidst the festivities.

Eid is a window used by many bollywood films to release, people opt to visit at the theaters while many restaurants and clothing brands offer great discounts and new collections during this time. 

Find some legacy ethnic stores in Dadar, Khar west. Vaishali market is known for Eid shopping if you are going affordable and looking for ready made suits. Get a glimpse of chikankari outfits if that is your cup of tea at the linking road market. And ofcourse the Mangaldas market , with a lot of unbranded fabrics, stitched/ unstitched outfits can be purchased on good discounted rates . 

Eid Celebrations in United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Image Courtesy: Khaleej Times

In the UAE, Eid celebrations are grand and infused with local culture. The streets and homes are illuminated with lights, and traditional meals are prepared. They buy new clothes and visit each other houses to exchange gifts and sweets. Public celebrations often include fireworks, concerts, and various family-oriented activities. Zakat al-Fitr, a form of charity, is given before the Eid ul-Fitr prayer. For Eid al-Adha, the act of Qurbani (sacrificial slaughtering of livestock) is observed, and the meat is distributed among family, friends, and the needy.

Eid Celebrations in Saudi Arabia

Image Coutesy: Arab News

In Saudi Arabia Eid celebrations start with the sighting of the new moon. This is a time of deep religious significance and community. Prayer gatherings are held in mosques and open spaces across the Kingdom. Following the prayers, people visit relatives starting with the elders to offer greetings, and children often receive money or gifts.  Saudis engage in a host of cultural activities that exemplify their heritage during Eid celebrations, such as the art of falconry, cheering at camel races, and performing traditional dances.. Traditional dishes like kabsa (spiced rice with meat) are savored. During Eid al-Adha, sacrificial rituals are conducted, signifying Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God.

Eid Celebrations in Turkey

Image Courtesy: Economic Times

In Turkey, Eid is known as Şeker Bayramı (Sugar Feast) for Eid al-Fitr and Kurban Bayramı (Sacrifice Feast) for Eid al-Adha. Eid starts with a special morning prayer, and people dress in their finest clothes. Children go door-to-door, kissing hands of the elderly and receiving sweets and small amounts of money in return. Families gather for meals, often starting with breakfast, and traditional foods like baklava and halva are enjoyed. Livestock sacrifice and meat distribution among the less fortunate are common practices during Kurban Bayramı.

Eid Celebrations in Egypt

Image Courtesy: Arab News

In Egypt, Eid is a time for social gatherings, and joyous celebrations. Mosques are filled for the Eid prayers, and people often gather in parks and on the Nile cruises for picnics afterwards. During Eid al-Adha, many Egyptians who can afford it perform the Qurbani and share meat with the poor. Fattah, a dish made with rice, bread, garlic, and meat, is a traditional meal consumed during the festivities.

Eid Celebrations in Indonesia

Image Courtesy: Emirates247

Indonesia, with the largest Muslim population in the world, In Indonesia, the festival of Eid is known as Hari Raya Idul Fitri. Festivities commence with the takbir, an announcement calling the faithful to prayer, and the communal Eid prayer is typically conducted in expansive open areas. Eid with great fervor. Known as Lebaran, Eid in Indonesia involves a mass exodus from cities as people return to their home villages in a tradition called mudik. Prayers are held in mosques and open fields, and people seek forgiveness from elders, called sungkem. Special dishes such as ketupat (rice cakes wrapped in coconut leaves) and opor ayam (chicken in coconut milk) are prepared.

Eid Celebrations in Pakistan

Image Courtesy: thestatesman

Eid in Pakistan is a cultural spectacle. The night before Eid, called Chand Raat (Night of the Moon), is filled with people shopping for clothes and bangles and applying henna on their hands. Eid prayers are held in mosques and open areas, followed by a three-day celebration. Sheer khurma (vermicelli pudding with milk) is a staple sweet for Eid ul-Fitr, while Barbeque parties are common during Eid al-Adha to enjoy the meat from Qurbani, the sacrificial offering.

These diverse customs and traditions reflect the rich cultural tapestry of the Islamic world, as people come together in a spirit of joy, reflection, and charity during the cherished time of Eid.

[goltunenews-blog]

More Women Are Preferring Modest Fashion As the demand for modest clothing increases, companies—both large and small—have begun to offer more fashionable options.

[street-hijab-fashion-blog]

Melanie Elturk, a lawyer from USA

IG: https://www.instagram.com/hautehijab/

Blog: https://www.hautehijab.com/blogs/hijab-fashion

Haute Hijab online shopping website: https://www.hautehijab.com/

[nellieabel]

About the Modest Fashion Industry

The modest fashion industry is a multi billion pound industry, $283 billion to be exact, expected to reach $386 billion by 2023 and $402 billion by 2024. According to a 2018 study by Thomson Reuters and  Dinar Standard, $207 billion dollars was spent alone by Muslim consumers. 

So what is modest fashion?

The term ‘modest fashion’ or ‘modest dressing’ is a reference made to women who wear less skin-revealing clothes, specifically in ways of which sacrifices their spiritual and stylistic requirements, for reasons such as faith, religion, culture and personal preferences. Modest muslim outfits can range from hijabs - a veil in which protects their modesty, abayas, chadors, burqas and more. However, modesty is not just for muslim women, modest fashion can be worn my anyone. Whether you chose to wear longer dresses, and long sleeve tops, or loose fitting trousers and head coverings, the modest fashion industry is becoming bigger and bigger, making it more inclusive and including no matter what faith or religion you may be. 

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/219128338107145298/

Some famous modest fashion influencers... 

- Leena Al Ghouti - Instagram following = 322k

Leena is famously known on social media for her signature over the shoulder shayla drape, capturing everyone’s attention with her current chic, edgy and funky style. This Dubai based Palestinian-Canadian style icon, really does know how to pair laid back looks with glamorous, high end designer bags, making her the queen of modest flowing streetwear style. 

https://www.moderneast.com/fashion/homegrown-fashion/ooks-steal-leena-al-ghouti-198526.html

-Imane Asry - Instagram following = 163k 

Imane is mostly known for her minimalistic Scandinavian layering game on social media. This Swedish-Moroccan icon, has an attribute to warm earthy tones, with her outfits gleaming with the combinations of various lengths, ideal for anyone who enjoys layering up for all occasions. With her hints of cool femininity, Asry is definitely one to keep an eye on. 

https://www.vogue.com/article/modest-fashion-influencer-imane-asry-fashionwithfaith-how-she-dresses-for-ramadan

- Melanie Elturk - Instagram following = 327k 

 Melanie Elturk, is the founder of luxury, chic hijab brand Haute Hijab. From this, she has developed a strong following from her world renowned business of which started out only as a side project that became bigger, turning into her full-time job. Elturks feed is filled with pastel candy toned outfits and high-end, chic hijabs, make from top-quality hijabs. 

https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/liketoknow-it-is-publishing-a-coffee-table-book-chock-full-of-advice-stories-and-glorious-photos/

[atmaalo]

Book Report Icon

Hafsa Lodi is an American journalist who has been covering fashion journalism for the last decade in the Middle East.  She moved to the UAE from America at age 14 and went on to graduate with a Bachelors in Journalism from Ryerson School of Journalism in Toronto and a masters in Islamic Studies from SOAS University of London. Being fascinated with the connection between religion, culture and modernism, she went from covering topics like honour killings in Canada’s South Asian communities and industrialization of the holy Islamic city Makkah to turning to fashion. Currently she writes for fashion newspapers, Vogue India and The National newspaper. She debuted her first nonfiction book Modesty: A Fashion Paradox, published by Neem Tree Press, in June of 2020. 

Modesty: A Fashion Paradox indulges into the world of modest fashion and how deep the connection between religion, fashion, feminism and politics truly are. Hijab is a head covering that Muslim women wear for modesty; hijab means more than just head covering, it also is “the most obvious marker of faith.” Hijab is for both men and females but in different ways, focusing solely on females, hijab means a lot of things for different Muslim women -- some women wear it for modesty purposes and others to get closer to God; although the reasons usually do overlay. The modest fashion movement is closely linked to hijab and islamic modest fashion -- it has been gaining momentum for the last decade and now is a billion dollar industry.

Lodi interviews people from all aspects of the modest fashion movement; although this movement is connected to hijab and Islam, it is not only Muslim women who partake in it. “other women who will choose less revealing styles include Orthodox Jewish women, some Christian women, and those who just feel more comfortable in these kinds of clothing.” A variety of women chose to wear modest clothes and each with their own intentions behind the choice. The modest fashion movement has not only occurred amongst faith-driven women; although they are the ones pioneering it, it has been showing up on celebrities, on runways, on fashion blogs and all over the fashion industry. 

However this modest fashion movement has also started to put Muslim modest fashion bloggers on a pedestal, regardless of whether they are praticing of the faith or not. They are made to be the ambassadors of Islam, particularly in the Western world, and because of the content they produce, they have little to no say in this matter. Their actions are scrutinized to the maximum and every mistake is highlight; their voice has started representing all Muslim voices. 

In Lodi’s book, she talks to many Muslim and non-Muslim modest fashion bloggers on this matter and it is clear that everyone has a differing opinion on this. Although some like Nicole Najmah Abraham believe “Muslim women that follow the command to wear the hijab and dress modestly become, by default, the poster children of what a Muslim is or isn’t because they visibly show their faith. So knowing that they have a duty to make their faith look good and carry themselves accordingly.” While others like Haute Hijab’s Melanie Elturk believe “whether a Muslim woman is a blogger or not, acting as an ambassador for Islam is a fundamental purpose of wearing the hijab, and says that when she leaves her house every day, she is like a walking, talking advertisement for the religion.” Every opinion adds to the discourse within the modest fashion movement and with this book the discourse continues to uplift those who choose to wear modest fashion.

This book really goes deep into the discourse between modest fashion, religion, feminism and more. It highlights many voices: popular bloggers, everyday modest fashion wearers, celebrities etc. It focuses on the movement through the Muslim female eyes and that brings the next layer to this conversation of modest fashion. I truly think anyone interesting in the fashion industry, whether they’re into modest fashion or not, should pick up this book and see the world of fashion through this lens. 

[growinstablog]

Two Things We Learned from E-commerce Brands on Instagram

Instagram is home to a plethora of e-commerce brands and businesses, all vying for the attention of the platform’s one billion active users. Seeing the increasing demand for e-commerce on the social media platform, Instagram developed some features that make it easier for businesses to sell their products. There’s: 

The shop button for business profiles

Instagram Checkout

Product tags and stickers. 

Instagram also allows brands to specify a conversion objective for their ads, which helps them measure the effectiveness of their campaigns.

Even large brands have extended their marketing on Instagram. Take Ralph Lauren as an example. The fashion label launched an ad campaign on its 50th anniversary. The goal was to increase brand awareness and drive sales among millennials, Gen Z, and Gen X age groups. The ad campaign ran from September to November 2018, combining videos, collections, and carousel ads in news feed and Stories. By the end of the campaign, Ralph Lauren experienced an 18% increase in online sales, 7.1X return on ad spending, and a 41% increase in product page views.

If a global, 50-year-old brand like Ralph Lauren needs Instagram for marketing, smaller and starting brands need it too, right? Before you go starting an Instagram ad campaign, take a look at two things that e-commerce brands on Instagram have taught us.

Consumers require social proof before buying

Running ad campaigns that showcase product features and benefits is one of the go-to strategies of brands. However, this has been proven to be insufficient in turning followers into customers since most people don’t make purchasing decisions based on ads alone. They usually read the experiences of other consumers first. 

Here are some interesting numbers:

97% of online shoppers believe that reviews influence buyer decisions.

95% of online shoppers read online reviews.

82% of shoppers put value in user-generated reviews.

As you can see, social proof is important to online shoppers, and you should integrate this into your social media marketing. Here are two suggestions:

Share user-generated content 

This type of content is from users who post photos featuring your product. What makes such content effective is that it tells potential buyers that other people are happy with your product. 85% of marketers find that user-generated content is more effective than branded content, and 64% of consumers look for user-generated content first before buying. 

Aside from photos or videos that feature your product, you can also share reviews, feedback, or posts that show how your product works. 

Image: @frank_bod posting User Reviews. The Screenshot was taken on August 14, 2019

You can ask your followers to upload the content themselves and use a specific hashtag in the captions. Users will be thrilled to be able to reach out to millions of people; at the same time, brands will gain social proof. 

Not that Starbucks needs more social proof, but the company still seeking posts that feature their coffee. The company will ask permission from the photo owner (a great way to build rapport and engagement) before posting the photo.

Image: @Starbucks Instagram Post from Follower. The Screenshot was taken on August 14, 2019

User-generated content is also great for Instagram contests.

Work with influencers

Consumers trust influencers more than traditional advertisements. The numbers support this: 82% of marketers find that influencer marketing brings buying customers because it’s organic and authentic. Influencer marketing is a huge industry that continues to grow. The global value of the Instagram influencer market is estimated to reach $2.38 billion in 2019.

Image: @hautehijab Instagram Post. The Screenshot was taken on August 14, 2019

Check out the post above by Melanie Elturk, a famous fashion blogger and Instagram influencer, who was selected by J.Crew to promote their brand. Melanie included a brand tag in her photo. J.Crew also posted the same content on their Instagram profile:

Image: J Crew Instagram Post. The Screenshot was taken on August 14, 2019

The team-up enabled J.Crew to reach out to fashion enthusiasts within Melanie’s circle of 251 thousand followers.

More sales stem from positive experiences 

In every phase of the consumer journey, you build, make sure that they get a positive experience. It’s important that they enjoy the buying process since Instagram is mainly a photo-sharing app and not originally a shopping platform. Make consumers more comfortable in making in-app purchases. To make their experiences better and convert visitors to buyers, you need to optimize your Instagram profile for e-commerce. 

Instagram has also made it a point to improve buyers’ experiences by introducing shopping features. Aside from an interesting bio, you can also put in your company’s contact information, and add shoppable tags that consumers can tap to be redirected to your website’s shopping cart.

Image: @gapkids’s Instagram post. The Screenshot was taken on August 14, 2019

The platform has also given brands the ability to add product stickers to Instagram Stories. Followers can just tap the product stickers to learn more about the product then choose whether to buy it from the company’s website. 

If you have multiple products and product lines, you need to simplify the navigation process. It will be too much hassle for a potential buyer to browse through your content, especially when you have hundreds of products. This is where Stories Highlights come in handy. Lush makes use of this feature effectively as the feature helps categorize products. This makes things easier for customers to look around.

Image: @lush categorizing product. The Screenshot was taken on August 14, 2019

What we learned from e-commerce brands

Instagram is now an indispensable marketing platform, whether you have local or global clients. The platform is not limited to new businesses; almost every established brand is on Instagram. 

If there’s anything we can take away from e-commerce brands that are on Instagram, it’s that customer experience is very important in converting a follower into a buyer. Brands should make sure that their Instagram profiles are optimized for shopping. This is easily done by using the platform’s features like Instagram Stories and Stories Highlights, product tags, and putting links in the bio. 

It’s also important to reach out to customers, especially those who are still in the early stages of the buying process. To gain social proof, ask your existing clients to post user-generated photos, or seek those posts yourself. What’s important is for prospective buyers to see that your product works well from another person.

https://growinsta.xyz/two-things-we-learned-from-e-commerce-brands-on-instagram/

[margiehasson]

How to Pray Salat al-Jumu'ah (Friday Prayers) at Home – Your Questions Answered

The questions are swirling around in most of our minds right now: With my masjid closed, how can we pray Salat al-Jumu’ah (Friday prayers)? Is it allowable to pray Jum’uah at home if there is a masjid nearby, even if it is shut down? How do we do it? How many people are needed? Who leads? What if there isn’t an adult male (or young man past puberty) to lead?

I’m wondering the same thing as we hunker down in our homes, much like the rest of you, with my children’s schools closed, our local masajid all closed and myself working from home. These are unprecedented situations in our lifetime, and while I know so many Muslims are mourning the inability to pray Jumu’ah in congregation (and we should be allowed to mourn for a bit, sit in our feelings and reflect on what is Allah’s (S) lessons for us in all this) there are things we can do.

So let’s talk about if we can pray Jumu’ah in our homes when our mosque is closed before we get to how to pray Jumu’ah.

Image source: Raw Pixel

Can We Pray Salat al-Jumu’ah in our Homes?

In a word during these extremely challenging times, yes. I spoke with several imams and scholars about this question, since immediate online research talked about how Friday prayers must be held in the masjid and cannot be done at home. But those articles weren’t accounting for the times we are in, with so many of our masajid closed not only for daily salah, but also for Jumu’ah.

Imam Mustapha Elturk of the Islamic Organization of North America (and our own Melanie’s father) told me that between Suratul Jummah and Suratul Noor in the Quran, Friday prayers in the masjid is established.

“O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu’ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew.” Surah Al-Jumu’a; 62:9

And,

“[Such niches are] in mosques, which Allah has ordered to be raised and that His name be mentioned therein; exalting Him within them in the morning and the evenings.”

“Between this ayat and the other ayat, we establish that Salat al-Jumu’ah is in the masjid. There is no dispute about that,” said Imam Mustapha. “We also know from hadith that the Prophet Muhammad (saw) on a cold, windy and rainy night ordered the mu’adhin (caller to prayer) to ‘Pray in your homes, pray in your homes,’ instead of ‘hasten to prayer, hasten to prayer.’ So, in this crisis that we’re in now, which is more dangerous than wind and rain, and [most] masajid shut down, including our prayers for daily and for Jumu’ah prayers – the lesson we have from that hadith is that we can pray at home and not come to the masjid.”

He added, “In times when masajid are open and one cannot come for Jumu’ah, like if a person is traveling or sick, we pray four rakat dhuhr. Now, since we don’t have a masjid on every corner or an Islamic government that shuts down businesses to observe the Friday prayer, it is allowed to have Jumu’ah in places of work or school, like at New York University and other places [around the country]. And because of the situation we are in now, by extension, if you are at home, if you have the quorum for the Friday congregation (which differs from madhab to madhab), you can have the Jumu’ah at home as long as you have the right amount of adults and an adult male (past puberty) to lead.”

So, in talking with Imam Mustapha and seeking guidance from several other imams and sheikhs here in the U.S. and around the world, there is evidence about being able to pray Salat al-Jumu’ah in our homes when our masajid are closed. Check out this extensive guide about the (Hanafi) fiqh rulings for Jumu’ah. Now, how does one go about praying Salat al-Jumu’ah?

Image source: Raw Pixel

Step-by-Step, How to Pray Salat al-Jumu’ah (adapted from this guide and sources from Imam Mustapha and this guide by Dr. Ahmad Sakr)

Decide who will be the khateeb (the person who will lead the prayer) and who will be the mu'adhin (the person who will recite the adhan and the iqamah).

The mu'adhin gives the first adhan.

Everyone at your Salat al-Jumu’ah may pray their four rakats of sunnah salah. Now, please note that this is not required because this is not dhuhr prayers.

After that, the khateeb stands, faces and greets the congregants with “As salaamu alaikum wa rahmatul lawhi wa baraka tuhu.”

This part is different depending on how your mosque performs Friday prayers: The khateeb sits down and asks the mu'adhin to give the second adhan. However, according to Imam Mustapha, there is no need for two adhans: “The Prophet did only one adhan after he gave ‘Salaam.’ It was Usman (RAA) who started the two adhans so people may get ready. The population[at the time] grew rapidly, and Usman felt that there was a need for it. Certainly, you don’t need it for Salat al-Jumu’ah at home."

The khateeb stands up and recites the first khutbah, which can be found in this guide by Dr. Ahmad Sakr.

The khateeb sits down for a short time and recites “Astaghfirullah” at least three times. Others can take this opportunity to make du’as and ask for forgiveness from Allah.

The khateeb stands up and recites the second part of the khutbah, which can be found in this guide by Dr. Ahmed Sakr.

The khateeb asks the mu'adhin to give the iqamah.

Then the khateeb leads the jamaat with two rakat fard (obligatory) salah. This concludes Salat al-Jumu’ah.

Additional: Everyone then prays their remaining sunnah salah (which isn’t required).

In these difficult times, it is so important to maintain our congregational prayers as much as possible within the scope of this public health crisis. Indeed, not being able to (temporarily) continue on with performing your Friday prayers at your masjid is an extremely difficult burden for Muslims to bear. But the beauty of our faith is that there has been precedence established for when Jumu’ah at the masjid is not possible and how we can pray this important salah at home.

My husband is a physician and the only one in our home still going out to work. (May Allah (S) protect him and all healthcare professionals.) He usually takes an hour for Jumu’ah, and though he has barely been available to his family since this pandemic took hold of everyone’s lives, I’ve asked him to please come home and lead us in Friday prayers. May Allah (S) accept all of our prayers today and forgive us for any mistakes we make.

And, may Allah (S) forgive me for anything I may have gotten wrong here.

How are you doing your Friday prayers? Is your masjid open or closed? Please comment below and let’s continue to support each other in the best ways possible.

How to Pray Salat al-Jumu'ah (Friday Prayers) at Home – Your Questions Answered published first on https://lenacharms.tumblr.com/

[insidefashionista]

How Melanie Elturk Went From Civil Rights Lawyer to Founder of the Leading U.S. Hijab Brand

[syedyaqeen]

Part of the series of #portraits made for @the_ispu’s @muslimsforamericanprogress report. . Melanie Elturk is CEO and founder of @HauteHijab, the leading #hijab brand in the United States. She founded the company with her husband in 2010, and they both now work at the company full-time. Previously, Elturk had a law career where she specialized in civil rights. “There is a Somali saying that says you travel and travel until the soil suits you. I left Detroit, moved to Chicago, went to Dubai⠀ ⠀ I had this travel bug, especially in Dubai. Every month or two we would leave. But now that we are here (NYC), I don’t want to go. Like, where are we even going to go?!” ⠀ ⠀ — #MelanieElturk, CEO and founder of #HauteHijab #MuslimsofNYC . . . . . . . . . #EverydayAmericanMuslim #MuslimsofNYC #Americans #thisisAmerica #NewYorkers #EverydayEverywhere #NYC #MuslimsinAmerica #muslimsoftheworld1 #newyorklife #magnumphotos #hijabi | #portraitpage #hijabifashion #portrait #portraitvision #brandingportraits #portraitmood #portraitsnyc #portraitfeed #facesobsessed #ig_portrait #shootwithsavage #MuslimsofNYCportraits http://bit.ly/2VVduir

[goltunenews-blog]

Three Reasons Why Muslim Fashion is an Emerging Trend in Asia Asia Islamic Fashion Week is the new Silk Road, leading a diverse country to understand the intricacies of modest design. Read more http://goltune.com/three-reasons-why-muslim-fashion-is-an-emerging-trend-in-asia/

[street-hijab-fashion-blog]

Melanie Elturk (very right) with other hijabi bloggers

IG: https://www.instagram.com/hautehijab/

Blog: https://www.hautehijab.com/blogs/hijab-fashion

Haute Hijab online shopping website: https://www.hautehijab.com/

[shopdealman-blog]

This Fashion Brand Making High-End, Luxury Hijabs

Puberty is awkward for almost every teenager. As a young girl growing up in the suburbs of Detroit, Melanie Elturk noticed that hijabs were becoming an issue in her community, “not only for the girls who already wore it and struggled to keep it on, but for girls who didn’t wear it and had no desire to put it on,” she says. “At that time, there were no real hijab fashion influences one could look…

[marketerintel]

4 Lessons We’ve Learned from Ecommerce Brands on Instagram

Over the last few years, Instagram has become a powerful marketing tool for ecommerce. The numbers speak for themselves: The platform has over one billion monthly active users, 80% follow at least one business account, and 60% of people discover products on Instagram.

With the growing demand for ecommerce on Instagram, the platform has made in-app shopping easier by introducing business-specific features like Instagram Checkout, the Shop button on a business profile, product tags and stickers, and a conversion objective for Instagram ad campaigns. For a variety of reasons, more and more brands use Instagram as a sales machine.

Case in point: Sportswear brand Gymshark uses Instagram for ecommerce, and it often gives strong results.  After launching a new Flex fitness line, the company ran Instagram Stories ads with a clickable link to drive website visits and ecommerce sales. Within a week of running ads on Instagram, the brand made over 2,400 sales, achieving a 9x return on ad spend.

Not the worst way to invest money, huh?

But before you jump in, you need to know what these successful brands are doing to drive those sales. Here are four major lessons from 12 top brands that can help anyone interested in learning how to use Instagram for ecommerce.

Lesson #1: Humans crave for social proof before buying

As a brand owner or marketer, you know what makes your product any different from others on the market, and you’re ready to list its features and benefits, run paid ads, and show it off from different angles. While that all makes sense, it’s not enough to turn your followers into customers.

In fact, people want to read about other customer experiences before making a purchase: 95% of online shoppers read online reviews, 97% agree that reviews influence buying decisions, and 82% of consumers consider user-generated reviews to be valuable. All in all, the more happy customers your company has, the more new clients you can acquire. So you need to utilize social proof in your marketing efforts.

Here’s how to add social proof on Instagram.

Collaborate with influencers

Modern customers crave for authenticity. The majority of influencer marketing campaigns look very organic, so people trust them as much as their friends. Thus, influencers help to build meaningful relationships with consumers: 82% of marketers believe that influencer marketing campaigns bring buyers; 60% of consumers have been influenced by a social media post or a blog review; the worldwide Instagram influencer market value is estimated to be 2.38 billion US dollars in 2019.

Since customers trust opinion leaders more than branded content, it’s important for ecommerce companies to work with them. For example, J.Crew collaborated with Melanie Elturk, popular fashion blogger and CEO of Haute Hijab. In partnership with the brand, Melanie created a post with a brand tag, featuring J.Crew’s stuff. With over 235k engaged followers, the company was able to enter an already-established community of loyal fashion lovers who fit their target market.

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Meanwhile, J.Crew has posted the same image on their business profile, showing fans and visitors that fashion bloggers choose the brand. As a result, it helps to build brand credibility.

Post user-generated content

Another buzzworthy trend in ecommerce is user-generated content (UGC): 85% of people find UGC to be more influential than branded content, and 64% of potential buyers actively seek out UGC before making a purchasing decision. When a company shares pictures created by users, it’s a sign for potential clients that the product meets customers’ needs. Even better, the post feels more sincere, as it’s focused on a client, not a brand. Simply put, encouraging followers to create photos isn’t an option for companies that want to provide social proof; it’s a must-do.

In fact, UGC is not just about featuring an item (which can be great for fashion brands); it’s also about showing how your product works.

Let’s take a look at GoPro, for example. The company motivates customers to share the videos and images they capture to show the best one-off on their Instagram account. For users, it’s a perfect way to spread a word about themselves across 15 million followers. For the brand, it’s an opportunity to provide other people with social proof.

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Share reviews and feedback

Customers have unlimited product purchase choices, and it can be difficult for them to make the right choice until they read consumer guides—reviews. With the rise of social media, users have an opportunity to share their opinions and beliefs individually within a community without being interrupted. What is more, humans are social creatures, so they want to let others know about their experiences in order to help other customers make the right purchase decision. At the same time, the majority of buyers look for online reviews to learn from customers’ experiences.  All in all, online reviews are about social proof, so trying to sell goods on Instagram, it’s important to share customer feedback.

Here’s how it works for Frank Body, a company that offers different coffee-based skin care products. With a variety of alternatives on the market, it’s essential for Frank Body to make visitors understand what makes this company any different from other competitors. To do that, the company created Stories Highlights to group reviews and feedback from magazines and customers’ social media accounts.

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When you provide customers with reviews, you prove that your company is trustworthy. No matter who your potential customer is, whether your Instagram follower or visitor,  the person has quick access to reviews and feedback, and therefore he or she can decide whether your product meets the needs faster.  So, isn’t it great for both—the company and the customer?

Key takeaway: Social proof is a way to ensure your customers that the company (and product) is trustworthy and popular among other users.

Lesson #2: Keep up with trends to cut through the noise

With over 25 million businesses on Instagram, having a good product isn’t enough to attract customers. To cut through the noise, it’s important to know what users’ interests and intentions are.

The solution? Trends! Knowing (or even predicting) trends helps to look before the masses have trained their eyes. When you keep up with Instagram trends, you can use them to your advantage, and top ecommerce brands know it for sure.

Use ephemeral content

Instagram content is constantly evolving—from overly-polished branded images to UGC photos, brands have to know what type of content works better for their target audience. Back in 2016, posting images to your newsfeed was a great idea. For now, companies need to create the FOMO (fear of missing out) effect with ephemeral content that lasts for 24 hours. Any proof needed? According to the latest update, over 500 million accounts use Instagram Stories daily.

This means a growing demand for short-lived content. With ephemeral content, not only will you stay up-to-date, but you will also beat the Instagram algorithm, delivering your brand message to the target audience. Plus, there are different business-specific features that allow brands to grow online.

For example, LUSH avoids clogging up the main feed with content and the company posts Instagram Stories to provide followers with more information about their products. What is more, the brand explains how to use their stuff—worried customers can understand everything they need to know about products, and therefore purchase faster.

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For a variety of reasons, ephemeral content is on its rise, and ecommerce brands can make the most out of this trend by using Instagram Stories in different ways: show off their products, teach customers how to use their stuff, announce the product launch, offer time-limited discounts, and much more.

Run vertical video advertising campaigns

With the growth of social shopping, brands need to understand how consumer behavior has changed. For example, modern customers would like to watch vertical videos instead of horizontal ones, as they hold their phone upright 94% of the time.

Take care of your customers, and they will choose your brand. Here’s one example: In 2017, Michael Kors brand wanted to inform its millennial audience about its new Michael Kors Access smartwatches, so the company targeted young women with custom Instagram Stories that varied in length, resulting in a 24x lift in ad recall and 8.8x increase in favorability.

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Michael Kors marketers were able to predict the rise of vertical video content, so they engaged their target audience and outperformed competitors. For other brands, it’s a good example of how to run Instagram marketing campaigns and bring better business results.

Communicate via direct messages

In 2018, Instagram rolled out various features to improve communication via direct messages. Now, it’s possible to send GIFs, voice messages, share Stories or posts, and even do a video chat—this means huge marketing potential for companies that want to sell on the platform. Once you get a question about your company or product, it’s easy to start a conversation via direct messages and make your potential customer feel special.

What’s more, there’s already a standalone Instagram Messenger app for iOS. It’s no wonder ecommerce brands such as Kendall and Kylie invite people to slide into direct messages—it has become a great way to establish long-term connections with customers.

If you’re a big brand, it’s more likely you will get many direct messages daily, so it’s important to ensure these messages don’t get buried in the inbox. It’s important to reply to the inquiry once you get it, and the best way is to do it without spending much time. With Instagram quick replies feature, you can make the most out of Instagram Direct interface for businesses accounts and answer frequently-asked questions, provide customer support, or thank followers for joining your community.

It goes without saying that modern users crave personalized experiences, so communicating via direct messages helps to improve the customer journey, and therefore increase customer satisfaction.

Key takeaway: Instagram is rolling out more and more features, so users content preferences change. Keeping up with trends is a proven way to give your followers what they want, so that you can bring your business to the next level.

Lesson #3: Better customer experiences lead to more sales

Whatever marketplace you choose, it’s important to ensure your customers get positive experiences at every single step of the customer journey—from brand awareness to customer loyalty. When selling on Instagram, it’s even more important to improve the buying process: The platform has been a photo-sharing place for many years, so not all customers are used to buying on Instagram.

Better customer experience means customer satisfaction, which means more sales and more revenue. All in all, your profile must be optimized for ecommerce if you want to sell on Instagram.

Show off your product

When shopping online, customers can save time and money. However, the main problem for online buyers is that they can’t see or try the product physically before purchasing. It’s hard to say whether it can fit or not. While it can be a real pain for customers, top ecommerce brands know how to deal with this problem.

Showing off products matters. The more details you provide, the better understanding of your product customers have. Right now, brands can take photos of their product from different angles and upload a post with multiple photos or videos. Here’s Adidas Originals shows this strategy in action:

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As you can see, the company has posted several photos to introduce YEEZY BOOST 700 SALT, showing off the sneakers from all the sides and including a multi-image post to provide specific details. This helps interested followers learn more about the item even before they buy these shoes.

Make the navigation easier

When you’re starting from zero on Instagram, it’s easy for visitors to look through every single post. You simply don’t need the navigation, and it makes sense.

But for large (or more experienced) brands, the navigation is highly important. Why? Because your followers need to look through too many posts to find what they’re looking for. To increase impulse buying, ecommerce brands need to simplify the buying process. The easier it’s to find a product, the more people will buy.

Thanks to Stories Highlights, Lululemon can deliver a positive shopping experience to its customers—everything is grouped into Highlights and a person can jump into a circle that can provide valuable information. For example, I don’t need to scroll over 2600 posts to find what’s new: I just tap on “What’s New” highlights and watch the stories. Awesome!

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Note that there are dozens of ways to organize your Highlights, and everything depends on your creativity: You can post new arrivals and items on sale or highlight collections and other featured items. Just think about your potential customers’ needs, try to predict their queries, and create Stories Highlights that satisfy the needs!

Optimize in-app purchases

More and more ecommerce features appear on Instagram, making it easier for users to give social shopping a try—not only can they discover products in-app, but they can also buy items on the platform.

For companies, this means huge sales potential: It’s a cost-effective and fast way to turn followers into buyers. According to the report by Gartner L2, 66% of brands have used social commerce features.

And the best part is that Instagram offers many ways to improve the buying process, and provide users with better customer experience. The trick is to use ecommerce features as GAP Kids does.

Whether you’re a follower or visitor, it’s easy to read about the account (its bio), find the company’s contact info, discover kids clothes, and learn more about the items (descriptions and prices) with the help of shoppable tags:

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What is more, the company knows that people consume ephemeral content, so it uploads Instagram Stories with product stickers—allowing followers to tap on a shopping bag icon and read more about the product while watching Stories:

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All in all, GAP Kids is a great example of a brand that sells in-app: It doesn’t take much effort or time to complete the purchase. So, to turn Instagram into a powerful sales machine, the following things can help:

Add action buttons to your bio (Shop Now)

Insert shop link in bio

Use shoppable tags

Include Instagram Stories product stickers

If you want your followers to buy on Instagram, think about their needs and try to make this process easier and simpler. Use Instagram’s ecommerce features to help.

Key takeaway: While companies can offer almost the same products,  customer experience is what makes them different from each other. If you can provide a positive customer experience, it’s more likely people will choose your brand over hundreds of competitors on the market.

Lesson #4: Listen to your customers—on Instagram

No matter what business you have, it’s crucial to know everything about your potential customers. The more you understand your target audience, the better for your company. And Instagram is a perfect place for collecting customer feedback: 80% of social media posts are dedicated to ourselves, our opinions and beliefs. For companies, it’s a perfect source of candid consumer opinion, so it’s no wonder ecommerce brands pay attention to their customers’ feedback and make the most out of it.

Here are three ways to collect customer feedback.

Social media monitoring and listening

In 2019, customers crave communication with brands, and when they say something about your company online, they expect the brand to react. Thus, companies should not only track what their customers say online with social media monitoring but also understand what customers say about your industry as a whole with social listening.

In other words, social media monitoring is about tracking and responding to all digital messages sent to the company or said about any of the products and services online, while social listening is about understanding the bigger picture.

For example, ASOS has a great number of customers who share their thoughts online, and it serves as a hint for the marketers. Once people started discussing the need for a discount, ASOS couldn’t ignore the demand for it and the company created a promo code for its fans:

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The example above proves that customers can either tag your brand or not. If they do it, you get a notification so it’s easy to take an action. But if they don’t do it, it takes time and effort to find what people are saying about your company. Obviously, you can check brand mentions written online, you can use different social media monitoring tools to optimize the process.

Read comments

One of the main reasons to read followers comments is an opportunity to find (and solve) your customers’ problems. It’s the way to not only take care of your customers but also improve your product or service. Moreover, taking care of the customers helps to earn trust and loyalty, and, therefore, attract more clients.

When Nike introduced the new Nike Epic React sneakers, the company claimed that the shoes were more durable, so people wanted to give this model a try. However, it occurred that shoes could be shrunk, according to one comment on Instagram. Even though it was difficult to prove that the quality of shoes was low, it was important to solve the problem before it spread:

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If the company hadn’t reacted to the comment, the information would have spread among potential clients who monitor social media before making the purchase decision. In other words, it could have a negative effect on sales.

Use Instagram Stories polls

If you believe that social media isn’t the best place for doing market research, we have bad news for you then. Since people are happy to share their thoughts online, it’s no wonder platforms roll out features to understand them better.

For example, Instagram has poll and question stickers that allow users to either choose from two options or tell more with open-ended questions. All in all, polls help you understand followers better and provide them with more valuable information so that you can increase customer satisfaction.

Moreover, Instagram Stories has a short lifespan of 24 hours, so it’s a proven way to get the results fast. With the help of Instagram Stories polls and questions, Sephora asks what the customers want to read from the brand, and it doesn’t take much time to produce this content to hook followers and satisfy their needs:

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Key takeaway: Instagram is a valuable source of information that comes directly from your customers who know what they want from your company and what keeps them away from buying your products. Listen to customers, learn from them, and improve your product to make it a perfect fit for your target audience.

Instagram ecommerce lessons: the sum up

As one of the fastest-growing social media platforms, Instagram has become an essential ecommerce marketplace for companies that want to sell on the platform; it’s evident by the number of brands that not only promote products on Instagram but also sell in-app, and the best way to achieve success is to learn from other companies.

Do you sell on Instagram? What lessons have you learned from using this platform for ecommerce?

About the author

Hugh Beaulac is a content strategist, social media manager, and passionate writer who runs MC2 website and writes for various blogs to share his tips and tricks on digital marketing. He also helps SMBs grow on Instagram, so Hugh keeps an eye on top brands to learn from them. Follow him on Twitter to stay tuned for more.

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[my-daily-health-tips-world-blog]

Haute Hijab Luxury Collection | POPSUGAR Fashion

Haute Hijab Luxury Collection | POPSUGAR Fashion

Haute Hijab Luxury Collection | POPSUGAR Fashion

In 2009, when Muslim-American entrepreneur Melanie Elturk was preparing for her engagement party in Michigan, she couldn’t find the right hijab to wear. “I had this beautiful skirt and hand-embellished belt that I made myself, and then I was wearing this polyester-chiffon hijab,” she told me at the downtown NYC showroom for her brand, Haute…

[proviralmedia-blog]

How to Wear Hijab 2018 Melanie Elturk is the CEO of Haute Hijab. As a hijab-wearing lady and modest dresser, it may be difficult to store for fashionable seems that make me really feel snug — however like most type professionals, I like problem.