Social media is a relatively young field where the best methods to generate sales are still up for discussion. Convince and Convert found that social media represented just 1.55 percent of all e-commerce traffic, with a .71 percent conversion rate. Does it mean that selling through social media is not worth it? Absolutely, not!

Every online marketer worth his salt knows that social networks are not the best options for direct selling. They are perfect, however, for soft selling where you guide your customers through every stage of the sales funnel from creating awareness, establishing the relationship, and closing the sale. Social media assists sales that ultimately happen in store or on your website.

Learn the art of soft selling and watch your sales skyrocket. Here's how to use social media for sales.