How To Sell On Facebook Marketplace (A Big Juicy Guide)
Facebook Marketplace is an obvious choice for anyone looking to sell online. If you’re looking to sell items for cash or to Marie Kondo your house – this is the platform to do it.
What’s more, Facebook’s recently become a great place for businesses looking to market their goods. Whilst previously just a peer-to-peer Marketplace, it now accommodates merchant selling within the US.
Whichever group you fall into – personal or business – this article will cover all you need to know about selling on Facebook Marketplace. Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
- What is Facebook Marketplace?
- What can be sold on Facebook Marketplace?
- Does Facebook Marketplace charge fees?
- What do you need to start selling on Facebook?
- Step by step guide to selling on Facebook Marketplace
- Expert tips for selling on Facebook Marketplace
- Facebook Marketplace rules to be aware of
- Alternatives to Facebook Marketplace
What Is Facebook Marketplace?
Facebook Marketplace is an online marketplace where users above 18 years old can make arrangements to purchase, sell, and trade goods with other Facebook users.
With Facebook Marketplace you can:
- Look for products to purchase.
- View things that are up for sale by category and/or location.
- Make product listings.
- Send messages to buyers / sellers to set up trades.
- Connect up your eCommerce platform to list inventory.
Sellers can post images of the products they’re selling and view products offered by local vendors on Marketplace. The sellers determine the price, but potential purchasers are free to make a counter offer.
Since Facebook has more than 2.9 billion users each month, it’s clearly a convenient location to sell items! In fact, a number of users have started developing mini-marketplaces on the social media network in recent years using the Groups feature.
What Can Be Sold On Facebook Marketplace?
Facebook Marketplace has so many distinct categories, including:
- Clothing
- Accessories
- Property rentals
- Electronics
- Hobbies
- Toys
- Home goods
- Musical instruments
- Sports equipment
- Pet products
- Games
- Gardening equipment
Does Facebook Marketplace Charge Fees?
Facebook Marketplace doesn’t impose listing fees as other markets do.
As for selling fees? Well, it depends where in the world you are, and how you want to fulfill your sale.
Many people prefer to manage the transaction part of their sales by themselves. For example, you may prefer your buyer to pay in cash when you meet them, or you may ask for a bank or Paypal transfer before sending off the goods. In these cases, Facebook doesn’t charge you anything.
However, in some regions such as the US, merchants have the option of selling with ‘delivery and checkout’. This means that sales transactions are processed through the Facebook platform itself. If you opt for this, Facebook automatically deducts a fee from your payment each time you make a sale. The rate is 5% per shipment or a fixed rate of $0.40 for shipments that cost less than $8 or less.
Here’s an example of how they work:
- For a shipment of $15, a fee of $0.75 will be deducted
- For a shipment of $3, a fee of $0.40 will be deducted
What Do You Need To Start Selling On Facebook?
What you need to get started depends on whether you’re a casual seller (i.e. someone just looking to sell their stuff online), or a merchant.
If you’re a casual seller:
All you really need is a Facebook account to get started!
If you’re a merchant based in the US:
This space is changing quite rapidly – but for now, you have a few options to sell.
The first is via your official Facebook business page. You’ll get a dedicated ‘Shop’ section on your business’s Facebook page which operates like a storefront. In which case, you’ll first need a functioning Facebook business page.
Secondly – merchants in the US have the option to link their existing online store to Facebook Marketplace via another eCommerce platform such as Shopify. If your products are approved by Facebook, your inventory will be added to Marketplace where they’ll be able to reach a wider audience.
However, bear in mind that not all eCommerce platforms are compatible with Facebook Marketplace. Here are some of their current partners:
- Shopify
- Channel Advisor
- Zentail
- BigCommerce
- ShipStation
A Step By Step Guide To Selling On Facebook Marketplace
Note For Merchants: The below are steps for selling below if you’re a casual seller. If you’re selling as a merchant, the process is much simpler. You’ll usually just need to initiate a ‘Sync’ from within your existing eCommerce platform (e.g. from within Shopify) and your products will be uploaded to Facebook Marketplace automatically. We recommend you check with your eCommerce platform for the most up-to-date instructions.
- Log into your Facebook account
First, log into your personal or business Facebook account. If you haven’t set that up yet – head here. - Locate the Marketplace icon
Search for the storefront-like Facebook Marketplace icon. It is located at the top of your desktop screen. You can also click on the word “Marketplace” on the left. - Create listing
Click on “Create New Listing” - Choose listing type
Choose your listing type. For this example, we will be choosing “Item For Sale” - Describe your product
Key in all necessary information about your product and be as descriptive as possible. - Wait for your buyer
Then – publish your item! Watch for messages from potential purchasers now that your listing is active.To receive message notifications on your phone, download the Facebook Messenger app. You can respond to inquiries fast with Messenger, which can increase your chances of closing a deal. If you’re not getting any interest, consider boosting the post or lowering your price.
- Set up the sale
What differentiates Facebook Marketplace from a platform like eBay is that you must set up payment terms with the buyer.What does that mean?
Well, most of the time, Facebook does not handle or govern the transactions between you and your buyer. It’s simply up to you to set up the payment terms (unless you’re using Facebook’s Checkout feature). Facebook suggests using PayPal or cash, but alternative payment options like Venmo are acceptable.
Whatever you do, be sure to discuss payment terms with the buyer before meeting with them.You don’t want to have someone back out on the deal or try to deceive you when buying your item. Have everything sorted in black and white so you will be able to protect yourself and secure your sale.
Lastly – safety is still another thing to think about. Try to bring a companion and conduct the transaction at a place where there are lots of people present. Close the deal in a public place and avoid going to shady quiet areas because you never know who is behind the screen, texting you about your deal.
Read through this shopping safety guide prepared by Facebook to have an idea of what to do when conducting a sale.
- Label the item as sold
Once you have sold the product, mark the item as sold. Nothing is more annoying than interacting with a seller only to find out that the product is no longer in stock.Don’t be one of those sellers and quickly mark a product as sold once you have done your deal.
Do not forget to add the appropriate tags for your item as well.
If you’re a merchant in the US and want to use Facebook’s ‘deliver and checkout’ feature, read up more information here.
Expert Tips For Selling On Facebook Marketplace
Here are a few other tips to maximize your sales on Facebook Marketplace:
1. Be smart when you price your items
It’s a good idea to browse similar listings to compare the price before setting your item’s price. This helps you make sure your charges are reasonable in relation to the existing rate in the market.
If it’s a second-hand good, the condition of the item will affect the price. You can ask for a higher price if it’s brand new or better quality than comparable items that are already on the market, or if you’re aware there’s high demand for it. Pricing it lower than comparable items should make it stand out on the platform if it is preloved or is missing a part.
One tip to keep in mind is the Marketplace is a bargaining haven.
Always expect shoppers to want to get a deal, so take that into consideration. A solid general rule is to increase the price by 20% to 30% over the lowest amount you’re willing to accept.
You’ll give yourself more wiggle room to bargain this way.
2. Boost your listings to reach more buyers
By “boosting” your Facebook listings, you can increase their visibility by bringing them back to the top of Marketplace search results. By effectively turning your listing into an advertisement, boosting it has the following advantages:
- Your listing will show up on people’s news feeds.
- Make your audience specific to attract prospective clients.
- Set your own daily spending limit and marketing window.
- View Facebook analytics on the effectiveness of your listing.
Metrics like the number of reaches and clicks can be used to track the performance of your boosted ad after it has begun to run. You’ll be able to track your spending as well as how many people saw and interacted with your listing.
3. Take good photos of your items!
The heart of a Marketplace listing is its photo.
People are more likely to purchase if you take high-quality images that show things as they actually are. Spend some time making sure your pictures are clear, bright, and crisp. A quick and easy technique to capture photographs with precise color representation is under natural light.
Additionally, you should shoot images from several perspectives to provide potential buyers with a full impression. To keep things clear, think about capturing a few close-ups of any damaged areas or parts.
People are more likely to purchase your items if your photographs accurately depict the actual thing. You don’t need a DSLR or photo studio – check our guide on DIYing great product photos for cheap.
4. Offer free local delivery
Most consumers dislike showing up to pick up the stuff, particularly when they are bigger things like large pieces of furniture. Consider providing free local delivery within a realistic radius because this will draw more attention to your listings – who doesn’t want free delivery?
5. Keep renewing the posts
You can extend the listing period for your item if it hasn’t sold after seven days. Your listing will return to the top of the results list once you renew the ads for it.
Select the item, then click the three dots on the thumbnail of the listing. then choose the option to renew your listing from the drop-down menu.
6. Communicate wisely with buyers
Another thing to keep in mind when dealing with Facebook Marketplace is that you will have to communicate with many buyers on the platform. And when there’s constant communication, it can lead to miscommunication.
Dealing with rude and sarcastic buyers shouldn’t surprise you but here are some tips on how to deal with them professionally:
- Maintain composure and courtesy at all times
- To improve your chances of generating a sale, try to respond to communications as soon as you can
- Simply ignore or block nasty or irate people if they send you messages
- When you are not at your computer, use the messenger app to respond to inquiries
- Customers will undercut you, so be prepared to bargain
- When questioned, politely provide your lowest price and maintain your resolve
To increase the exposure of your stock, repeat these procedures for each outdated listing.
Facebook Marketplace Rules To Be Aware Of
The Facebook Marketplace Commerce Policies has a set of rules that should be followed by all sellers if they wish to sell on the platform.
1. Be aware of prohibited items
Facebook has a list of prohibited items that can not be sold on the Marketplace, including:
- Adult goods and services.
- Alcohol.
- Animals.
- Electronics And digital media.
- Ticket for events.
- Gift cards.
- Healthcare supplies (thermometers, first-aid kits, etc.).
- Substances that sre recreational, illegal, or prescribed.
- Tobacco items or tobacco-related accessories.
- Dangerous supplements.
- Explosives, ammo, or weapons
2. Make sure your description is correct
The title and description you provide for the item must match the images you provide for it. That doesn’t mean it needs to be boring – check our guide here on writing killer product descriptions!
3. Only sell physical items
If the item is not tangible, it can’t be sold in the marketplace.
If you connect with any of Facebook’s partners, you may coordinate with them for the availability of services like housekeeping and event tickets on the marketplace.
Alternatives to Facebook Marketplace
If Facebook Marketplace is your first exposure to online shopping, you can eventually move on to other means of selling via Facebook. These are some of your options:
1. Facebook shops
This feature helps small companies create a single online store that is accessible to customers on Facebook and Instagram. With this new function, you can also advertise things during Facebook and Instagram live streams so that viewers can purchase them.
You can also sell goods through the chat functions of WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram.
2. Facebook live shopping
Livestreamers can sell things in real-time while they stream using Facebook Live’s live shopping function. In one 2020 study, 83% of respondents who watched live streams stated they were inclined to purchase anything from an influencer they follow. Selling live can be a powerful way to increase sales.
3. Buy and sell groups
Although the buy and sell feature can be enabled in any Facebook group, these communities are often local in nature, with members who frequently reside in a particular city, town, or neighborhood.
Although casual sellers are more likely to use buy and sell groups, they do present a chance for small businesses trying to expand their local clientele.
4. Other big selling sites
Sites like Amazon and eBay are still popular options for people to sell goods for a reason. Ecommerce sales in the US are now a whopping $960 billion industry as of 2021, an 18.3% increase from the previous year. We’ve written up a whole guide on how to start selling on Amazon – check it out if you’re interested.
5. Create your own online store
Setting up your own eCommerce store or website is another option to sell your goods, and a topic we’ve written plenty about. For beginners, a website builder like Zyro can make setting up your own site a breeze even if you don’t have too much technical knowledge. You can start by checking our guide on how to set up an online boutique.
Get Selling On Facebook Marketplace!
Facebook Marketplace can be a terrific alternative for selling quickly and conveniently, whether you’re trying to expand the customer base of your business, sell some handcrafted goods, or get rid of outdated items.
Numerous people and businesses profit from using Facebook’s enormous influence as a platform for selling their own goods and now you can too!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who should sell on Facebook Marketplace?
Anyone and everyone can and should sell on Facebook Marketplace. The platform is available to eCommerce businesses and entrepreneurs as well as absolutely anyone with items they wish to sell.
2. What are the benefits of selling on Facebook Marketplace?
Facebook Marketplace offers a simple way to promote a brand and product through its huge network and customizable user experience. Also for ordinary people, it’s a great way to get rid of unwanted stuff and make some money on the side.
