In today’s digital world, and with the prevalence of social media, it’s no surprise that online marketplaces are seeing increased usage. Whether you’re looking to sell a secondhand item or purchase something new, Facebook marketplace is an excellent online platform to connect with other users.
As you may know, Facebook marketplace is a trusted place where people locally can buy and sell new and used items safely. This article will give you 8 tips and tricks to make the most of this amazing feature in order to find the best deals, sell your items faster or even buy that perfect gift for someone special.
Did you know that Facebook has a marketplace feature? It’s true! You can currently access this feature in the same place that you would normally access your newsfeed, profile page, and messenger.
To get there, simply navigate to the top-right corner of any Facebook page and click “more”. This will bring you to another menu with various subheadings. Select “Marketplace”.
You can now browse through different categories of goods and services available from nearby users or businesses. If you want to sell something but don’t have time to create a website or listing on another site, this is your new best friend. And here are 8 tips and tricks for making the most of your experience with Facebook Marketplace as a seller:
1. Choose a Good Photo
Like in any other marketplace, first impressions count. Potential customers browsing your product will decide whether to click or swipe-off in a matter of seconds. So the most important thing to remember is to make sure that your product is the main focus of your photo.
Facebook has millions of users, so having a basic photo of a product in a bland, plain room won’t get you many views or sales.
This doesn’t mean that you need a fancy DSLR and tripods. You can also use a smartphone and a few editing apps to spruce up your photos. Instagram, for example, has some great photo editing features that you can use to add some extra pizzazz to your Facebook Marketplace product photos.
2. Take a Video Walkthrough
A video walkthrough is a great way to give customers an extra visual reference. You can use this video to show off your product features and help customers decide if it’s a good fit for them. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when creating a video walkthrough:
3. Select the Right Category
If you sell items that fall under a certain category, make sure that you select that category for each relevant product. For example, if you’re selling a ladies’ dress, you can select “Clothing” as the category, but if you’re selling a dressmaker’s dummy, you can select “Tools” as the category.
If you don’t know which category to select, you can always browse through the “miscellaneous” category, which has items of all kinds. If you want to sell furniture, you can also use the “Home & Garden” category. But if you want to sell smaller items like clothing and accessories, use the “Toys & Games” or “Baby & Kids” category.
4. Write a Great Ad Description
The description of your ad is where you’ll be able to tell customers everything they need to know about the product. You can use this space to highlight product features and benefits and list the item’s exact specifications. A few tips to remember when writing a great ad description include:
5. Negotiate and Set a Fixed Price
Most buyers will start out with a low price, so you can negotiate and try to get closer to your asking price. You can also set a fixed price, which you can do before you hit “post”. If you’re selling a new product, you can add a “free shipping” note to your ad and attract even more customers.
If your product is used, it’s important to mention this in your ad description and let the customers know what condition it’s in.
6. Don’t Be Scared of Using Messenger
If you want to regulate your sales even more and cut out the back-and-forth of negotiations, you can use the messenger function for one-to-one private sales. If you’re selling a product, you can click on “send gift” and then click “sell something”. If you’re buying a product, you can click on “sell something”.
This will take you to a menu where you can select the relevant product and type in the purchase price. If you’re selling a product, you can also use the messenger function to answer questions about your product and arrange meet-ups.
7. Set a reasonable price and condition up front
If your product is used, you can also use the description to state the condition of the product. If you’re selling a new product, you can add a “brand new” or “new” tag to your ad.
If you’re selling a used product, it’s important to set a price that’s reasonable. Don’t go for the highest price, but don’t sell it for dirt cheap either. Remember to keep your product in good condition. If your product is used, make sure that it’s clean and in proper working order.
8. Show up and be sociable (and be patient)
One of the best ways to sell your products is to show up at the places where your potential customers are. If you’re selling food, for example, go to your nearest grocery store and sell your products there.
If you’re selling clothing, go to clothing stores and show your products there. If you’re selling items online, you can also use Facebook to be more sociable. Make sure to post your products on your profile. You can also join groups related to your product and interact with other members. It may take a while before you notice a significant bump in sales, so be patient and consistent.
If you are selling something with a set price, you want to show up to the marketplace as much as possible. This will help you boost your sales over time and help you be more visible to potential customers. If you are setting a fixed price, you should still try to show up as much as possible.
This will not only help you sell your product faster, but it will also help you build a customer base. If you are setting a fixed price and someone sends you a note asking a question about your product, you should respond promptly.
This will help you build a positive reputation and make new customers out of Facebook marketplace users who visit your page. Be patient with these customers though. It may take them a while to get to your page. This is especially true if your product is listed in a less popular category on the marketplace.
9. Create a Facebook Business Page before you sell
If you’re planning to sell items on Facebook Marketplace for a long time, you might as well create a business page for your items. With a business page, you’ll get access to more features and options, and you’ll look more professional. You can sign up for a free Facebook Business Page here.
These are some tips and tricks to make the most of your experience with Facebook Marketplace as a seller. If you make sure that your items are in good condition, set a reasonable price, and write a great ad description, you’ll be well on your way to successful sales.
If you are planning on selling on Facebook marketplace on a regular basis, you may want to consider creating a Facebook business page before you begin selling. This will not only help you build your seller reputation but it will also help you more easily accept payments and communicate with customers.
You can learn more about how to create a Facebook business page here. Finally, you should be aware of scammer behavior. Facebook marketplace sellers have a bad reputation and are often seen as scammers. This is not always true, but it is something to be aware of. If you are selling an expensive product, consider using a payment method that leaves both parties feeling safe, like PayPal.
