Have you heard of an e-commerce sale channel?
If you’re selling physical products, and you’re only relying on a single channel to get money and an audience, then it’s time to switch things up with Facebook’s social commerce platform, Facebook Marketplace.
Facebook marketplace is a simple yet easy and cost-effective way to keep your business running and increase your sale.
Here are some things to know about the Facebook marketplace:
- It’s free to use.
- It comes with a built-in audience of a billion users.
- You don’t need a website to sell.
- You can create listings on the go with the Facebook app.
When you combine that with statistics like:
- 78 percent of US citizens use Facebook to find new products.
- 30 percent of consumers would purchase via Facebook.
- 1 in 4 business owners sells through Facebook.
- You’re leaving money on the table and missing out on a competitive edge.
Nevertheless, we are here to tell you everything you need to know about Facebook Marketplace, how to create your first listing, the benefits, and what you can do to improve your sale on the Platform.
When you hear of the Facebook marketplace what comes to your mind? Stay with me on this page as I clarify you.
What Is Facebook Marketplace?
Facebook Marketplace is a digital marketplace that gives users access to buy and sell goods directly on Facebook. For instance, just like Craigslist and eBay but on the hander hand better.
It’s a peer-to-peer platform where you can buy and sell new and pre-owned items. Users can sort by category, location, and more.
Facebook Marketplace is the latest way of e-commerce business that gives access to make sales and take advantage of the social media networks, with over 2.7 billion active users without spending on listing and ads.
All you need to do is upload your item, and in 60 seconds, you’ll gain access to a local audience ready to buy what you’re selling.
6 Benefits of Selling on Facebook Marketplace
Here are six reasons to consider Facebook’s Marketplace;
Facebook Marketplace Is Safer than Other Platforms
Lack of accountability and transparency made Craigslist “untrustworthy”.
On Craigslist, anybody can pretend to be anybody, and there is less information to help buyers and sellers track down those scammers.
Facebook Marketplace on the other hand has an extra trust layer. Each buyer and seller is connected to a Facebook account.
This gives you the option to investigate and double-check if the person is “real” by doing the following below;
- Looking at profiles.
- Checking how long the account has been active on Facebook.
- Seeing previous Marketplace activity.
- Reporting any suspicious sellers and buyers.
However, it’s no guarantee Facebook Marketplace is scam-free, its lack of anonymity is a safer option for everyone.
It’s Free to List an Item
What is the best thing about using Facebook Marketplace?
You don’t need to pay a single penny to the platform. It’s free to create a Facebook personal account or business page and free to list an item.
Unlike other platforms, Facebook Marketplace doesn’t have:
- Non-refundable listing deposits.
- Insertion fees.
- Final value fees.
Facebook Marketplace has none of that. It’s one of the most affordable options for small e-commerce businesses.
Sellers and Buyers Can Send Instant Messages to Each Other
In other words, in Facebook Marketplace, sellers and buyers can instantly message each other.
What to expect:
- 24/7 customer service
- lightning-fast website load times
- the ability to order taxis, food, and even dates with a swipe of our finger
So why should online shopping be any different? With Facebook Marketplace, it isn’t.
Facebook addresses our addiction by allowing buyers and sellers to communicate instantly with Messenger. It’s a genius inbound marketing tactic.
If a customer has a question about your product, and you don’t reply, you risk losing the sale.
Facebook Marketplace grips any potential profit-risk in the bud by helping you close the deal before the person moves on and buys from someone else.
You Have Better Odds of Making a Sale on Facebook Marketplace
However, the platform takes controls users’ scrolling habits, which increases the chances of someone stumbling across your item.
Users will see Marketplace ads in their timeline and in recently viewed items, increasing the chance of a sale.
Then there are the mere amount of people using Marketplace every month. Over a billion people use Facebook’s platform, which is considerably less than Craigslist’s 55 million monthly users.
Post Your Listing to Facebook Groups
Facebook is full of “buy & sell” groups.
Inside each one are people primed to buy, making it easier than eBay, Gumtree, or Craigslist to make a sale.
Facebook takes it a step further by allowing you to post your listing to relevant “buy & sell” groups in your area.
You can list your item in up to ten groups you’re a member of on a mobile device.
Meanwhile, on desktop, you select ten at a time and then go back and add the listing to ten more until you’re done.
Doing so increases your natural reach on Facebook and gives you invaluable exposure, even with zero ad budgets. Just make sure you aren’t over-posting.
Facebook Creates a Personalized Shopping Experience
With the Facebook marketplace platform, it is guaranteed that users with interest in what you are selling will come in contact with you,
However, when you click on Marketplace, it greets you with “Today’s Picks.” A curated selection of items related to past searches, likes, and interactions on Facebook.
When you combine that with the platform’s localized shopping experience, it once again boosts your chances of a sale, and that’s some powerful stuff.
How to Sell Products on Facebook Marketplace
Firstly, setting up a listing on Facebook Marketplace is very easy.
However, the “platform” is built into Facebook’s desktop site and mobile app, and it takes only a minute to set up a listing on Facebook Marketplace. On the other hand, on platforms like eBay, the process is very much longer. With more fields to fill out, it can take a larger chunk of your time getting your items listed and live.
Follow these four easy steps to get your first Facebook Marketplace listing up on the platform.
Step 1: Access Facebook Marketplace
- Log onto Facebook via your desktop and select Marketplace on the left-hand side of the screen.
- If you don’t see it on the menu, click the “See More” button, scroll down until you see the Marketplace icon, and select it.
- For smartphone users, open the app and tap the “shop front” icon at the top of the screen.
PLEASE NOTE: You don’t need a separate account to use the feature. You can sell with a personal or business Facebook account.
Step 2: Create Your First Listing
On the left-hand side of the screen, click the blue “+Sell something” button.
A new screen will load, prompting you to choose a listing type from the following options:
- Item for sale
- Vehicle for sale
- Property for rent or sale
- Job opening
Meanwhile, for mobile users, tap the “Sell” button at the top of the screen and select your listing type.
Step 3: Fill out Your Listing
Next, fill out the following information about your listing:
- Add photos (you’ll need AT LEAST one).
- Create your listing title (remember to use keywords people are searching for).
- Add your price.
- Choose a relevant listing category from the drop-down list.
- Select the condition of the item you’re selling from the drop-down list.
- Add relevant product tags.
- Add your location.
- Select the number of items available.
- Delivery method (shipping or local pick up).
- Shipping rate (if applicable).
Facebook Marketplace Categories
You can list items in the following categories:
- Classifieds
- Clothing & Accessories
- Deals
- Electronics
- Entertainment
- Family
- Hobbies
- Home & Garden
- Housing
- Vehicles
Finally, when you’re done, click “Publish”, and your first Facebook Marketplace listing is officially live!
Step 4: Closing the Sale
Finally, once a potential buyer stumbles across your listing, you can discuss all the details through Messenger.
When you’re both satisfied, payment is made through processors like Shopify or BigCommerce.
How to Increase Your Facebook Marketplace Sales
Maximize your sales on Marketplace with these simple yet effective tips Research
Before you create your first listing, do your research.
Hop onto Marketplace and see what items are popular in your niche. You can do this by sleuthing on categories to see the best-sellers and visiting business pages.
If a page has a store, the top-performing products are always listed first.
By putting in the time to see what’s trending on the platform, you’ll get a good idea of supply and demand, price points, and how you can differentiate yourself from everyone else.
Use Facebook Ads
Once you know what products are popular, you can now create Facebook ads for your listings.
And because you’ve done your research and know there’s a strong interest, you’ll see a much higher ROI and an increase in sales.
Using ads also allows you to retarget people who have bought from you in the past and follow your page.
Optimize Your Listing with Keywords
SEO isn’t only for websites and bloggers. The same principles apply to Facebook Marketplace.
If you want your listing to rank on the search results and get found by your ideal customer, you need to make sure you’re using the right keywords.
Optimize your listing by using your main keywords in the title and semantic keywords in the product’s description.
For example, let’s say you’re selling an iPhone. A buyer would want to know things like:
- The model
- Storage capacity
- The color
- The condition of the device
- What accessories it comes with (like a charger, AirPods, etc.)
In addition, those are all keywords you want to include in your listing to rank higher in the algorithm.
Improve Your Photos
93% of consumers say visual appearance is the key deciding factor when making a purchase.
So if your photos are blurry and you have no sales, it’s time to upgrade your product photography game.
You don’t need to hire a professional photographer.
You can get high-quality photos using only your smartphone.
All you need is:
- Good, natural lighting
- A clean background (a solid black or white background works best)
- A tripod (if you have shaky hands)
- Presets (you can find free ones for Lightroom Mobile on Pinterest)
With these four things, your listings will become more visually appealing.
NOTE: When taking photos of your products, make sure to show any defects and warranty information, and avoid stock photos. It will make your listing appear fake.
Aim for a Strong Seller Record
Facebook gives sellers two separate badges for how well they interact with customers. Make it a goal to work towards both badges to improve your reputation, trust, and sales with potential customers.
Very Responsive Badge: Awarded to sellers who respond quickly on Messenger to potential buyers.
Community Recommended Badge: Awarded to sellers with a high rating on Marketplace.
Include Delivery/Shipping
Include Delivery/Shipping to stand out and give your buyer an amazing experience.
Add a small markup to your base price, and watch your items fly off the shelves!
Choose the Right Category
Avoid spam, no one likes spam.
Don’t list your DSLR camera in the appliances section. It’s annoying and an easy way for your account to get flagged and possibly blocked from Facebook entirely.
Besides, you want to choose the right category, so the RIGHT people with the RIGHT purchasing intent see your listing.
The appliances section isn’t where budding photographers looking for a deal are hanging out.
Don’t waste your time or anyone else’s.
Checklist for Selling on Facebook Marketplace
In addition, Setting up a new listing on Facebook is easy. Here’s a quick checklist to make sure you get it right;
Head to Facebook Marketplace
It is located on the left sidebar on the desktop and the “shop front” icon in mobile.
Create a listing
Click the “sell something” option, then list your item including pictures, descriptions, pricing, location, and whether or not you ship.
Optimize your listing
Add relevant product tags, a price, key terms you think people will be searching for, and high-quality images. Make sure your listing meets Facebook’s commerce requirements. For example, you can’t sell alcohol or animals.
Respond to customer messages quickly
If you want to make a sale, make sure to respond to questions and requests as quickly as possible.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Facebook Marketplace is no longer a place for casual sales. It’s a quick, easy, affordable way for you to grow your e-commerce business.
With access to Facebook, you can find new customers without a massive platform or spending money.
All you need to do is take the step and upload your attractive offer to the platform, follow these sales-boosting tips, and wait for the money to start rolling in.