Facebook is one of the world’s most popular social networks, and it’s guessed that most adults have access to this platform. This means it’s a great place to make business connections and friendships and a fantastic way to advertise almost anything.
Facebook Marketplace lets users sell items. However, because of its huge reach, you’ll get your ad seen by many more people than just a newspaper ad. You’ll likely make a successful local sale in hours—not weeks.
Here’s how to sell items on Facebook Marketplace, including ensuring your ads get seen first.
Facebook Marketplace can be accessed through the website or by using the app. Marketplace is a listing section of Facebook that people can use to advertise anything from used electronics to crafts.
Posting ads as a status or description doesn’t guarantee reach or get sales. Using Facebook Marketplace guarantees that your listing reaches people looking to buy—not just shown to users scrolling through their timelines.
Marketplace was first introduced in 2016.
Facebook Marketplace is a separate section of the main Facebook platform. Users can access the Marketplace page using this link. Other ways to access Marketplace include using the app or your mobile browser.
Multi-platform support is part of what makes Facebook Marketplace more popular than other comparative classified websites.
From here, users can manage their ads or post new ones. Users can also browse the items various Marketplace sellers might have listed.
A useful search function lets you look through Marketplace for specific items. Users can also set ads to show only listings within a particular area, or that match their keywords.
As a seller, pay attention to your item description and photographs. These are the first things a seller will see when they search or scroll, and you want to ensure your ad gets the attention it needs. Blurry photographs or unclear descriptions tend to let ads sit there.
Facebook Marketplace users must be active, valid Facebook users to participate in this section.
According to Facebook Marketplace, the seller must ensure they have read the terms and conditions. The seller is responsible for ensuring the listing and its details are accurate.
If you want to participate in Facebook Marketplace, you must also be an adult in your region according to their fine print. This protects all Marketplace users.
Items must also be legal, and you must be the legal owner of anything you intend to advertise. If you go against the Facebook Marketplace terms and conditions, your account could be entirely banned from the social network.
If you have something to sell, the first step is to create your Facebook Marketplace listing. Users can navigate to this link for the direct ad creation page—and from here, you’ll be asked to enter some basic details about your sale listing.
Facebook Marketplace requires a brief description, your intended sales location, and clear photographs. As an added step, users can also fill in additional tags, and you’ll be asked to choose an appropriate category for your ad.
Advertisements are live on the platform immediately. Ads will be visible throughout the platform, and most Facebook Marketplace ads are public. Search engines can also search for listings, so your ad reach naturally grows.
Anyone who sees your ad and wants to get in touch can send the seller a direct message. This goes to your Facebook Marketplace inbox, accessed through Messenger or the Facebook app.
The Marketplace inbox keeps all your business messages in a single place. Headers will display the advertisement title so that you can always keep track and click on a message to see more information about the interested party.
Basic details about their profile will also be available so that it’s easier to check whether a buyer might be serious about buying your item.
Messages that match up against Facebook’s spam or scammer database might be automatically removed from your Marketplace inbox. This cuts down on any possible dealing with scammers or spam.
In the Facebook Marketplace inbox, you might negotiate, answer questions, or elaborate when someone has something to ask. Users are advised to use common sense: never send anyone your details over Facebook Marketplace.
Facebook Marketplace has specific commerce policies. This means you can sell most things on Facebook Marketplace (including rentals, consumer products, vehicles, or crafts). However, there are some things you aren’t allowed to advertise or sell on Marketplace.
According to the official Marketplace Commerce Policies, users cannot list recalled products, supplements, digital subscriptions, or animals. You also may not sell any tobacco products, paraphernalia, or currency types.
Adult items and services are also barred from Facebook Marketplace. Any illegal items (such as weapons) are also banned from being listed on Facebook Marketplace.
If you have seen an ad that goes against their community policies or rules, you can file a report with Facebook/Meta for assessment. As a Marketplace seller, you are responsible for ensuring anything you advertise complies with their rules.
Want to check if your ad is allowed against their community standards? There’s a full list of disallowed and restricted products in this Commerce Policies guide.
Facebook Marketplace has international, immediate reach.
Unlike other classified platforms, ads are public for everyone on the Marketplace platform. Users will see your ad when browsing through categories but might also see your ad when searching for relevant items or keywords.
Ads on Facebook Marketplace are also publically searchable and will appear in search engines.
This means that your ad reach expands even further. If you don’t want your ad to appear on search engines, you can set stricter privacy—for example, if you wanted your ad to appear only in surrounding areas.
Facebook Marketplace advises users to take clear, high-quality photographs of their items. Ensure that your items are well-lit and that all the important details (along with potential damage) are visible. Take several pictures if you want to make sure the item has fair representation!
Marketplace also advises users to write a detailed description of the item. Asking yourself what you might want to know if you were the seller is a good way to write an ad description that gets attention while saying everything it needs to.
If you have original purchase documentation for the item, include it. Along with these tips, Marketplace advises its sellers to “make sure the price is right” and “be responsive and professional” when someone interested gets in touch.
Sellers and buyers can rate their experiences and the response time for individual sellers. Make sure your responses are timely—and that they’re just as descriptive as your original ad!
There’s one more bit of advice from Facebook Marketplace. Once you’ve sold your items, mark them as sold—this way, you won’t get additional offers or messages for a successful sale.
Also read: How to Use Facebook Business Manager
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