20 Tips for Successful Selling on Facebook Marketplace
While I often share my Facebook Marketplace finds from a buyer’s perspective, I was recently asked if often I sell items from our home on Facebook Marketplace. My answer? Quite often. At any given time, I have anywhere from 2-12 items listed. Since we’re constantly tackling home projects, I list a lot of extra construction materials, overage, as well as home items that are no longer serving us. I’m all about a good secondhand sell or purchase! Whether you’re simply purging, cleaning house, helping a friend or family member get organized, or need to make some extra cash- Facebook Marketplace is an amazing free resource. Click through for 20 of my best tips for successful selling on Facebook Marketplace… from a seller with a 5-star rating (humble brag).
In full transparency, we’ve been listing a lot on FBMP lately. We’ve been trying to pay off medical bills and save for IVF, which has been a big factor behind much of my Facebook Marketplace activity these past few months. All of that to say, it’s a great way to make some extra cash. I’ve been motivated to get rid of items we are no longer using or ones that have just been collecting dust, in hopes of cleaning house for the season ahead. I will say, I think I have listing items down to a science at this point… scroll on for my formula.
1. Take Good Photos
I think taking good photos is key. I just use my iPhone for this. Include a variety of photos… detailed photos, photos of any damage or imperfections, closeups, wide shots, etc. Make sure there is no junk in the background and remove any personal items from the shot. It’s also important to make sure the images are high res and easy to view (at least 1000 pixels wide).
2. Always Include Dimensions
Always include dimensions in your listing… height, depth, width, and even the weight, if applicable.
3. Price Your Items Competitively
Price your item competitively, based on your location and motivation to sell. Do a quick search to see what similar items are going for in your area.
How quickly would you like to sell this item? The lower the price, the faster it will be out the door. When I list items for free, they’re usually gone within a few hours. This can also help with manual labor or moving… for example, if you’re replacing your paver patio– list your existing pavers for free, but the buyer must remove them. We did this at our previous home and it worked beautifully. The buyer was happy to have free pavers, and we were thrilled they spent the afternoon doing free demo for us.
4. Use the Pre-Defined Categories
Use Facebook’s recommended categories. An example? If you’re selling a dining table… check the following categories: Home & Kitchen > Furniture > Dining Room Furniture > Dining Tables. This is called “breadcrumbs” and it’s what makes your listing searchable on Marketplace. It’s important to never skip this step, so your item can gain visibility!
5. Include and Repeat Keywords
Include keywords and repeat them throughout your listing. Think about what someone would search for when looking for your exact item… use those adjectives within your description. To use the dining table example again, you might use some of the following keywords: dining table, mahogany, Bernhardt (brand name), six person, large table, traditional, designer, furniture, etc.
6. Respond in a Timely Manner
Be sure to respond to messages and inquiries in a timely manner. Facebook tracks your response time, indirectly which helps your rating. It shows a buyer you’re easy to communicate with.
7. Follow Facebook’s Guidelines
Be sure to adhere to Facebook’s guidelines and commerce policies. There is a section in the seller dashboard where you can request help, file appeals, and read the in-depth policies. Always report spam, be on high alert for scams, and use your best instincts.
8. Communicate Efficiently
Communicate efficiently with a system in place, and don’t create more work for yourself. If a buyer is not ready to purchase your item, put the ball in their court… tell them to contact you once they are ready, but remind them your item is available on a first come, first serve basis. Keep conversations clear, concise, and brief. Both parties will be appreciative!
9. Be Nice
Always be fair and friendly. My favorite part about Marketplace is uncovering beautiful things from interesting people I might not have otherwise met or had the opportunity to buy. At the end of the day, remember- there is a person on the other side of the screen.
10. Prepare to Negotiate
Prepare to negotiate, but hold your bottom line. Low offers happen all the time, and you can’t be offended. That’s simply the nature of Facebook Marketplace. Copy & paste a prepared response, like: I’m sorry- I’m firm on my price, but feel free to check back if it’s still available in a month… or- the lowest I’d take is $50 (and name your price).
11. Accept Multiple Forms of Payment
If you’re flexible on receiving payment, you’ll make more sales. I accept Venmo, PayPal, Zelle, and cash. All of which are secure and dependable. I’ve noticed different age groups prefer different payment methods, so I’m able to appeal to a larger audience.
12. Keep Listings Updated
Keep your listings updated. If a listing isn’t gaining traction or views, you can always try marking the item down. If it still isn’t moving, try to renew or re-list the item. Facebook has handy buttons for both of those options, that make it virtually effortless. If none of those things are working, try re-listing it entirely with new photos and a new description.
13. Leverage Mark Downs
As I previously mentioned above, if your item isn’t moving- you may have it marked too high. Try marking it down in increments to find the sweet spot.
14. Avoid Shipping
This one may be controversial because Facebook encourages it, but as someone who ships home items on the daily (I own a small home shop that ships nationwide, Tuesday Made)… shipping is expensive. The seller almost always loses money. Home items are also very breakable. While you can cast a wider net, in my opinion- it’s not worth the time, energy, break-rate, and money.
15. Create Repeat Customers
If you’re listing the same type of items (for me it’s home items), you can easily create repeat customers on Marketplace. Point them to more listings, ask if they’re in need of anything else if you chat in person, or incentivize them to purchase again by giving them a discount.
16. Boost Your Listing
Don’t be afraid to boost a listing and experiment with ads. You can set your preferred amount (as low as $10), and try boosting a listing if it hasn’t gained much traction. Alternatively, boost an item you expect to be popular to see how it goes (perhaps for a higher price). If I need something larger out of our way, boosting is a great way to get your listing in front of more eyeballs.
17. Plan a Safe Pickup or Meeting
Always plan a safe pickup where both parties feel comfortable, and make sure payment has processed before giving away your item. I’ll often choose a neutral public location, and I always tell Emmett when I’m meeting someone from FBMP.
18. Strive for a Good Rating
Strive for a good rating, rate buyers, and keep your listings organized (mark them as sold, pending, etc). Once you’re done with the transaction, let your buyer know you’ll leave them a good rating, then ask them to please do the same in return. Many people don’t have the time to leave ratings, but sometimes it simply takes asking them to do so.
19. Post Items Strategically
Don’t post all of your items all at once… stagger your listings so they appear in the feed evenly and you aren’t bombarded with messages all at once. This will also keep your seller profile relevant and active.
20. Accept Deposits
My last tip is to accept deposits. Often, people will ask if they can Venmo (or sent partial or full payment) to hold an item. If the conversation and communication is going well, I almost always say yes to this- which 100% of the time has resulted in a sale.
FAQ
I once had a couple ask to return something a few days after they purchased it. They didn’t measure and it did not fit their space. I had already moved the deposit from my bank account, so I apologetically said I’m sorry, but no.
I also had someone pull my images from Facebook marketplace to use for their own listing- which I had to report. Other than that, no weird experiences!
Emmett sold our old gas grill (since we’re installing the new outdoor kitchen), and I just sold our previous kitchen cart (since we just replaced it with the new kitchen island). Yes- we have two separate FBMP accounts and I have the better rating, ha!
Related
If you’re more interested in the buying side of Facebook Marketplace, definitely check out the following posts to help hone and dial your algorithm! You can score some seriously beautiful (and budget friendly) designer furniture, decor, antiques, and fixtures. I’ll link the cities I’ve covered below…
- Facebook Marketplace Finds : New York City
- Facebook Marketplace Finds : Baltimore, MD
- Facebook Marketplace Finds : Charleston, SC
- Facebook Marketplace Finds : Philadelphia, PA
- Facebook Marketplace Finds : Park City, UT
- Facebook Marketplace Finds : Kansas City, MO
- Facebook Marketplace Finds : Indianapolis, IN
- Facebook Marketplace Finds : Detroit, MI
- Facebook Marketplace Finds : Roanoke, VI
- Facebook Marketplace Finds : Dayton, OH
- Facebook Marketplace Finds : Minneapolis, MN
- Facebook Marketplace Finds : Raleigh, NC
- Facebook Marketplace Finds : Salt Lake City, UT
- Facebook Marketplace Finds : Seattle, WA
- Facebook Marketplace Finds : Sante Fe, NM
- Facebook Marketplace Finds : Boston, MA
- Facebook Marketplace Finds : St. Louis, MO
- Facebook Marketplace Finds : Atlanta, GA
- Facebook Marketplace Finds : Boise, ID
- Facebook Marketplace Finds : Washington DC
- Facebook Marketplace Finds : Portland, OR
- Facebook Marketplace Finds : Nashville, TN
- Facebook Marketplace Finds : Riverside, CA
- Facebook Marketplace Finds : Phoenix, AZ
- Facebook Marketplace Finds : Louisville, KY
- Facebook Marketplace Finds : Dallas, TX
- Facebook Marketplace Finds : Chicago, IL
- Facebook Marketplace Finds : Denver, CO
- Facebook Marketplace Finds : Columbus, OH
I hope this post was helpful or offers some good reminders if you’re planning to sell some of your things on Facebook Marketplace. Feel free to leave any questions for me in the comment section below! Once I’m feeling better, I actually have it on my to-do list to add more items to my own FBMP. It seems we have quite a bit to get rid of this season. Anyone else? I hope you’re having a good week!