How to sell on Facebook Marketplace

The majority of people do not know that they are sitting on hundreds or thousands of pounds worth of stuff. I mean literally sitting on a gold mine. Yep, I am talking about stuff such as clothes, toys, household items, shoes, bags, furniture and more. All this stuff is either in the attic, basement or closets collecting dust.

It’s time to declutter your home and make money at the same time. Guess which is the best place to sell this stuff, Facebook. Facebook has more than 2.8 billion active users. Of these, 800 million people use the Facebook Marketplace and Groups to sell stuff they don’t need.

Want to know how to sell your unwanted belongings on Facebook?

Keep reading!

1. Benefits of Selling Stuff on Facebook

There are several benefits of selling your clutter on Facebook.

Personalised Experience

Facebook Groups and Marketplace list products relevant to consumers. This helps you find the right customers. It also ensures that the right audience also sees your stuff. For example, if you’re selling pre-loved baby clothes or toys, you can find other moms willing to buy your stuff in less than 24 hours. Basically, Facebook puts your posts in people’s faces increasing the likelihood of a purchase.

Extended Reach

People from more than 70 countries worldwide use Facebook Marketplace and groups to sell their clutter. In fact, two out of every seven people in the world use this platform to sell their unwanted stuff. That is more than half the world’s online population. Of the total population of the UK, 66% are Facebook users. Thanks to the extended reach, you can sell your stuff quickly.

Saves You Postage

When you sell your unwanted stuff on Facebook, you don’t have to ship it to the buyer. You can arrange a pickup location and time. The buyer will arrive to collect the stuff while handing cash to you. Besides, Facebook does not take a cut of the profits for listing your unwanted things on its platform. This means more money in your pocket.

Helps You Build a Rapport With the Local Community

The majority of the buyers will come from your local area. Since Facebook does not verify the items on sale, the whole process is primarily built on trust. By selling stuff on Facebook, you create a good rapport with the local community. A good relationship builds trust. The more connections you make with the local community, the more interactions with your customers and the more stuff you sell.

Posting Takes a Few Minutes

Posting on Facebook takes a few steps. Simply take a photo of the item(s) and upload it to Facebook. Enter the product description and price. Confirm your category and location, and post. That’s it.

You can do this on your laptop, PC, smartphone or tablet. You can enter the Facebook Marketplace from a new button located on the centre bottom of the app on your smartphone or tablet.

2. How To Join Facebook Buy and Sell Groups

Facebook Buy and Sell Groups offer an excellent opportunity to connect with buyers and sell your unwanted stuff. You can find a local Buy and Sell Group with members from your neighbourhood and/or the next community.

There are two ways of joining Buy and Sell Groups on Facebook. In method one, sign in to your Facebook account, then look for Buy and Sell groups link.

This link is usually located on the left side menu. Once you do so, the site will redirect you to a Buy and Sell Groups home page. The page will display a few of the local groups. Click the “Join Group” button next to the group’s links to join groups that appeal to you.

In the second method, type in relevant keywords in the Facebook search bar. For example, “buy-sell baby and kids stuff, London buy, sell, trade or sell free stuff. Head to the Groups tab and filter by closed groups. Closed groups give you more privacy. Click “Join” then answer a few questions that the admin usually asks. After a couple of hours, the admin will approve your request.

Once the admin accepts you into the buy and sell group, read the group rules on how sales must proceed. Now you are ready to sell your unwanted stuff on Facebook buy and sell groups.

3. How to Protect Yourself on Facebook

Before uploading anything on Facebook Buy and Sell Groups, or the Marketplace, protect yourself. Here is how to protect yourself on Facebook.

Always Make the Exchange at the Same Time

Never allow a buyer to pick an item and make payment later. If the buyer tells you that they’ll pay you when they get their paycheck or tax return, they will never pay. Your best bet is to exchange the items and money at the same time. Always pick a location and time to exchange the items for cash.

For example, you can meet in police station parking lots in the clear view of security cameras. Alternatively, meet in public places such as parks and restaurants.

Use Online Payment Methods

Facebook supports payments via PayPal. This allows you to accept secure person to person payments from buyers if using Facebook Marketplace. Never allow buyers to transfer money into your bank account directly. Also, avoid certified or cashier cheques as they can be counterfeited. Transactions should be between the buyer and seller. No third parties.

Protect Your Privacy

Never share your financial information, such as bank account information on Facebook. This also includes personal information. Never respond to emails or messages that ask you to provide account information such as your Facebook email and password.

Facebook does not request its users to provide their passwords. If selling electronics such as smartphones or laptops, clear any personal files and information from the device. For example, photos, documents, web history, etc.

Beware of Gift Card Scams

You may come across buyers that choose to pay using gift cards from popular marketplaces such as Amazon. If you meet a buyer requesting you to accept gift cards instead of cash or PayPal transfer, do not accept.

Make Your Facebook Account Private

While buying and selling on Facebook is always based on trust, it’s crucial to protect your Facebook account. By making it private, you allow family and accepted friends to view your profile.

Learn How To Make Your Facebook Account Private.

4. Tips For Successfully Selling Unwanted Stuff on Facebook

The following are tips to sell unwanted stuff on Facebook successfully.

Take Quality Photos

When selling anything online, photos are incredibly important. Why you may ask. A quality product image creates the best first impression on the buyer. Second, a quality photo enhances the product description making it appealing to potential buyers. Third, a quality image allows potential customers to zoom in. By doing so, the buyers have an idea if the item(s) suits their use.

To take quality product images, follow these guidelines:

• Use natural lighting
• Select a neutral background such as a wall or floor colour
• Frame the items (Ensure there is adequate blank space around the image to act as a border)
• Use your camera’s settings wisely (increase exposure, saturation and brightness).

A neutral or plain background allows your images to pop and eliminates any visual noise. Also, photos with a plain background sell quickly.

Give Your Post a Catchy Title

Always use a catchy title for your Facebook posts. A catchy title is clear and quickly conveys what you’re selling. It also allows customers to single out your product from among hundreds of competing products found through search. This is because a catchy title contains relevant keywords used by search engines to let online users find your products.

If you use a catchy title, you increase the potential of making a sale. Facebook search will use your title to list your item in the right product category. Here is an example of a well-crafted title:

“Apollo Boogie Junior Girls Triathlon Bike Made in UK red metal frame.”

This title contains the brand name (Apollo Boogie), age group (junior), gender (girls), what it is ( a triathlon bike) and other important specs. So, put a lot of effort into writing an excellent title. Remember, always include colour, gender, condition, material, size, brand name, model name and others.

Write a Search Engine Friendly Description

Like your title, the product description needs to be search engine friendly. It should also be short and sweet. We recommend one or two sentences to let your potential buyers know what you’re selling. In the description, include types of payments you’re willing to accept, such as cash.

Include the location and how the exchange will take place. It is essential to be honest with potential buyers by letting them know of any issues with the items. This helps to avoid future confrontations and bad reviews.

Keep Your Prices Reasonable

If you price your items too high, you’ll never sell them. Most of your items are not worth the original price, even those made by popular designers. To sell your stuff quickly, price the items for sale about a third of their original price when new. It would be best if you were flexible about your pricing too. Be willing to adjust your prices.

Follow the Group Rules

Every Buy and Sell Group on Facebook has rules. Follow these rules when listing your items for sale. The rules usually govern the types of items you can sell, how to post your ads, how to choose buyers and more. If you fail to follow the rules, the admin will ban you from the group.

Facebook Selling Etiquette

When writing the title and product description, avoid typos. You should also write the title and description in one language only. Use of multiple languages may put your products in the wrong category. If this happens, it will be difficult for potential buyers to find them.

You should always message your potential buyers. They will send you a personal message on Facebook inquiring about the product, price and other details. When you agree with the buyer, choose a collection time and location. If the buyer does not confirm, you can offer the items to the next person in line.

Remember, not everything will sell immediately. Sometimes it may take a couple of weeks or even a month. Be willing to adjust the price(s).

Avoid the following:

• Do not upload blurred or poorly lit photos
• Do not use too many acronyms
• Do not use special and punctuation characters
• Never use profanity, including in your email, website address, title or product description
• Do not use misleading or false statements or details

Final Thoughts

When selling on Facebook Buy and Sell Groups, the rule is first come, first serve. You have to give interested buyers 24 hours to close the deal before moving to the next buyer. In your product description, be honest.

If your item(s) has stains, tears and other issues, let your potential buyers know that upfront. This prevents any future confrontations. Lastly, always be safe when doing business online. Rather than inviting the buyer to your home, meet in a public place like the car park of a police station.