As more and more shoppers turn to the internet for their purchasing needs, many are turning to Facebook Marketplace. What makes Facebook Marketplace an attractive platform for sellers?
When Facebook Marketplace launched in 2016, many users weren’t sure what to think about it. Suddenly, users were being offered used furniture and cheap apartments for rent - on the same platform they used to browse pictures of their newborn niece.
On it's surface, Facebook Marketplace looks just like any other 2nd-hand online retailer like Craigslist or Ebay. A place where everyday people can list their used or unwanted goods to other locals in their area.
At first glace, creating just another digital market seems redundant. There are just so many other dominant platforms that could fill that need already - so why develop Facebook Marketplace?
Having access to a vast network of other people in your community can be a boon for your selling efforts.
While Facebook Marketplace does not offer users the ability to process payments or authorize transactions, the service does enable interested buyers to get in touch with the seller. Getting more eyes on a listing can help decrease the time it takes for sellers to turn a profit.
Before starting to list goods on Facebook Marketplace, consider the following elements that make up a listing. Having a clear idea of what requirements will be expected before posting will cut down on the time it takes to list and eventually sell an item.
The very first thing you need to do to get started is create a listing. Navigate to the main menu of your Facebook app or web browser, and select “Facebook Marketplace”.
Facebook then divides their categories up into four listing types: vehicles, homes for sale or rent, jobs, and items. To upload your listing, you’ll need the following:
From there, simply click “Next” and “Publish”, and your listing will be posted.
Familiarizing oneself with Facebook’s rules can help to relieve stress and confusion later on in the selling process. Find more information on the Facebook Marketplace Commerce Policies here.
Products that do not have a physical form are not allowed to be sold on Facebook Marketplace. This includes:
No matter what you’re selling, make sure you include a properly fitting title and description for your listing.
As Facebook Marketplace is strictly for commerce, users are prohibited from posting about job listings or work. Instead, users must create a Facebook Businesses page in order to post job listings on the platform.
Any listing on Facebook Marketplace must not be used to promote the sale of false or counterfeit goods. This includes prohibiting the copying of another person's protected products, services, or branding.
The reason why Facebook Marketplace has become such a popular platform for ecommerce is simple: everyone has a Facebook account. The ease at which Facebook users unfamiliar with Marketplace are able to start listing their goods on the platform is unrivaled by any other digital storefront.
Businesses of all shapes and sizes have utilized Facebook Marketplace to capture a wider range of audiences that would otherwise be inaccessible to them. Building up one’s brand on social media channels is one of the most common ways modern merchants look to engage with their customers and build up their trust. Naturally, these practices eventually extended to selling directly on Facebook Marketplace.
Selling on Facebook also provides access to Facebook’s demographic segments. Running advertisements to target specific buyers - along with developing an online presence that matches their tastes - enables users to better match their products and services with the ideal buyer.
The benefits of using Facebook Marketplace over other traditional e-commerce platforms include:
The cons of Facebook Marketplace are:
Ultimately, using Facebook Marketplace can only help strengthen a seller’s odds of finding the right buyer. The platform is free, easy to use, and gives the average seller access to large numbers of local e-commerce shoppers.
As more and more shoppers turn to the internet for their purchasing needs, Facebook Marketplace will continue to grow and evolve with them; thereby only becoming a more attractive selling option.
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