Selling things online is easier than ever, and one of the best free tools available is Facebook Marketplace. Whether you're looking to sell second-hand clothes, furniture, electronics, or even handmade products, Facebook Marketplace is a great place to reach local buyers quickly.
To help you get started, we’ll show you everything you need to know about selling on Facebook Marketplace. From picking what to sell, to making your listings, and sharing easy tips to help you sell better e’ll guide you step by step.
How Does Facebook Marketplace Work?
Facebook Marketplace is very easy to use, even if you are just starting out. It’s just like sharing a post or photo on Facebook. You can list something you want to sell using your personal or business account.
All you need to do is add some details like what you’re selling, the price, and where you are. Once you post it, Facebook will show your item to people near your location.
People can look at your item and send you a message if they’re interested. If you both agree, you can plan how they will get the item either by meeting up or arranging delivery.
Is Facebook Marketplace Right for You?
If you’re new to selling online, Facebook Marketplace can be a great and easy place to start. But before you spend time on it, think about a few things to see if it fits your business needs:
1. Your Audience:
Facebook Marketplace is great if you want to sell to local people. But first, check if your target buyers use Facebook. Most active users are between 35 and 44 years old. If you’re selling to younger people (like Gen-Z), Facebook might not be the best choice.
2. What You’re Selling:
You can sell many types of items on Facebook Marketplace like clothes, electronics, or furniture. If you’re selling special or one-of-a-kind products, Facebook can be a good option because people like finding unique things there.
3. What You Need to Start:
You only need a Facebook account to begin selling. If you have a business in the U.S., you can also manage your sales using Facebook's Commerce Manager. Just make sure to follow Facebook’s selling rules so your account doesn’t get blocked.
4. Fees:
Before, local sales were free, and Facebook charged 5% for shipped items. Now, they charge a small fee (between 2.9% and 3.49%) for payment processing on all orders.
If all of this sounds good to you, let’s move on to how to list and sell your products on Facebook Marketplace!
How to Sell Items on Facebook Marketplace
1. Set Up a Facebook Marketplace Account
To get started, log into your personal Facebook account and click on the Marketplace icon. If you don’t see it right away, click on “See More” in the menu to find it. Once you’re in, you can start creating your first item listing.
If you want a more advanced online store, you can also create a Facebook Shop. For this, you’ll need a Facebook business page. A Facebook Shop gives you your own online store that you can design and manage. You can sell your products through:
- Facebook Marketplace
- Your Facebook Shop
- Your own website (if you have one)
Typof makes it easy to create product listings and handle orders across different selling platforms.
2. Create a Good Listing
To get buyers interested, you need to create a listing that stands out. Here’s how to do it:
First, go to Marketplace from the left-hand side of your Facebook homepage. Then click “Create new listing.”
You’ll need to choose one of these options:
- Item for Sale
- Vehicle for Sale
- Property for Sale or Rent
Next, you’ll fill in the details about what you’re selling. Make sure to:
- Write a clear and short title
- Add a simple description that tells people what the item is
- Use keywords that buyers might search for (like “wooden table,” “used laptop,” etc.)
Tip: Try searching for similar items and see which listings show up first. Use similar words in your title and description to help more people find your listing.
Also, upload clear photos or videos of your item. Good pictures help your item look more trustworthy and attract more buyers.
3. Choose a Delivery Method
Before you post your item, you need to pick how you’ll give the item to the buyer. You have three options:
- Shipping only: You send the item by mail to the buyer within 10 business days. If the buyer pays through Facebook, the purchase may be protected by Facebook’s Purchase Protection.
- Local pick-up only: The buyer will come to you and pick up the item. You can also meet at your store or another safe place.
- Shipping and local pick-up: You give the buyer both options, and they can choose what works best for them.
4. Promote Your Listings
Just posting your item on Facebook Marketplace doesn’t mean everyone will see it. To get more views and sell faster, you can promote your listings in a few simple ways:
- Join local groups: Use Facebook’s “Groups” feature to find local buy-and-sell groups. Many people in these groups are looking for good deals. Join groups that match what you're selling.
- Share on other platforms: Post your listings on your other social media accounts, like Instagram. This helps more people see what you're selling.
- Use Facebook Ads: You can pay to run ads that show your products to more people on Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and other Meta apps. If you use Typof, you can run these ads directly from your website dashboard.
5. Talk to Buyers and Complete the Sale
Good communication helps you sell your item easily. Use Facebook Messenger to chat with buyers. You can:
- Answer their questions
- Discuss the price
- Plan how they will get the item (pick-up or delivery)
Payment options depend on how you sell:
- For in-person sales, the buyer can pay you with cash or any method you both agree on.
- For online sales, you can let buyers pay with credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, or Meta Pay by using Facebook's checkout option.
Boost Your Listings with Facebook Ads
One of the best ways to get more people to see your product is by using Facebook Ads. These ads can bring more people to your Marketplace listing or even your website.
If you know who your ideal customer is, you can target your ads to reach the right people based on things like their location, interests, and age.
Facebook Ads are also a low-cost way to advertise and can give you good results, better than many other social media platforms. If you’re using platforms like Typof, you can easily run and manage your Facebook Ads from your dashboard.
But be careful—if your ads are not well-made, they might not bring good results. Here’s how to make your ads better:
- Use a clear call-to-action (CTA): Tell people what to do next (like “Shop Now” or “Learn More”). A good CTA makes people more likely to click.
- Show and explain your product: Make sure the ad clearly says what you're selling and why it’s a good choice.
- Check for mistakes: Spelling or grammar errors can turn buyers away. Use tools like Grammarly to check your ad text before posting.
Benefits of Selling on Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace has many benefits, which is why so many people use it to sell items, make extra money, or clear out old stuff. Here are some of the main advantages:
- Big audience: Facebook has over 2.9 billion users, so lots of people can see your listings.
- Local buyers: Marketplace shows your items to people nearby, making it easy to find local buyers.
- Free to use: It’s free to list your items, so you keep more of the money you make.
- Easy messaging: You can chat directly with buyers using Facebook Messenger to answer questions and plan the sale.
- Simple process: Selling is easy—you can meet the buyer in person and get paid directly.
- Sell anything: You can sell many types of products like clothes, electronics, furniture, vehicles, and more.
- Trusted platform: People trust Facebook, so they feel safer buying from it.
- Use your phone: You can manage your listings and talk to buyers anytime with the Facebook app.
- Connect with your community: You can meet and build trust with people in your area.
- Good for the planet: Selling used items helps reduce waste and supports reuse.