Facebook Marketplace : A Guide to Sell on Facebook
Facebook announced a new feature that allows a user to sell or buy items with other people in their locality. The marketplace is Facebook’s expansion into the market to compete with ecommerce services like eBay etc. Facebook users who already have an account can access the marketplace. They don’t have to download another app to access it like on other platforms.
In this article, we will completely dig into Facebook Marketplace completely. You will get complete information about the Facebook marketplace.
What is Facebook Marketplace?
On October 3rd, 2016, Facebook announced a marketplace called Facebook Marketplace. It is a digital market that allows users to sell or buy trader items in localized areas. It offers a complete shop-like feature that directs users to shop and enhances users’ experience.
Who Can Sell On Facebook Marketplace?
Everybody, whether they have new or used items to sell, is welcome on Facebook Marketplace. It is also intended for e-commerce companies, business owners, vendors, artisans who create things by hand, the fashion industry, real estate, etc.
The marketplaces on Amazon and eBay are comparable to this feature. The listing of your products or services on Facebook is, however, free in this instance. After shipping the item, you will be charged 5% of the product’s price after a customer orders it.
Restricted Products on Facebook Marketplace
All the items which you are selling on Facebook should follow Facebook commerce policies. Facebook commerce policies apply to Marketplace, shop page, Buying & Selling group and Instagram shop .
There are certain things that you can’t sell on the Marketplace. I strongly urge you not to do so.
1. Virtual Products: Products that are not physical can’t be sold on the marketplace. Example: Software, News, Posts etc.
Services: Marketplace won’t allow you to sell services. For example: courier services, house cleaning services, business services etc.
Healthcare products: You can’t sell healthcare products like thermometer, first aid kit etc.
Animal Selling: Selling animals isn’t allowed on Facebook marketplace or any buying or selling group. Example posting image for animal adoption.
2. Adult product: Adult products may not be advertised, sold, or used in listings.
3. Alcohol : Facebook Marketplace won’t allow buying and selling of alcohol.
4. Human exploitation or exploitation: Marketplace won’t promote listings containing human exploitation or exploitation like, human trafficking, escort, prostitution etc.
5. Tobacco Products: Listing of tobacco products is strictly prohibited on Facebook marketplace.
6. Weapons & explosives: You can’t sell weapons and explosive items on Facebook marketplace
Products You can sell on Facebook Marketplace
1. Clothing & Accessories
2. Property sales or rent
3. Vehicles
4. Electronics
5. Musical Instruments
6. Toys & Goods
7. Garden & outdoors
8. Home improvement
Advantages of using Facebook Marketplace
With over 2.7 billion monthly users, of which 1 billion are also active Marketplace users, Facebook offers tremendous marketing potential. Since it gives them access to a large global audience, this is an additional benefit for small businesses. Let’s go over a few benefits of utilizing Facebook shop
1. Access to variety of marketing tools
The Facebook offers a variety of tools to businesses using the platform. The vendor selling feature serves as an illustration of this. Business owners can also use chatbots to answer frequently asked questions or advertising automation tools to generate automated responses to user inquiries.
2. Facilitating direct sales to potential customers
Through Facebook Messenger, it enables companies to engage in one-on-one communication and direct sales to customers. Direct communication with you enables you to instantly respond to potential clients’ questions. By doing this, you can inform them about the product before they become disinterested. Additionally, it encourages buyers to feel confident and at ease when making decisions.
3. Accepting a range of payment options
Marketplace sales transactions are not handled by Facebook. As a result, companies are free to accept any form of payment, including those from Shopify, PayPal, and bank transfers. Payments can also be made in cash, and it is recommended.
4. Enabling free listing of products and increasing sales
Use of Facebook is independent for all companies to list products and manage inventory. Listing your products in literally minutes can streamline the conversion funnel and increase sales. Add your Marketplace directly to the Facebook shop of users who already have one. Conversions will increase even more as a result.
Quick Checklist to selling On Facebook
1. Visit Facebook Marketplace
On desktop, it is in the left sidebar; on mobile, it is the “shop front” icon.
2. Create Listing
By selecting “sell something,” you can list your item with pictures, a description, a price, your location, and whether you offer shipping.
3. Optimize your listing
You should add relevant product tags, a price, and key terms you think people will search for. Ensure your listing meets Facebook’s commerce requirements. For example, Alcohol and animals are prohibited.
4. Quickly respond to customer messages
Make sure you respond to questions and requests as quickly as possible if you want to make a sale.
Final Words
You can expand your e-commerce company quickly, easily, and affordably this way. Users can find new customers with access to Facebook’s enormous reach without using a sizable platform or shelling out cash. All you have to do is take the plunge and post your inescapable offer to the platform, heed my advice for increasing sales, and watch the cash flow.