How to sell on Facebook marketplace for beginners 2024/25

Are you interested in learning how to sell on Facebook Marketplace but are unsure where to begin, you’re not alone. Countless small business owners are in the same boat because they are aware of how beneficial it is to sell items on Facebook—it’s a multi-billion dollar platform.

To give you some insight, Facebook is the biggest social networking platform worldwide, with over three billion monthly users. So, not only do you have access to the largest audience available for your marketing campaign, but it’s also one of the most effective online advertising and selling tools.

If you’ve been thinking about elevating your business venture by selling on social media, there’s no better place to start than here. Without further ado, let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of how to sell on Facebook Marketplace as a business in 2024/5.

Index

• What is Facebook Marketplace?
• Why sell on Facebook Marketplace?
• Benefits vs. drawbacks of selling on Facebook Marketplace
• How to set up Facebook Marketplace – A deep dive
• How does Facebook Marketplace differ from other social selling platforms?
• Facebook Marketplace rules
• Tips for selling on Facebook Marketplace
• Frequently asked questions: How to sell stuff on Facebook
• Final thoughts on how to sell on Facebook Marketplace

What is Facebook Marketplace?

If you’ve ever had a Facebook profile in recent years, you must have heard of this online marketplace that everyone’s been raving about. From Facebook: “Marketplace is a destination on Facebook where people can discover, buy, and sell items. People can browse listings, search for items for sale in their area, or find products available for shipping.”

So, as you can tell, the platform is not just a means to connect with loved ones or remember your friends’ birthdays—it’s also an online store. And a very efficient one at that. Facebook Marketplace uses your location to generate a list of goods, from cars to couches, that are available for sale near you.

What’s more, you can also list items that you’d like to sell to local buyers. It’s a win-win for small-business owners and consumers looking for unique, locally made or second-hand items.

How does Facebook Marketplace work?

Think of Facebook Marketplace as a giant online store where anyone can buy and sell almost any physical product. It’s simple to use, whether you’re selling your old furniture or searching for a second-hand laptop. You can get more information on this page, below we give a snapshot.

Here’s how the Marketplace works for sellers:

1. Create a listing: You start by adding photos, a description, and the price of the item you want to sell. Don’t forget to set your location so people nearby can find your product.
2. Connect with buyers: When someone is interested, they’ll send you a message via Facebook Messenger. This is where you can answer questions or negotiate the price.
3. Close the deal: Once you and the buyer agree, you arrange a meet-up or shipping. You can offer cash on delivery or use other payment methods like EFT or apps like Netcash.
4. Update your listing: If the item sells, mark it as sold. If it hasn’t sold, you can always update the price, offer a discount, or relist it later with updated details.

Pro Tip: The more details you add (like size, condition, or additional photos), the more likely you are to attract the right buyer.

Why sell on Facebook Marketplace?

There’s a reason why Facebook Marketplace consistently tops the list of best online-selling platforms. It’s one of the quickest and easiest ways for beginners to start selling online in South Africa. It allows you to sell directly to your customers and within your local community.

If you’re worried about making money on Facebook Marketplace, here’s something to ease your concerns: In 2021, the total value of products sold on this platform reached $98 billion. So, investing in Facebook Marketplace is a crucial step in advertising and selling your products.

Regarding marketing, social media is the best option for small start-up businesses that want to create ad campaigns and reach wider audiences without breaking the bank. Thanks to Facebook Marketplace, any start-up, small company, or brand can grow its business.

More on this later.

Benefits vs. drawbacks of selling on Facebook Marketplace

Let’s look at some advantages and disadvantages of selling on Facebook Marketplace.

Benefits

• Access to the large Facebook audience. It’s no shocker that this would be one of the first benefits mentioned since an extensive audience means more potential customers. When users discover your account and shop, they’ll also share it with their peers.
• Your Facebook page can earn you trust. One of the most essential elements of online selling is trust between the buyer and seller. A well-polished, highly rated, and interactive Facebook page can help sway interested shoppers to trust your business. Potential customers can see the effort you’ve put into your page, such as posting consistently and engaging with users in the comments. This shows the customer that you care about their needs and your business.

You can sell various items. Facebook Marketplace has grown exponentially, so it makes sense that business owners would want to sell more products. This is possible through a Business Page that helps you build and establish your brand on the platform. As long as an audience or a need exists, you can sell whatever solution you have

• You can start a Facebook group to better engage with your audience. Engagement keeps any small business active and buzzworthy—but it can also help you build solid relationships with your customers. These groups give you the tools to create an interactive community among existing and potential customers. This is how you can promote new products, discuss certain things you’d like them to know, and learn more about what your target audience expects or desires from your business.
• Facebook Marketplace is cost-effective. A sense of relief should be washing over you right now. As any new small business owner, the last thing you want is to spend a ton of money on marketing when you have a free yet effective option such as this. There are no costs linked to listing and publishing your items.
• Facebook helps you determine your target audience. When shopping on Facebook Marketplace, consumers will be exposed to products based on their location, interest, and search history. Facebook will automatically help you find your target audience according to geography and interests.

Drawbacks

• While Facebook Marketplace is free, you do need to organise and pay for your own payment collection. The only thing you may have to pay for is your payment collection method, as the app does not offer integrated payment methods. For your payment collection, you can choose between cash, EFT, or an online payment gateway.
• Facebook has yet to offer any delivery options. Due to this little drawback, you must choose and manage how to deliver your products. One of the most economical and time-efficient options is utilising a courier company, or services like PUDO drop boxes and store-to-store delivery, like PAXI by PEP. Otherwise, you can drop your products off personally if you’re delivering close by. Collection is also an option.
• Like any other shopping platform, Facebook Marketplace has some security concerns. These include the risk of fraud or scams cooked up by dishonest sellers looking to make a quick buck. As a seller, you have to put in the effort to make your customers feel secure, like communicating effectively and responding rapidly.
• Facebook Marketplace does not have the best quality control. Sellers are not subjected to qualifications or checks to ensure their products meet a certain standard, which allows some sellers to produce disappointing products for their shoppers.

How to set up a Facebook Marketplace account — A deep dive

As you can see, there are way more benefits to using Facebook Marketplace for your small business than not. It’s free to use, and your only costs will be delivery and payment collection – so what’s holding you back?

Right, you’re not quite sure how to set it up. If this is the case, the following section will give you the insight you need to start. This is a beginner’s guide, so we’ll cover this process step-by-step.

Step 1: Set up your account on Facebook Marketplace and check compliance

If you already have a personal Facebook account, you’ll automatically have access to its Marketplace. You’ll find the “Marketplace” tab on the left-hand side of your homepage.

If you don’t already have a Facebook account, you can start by going to Facebook.com and clicking “Create New Account”. Fill in all your details, such as name, birthday day, and more, then select “sign up”. After that, your account should be set up and ready.

But you’re not done yet. Before moving on to the next step, make sure your Facebook account is compliant with the platform’s Terms of Service, Commercial Terms, and Community Standards. Facebook has a comprehensive guide for this. You can learn more about that here.

Step 2: Create a Facebook Business Page

This step is crucial, as you don’t want to promote your business and sell goods from a personal account. Having a professional-looking business page ensures that you can access budget-friendly advertising tools, extensive free marketing opportunities, and a way for customers to find and follow your small business.

Step 3: Set up checkout on Facebook

Now that your Facebook Business Page is set up, you can change your checkout method on Facebook’s Commerce Manager.

Before you begin, ensure you have an active shop and commerce account. Look at these commerce account permissions and the eligibility requirements for your preferred checkout method to ensure you meet Facebook’s standards for selling.

Here’s how you can change your checkout method:

1. Go to “Commerce Manager” and choose your shop.
2. Click “Settings” on the left-hand menu.
3. Choose “Checkout Method” and find the one you want to update, then click the gear wheel icon.
4. You’ll now see details about each checkout method in the dropdown.
5. Click “Change” on the top-right corner.
6. Follow the steps and provide all the necessary information about your business to help set up your shipping, customer service, and payout preferences.
7. Click “Confirm”.

Step 4: Link your Facebook Business Page to your Instagram Business Account

Linking your Facebook and Instagram accounts will help you reach more potential customers and boost engagement and sales. If you’re also interested in selling on Instagram, you can link to your Facebook page to benefit from all its marketing tools and traffic.

These two platforms generated over five billion active monthly users, so why not combine them to grow your small business?

If you’re linking to Instagram from Facebook, you can follow these steps:

1. Log into Facebook and click “Pages” on the left-hand side of the homepage.
2. Select “Your Facebook Page” and click “Settings”.
3. Choose “Linked accounts” in the left column.
4. Select “Instagram” and start syncing your accounts.

Step 5: Figure out what to sell on Facebook Marketplace

What you decide to sell on Facebook ultimately depends on your brand, business ideals, advertising objectives, and target audience.

However, here’s a list of a few items that sell quickly on Facebook if you’re looking to start a small business:

• Fashion Apparel
• Electronics
• Mobile & Accessories
• Furniture & Home Decor
• Property Rentals
• Vehicles
• Books
• Health & Wellness Products
• Baby Care Products
• Toys & Games
• Seasonal Goods (e.g., holiday-based items like Halloween or Christmas)
• Sports Supplies & Fitness Equipment
• Pet Supplies
• Office Supplies
• Garden & Outdoor Items

While these might be some of the top-selling products on Facebook Marketplace, they aren’t your only options. It doesn’t matter what you’re selling if there’s a need for it. As for already established businesses, be sure to add a product category on Facebook Marketplace.

Step 6: Start selling items on Facebook

Now that your page and shop are set up, you can start selling on Facebook Marketplace. Listing items on Facebook Marketplace is pretty straightforward, and you can do this from your phone or desktop.

Here’s how to add your product to Facebook Marketplace:

1. Once you’ve clicked “Marketplace” on the left-hand side of your Facebook Homepage, you’ll click “Create new listing”.
2. Next, select “Choose your listing type” and choose either “Item for Sale,” “Vehicle for Sale,” “Home for Sale or Rent,” or “Create Multiple Listings.” This will depend on the product or service you’re offering.
3. After that, you’ll fill in all your product details and add high-quality images.

Step 7: Optimise your listing

You can start optimising your listing to improve your SEO and increase the chances of your listing showing up when a customer searches for it (or similar products). The more visible your products are to customers, the more likely they are to click on them and potentially make a purchase.

The first things you’d want to optimise are your product’s title and description, ensuring you include the most relevant keywords. Including more detailed information and keywords will improve the chances of customers seeing your product. It also helps to add plenty of related product tags since these act as additional search terms that couldn’t fit the title or description.

Step 8: Advertise your products on Facebook Marketplace

You’ll need to take it a step further by learning how to advertise on Marketplace because listing items alone isn’t enough to give you the desired results. Invest in Marketplace ads—these are paid ads that pop up when people shop on Facebook Marketplace.

Here’s how to create an ad for Marketplace:

1. Locate “Ads Manager”, choose your ad objective, and click “Continue”.
2. Choose a destination and define your target audience.
3. Choose either “Automatic Placements” or “Edit Placements”. We recommend automatic placement ads as these can also appear on other compatible placements on Facebook, Audience Network, Instagram, and Messenger.
4. Set your Budget and Schedule.
5. Choose a creative format for your ad.
6. Set up your ad and click on “Place Order”.

How to sell on Facebook Marketplace locally in South Africa

Selling locally on Facebook Marketplace is straightforward and ideal for connecting with buyers nearby. By selling on Facebook Marketplace to locals only, you’ll have the advantage of being in the same time zone as buyers, allowing quick responses to queries and cheaper delivery costs.

Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Set your location: Update your Marketplace location to ensure your products are visible to buyers in your area.
2. List locally in relevant categories: Categories such as Furniture, Electronics, and Clothing perform well in South Africa.
3. Use local delivery or meet-ups: Offer delivery services through courier companies like Fastway Couriers or arrange safe meet-ups in public places.
4. Optimise product descriptions: Include local keywords such as city names or “same-day delivery.”
5. Accept local payments: Use options like cash, EFT, or payment gateway service providers like Netcash.

How to sell internationally on Facebook Marketplace from South Africa

If you’re looking to expand your reach beyond South Africa, Facebook Marketplace offers opportunities to connect with international buyers. There’s a comprehensive guide you can follow, but we’ll give you a snapshot look at how you can start selling your products internationally.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Update your shipping settings: Enable shipping to regions outside South Africa. Some third-party logistics providers like DHL or Aramex offer international shipping solutions.
2. Price competitively: Factor in shipping costs and foreign currency conversions to remain attractive to international customers.
3. Highlight delivery timelines: Set realistic delivery expectations based on the shipping provider you choose.
4. Choose secure payment methods: Consider payment platforms that support international transactions, such as PayPal or Wise.
5. Research export restrictions: Ensure your products comply with South African export laws and regulations for the destination country.

Pro Tip: Use tools like Google Translate to communicate with international buyers, and mention your ability to ship globally in your product listings to increase visibility.

How does Facebook Marketplace differ from other social selling platforms?

Facebook allows sellers to advertise their products without getting involved in price and shipping processes between vendors and shoppers. You can sell the same products you would on most other social platforms as long as there’s a target audience for it.

The only difference could be in the prominent audience that uses each app. For example, Pinterest appeals more to mature women, YouTube has a bigger male audience, TikTok caters more to a teen audience, and so on.

Facebook Marketplace is ideal for beginners who want to sell locally since the platform doesn’t provide delivery and payment solutions. This is also the case for Instagram, Pinterest, and WhatsApp Businesses. You can link these platforms with payment getaways and deliver through courier services or personally, if it’s not too far.

We’ll be covering the Facebook Marketplace rules for selling in this guide, but you can check the terms and conditions of any social platform on their official website. The risks of selling on social media, regardless of the app, include not being able to control messaging about your business, damage to its reputation, and cyber attacks.

Facebook Marketplace rules

Before creating a Facebook Page, ensure that the physical goods you want to sell comply with Facebook’s merchant agreement and commerce policies. As long as you meet these requirements, you can sell just about anything on the Marketplace.

Below are a few more Facebook advertising policies to consider:

1. Do not sell any of the following items

• Recalled products
• Animals
• Weapons, ammunition, and explosives
• Digital products or subscriptions
• Illegal, prescription, or recreational drugs
• Adult products and services
• Medical and healthcare products
• Gambling services
• Real, virtual, or fake currency
• Ingestible supplements
• Tobacco products and related paraphernalia
• Misleading, deceptive, or offensive items

2. You must sell physical items

This includes anything that isn’t a physical product, like news, jokes, and “in search of” posts. Services like housekeeping, beauty treatments, or event tickets can only be sold by Facebook’s partners. These are well-known companies in their respective fields that Facebook has added to its partner directory.

3. The descriptions must match the items

This rule is crucial if you don’t want Facebook to think you’re misleading buyers. Ensure that photos of your products match the title and description, and be honest about your product to gain the trust of potential buyers.

Selling on Facebook Marketplace tips

Before you start selling on Facebook Marketplace, consider these nifty tips for getting it right.

Account setup

When setting up your account, try to “colour in” your business profile so that you seem more like a real person. Including information in your bio about your business, such as goals, inspiration, and good-quality profile pictures and content, will help you appear more trustworthy.

Here’s how you can appear legit and trustworthy to buyers:

• Engage politely and consistently with Facebook users who comment on your page and message you for more product information. Be relatable and friendly, and never respond with sarcasm or frustration, as this can push people away.
• Post excellent content, and hire a photographer if you’re not handy with a camera. Showcasing your products with great lighting, professional photography, trendy concepts, and innovative ways like 360-degree views seems like you’re putting in the effort. All the creativity and hard work will help you earn buyers’ trust.
• Don’t use slurs, promotional language, misleading phrases, and excessive exclamation marks in the descriptions and titles of your listings. These can make you seem unprofessional and untrustworthy.

Listing setup

When creating your listings, you want to attract buyers and make selling easy. You can do this by writing clear and concise product descriptions, using high-quality images of your items, and featuring your newest or best-selling products first.

Ensure that your product title is enticing yet simple enough to pique customer’s interest. Don’t appear desperate or hasty, which can deter buyers. Again, avoid adding punctuation, special characters, typos, and misleading or promotional phrases such as “free shipping” or “50% off”.

Secure your payments

When selling on Marketplace, you want payments to go as securely and as smoothly as possible. One way is to prompt your customers to message you to place an order by adding “DM to order” in your descriptions. This enables you to send them a message with a link to your online store, such as Netcash Shop, directing customers to the right site and make purchases.

Selling on Facebook Marketplace without a website

If you want to start selling on Marketplace but have no website, you can add the Payment Requests feature of the Netcash eCommerce Payment Gateway. You’re able to send secure payment links via SMS, WhatsApp or email to buyers who DM you using their email or mobile phone number, directing them to the secure payment gateway to pay via multiple online methods.

Aside from being able to receive payments without a website, payment requests allow you to quickly confirm orders and payments safely without needing to share your  banking details online with strangers. By offering multiple ways to pay, you also increase your chances of making the sale, gaining an advantage over other sellers.

Frequently asked questions: How to sell on Marketplace

If we haven’t answered everything for you, look at the following FAQs regarding selling on Facebook Marketplace.

When to post on Facebook Marketplace?

There’s no set time for when you need to post to sell on Facebook Marketplace. However, if you want to catch the most traffic, the best time to post on Facebook is between 09:00 a.m. and 17:00 pm on weekdays, but especially Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

How to post on Facebook Marketplace without an account

Users can search and view profiles on Facebook via search engines like Bing or DuckDuckGo. But, to post your product listings or to buy anything on Marketplace, you’ll need an account.

Who should sell on Facebook Marketplace?

Anyone can sell on Marketplace if their goods meet the commerce policies. It’s a platform for those who want to sell unused furniture, second-hand items, hand-made goods, Amazon products, or any other item from your ecommerce store.

How do you get paid from Facebook Marketplace?

Your payment will be deposited into the bank account you provided when setting up shipping. The processing time may vary depending on your bank. To see when your next payment is scheduled, visit the “Your Payouts” section in the Marketplace.

What is the best way to accept payments on Facebook Marketplace?

Carrying large amounts of cash can be risky for the buyer, but unfortunately at this stage this remains the only viable option for small businesses taking advantage of Marketplace.

Is selling on Facebook Marketplace worth it?

Absolutely! Selling on Facebook is a smart option if your target audience is active on the platform. Facebook Marketplace helps you connect directly with potential customers and works especially well for local sales by prioritising nearby buyers.

Final thoughts on how to sell on Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace is a great idea for vendors who want to sell locally and internationally. It’s also ideal if you already have an online shop but want to expand to social media platforms. With billions of dollars worth of sales being made on Marketplace every year, it would be ridiculous not to capitalise on this platform.

“Is Facebook Marketplace the right fit for your business?” is the last question you need to answer. And if you’re not sure—the correct answer is: Yes.

If you’re a small business owner who’s never tapped into the potential of Facebook Marketplace, you can start by following the above beginner’s guide.

Next Read: How to make money on Facebook

Note to Client: Great place for link to “How to make money on Facebook: when that post is live.