Facebook Marketplace: What Brands Need to Know

As a business owner, you never know where you might connect with customers who are looking to make a purchase.

It’s always a good idea for businesses to know about new channels where they can sell. After all, when it comes to running a business, diversifying your income is the name of the game.

Setting up shop on more than one platform means you’ll expand your reach to more potential customers--and more sales. That’s why Facebook Marketplace could be a great place to list items and products for sale.

Wondering whether Facebook Marketplace could be a viable sales channel for your business? Read on.

What is Facebook Marketplace?

Facebook Marketplace is an online shop on Facebook where private users and businesses can list items for sale. Users on the platform commonly use Marketplace to list pre-owned items for sale, such as furniture, electronics, and clothing. But businesses are growing their presence there, too.

Facebook Marketplace: What Brands Need to Know

In addition to household and retail items, Facebook Marketplace is a popular place to sell vehicles and real estate, and even find renters for your properties. For example, if you need renters for your office spaces, apartments, or rental houses, you could list those properties on Marketplace.

If you’re interested in expanding your online shop’s reach to Facebook, you can do so with Marketplace. It’s a great way to expand your customer base, particularly if you’d like to make more sales in your local area.

Your connections on the platform might not be aware of everything your business offers, so they’ll have a chance to browse your products via Facebook Marketplace. If locals are browsing for the specific items you offer, they’ll be able to find you that way.

How Does Facebook Marketplace Work?

So how does Facebook Marketplace work, anyway?

Facebook’s Marketplace allows both private users and businesses alike to list items for sale, which users on the platform can then search for and purchase. A user can search for items by keyword, and Marketplace will populate a list of similar items that match their request.

To get started, enter the query “apartment” in the search box on the left-hand side of the Facebook Marketplace dashboard.

Immediately, we get a list of results at different price ranges. You’ll notice that the only search filter in place narrows our results to apartments within a 49-kilometer search radius of Sydney.

It’s possible to narrow the results even further. You can sort by location, distance, price range, delivery method, condition, the date listed, and the availability of the apartment. Users can even filter down to the specific neighbourhood if desired.

Users on Facebook Marketplace can list items for sale and set their prices. It’s also possible to ask shoppers for a best offer price, in the case of pre-owned items or higher-ticket listings such as real estate.

Items can be browsed by category for easy searching. There are 18 listing categories on FB Marketplace, which we’ll detail a little further down the post.

In addition, users can create buy and sell groups where they can communicate with locals in search of particular items.

How to List Individual Items for Sale on Facebook’s Marketplace

It’s easy to list individual items for sale on Facebook Marketplace. Let’s take a look at how it works.

1. Click the Create New Listing on the left-hand side of the Marketplace screen.

2. Next, you’ll choose your listing type. Facebook Marketplace prompts you to choose between listing an Item for Sale, Vehicle for Sale, or Home for Sale or Rent.

3. We selected an Item for Sale, so now it’s time to fill in the specs. Facebook Marketplace will take you to a page where you can enter all the details about your listing, including a photo and other information.

Some of the details you can list include the title, price, item category, condition, and description. When you select your category, you might be given additional, optional fields to fill out so you can include more details about your item.

How to Fill In Your Facebook Marketplace Item Listing

4. Now, it’s time to start filling in the listing. You’ll do that on the left-hand side of your screen. As you enter the information, a preview will populate on the right-hand side of the Facebook Marketplace dashboard.

You can choose to Boost the post after it publishes. It’s also possible to hide the listing from your Facebook friends.

When you’re finished on this page, click the blue Next button on the bottom left.

5. Next, Facebook Marketplace will give you options for your delivery method. In this case, the item isn’t eligible for shipping.

Facebook Marketplace doesn’t allow shipping if a seller doesn’t already have an established track record, so keep that in mind as you get started. It means your business will need to start selling locally through Facebook Marketplace first to build trust on the platform.

After you’ve entered your preferred delivery method, click Next.

6. Finally, FB Marketplace will populate a list of places where you can cross-post your item if you want. Once you’ve decided where you want your item to show up, click Publish.

That’s it!

How Facebook Marketplace Works for Different Sellers

For individuals selling items on Facebook Marketplace, there isn’t a fee to sell. Individual sellers on Marketplace might not be perceived in the same way as businesses that open up shops on Facebook, though.

Some businesses are becoming eligible to open shops within Facebook Marketplace itself, but it’s not yet widely available. However, if you open a shop via Commerce Manager, Facebook will take a cut of your sales. Commerce Manager shops can be set up through both Facebook and Instagram.

For each shipment through your Commerce Manager shop, Facebook takes a 5% selling fee. When shipments cost under AUD 11.54 (USD 8.00), the selling fee is a flat $0.40.

Facebook Marketplace Categories

There are 18 Facebook Marketplace categories available for listing on Facebook Marketplace. Let’s jump in and take a look at what they are.

Apparel

Sellers on Facebook Marketplace can list articles of clothing, both new and gently used. This is great for thrifty shoppers looking to update their wardrobe. It’s also excellent for individuals who want to make room in their closets.

Classifieds

You can browse local Classified ads via FB Marketplace. This is a great way to keep up with listings in your area without having to follow each individual newspaper.

Electronics

Sellers can list electronics for sale, including computers, hardware, gaming systems, TVs, stereo systems, and even higher-end sound equipment. Techies looking for gear upgrades could find some great deals here.

Entertainment

If you’re listing items in the Entertainment category, you’ll want to include items like books, movies, and video games. Sets of Blu-Rays, vintage video games, and whole book series are all hot items. If your business sells collectibles, this would be a great category to look into.

Family

The Family category on Facebook Marketplace is fairly broad. You’ll likely find an assortment of baby gear and household items here.

Free Stuff

Free stuff is fairly self-explanatory. Sellers who just want to get certain items off their hands can list them in this section for no charge.

Garden and Outdoor

Outdoor and garden gear fit well into this Marketplace category. If your business sells gardening items or outdoor accessories, for example, those will fit well listed here.

Hobbies

Hobby items can be widely varied. If you sell art supplies, antiques, or fixer-upper items, those will fit into this category.

Home Goods

Businesses dealing in home goods will want to list those here. Decor, furniture, and appliances fall into this category.

Home Improvement Supplies

If you’re selling tools and equipment to help with people’s home improvement projects, those should be listed under the Home Improvement Supplies category. Toolboxes, tools, and power tools fit here.

Home Sales

If you’re looking to sell a house, Home Sales is the place to do it. Property owners may also sell land through this category.

Musical Instruments

The Musical Instruments category is the place to sell all manner of instruments through Facebook Marketplace. Whether you’re selling band instruments, stringed instruments, or even a piano, those should be listed here.

Office Supplies

Office supplies, including desks, printers, filing cabinets, desk chairs, and similar items, should be listed in the Office Supplies category. If it can be used to make an office more functional, this is where you should list it.

Pet Supplies

Selling supplies to help people care for their pets, such as dog beds, pet crates, or kitty climbing towers? List those under the Pet Supplies category.

Property Rentals

Property Rentals can be listed on Facebook Marketplace. This is the category where you’d want to list rental homes, apartments, or office spaces.

Sporting Goods

The Sporting Goods section of Facebook Marketplace is a catch-all for all things sports. Whether you sell supplies for football, basketball, martial arts, or another sport, they can be listed in this space.

Toys and Games

Facebook Marketplace is a great place for buyers to scope out toys for their kids and games for all ages. List your available toys and games in this section.

Vehicles

Selling a vehicle? This is the place to do it. You can list both new and pre-owned vehicles for sale on Marketplace.

Can Businesses & Brands Sell on Facebook Marketplace?

Facebook Marketplace is actively in the process of making changes, with new features rolling out as we speak. At this time, Facebook is beginning to roll out Marketplace for Business, a new feature that isn’t yet available everywhere.

Individuals can list items for sale on FB Marketplace. For businesses, the platform is rolling out the ability to:

Display your inventory for specific sale items
Build a shop using your business Page and add Marketplace as a sales channel (limited eligibility)
Advertise on Marketplace whether you post items directly to Marketplace or not
Use Marketplace to display items from your Page shop (limited eligibility - the Shop must have checkout enabled)

How to Add Marketplace as a Sales Channel for Your Shop

Wondering how to add Marketplace as a sales channel for your Facebook shop? Let’s take a look at how to do it.

First things first: if you have a Shop, you’ll need to make sure you have checkout set up. Facebook walks you through how to do that here.

Notice how the BestSelf Co. shop has checkout enabled.

Shopify users will need to first set up, so if you run a Shopify store, check out how to do that here. The only transaction your Facebook Shop will manage is sending your payouts to you. Everything else, such as your order management and inventory, will continue to run through Shopify as it has in the past.

Once you’ve properly set up your checkout, head over to the Facebook Commerce Manager and select the Shop you want to add Marketplace to. Click on Settings in the left-hand menu, then Business Assets, then Enable Marketplace. You should be good to go!

It takes about 24 hours for products from your Shop to show up on Facebook Marketplace.

The Commerce Policies You Must Follow

Sellers that post items on Facebook Marketplace must follow both Community Standards and Facebook’s Commerce Policies. While you should carefully study the entire resource from Facebook, here’s a quick rundown of what’s inside.

Prohibited products and listings include alcohol and drugs, adult products, fluids or other biohazard items, medication and supplements, medical supplies, healthcare products, stolen items, items that promote illegal activity (such as counterfeiting money or illegal streaming), weapons, and a range of similar items.
Sellers can’t use Facebook Marketplace to sell digital products, subscriptions, or services.
Items promoting violence, hate, or which contain discriminatory language can’t be sold on the platform.
Any item posing a health hazard, such as recalled products or used cosmetics, is prohibited.
Any products that violate another party’s copyright are restricted.
Facebook won’t allow users to sell gift cards, vouchers, or event tickets.

5 Best Practices for Selling on Marketplace

If you’re ready to start listing your products on Facebook Marketplace, there are some best practices you should be following.

Set fair prices for your items. Do your research to ensure you understand what prices items similar to yours are selling for.
Be prepared to receive comments that are difficult to deal with. People may message you directly to express interest, then argue with you about an item’s price.
Make sure the images you include with your listings are clear and high-quality so shoppers get a good idea of what they’re inquiring about.
Be creative when you write your descriptions for your item listings. Consider adding keywords users are likely to search for, such as “gas grill” rather than just “grill.”
Respond promptly when buyers reach out to ask about your products.

Final Thoughts

Facebook Marketplace could be a fantastic addition to your Facebook marketing strategy if you sell physical products. Be sure you understand the ins and outs of Facebook’s guidelines for running a Shop or a Marketplace for Business account before you get started.

If you’re ready to level up your Facebook marketing efforts, want to bust some myths around Facebook marketing, or just want a better handle on your strategy, our Facebook Marketing Course can help. Check it out here.

Ana Gotter

Social Media Marketing Specialist

Ana is a strategic content marketer specialising in business, finance, and marketing writing, though she's worked across a range of industries. She works from her home in Orlando with her three dogs.