Are you looking for a place to sell your handmade items online that is easy to use and brings buyers to you? Then here is a super simple guide to everything you need to know about Facebook Marketplace for Crafters. Facebook is a multi-purpose platform with people buying and selling on it daily. It’s a place where people go to do shopping. Facebook Marketplace is a location-based shop where you can find just about anything. So why not sell your handmade items there as well?
Sell Your Crafts On Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace is a modern-day classified ad in the online world. It has similarities to Craigslist and eBay. Its primary purpose is to help people and businesses sell new and used products. One unique feature is that Facebook Marketplace is location-based, and you can sell locally to customers. You also have the option to ship products.
Facebook Marketplace is an online yardsale meets online craft fair type of experience. You can sell used items, give items away, sell new things, and (my favorite) sell handmade and craft items. If you can legally sell it, you can list it on Facebook Marketplace. The best thing about Facebook Marketplace is it is free to list your items. There is a small fee if you are shipping products.
As a crafter, it makes sense to utilize this tool to sell your handmade items.
How Do I Sell On Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace is a one-on-one selling and buying experience. If someone is interested in purchasing from you, they communicate directly with you through Facebook messenger. This gives you complete control over how you handle the sale of your product. This gives you an excellent opportunity to form a positive customer relationship with your buyer.
Listing an item on Facebook Marketplace is easy. I prefer to do it on a desktop computer. When you open Facebook to your personal account, on the left side will be listed Marketplace. Click on Marketplace, and you will see a menu on the left. You can choose to browse by category or sell. When you decide to sell, you can list your items by following the easy step-by-step instructions. Choose your category, add photos or videos of your items, give a detailed description, and price your product. Give your product a good description making sure to include materials used to produce the product, the process you use, and any other information that makes your product unique. You want to give a descriptive title that explains exactly what you are selling with a few words. This will be what buyers see first, and you want it to be direct, and to the point so interested buyers will click on your product.
On a smartphone or tablet, the process is similar. Click on the menu, find the Marketplace button, click selling, and create the listing. You can complete the form just like on the desktop, making sure to fill out each section thoroughly.
How To Be Safe When Selling On Facebook Marketplace
While Facebook Marketplace is hugely popular and is only going to grow, there are some things that you need to be aware of when selling to local people. Here are a few things to be mindful of and to avoid.
Don’t Give Out Personal Information
While this is an excellent opportunity for you to present your craft business in a positive light with some top-rated customer service, you have to protect yourself by not giving out too much personal information.
Meet In A Public Place And Bring A Friend
Meet in a well-lit, public place that has people traffic coming and going. You never want to meet somewhere dark or hard to see and where not many people walk by. Take a friend with you when you meet. There is safety in numbers. As a woman, I will never meet a man without a man with me (my husband, son, brother, or father). That’s just my preference. If I am going to meet someone, I want to feel safe. If you can arrange a contactless drop-off, that is an even safer way to do business. Just be sure to be completely aware of your surroundings at all times.
Don’t Trust Just Anyone
Unfortunately, some people are just out to scam you. Check to ensure the person purchasing is a real person and not just someone with a fake Facebook account. Look at their profile, and see if they have been a member of Facebook for a while and not just a few days. Look to see if they have friends that look like real accounts. See if they have posted and not just profile pictures. This can all be signs of a fake account. If they ask you to use a specific payment option you are unfamiliar with, then don’t accommodate them. There are too many options for cashless transactions. Don’t open a new account just for one transaction; they may have a way of scamming you.
If it sounds too good to be true, then it is. If you have a gut feeling that this is not a transaction you want to pursue, then don’t.
Overall I have had good success with Facebook Marketplace. I recommend it for selling your handmade items. Just know that you are selling at your own risk, and be wise about transactions.
Once you have made the sale, you can follow up with great packaging to create an extraordinary customer experience. Read Package Your Products To Make Your Customers Feel Appreciated.
Want to know if you are ready to turn your craft hobby into a craft business? I’ve created a free checklist of the 5 Things to Have Before Starting A Craft Business so you can turn your hobby into a craft business. I created this checklist because I often see DIY Crafter and Handmade Crafters struggling with knowing how to get started as a business. If you can relate to this, my 5 Things To Have Before Starting A Craft Business is explicitly designed to help you know exactly what it takes to start a handmade business and get to do what you love, crafting. So if you’d like to take advantage of this free download.
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