Facebook Marketplace is a convenient way for Facebook users to buy and sell items locally. When you create a new listing on Marketplace, it goes through an approval process before being published publicly. So how long does it actually take for a Facebook Marketplace listing to get approved? Here’s a look at the timeline and factors that impact the approval process.
The Approval Process
After submitting a new Marketplace listing, it will first go into a “Pending” state. This means it is waiting to be reviewed by Facebook’s automated systems and content moderators. There are a few key steps in the approval process:
- Automated Review – Facebook scans the listing with AI to check for any policy violations or prohibited content.
- Human Review – If necessary, the listing may also be reviewed by a Facebook content moderator.
- Approval – Once approved, the listing will change from “Pending” to “Live” in Marketplace.
During the review process, the status will show “Pending” on your Marketplace dashboard. You cannot edit a listing while it is pending approval. If your listing is rejected for any reason, the status will change to “Rejected” and you’ll receive an email from Facebook explaining why.
Approval Timeline
So how long does this whole approval process take? Here’s an overview of the typical timeline:
- Automated review: 5 minutes to 2 hours
- Manual review (if needed): 2 to 24 hours
- Total time until approval: Less than 1 hour up to 48 hours
The majority of listings will go through the automated review and be approved within an hour. However, listings with attributes that trigger further review might take up to 1-2 days to get approved.
Factors that Impact Approval Time
Certain factors can influence how quickly or slowly your Marketplace listing gets approved. These include:
- Account history – New accounts or accounts with a history of violations will face longer review times.
- Listing content – Listings with potentially prohibited items or text/images that raises flags will take longer.
- Category – Some restricted categories like housing, services, and vehicles require longer review.
- Time of submission – Listings submitted on weekends or outside business hours may take longer.
Tips for Faster Approval
Here are some tips that can help expedite the approval process for your Facebook Marketplace listings:
- Have a well-established Facebook account in good standing.
- Provide clear, detailed photos that accurately depict the item.
- Write a specific title and description of what you are selling.
- Select the most accurate category and subcategories.
- Avoid restricted items prohibited by Facebook’s commerce policies.
- List during daytime and weekdays for faster review.
What to Do if Your Listing is Rejected
If your Marketplace listing gets rejected, here are some steps you can take:
- Check the email Facebook sent you explaining the rejection reason.
- Edit your listing to address any policy violations.
- Request a review if you think it was rejected incorrectly.
- Contact Facebook support if issues persist after editing.
Some common reasons listings get rejected include prohibiting items like alcohol, tobacco, weapons, medications, or adult content. Others get rejected for inaccurate categories, missing information, price gouging, or copyright violations. Fixing the problematic areas will allow you to successfully relist the item.
Selling Quickly on Marketplace
Once your listing is live, focus on strategies to sell your item quickly in the Facebook Marketplace. Some tips include:
- Set a competitive price based on market value.
- Refresh the listing frequently to bump it to the top.
- Share the listing in relevant Facebook groups.
- Respond to buyer inquiries promptly.
- Offer negotiated prices or discounts.
- Consider delivery options to reach more buyers.
The faster your item sells, the less time you’ll need to keep renewing the listing every 30 days until it expires or is sold.
Troubleshooting Listing Issues
If your Marketplace listing encounters any problems during or after approval, here are some troubleshooting tips:
- Use the “Get Support” option on Marketplace for help with issues.
- Check for notifications about listing errors or violations.
- If posts disappear, relist them and identify potential policy violations.
- Verify your location settings if your listings have low visibility.
- Double check listing details if you aren’t getting inquiries.
- Try listing on both Marketplace and Facebook Buy & Sell groups.
Fixing small technical issues or optimizing your content/settings can help increase visibility and engagement for listings over time.
Marketplace Listing Tips and Tricks
Maximize your chances of selling successfully on Facebook Marketplace with these additional tips:
- List at peak market hours like evenings and weekends when traffic is higher.
- Repost unsold listings once per day to bump visibility.
- List both individually and in bundles/lots to attract buyers.
- Capture users’ attention with eye-catching cover images.
- Add new details periodically to keep your listing fresh.
- Enable “Instant Chat” to connect instantly with interested buyers.
Learn what works best for your type of products and keep optimizing your strategy. Consistency and persistence are key to success on Marketplace.
Conclusion
The time it takes for a Facebook Marketplace listing to get approved can vary from less than an hour up to 48 hours in more complex cases requiring manual review. Approval happens more quickly when you have an established account, follow all Facebook commerce policies, provide quality listing content, and select accurate categories. With the right optimization strategies, you can attract engaged buyers, make sales faster, and avoid issues that slow down the approval process. Checking back periodically to renew and update your listings will lead to a successful Marketplace experience.