Facebook Marketplace allows users to buy and sell items locally. It is integrated directly into the Facebook platform, so it is easy and convenient for Facebook users to access. Joining Facebook Marketplace only requires a few things – namely an active Facebook account and profile. Here is a detailed look at what you need to do to join Facebook Marketplace.
Have an Active Facebook Account
The most basic requirement for Facebook Marketplace is having an active Facebook account. If you don’t already have a Facebook account, you will need to sign up for one. It’s free and easy to create a new Facebook account.
When creating your new Facebook account, make sure to provide accurate information about yourself. Your name, birthday, and location should all be filled out truthfully. Your profile information helps build trust between buyers and sellers on Facebook Marketplace.
You will also need to confirm your new Facebook account through email or phone verification. This extra step helps prevent fake accounts on Facebook.
Meet the Age Requirement
There is an age requirement to use Facebook Marketplace. You must be at least 18 years old to buy and sell items through Marketplace. This age restriction helps prevent minors from using the platform without parental supervision.
When you create your new Facebook account, you will need to enter your real date of birth. If you enter a birthday that indicates you are under 18, you will not be able to access Marketplace features.
Have an Active Facebook Profile
In addition to an account, you also need an active Facebook profile to use Marketplace. Your profile is where you can add information about your interests, location, job, education, and more.
Marketplace works by connecting local buyers and sellers. Your profile information, especially your location, helps match you up with people near you. So it’s important to have your hometown and current city listed on your profile.
You should also add some profile pictures and fill out your bio section. This gives potential Marketplace contacts a sense of who you are. The more complete your profile, the more trustworthy you will seem on Marketplace.
Download the Facebook App
The Facebook Marketplace platform is integrated directly into the Facebook mobile app. While you can access Marketplace on a desktop browser, the experience is optimized for mobile.
Downloading the Facebook app on your iOS or Android device allows you to fully utilize Marketplace features. You will be able to snap photos of items you want to sell directly within the app and instantly upload them.
The mobile app also makes it easy to message potential buyers or sellers. You’ll get notifications when you receive new messages so you can respond right away.
Enable Location Services
For Marketplace to work properly, you need to enable location services on your mobile device. This allows the app to determine your current location and match you with nearby buyers and sellers.
When you first launch Facebook’s mobile app, you should get a pop-up asking if you want to allow the app to access your location data. Select “Allow” to enable location services.
You can also verify location services are enabled by going into your device’s Settings app. Make sure the Location toggle is turned on for Facebook’s app.
Join Facebook Groups and Follow Pages
While not required, joining local Facebook Groups and following pages related to items you want to buy or sell can enhance your Marketplace experience.
Local Groups like neighborhood, city, or regional marketplace groups are great for connecting with potential buyers and sellers nearby. These groups allow you to post items for sale and see what others in your area are selling.
Following Pages for hobbies, interests, and items you want to buy or sell also helps. For example, if you want to sell a bike, search for and follow cycling-related Pages. This populates your feed with bicycle content which can help you learn more about bikes to inform your Marketplace listings.
Turn on Marketplace Notifications
To get the most out of using Facebook Marketplace, you should turn on notifications for Marketplace messages and activity.
On the Facebook app, go to Settings > Notifications > Marketplace. From here, you can toggle notifications on for new messages, comments, and more.
Enabling notifications means you will get alerts on your device immediately when you receive a new message from an interested buyer. You can respond right away rather than having a delay.
Set Your Contact Preferences
The final step to optimize your Marketplace experience is setting contact preferences. Facebook allows you to control how people can contact you when expressing interest in your Marketplace listings.
Go to Settings > Marketplace Settings > Contact Preferences. Here you can choose if you want to be contacted by email, Messenger, phone calls, or text messages. Disable any methods you don’t want to be reached by.
This prevents unwanted communication. For example, you may only want interested buyers to contact you through Messenger rather than getting random phone calls.
Start Listing Items for Sale
Once you’ve completed all the steps above, you are ready to start buying and selling on Facebook Marketplace!
Tap the Marketplace icon from your Facebook app’s main menu. You can then browse listings in your area or click the “+” icon to create a new listing.
Take photos of the items you want to sell and fill out the listing details including description, price, location, and preferred contact method. Make sure your listings are high quality to attract buyers.
As your items are purchased, be sure to mark listings as sold. And if you’re looking to buy, browse or search for items you need. Use filters like category, location, and price to find the perfect product.
With over 1 billion monthly active Facebook users, Marketplace gives you an enormous audience to buy and sell items locally. By meeting Facebook’s simple requirements, you can tap into this vast marketplace and start connecting with potential buyers and earning money.
Facebook Marketplace Requirements Overview
Here is a quick overview of everything you need to join and use Facebook Marketplace:
- Active Facebook account
- Meet 18+ age requirement
- Complete Facebook profile
- Download Facebook mobile app
- Enable location services
- Join local Facebook Groups
- Follow relevant Pages
- Turn on Marketplace notifications
- Set contact preferences
Meeting these few simple requirements allows you to fully access Facebook’s Marketplace platform. You can buy and sell items easily right from your smartphone.
Tips for Choosing Items to Sell on Marketplace
Any physical item can be sold on Facebook Marketplace, but some types of products tend to perform better than others. Here are some tips for choosing items that are likely to sell:
- Electronics – Phones, tablets, game consoles, and computers are in high demand.
- Furniture – Clean, good condition furniture sells quickly.
- Baby/kid items – Clothes, toys, strollers, car seats, etc. for babies and children.
- Home decor – Vases, picture frames, rugs, pillows, lamps, etc.
- Sporting goods – Bikes, golf clubs, skis, treadmills, weights.
- Instruments – Guitars, pianos, drums, etc. Musical instruments can sell well.
Avoid selling anything illegal, dangerous, or that violates Facebook’s policies. Ensure any item you list is in good working condition with no defects or damage.
Taking clear, high-quality photos also helps items sell quickly. Be detailed and honest in your item descriptions too.
Tips for Pricing Items on Marketplace
Determining the right price for your items on Facebook Marketplace is important. Price too high, and it won’t sell. But price too low, and you lose out on potential earnings. Here are some tips for pricing Marketplace listings:
- Search current listings for similar items to compare pricing.
- Factor in age, condition, and demand for the item.
- Check prices from local retailers selling the same or comparable items new.
- Consider how quickly you want the item to sell. Lower prices sell faster.
- Build in room for negotiation – many buyers will try to bargain on Marketplace.
- Research prices for sold listings of the item on eBay or other platforms.
- Use free valuation tools like WorthPoint to estimate value of collectibles.
A fair, competitive price helps your item stand out and sell quickly. But don’t undervalue rare or high-demand items. Do your research to set optimal pricing.
Compliance Requirements for Selling on Marketplace
In addition to Facebook’s base requirements, sellers need to ensure they comply with all applicable laws and regulations. Here are some key compliance considerations:
- Sales tax – Research if you need to collect and remit sales tax in your state.
- Income tax – Report Marketplace earnings on your taxes.
- Business licenses – Obtain any required business or seller’s permits for your city/county.
- Contract law – Understand your legal obligations as a seller entering into sales contracts.
- Product regulations – Abide by safety, labeling, and other product-specific regulations.
- Prohibited items – Do not sell illegal or regulated items like alcohol, medication, weapons, etc.
While Facebook handles the platform, sellers are responsible for complying with relevant regulations. Violations could lead to penalties or a blocked Marketplace account.
Joining Facebook Marketplace as a Business
In addition to individuals, businesses can also use Facebook Marketplace to buy and sell. Here are some tips for businesses joining Marketplace:
- Create or switch your profile to a Facebook Business Page.
- Fill out your business info like address, phone, website, hours, etc.
- Upload a business profile/cover photo and call-to-action button.
- Post regular product listings and sales promotions.
- Engage with inquires and reviews promptly.
- Follow all required business compliance steps.
- Link to your Instagram shop if you have one.
- Promote your Marketplace presence through ads.
Facebook Marketplace gives businesses a new sales channel to reach local customers. Make your business page attractive and listings enticing to convert Facebook users into paying customers.
Pros of Selling on Facebook Marketplace
There are many benefits to using Facebook Marketplace for buying and selling items locally:
- Huge audience – Over 1 billion monthly Facebook users provides massive reach.
- Ease of use – Integrated directly into Facebook app for simple browsing and listings.
- Familiar platform – Facebook users already comfortable with the interface.
- Local transactions – Emphasis on connecting nearby buyers and sellers.
- Free to use – No fees or commissions charged by Facebook.
- Secure payments – FacebookCheckout available for transactions via the app.
Facebook Marketplace provides an easy, no-cost way for individuals and businesses to access a huge base of potential local customers. The familiar platform encourages engagement and transactions.
Cons of Selling on Facebook Marketplace
There are also some downsides to keep in mind when using Facebook for buying and selling:
- No seller protections – Facebook does not guarantee transactions or mediate disputes.
- Cluttered interface – High volume of listings can make it hard for posts to stand out.
- Scams – Fake listings and potentially unsafe meetups with strangers.
- Self-promotion limited – Cannot advertise external marketplace links.
- Duplicate listings – Difficult to control reposts of your items by others.
- Spam – Increased risk of irrelevant comments or messages from bots/scammers.
While very useful, Facebook Marketplace isn’t perfect. Sellers need to exercise some caution when using the platform. But overall the benefits tend to greatly outweigh the disadvantages for most.
Alternatives to Facebook Marketplace
If Facebook Marketplace doesn’t meet your buying and selling needs, here are some alternative online marketplaces to consider:
- eBay – Massive online auction and shopping site. Higher fees but more seller protections.
- Craigslist – Popular classified ads site focused on local communities.
- Etsy – Marketplace for unique, handmade, and vintage items.
- Poshmark – Specializes in new and used clothing resale.
- Letgo – App-based marketplace similar to Facebook Marketplace.
- OfferUp – Local marketplace app for buying and selling locally.
- Nextdoor – Buy and sell with neighbors in your community.
Each marketplace platform has its own pros and cons. Evaluate your needs to determine which option(s) make the most sense for buying and selling.
The Bottom Line
Joining Facebook Marketplace only takes a few quick steps – create an account and profile, download the app, share your location, and start browsing or listing items for sale. This powerful platform gives you access to over 1 billion users right in your area to maximize your buying and selling reach. By meeting Facebook’s base requirements, individuals and businesses can start using Marketplace to earn money and find great deals locally.