Tips for Selling Online on Social Media
One of the many benefits of decluttering is the opportunity to recoup a partial investment re-homing the items you’re discarding. In simpler terms, sometimes you can make a little money when you decide to clean out those closets! 😆
These tips are for novices and those new to social media app selling. If you have some truly valuable art, antiques, or vintage treasures, stop reading here. This isn’t for you. These tips are for suburbanites looking to exchange a little cash for some lightly used toys, sports equipment, clothing, furniture, and other home goods.
The first tip I have for selling items online is to lower your expectations of what you’re going to make. Many people were swept up in the “I’m going to send my kids to college on Beanie Baby money” and are now sitting on bins of inventory that isn’t going anywhere. While you may have some treasures in there, most likely you’re looking at dinner out money.
Clean the item. Whether it’s clothes, a baseball bag, or a table, just cleaning it will go a long way in securing the best price. Selling a dirty item devalues it instantly along with your credibility.
Take simple pictures. Use good, natural light and avoid filters. If you have to lighten a little because of shadows, that is fine. You want the color to look as true as possible.
Simple pictures also mean nothing else distracting in the photo. Focus on just that item and remove anything that’s not included in the price.
Use your photos, not stock photos. If there are flaws, photograph them and include in the description. And more photos is better than fewer.Be very precise in your item description. Age, measurements, color, size, brand, and any other pertinent details add to the item’s appeal and credibility. If it’s worn, say so and adjust your price accordingly. If the furniture piece is heavy, say so.
You want to minimize the number of additional questions that might come from potential buyers. Think of what you would want to know if you were buying this item and put those details in the description.Research the price via selling sites. You can search the item’s description in Ebay and Facebook Marketplace to get a general idea of the item’s current value. Use your best judgement, taking your item’s history and condition into account for pricing. This is a good indication of the value should potential buyers question your price or want to negotiate.
Include the price and accepted methods of payment. Cash, Venmo, and PayPal are lifesavers for exchanging goods. Indicate whether the price is negotiable or firm. Let potential buyers know when you expect payment and whether a deposit is required.
Explain pickup options so potential buyers can weigh the distance and effort required to purchase. Let them know if they will need a truck or additional people to move the item.
A public area during daylight hours is best for everyone. Most police and fire stations have “Safe Pickup” areas that can be used for this purpose.Use the apps’ messaging options to communicate with the buyer until you’ve reached a purchase agreement. I don’t recommend sharing phone numbers unless and until absolutely necessary.
I’ve used and recommend Nextdoor and Facebook for most social selling. If you’re looking to sell something local, they are the best, easiest option. There are other selling apps (Mercari, OfferUp, etc) but I’ve the best luck with these social media options.
On Facebook, I recommend joining local selling groups or specialty item selling groups. You can look for these under “Groups” in the application and search by neighborhood, city, or the brand name or category. For example, I’ve seen “Children’s Clothes” and “Lululemon” and “Madame Alexander Dolls” in addition to “Marietta Selling Group” and “Roswell, Sandy Springs, Dunwoody Selling.” Joining these groups gives your item more exposure. You probably don’t want to offer this item to your friends on Facebook. Use the selling groups to reach a wider audience.
I prefer these groups over Facebook Marketplace which is visible to ANYONE on Facebook. I’ve had people making inquiries on items posted there late at night who were probably too far away to be truly interested in my not expensive item. This is also why you want to be very clear in your description to minimize these types of questions.
Nextdoor has a selling feature that is excellent for reaching potential buyers in your local area. There you can categorize the item and even look for similar products to research the price. They also have a messaging feature so you don’t have to share your exact location or phone number.
Ebay is also an excellent option and reaches a much larger audience. I’d use it for name brand items that are easily shipped. You can still use the “Local Pickup Only” option when posting items that you won’t ship due to size or expense. Remember that Ebay takes a percentage of the sale price so this is probably not your best option for your son’s soccer cleats or 4 unused coffee mugs.
Have you sold items online via social media? Do you have other suggestions? I’d love to hear.