The Essential Guide to Selling on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and Other Platforms

Sometimes, your items may not sell for weeks or even months after your list them. If you need to clear space in your home quickly, consider placing items in a self-storage unit. This is particularly helpful if you’re getting rid of furniture or other large items.

Not every platform is well-suited to every type of product. If you’re selling larger items — such as furniture — you may have better luck selling on Craigslist, OfferUp, and Facebook Marketplace. Smaller items such as clothing, jewelry and collectibles, on the other hand, tend to fare better on eBay, Mercari, Depop, Poshmark, Grailed, and other similar platforms. It never hurts to list your item on multiple platforms if you’re not seeing much engagement on one.

Selling on an online platform isn’t as easy as posting a picture and closing a sale. The most successful listings are thoughtfully created for maximum traction and visibility. If you’re just learning how to sell on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, and other sites, remember these three principles: price your items correctly, take well-lit and clear photos and include as many relevant details in your description as possible.

Research and Price Your Items

It’s critical to research and price your items correctly. Not only can it be the difference between making a sale quickly or waiting weeks for buyer interest, but if you’re selling a vintage or heirloom item, it may have value that you weren’t even aware of. Start by looking up the original price from the manufacturer’s site (regardless of whether or not you originally purchased the item at full value). Then make sure you check the prices of similar listings on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, eBay, and other major reseller platforms. This will allow you to price your item in a lucrative, competitive way. Create a spreadsheet and jot down:

1. the lowest price you see online
2. the highest
3. the going retail price of a brand-new product

Afterward, you’ll want to ask yourself the following questions:

• How new is my item? (When was it manufactured, and has it declined in value or increased in value since?)
• Is there any damage to my item? If so, are the damages small, medium, or severe? Is the function and/or aesthetics impacted, and how greatly? Are any pieces/extras (such as cords) missing?
• Where am I selling it? If you’re selling a piece of high-end furniture in a major metropolitan area, you may be able to price it higher than if you’re selling it in a small town.

Depending on your answers to the questions above, you’ll want to set your asking price closer to the “low” range or “high” range you noted in your spreadsheet. In general, price slightly higher than you expect to sell it for — on Facebook Marketplace, there’s a “make offer” button that allows buyers to negotiate. If you’re okay with delivering the item yourself, consider adding a delivery fee and setting a maximum distance you’re willing to drive.

Take Clear, Eye-Catching Photos

When it comes to attracting buyers, the biggest Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and OfferUp tips we can suggest boil down to the quality of your photos. All three platforms are a photo-stream of items for sale, meaning your pictures are the buyer’s first impression and need to grab attention from the get-go. You don’t need to have a professional photoshoot or bust out your DSLR, but make sure that your images are clear, well-lit, and in-focus. If your smartphone pictures come out grainy or pixelated, ask a friend to help you take some shots.

Here are some tips for taking eye-catching photos:

• Use natural lighting where possible.
• Place your items in front of a blank background like a wall, or an area with minimal clutter (you want the object for sale to be the center of attention).
• Clean your product as best you can beforehand (wiping away any dust and fingerprints, giving any wood items a quick polish).
• Take photos from multiple angles, and at different ranges (several close-ups and several full-body shots).

Remember that Facebook Marketplace allows you to have up to 10 photos per listing, Craigslist allows up to 24, and OfferUp allows up to 12, so be sure to have at least three different angles. If there are any imperfections, be honest and take close-up shots. If you want to go the extra mile, add a text overlay to your photos describing the imperfections, or simply add a note in the description that states that “the last three photos show minor imperfections/blemishes.”

Write a Compelling Headline and Description

To prevent unnecessary back-and-forth between you and a potential buyer — and make your listing sound legitimate — be sure to write a compelling headline and description. Think about how buyers would search for the item (and anticipate a few things they might want to know) before you craft your headline. Don’t worry if you’re not a poet — it doesn’t need to be catchy, just clear and informative. For instance, instead of “Kardiel Nordic Couch,” consider saying, “Comfortable Black & Gray Kardiel Nordic Fusion Sofa, 83”, LIKE NEW.”

Then, in the description, include as many relevant details about the product in your post, including the condition of the item, item description and specs, and your contact information where a prospective buyer can best reach you. This doesn’t have to be an exhaustive list — anywhere from two to six sentences should do the trick, and often short and sweet is better.

Add Search Tags

On Facebook Marketplace, you can add your products to a general “category” that helps buyers find the items they want more easily, but don’t overlook the “search tags” option. When you label your listings with relevant search tags, you’ll increase the chances of your post showing up for the right buyers. For instance, if you’re selling an antique credenza, consider adding tags such as “antique,” “credenza,” “wood,” “vintage,” etc.

Other Tips to Successfully Sell Your Items

With a few time-tested marketing tricks, you can sell your items more quickly — or more of them in a single transaction. Create a sense of urgency and scarcity by adding a deadline to your post, such as, “Must go by Monday.” The trick is not to set a deadline too close to the date the ad goes live, which might give buyers a sense that you’re in a rush to get rid of the item and more willing to accept a lowball offer. Additionally, try offering a small discount (say, 5-15 percent or free shipping) if buyers purchase a certain number of items in a single transaction.

Selling on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and OfferUp involves a bit of fielding — many potential buyers may end up ghosting you or refusing to negotiate. But once you’ve locked down a prospect, be sure to get their full name and number to arrange pick-up or drop-off details. (You can use a free Google Voice number or a proxy email address if you don’t want to share your personal information.) 

You have a few options when it comes to coordinating a safe meetup: 

• Consider bringing a friend along to deliver the item yourself or make the exchange in a public space, like a park. 
• If it’s more convenient for the buyer to come to you, have the item ready in your driveway or garage before they arrive and have a friend with you to help inspect the item or purchase.

Remember to always meet during the day for your own safety, and only accept cash payments. If you feel comfortable, PayPal or Venmo is acceptable, but only if they send you the money beforehand or on the spot.

Online platforms are rife with scammers for both buyers and sellers. If you’re selling an item, be wary of buyers trying to move the conversation off the platform too quickly (where you will lose the conversation history and protection from the platform you’re using), making promises about paying with Zelle and having a relative or friend pick up the item, asking for your address and personal details right off the bat, or using brand-new profiles that have few (if any) photos.

Congratulations — you’ve sold an item on an online marketplace! Now that you’ve rehomed your item, don’t forget to remove the listing from the platform(s) it was posted on. If your buyer ended up flaking out on you for whatever reason and the item is still in your possession, simply “refresh” your listing to give it added visibility — no need to remove and repost your listing. You may already have a queue of eager buyers waiting in your DMs.

Good luck with your selling!