Facebook is the world’s most popular social networking platform. To be honest, Facebook was the one who invented social media. Zuckerberg and his team, on the other hand, are still working to improve the platform for consumers. They re-launched the Facebook Marketplace, a 9-year-old tool that has gotten little attention, in the fall of 2016.
Marketplace’s relaunch has undeniably displaced Craigslist as the most popular peer-to-peer (p2p) or customer-to-customer (c2c) selling platform online. For social media marketers in all industries, the re-launch is significant. However, brands are not permitted to sell their products on the platform. As a result, the Marketplace has benefited local businesses in particular.
Overview of the Facebook Marketplace
Before you can use Facebook Marketplace to advertise your business effectively, you must first understand why it was created. Understanding how it works for the end user, as we detail below, is the best way to do this.
Marketplace, according to Facebook, is a place where individuals in a community can discover, sell, and purchase products. They imagine it as a free market where individuals in their communities can buy goods and get rid of things they don’t need. Facebook has been steadily adding new features to its product in order to increase transparency and efficiency.
It’s not difficult to use this functionality. On a mobile device, you can access the marketplace by tapping the new button in the center bottom of the Facebook app window. The technology is IP-based, so it will only show products in your nearby vicinity, making it quick and easy. Only an image of the item and its price are displayed in the offer display.
You must tap on an offer to see more information. From the item details screen, you may also message the seller or make an offer. You can touch on numerous links and icons on the Marketplace home screen to list your item, browse the various categories, or search for both things and sellers.
What makes Marketplace unique?
Marketplace has upped the bar for other online peer-to-peer selling platforms. Individual buyers and sellers, as well as brands, will, in my opinion, be significantly impacted. Marketplace offers the following benefits over its competitors, according to TechCrunch.
Here are some of the requirements that shops must meet before their applications are accepted by Facebook:
• Should sell new products to their customers
• They should fulfill all their orders within 3 days
• Should have US nexus
• They should have the ability to ship orders to their clients within 7 days
• Must accept returns up to 30 days
You should also apply for Marketplace if you have a BigCommerce or Shopify website since you will be able to sell your products to the Facebook community.
If you do not comply with Facebook’s criteria, your retailer contract in the marketplace may be terminated.
The Advantages of Using the Facebook Marketplace
Convenience
As of September 2018, Facebook had approximately 2.27 billion active users. The majority of users spend a significant amount of time on the site, making it a perfect area to sell and buy goods. Including purchasing activities on Facebook will transform the buying experience and make it more enjoyable!
Trust
When compared to Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace offers transparency and trustworthiness to online purchases. Facebook profiles contain a wealth of information, making them one of the most reliable platforms.
Using Facebook’s Marketplace to promote your small company
So, what can Marketplace do for the sales of your local business? Quite a bit! Facebook has announced support tools that will allow local companies to sell their wares on the social media platform. Owners of Shopify stores, daily deals, and tickets can use the platform.
Facebook’s terms and conditions are updated on a regular basis in order to improve the platform for its users. As a result, you should keep an eye on their website for any additional standards that retailers must meet before doing business on the platform.
The Facebook platform is simple to navigate. All you have to do is go to the top left and click on the marketplace symbol. After you’ve found the product you desire, click “message seller” to send a private message to the seller. You’ll be given the choice to buy, and you’ll be free to start the transaction!
Market research using Marketplace
You’re aware that people desire to save money, right? Marketplace, on the other hand, is easy to manage, unlike neighborhood flea markets that are difficult to keep track of. Make it a practice to search the platform for things in your category and adjacent categories to see how they compare to what you have to offer.
Prices, conditions, and availability are all factors to consider. Examine how frequently products comparable to yours are offered for sale, how much they cost, and how quickly they sell. Then make the necessary adjustments to your marketing approach.
From your personal and business profiles, post to Marketplace.
The platform allows you to upload your company profile, which increases customer trust in your offerings. As a result, you should make it a habit to present reliable data that demonstrates your expertise in marketing your niche product.
While posting from your personal profile isn’t always a good idea, it could be useful for stock clearing or market research before launching new product lines.
final thoughts
The relaunch of Facebook Marketplace is the social media giant’s attempt to compete with peer-to-peer selling systems. Marketplace is a worthy competitor to Craigslist, the niche leader, due to its simplicity of use and high degree of confidence provided by seller profiles, which are often extensive.
Local companies can gain a lot of benefits from the network, especially if they follow Facebook’s rules and conditions.
That is it on Promote your Local Business on Facebook Marketplace – Overview of the Facebook Marketplace. I hope this article was helpful. Kindly share!!!