You could host a garage sale, or you could sell your unneeded stuff on social media and reach a much broader audience. There are apps like Let Go you can use, but it never hurts to leverage your network and the platforms that hundreds of millions of people use daily. It’s possible to sell on any social channel, but there are a few that are more opportune than others, so let’s focus on two: Instagram and Facebook. You don’t have to approach your online sale in the same way an e-commerce business does, but there are some things you need to keep in mind.
Take excellent photos
Do you remember the frenzy a few years ago when everyone thought that e-commerce sites like Amazon would eradicate brick-and-mortar stores? This prediction obviously did not come true. Some physical stores have closed, but others have managed to survive. One of the reasons why brick-and-mortar locations are still necessary is because people like to see and feel products before they buy them. You can try on an outfit in the store and decide against it, but if you buy something online and it doesn’t fit, sending it back is a hassle people make a point to avoid.
People’s need to imagine how a product will fit into their lives means pictures are essential. Snap crisp, well-lit photos from a variety of angles, and then post them on your social channels. Not only does top-notch photography allow potential buyers to visualize items better, it enhances your credibility. Instagram is particularly image-heavy even outside of sales (and internet users might see your pictures on your account rather than in their feeds, and therefore without captions), so be sure to show all the gritty details of that couch you hope to get rid of.
Strategize
Each platform necessitates a different approach to selling. Facebook offers its Marketplace, so people who use this feature come with shopping in mind. List your items separately: it is unlikely that consumers will sift through a dozen photos to double check for the prices they are after. Your Facebook Marketplace listings are also linked to your profile, so polish your page to assure consumers that you are not a sketchy person ripping them off.
Instagram does allow users to purchase items straight from the app, and there are outside parties you can sync with your account, so do some research and decide which option is right for you. Some might be better for businesses with consistent merchandise. Instagram ads, however, are available for anyone, so selling big-ticket items like cars might be worth it.
If you chose to post pictures of your items and caption them with your sales offers, remember that Instagram does not enable hyperlinks in individual posts. Be overt with your sales: people might not click on your photos, so including the words “for sale” in your images is more likely to catch browsers’ attention. It’s also a good idea to increase Instagram followers on your account so that you reach as many people as possible.
Prepare to negotiate
When you buy an item from a store, you usually do not hesitate to pay the listed price once you decide to take it with you. When it comes to used items, however, you may shop with a mental preparedness to negotiate a lower rate. Consumers might be determined to purchase your items for less than you ask for, so in some cases, it’s okay to price your items high and allow people to talk you down. Facebook’s Marketplace even boasts a Make Offer option, so be ready to engage in some back-and-forth with people.
Large-scale items
Pictures may not be enough when it comes to selling large-scale items, such as houses or apartments. If you’ve ever shopped for a new place to live online and loved the photos, only to find that the real thing is disappointing, then rest assured knowing that numerous other people have had the same experience. Pictures can lie—but video makes doing so more difficult.
Instagram and Facebook both offer video features, so take potential buyers for a guided tour of your house and show them all the details that 100 pictures cannot (and even if people don’t buy, they like to snoop, and they might pass on your information to someone who might be interested). When you put your house on the market, consider announcing on all of your channels that you will be hosting a Live streaming event of the property. This way, your friends and followers out of town can ignore you, but people in the area will pay attention.
If you have anything you are seeking to get rid of and acquire a bit of cash for it, Facebook and Instagram are excellent platforms to turn to. What items are you hoping to sell through social media?
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