Buyers and sellers communicate through Facebook Messenger, so you can easily access someone’s information as you start discussing a potential transaction. Facebook Marketplace, however, provides insight into both buyers and sellers through their Facebook profiles. One of Craiglists’ biggest problems is you have absolutely no idea who’s on the other end of your transaction-it’s all about anonymity. Once you upload it to the Marketplace, buyers will be able to message you directly to inquire about the item. To sell, all you have to do is create a listing by adding photos and providing details about the item. Filter the listings by price, distance from you, condition of items, and delivery method (shipping vs. To buy, simply click on the Facebook Marketplace icon in the Facebook app or on the desktop site, then start browsing listings near you: You can casually scroll through broad categories of items for sale, or you can search for specific items. If you’re new to the Facebook Marketplace, here’s everything you need to know about the platform before you make your first purchase or list your first item. I haven't used Craigslist in years, actually,” says Marohl of her recent shopping experience. Given a surge in popularity during the pandemic, Facebook Marketplace is definitely poised to overtake Craigslist as the top dog in online marketplaces, if it hasn’t already. “It’s vintage ’80s Italian, and I love it.” “My best score on Facebook Marketplace was a glass-topped entry table with two large brass swans holding it up,” says Austin-based designer Maria Martin, founder of Design Appy. And beyond discounts on contemporary used furniture, Marketplace can also be a trove for vintage hunters. “I purchased a gently used Crate & Barrel coffee table from Facebook Marketplace, and I saved a ton of money by getting it used,” says design blogger Kelly Marohl of The Greenspring Home. Over its brief lifetime, Facebook Marketplace has rapidly gained traction with buyers and sellers, especially in the secondhand furniture realm. Ecommerce companies must have mindful marketing strategies and remain diligent on SEO optimization to ensure they maintain a digital presence.In 2016, Facebook launched Marketplace, a dedicated spot on the social media platform for users to buy and sell goods-essentially, it’s a direct competitor to Craigslist. Higher competition: Although the low barrier to entry regarding low cost is an advantage, this means other competitors can easily enter the market.Reliance on technology: If your website crashes, garners an overwhelming amount of traffic, or must be temporarily taken down for any reason, your business is effectively closed until the ecommerce storefront is back.
Case in point: an item of clothing may be made from shoddier fabric than its online image indicates. Inability to touch products: Online images do not necessarily convey the whole story about an item, and so ecommerce purchases can be unsatisfying when the products received do not match consumer expectations.However, e-tailers like Amazon make the waiting game a little bit less painful by offering same-day delivery as a premium option for select products. Lack of instant gratification: When you buy an item online, you must wait for it to be shipped to your home or office.And although some websites let you chat online with a staff member, this is not a typical practice. Limited customer service: If you shop online for a computer, you cannot simply ask an employee to demonstrate a particular model's features in person.Easier to retarget customers: as customers browse a digital storefront, it is easier to entice their attention towards placed advertisements, directed marketing campaigns, or pop-ups specifically aimed at a purpose.International sales: As long as an ecommerce store can ship to the customer, an ecommerce company can sell to anyone in the world and isn't limited by physical geography.The cost to operate digitally is often less expensive than needing to pay rent, insurance, building maintenance, and property taxes. Potentially lower start-up cost: Ecommerce companies may require a warehouse or manufacturing site, but they usually don't need a physical storefront.And many stores that solely exist online may offer consumers exclusive inventory that is unavailable elsewhere. Increased selection: Many stores offer a wider array of products online than they carry in their brick-and-mortar counterparts.Although ecommerce may take a lot of work, it is still possible to generate sales as you sleep or earn revenue while you are away from your store. Convenience: Ecommerce can occur 24 hours a day, seven days a week.