HOW TO DROPSHIP ON FACEBOOK MARKETPLACE

Are you planning to launch an online business? Are you keen on trying out dropshipping on Facebook Marketplace? If your answers to both questions are 'Yes', you have come to the right page. Dropshipping is one of the hottest online business ideas at the moment and it is largely because it allows you to run an online retail business without managing an inventory. However, many people have experienced challenges in leveraging the marketplace of the biggest social media platform in the world, Facebook, to sell their products and generate revenue. If you're having similar trouble, you will learn all you need to know about dropshipping on Facebook Marketplace.

In this guide, we will cover what dropshipping and Facebook Marketplace are, how dropshipping can be beneficial and how to get started. Without further ado, let's dive into the subject.

What is dropshipping and how does it work?

You've probably heard the term dropshipping before. It refers to the process of selling products and passing the orders to a third-party supplier to fulfill them for you. The supplier of the products handles the packaging and ships directly from their warehouse to your customer.

There are many different reasons why dropshipping has become a popular business model. For starters, it takes the burden of physically managing inventory, which means less work for you. Also, it's quite lucrative and allows for flexible work times.

In essence, dropshipping allows you to own an online store and sell just about anything without having to invest upfront and with minimal risks.

What is Facebook Marketplace?

Facebook Marketplace was introduced in 2016 as a way for users of the social platform to buy and sell new and pre-owned items publicly. It is a hub within Facebook that allows buyers and sellers to connect directly as opposed to the practice of posting products in groups. You don't need to provide any extra information to get access.

The marketplace is Facebook's equivalent to eBay and Craigslist but its advantage is its large user base. The platform currently boasts more than 1 billion users from 90 countries. Combine that with built-in interest and easy-to-use product categorization, and you have a tool that's tailor-made for increasing business sales.

Since Marketplace adopts a peer-to-peer system, buyers and sellers communicate via the Facebook Messenger app and payment takes place off the app.  With such a large crowd itching to make a purchase, it's unsurprising why many retailers in the dropshipping community are jumping in to get a wider reach and sell their products.

In a nutshell, Facebook Marketplace isn't just a relatively untapped market but also a very profitable one. Whether you're new to dropshipping or you're a seasoned veteran, you can draw from this endless well as it offers plenty of sales to go around.

How does dropshipping on Facebook Marketplace work?

One of the questions many people often ask is whether or not it's really possible to dropship on Facebook Marketplace. The reason for this question isn't farfetched as the Marketplace has always operated as a place for local communities to barter for goods, often used ones.

However, a lot has changed now, with Facebook Marketplace poised to become one of the most popular eCommerce platforms in the world in 2021. With more than a billion users frequenting the Marketplace, many dropshippers see four or five times the amount of views per product than they would see on eBay or other platforms.

So how exactly does it work? It's simple. All you have to do is find popular selling items on websites like Doba, list those items up for sale on Marketplace with 10-20% markup, and direct all orders to the suppliers who will handle the packaging and shipping.

Benefits of dropshipping on Facebook Marketplace

If you're not yet convinced that dropshipping with Facebook Marketplace is worth it, here are some of the advantages of this model.

1. Dropshipping without a website

Unlike the traditional model of dropshipping where you need a website to serve as your digital storefront, you can start dropshipping on Facebook Marketplace without a website since all you need is an active Facebook account. If you need some tools to run your business, you can leverage certain tools that Facebook provides including on-site checkout for payment processing and order management tools. What this means is that you and your customers don't have to leave Facebook for a website because everything happens in the app.

2. Communicate with customers through Facebook Messenger

Facebook Marketplace takes care of one of the biggest concerns of online retailers: the possibility of providing fast answers with real-time messaging. Many times, customers want to ask questions or request more information before they commit to making a purchase and Facebook Messenger helps to make this happen so sales can roll in faster than on other platforms. The speed of providing answers can help create a positive buying experience, which is great for customer loyalty.

3. No advertising costs

Although Facebook is a social networking site for people to connect with each other, multiple reports show that when people browse through the marketplace, they are likely to buy because they're shopping with a purchasing item. Surprisingly, a survey by Bizrate Insights found that 17% of the respondents only use Facebook for shopping. That translates to more than 170 million people who only visit Facebook Marketplace when they either want to buy or sell.

Steps to dropshipping on the Facebook Marketplace

As stated earlier, dropshipping on Marketplace is very simple and straightforward. All you need to do is:

·       Find products you want to sell

·       List the items on the Facebook Marketplace

·       Fulfill orders

Let's explain these steps in details

1. Find products you want to sell

Generally, niche research is the first step when it comes to dropshipping and this is also the first thing to do when you're looking to explore Facebook Marketplace, even though you don't have to put too much thought into it. One of the mistakes many people make is to sell the same items that are selling out on other websites.

Keep in mind that your goal is to sell your products and make a profit, so you need to find products that will sell well to your audience. In this instance, you want to find products that will sell to an older audience, which is the best audience for Facebook Marketplace. Examples are furniture, household items, etc.

2. List the items on the Facebook Marketplace

Next, you will need to list the products on the Marketplace and this process, too, is very quick and easy. Here are a few things you'd be required to do:

·       Upload your product images: Make sure you download the best clear and real multimedia files you can find on your supplier's online store.

·       Add a title: You want to make your title detailed and keyword-rich. For instance, entering "(brand name) Smoothie Blender with 5 Speeds" works better than  just calling your product "Smoothie Blender." While it's a good idea to describe your product and add keywords, ensure that it is readable.

·       Add your price: It's generally recommended to add 10-20%markup to the original price of the product you want to list.

·       Category: Here, you will be asked to choose the category the product falls under. Make this accurate as possible as many users do filter by category.

·       Condition: Since you plan to dropship, set the condition to new.

·       Description: Under this section, you want to add everything your audience needs to know about your listing and why they should buy it. Be persuasive as much as you can but you can also use the description from the e-commerce website your supplier is on.

·       Product tags: Add relevant keywords here.

·       Delivery method: Set the delivery method to "Shipping Only", your shipping option to "Use your own shipping label" and shipping cost to free.

Now publish your listing.

3. Fulfill your orders

Once someone buys from you, you can make the order from the e-commerce website and have the items shipped directly to the customer.

Where can you find products to dropship on Facebook Marketplace?

Now that you've seen how easy dropshipping on Facebook Marketplace is, you're probably wondering where you can find high-quality suppliers and products to resell. There are several options of e-commerce websites that you can choose from. One of the most trendy e-commerce sites used by dropshippers is Doba.

Doba is a leading dropshipping website since 2002, dedicated to providing high-quality dropshipping suppliers and products for online sellers to dropship. Doba provides integrations with top marketplaces and e-commerce platforms, including Amazon, eBay, Shopify, and more, allowing sellers to add products to their stores and sync orders to the suppliers to fulfill efficiently.

Conclusion

With high traffic, little competition and friendlier customers, there's no reason why you should drag your feet anymore to start dropshipping on Facebook Marketplace. You can get started right now with your Facebook account and by signing up on Doba. Setting up your account Doba and listing your first products on the Marketplace will only take a couple of minutes of your time.

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