How to dropship on Facebook Marketplace:
- Build a dropshipping store on Facebook Marketplace
- Find winning dropshipping products to sell
- Work with reliable dropshipping suppliers
- List your items
- Run Facebook Ads for your Facebook Marketplace listings
- Manage your items and transactions
- Fulfill orders as customers purchase your products
- Provide excellent customer service
Facebook is the world's most popular social media site with around 3.03 billion monthly active users while Facebook Marketplace has over 1 billion monthly active users. Shopify Commerce Trend also reports that about 70% of social media shoppers make purchases on Facebook.
Dropshipping on Facebook Marketplace is an easy business model to launch and pursue. It can be a way to enter the ecommerce space without owning inventory. According to YouTuber and dropshipper Paul J Lipsky, dropshipping is "probably the simplest business." Even beginners "with almost no money" can do it as long as they have a laptop and internet connection.
In this feature, we discuss the steps you need to start a dropshipping business on Facebook Marketplace. We also consider the pros and cons and answer some frequently-asked questions about the subject. Towards the end, we tell you all about why lead generation is an easier, more profitable online business model than Facebook Marketplace dropshipping.
How To Dropship On Facebook Marketplace In 2024
1. Build a Dropshipping Store on Facebook Marketplace
You can build a dropshipping store on Facebook Marketplace if you are a Facebook user with an active Facebook Marketplace account. Next, create your Facebook store or Facebook page and then choose your business category (or use the most applicable option). You don't need a business category, but there are a few advantages to picking one.
- The platform will recommend your Facebook shop or business page to people who show interest in what you sell.
- Add a location tag, and people in your area will see your page.
- Buyers will find your business and your products easier.
Research suggests that a monthly average of 250 million sellers use Facebook Marketplace. You can attract online traffic by optimizing your Facebook page, using Facebook's call-to-action buttons, posting frequently, and running Facebook Ads.
2. Find Dropshipping Products To Sell
You can find dropshipping products to sell on Facebook Marketplace by checking out online marketplaces, product research tools, and social media platforms.
Checking out Amazon's "Movers and Shakers" or "Best Sellers" can lead to great results. These pages are updated frequently, plus you can browse by department to find specific products related to your target niche.
Using product research tools can also lead you to some of the best dropshipping products online. AutoDS, Dropship Spy, and EcomHunt, among others. Additionally, Google Keywords, Google Trends, and Keywords Everywhere can give you access to data on trending keywords and products.
Of course, you can also turn to social media sites to find inspiration and ideas trending products. Aside from Facebook, you can try Instagram and TikTok. Observe which products are attracting attention and which ones have the most ads on these platforms.
Factors to Consider Before Selling Dropshipping Products on Facebook Marketplace
- Do competitor research. Look for high-demand products that solve a problem and fill a gap in the market.
- Find hot dropshipping items you can resell for a decent profit margin.
- Pick a product with little to no market competition.
- Create a unique selling proposition.
Be ready to test a ton of items until you find a winning product. Facebook Marketplace listings usually have a shelf life because they're based on demand. A listing often gets more views if the product is in high demand.
Have a clear target audience and learn everything you can about them.Understand how to leverage the Facebook algorithm and use it to reach more your potential customers.
What are the best items to dropship on Facebook Marketplace in 2024?
Here are some of the best items to dropship on Facebook Marketplace:
- Home and gardening products: Unsurprisingly, home and gardening products take the top spot. The home improvement industry is projected to reach $600 billion by the end of 2025, which makes it a viable option for dropshipping. Examples include wooden shelves, fire pits, gardening tool kits, and shoe racks.
- Consumer electronics: Technology has taken the world by storm for the past 20 years, and at the forefront is the rise of consumer electronics. Electronic products are now an essential part of our society, which makes it a very profitable product category to dropship. Just last year, the global electronics industry made over $505 billion in sales. Some of the best-selling consumer electronics includes smartphones, tablets, laptops, power banks, wireless headphones, and smartwatches.
- Beauty and health: Contrary to popular belief, beauty just doesn't mean putting on make up and getting your hair done. Beauty is now considered an umbrella term that involves self-care, health, and personal wellness, both for men and women. In 2022, the health and beauty industry generated approximately $263.6 billion, which indicates how profitable beauty and health products are. Examples of this are: Eyelash curlers, face masks, beard shapers, eye patches, and ear cleaners.
- Fitness equipment: People are becoming more aware of the importance of fitness as time goes by, and part of that means an increasing demand in fitness equipment. In 2020 alone, the fitness industry was valued to be over $97 billion. Some examples of fitness equipment you can dropship include resistance bands, jump ropes, yoga mats, agility ladders, and fitness watches.
3. Work With Reliable Dropshipping Suppliers
Working with reliable dropshipping suppliers is a must for achieving success in Facebook Marketplace. Besides, Facebook requires that items are shipped 2 to 3 days after an order has been placed. As such, you will need a supplier who can guarantee fast shipping times, can handle order management, and allows customers to track packages.
That way, you can focus on providing stellar customer service and promptly responding to customer messages. A McKinsey research suggests that 70% of the buying experiences are based on how the customer feels they are being treated." So the better customer experience you provide, the more sales you can make with your dropshipping business.
Where to find dropshipping suppliers
- Use directory sites like SaleHoo & Worldwide Brands
- Leverage bulk suppliers like Amazon, Walmart, & Wayfair
- Do reverse Google searches to discover where competitors are sourcing certain products.
Can You Dropship On Facebook Marketplace With Multiple Suppliers?
Yes, you can dropship on Facebook Marketplace with multiple suppliers. Since Facebook Marketplace policy requires ordered items to be shipped within 2 to 3 days, your best bet is to work with local dropshipping suppliers that can guarantee fast shipping times and quality products.
To simplify the process and manage product listings effectively, use Facebook Marketplace dropshipping software like AutoDS or Spocket. These tools can help you with product sourcing, price monitoring, and more.
How Does Shopify Work With Facebook Marketplace?
Shopify works with Facebook Marketplace by adding a 'Shop' option after your account is verified by Facebook and clicking the 'Sync A Partner Platform.' Hoiwever, sellers need to remove the password protection from their website before selling. To sell products from your Shopify dropshipping store on Facebook Marketplace:
4. List Your Items
Listing your items might sound like the easy part, but product listings actually play a crucial role when it comes to being able to sell your items. After all, your product listing is the first thing the customer sees throughout the entire transaction. A good dropshipping product listing contains:
- A product description
- More than one shipping option
- Payment methods such as Facebook Pay, PayPal, credit card, and debit card
When listing your products, remember to avoid spammy or illegal content. Facebook takes these things very seriously and may restrict, suspend, or even ban you completely.
5. Run Facebook Ads for Your Facebook Marketplace Listings
Running Facebook Ads for your Facebook Marketplace listings can help you get your brand in front of more prospective buyers. In fact, Hootsuite reports that advertising on Facebook in 2024 gives you "a potential ad reach of 1.98 billion people." Moreover, Wordstream's Facebook Ad benchmarks tells us that the average conversion rate for paid Facebook ads can be as high as 9.21%.
To run Facebook ads from a personal account, you can 'boost' your listing and appear higher in the search results. To run Facebook ads from a Business account, use your Commerce Manager and set your daily budget. Listings are shown as 'Sponsored' posts and displayed in your target market's feed.
The minimum budget for Facebook Marketplace dropshipping ads in 2024:
- $1/day minimum for ad sets set for impressions
- $5/day for ads charged for clicks, video views, likes, and post-engagements
- $40/day for things like app installs or offers
Take note that Facebook ad costs may fluctuate depending on seasons, holidays, and in your niche industry. In any case, your goal is to create ads that get people to stop scrolling and pay attention to get the best ROIs. Generic ads often get ignored by Facebook users, so your ad needs to stand out. The key is to test your products and know your audience. That way, you can make the most of your ad investment and increase your sales.
How to optimize your dropshipping listings on Facebook Marketplace
- Use the right keywords & high-quality photos
- Add relevant product tags & listing category
- Add the condition of your product & listing price
- Choose the number of items available & the delivery method
- Get customer reviews & testimonials
PRO TIP
Always use professional images and videos. Write catchy and detailed product descriptions. Selling on the platform is all about volume. The key is to upload multiple products and update listings every day to make money with the business model in 2024.
What Are The Rules & Requirements To Dropship On Facebook Marketplace?
The rules and requirements to dropship on Facebook Marketplace include the following:
Dropshippers need to follow the Facebook Marketplace rules to avoid being banned from the platform. For example, Facebook prohibits the selling of adult products, alcohol, drugs, drug paraphernalia, gambling, hazardous goods, tobacco, used cosmetics, weapons, and others.
6. Manage Your Items and Transactions
Managing your products and handling transactions is usually the tricky part in a business. Thankfully, Commerce Manager makes selling on Facebook easy. Commerce manager allows you to view your entire store at a glance - products, transactions, performance metrics, and everything else.
Is Facebook dropshipping automation possible?
Facebook dropshipping automation is possible, with the help of an automation tool called AutoDS. AutoDS is a Facebook Marketplace dropshipping software that does a lot things for you automatically, such as:
- Product research and analysis
- Importing products with just the URL of your chosen supplier
- Monitoring the inventory and prices of your suppliers
- Accepting and processing orders
AutoDS can even mark Facebook Marketplace listings as out of stock automatically, so you don't have to manually monitor your inventory. It's also very beginner friendly for Facebook Marketplace dropshipping beginners. Not only does it provide access to free dropshipping courses and tutorials, it also offers 24/7, 1-on-1 chat support.
AutoDS, however, is not a free tool that anyone can just use. It has various pricing plans, each having its own set of available features and inclusions:
- Import 200: $9.90 / month
- Starter 400: $17.90 / month
- Advanced 800: $32.90 / month
- Advanced Plus Packages: For more advanced dropshippers. Includes plans from $1,200 to $10,000
7. Fulfill Orders for Your Facebook Marketplace Dropshipping Store
Promptly fulfilling orders can help you achieve success in Facebook Marketplace dropshipping.
HOW TO MAKE MORE MONEY WITH FACEBOOK MARKETPLACE DROPSHIPPING IN 2024
To make money with the business model in 2024, find things you can sell for the best profits. In most cases, profit margins are thin so you want to increase your revenue by becoming the best marketer. Working with reliable dropshipping suppliers can also help you gain buyers and positive reviews. Learn to optimize your listings and use the right marketing strategies to make the most of your Facebook Marketplace store.
8. Provide Excellent Customer Service
The key to success and maintaining it is developing a relationship with clients. Providing excellent customer service and attending to their concerns is the best way to guarantee repeat clients, even after they have paid for a product or service.
Keep in mind that customer service directly correlates with customer reviews. Reviews are what will ultimately make or break your business. A study by PowerReviews shows that around 99% of online consumers look at product reviews and customer feedback before purchasing a product. If a potential buyer sees that your online business has mixed reviews or no reviews at all, chances are they won’t conduct business with you.
At the end of the day, having a product or service that sells is not enough. We live in an era where having a stellar reputation is what will ultimately determine the success of your business.
Pros & Cons Of Dropshipping On Facebook Marketplace
Pros
Facebook Marketplace is a way to own an online business in the ecommerce space without a ton of risks or investment.
Another pro of drop shipping on Facebook Marketplace is that you don't need to be a commerce manager or have experience with drop shipping. Dropshippers can reach a vast target audience and connect with potential customers based on interests and demographics.
You don't need to commit to one niche or target market.
Facebook Marketplace has a low 5% transaction fee. This is less than dropshippers who use Amazon FBA (which ranges between 6% to 20%).
Facebook ads, Facebook checkout, and customer support can all be done easily using the Marketplace platform.
Cons
A con of drop shipping on Facebook Marketplace is that it's super competitive. Dropshippers need to create appealing value offers and winning ads to get in front of the right people to make sales.
There is a risk of account bans and lack of creativity. It can be hard to stand out or leverage innovative methods and remain in compliance with the platform's rules.
It can be hard to scale your business due to location restrictions on the platform.
Another disadvantage is that each product listing has to be done individually.This can be time-consuming and can make your business hard to automate.
It takes 15-20 days for the platform to deposit the seller's money after an item is noted as shipped. (Or 5 days after it's been delivered to the buyer).
Is Dropshipping Allowed On Facebook Marketplace?
Yes, dropshipping is allowed on Facebook Marketplace. The platform is a buy-and-sell sales channel. But the audience belongs to Facebook. They have rules that include expectations around product quality. Sellers must ship items within 2-3 days of order placement and be aware of restricted products like weapons, drugs, or adult products.
Other issues include intellectual property infringement. Unfortunately, it's extremely easy for people to file copyright claims.
Hire a VA and give them access to your shops so you can test products and create a ton of listings without worrying about getting shut down. Consider taking a Facebook Marketplace dropshipping course and learning from an industry expert. That way, you can get access to insider hacks like how to leverage Facebook groups and tips on how to circumvent issues and avoid account bans. Like deleting rejected ads and the best way to set up more than one business account. In 2024, dropshippers need to comply or risk a Facebook Marketplace dropshipping ban. And this can decrease your sales or result in the permanent loss of your account.
3 Reasons Facebook is the Best Dropshipping Marketplace
1. Massive user base
Research shows that Facebook already has close to 3 billion users as of August 2023, with 2 billion of those being active every day. The Facebook platform accounts for approximately 40% of the world's population. You have access to that market. Not only does this allow you to cater to billions of potential customers, it also puts you in a position to potentially make more money than when you sell on other platforms. You'd also enjoy a higher profit margin since you won't have to spend as much on ads, given the size of Facebook's user base.
To put this into perspective, here are other platforms that allow dropshipping, and how many users each of them have:
- TikTok: 1.6 billion
- Amazon: 310 million
- eBay: 135 million
- Etsy: 86 million
- Shopify: 2.1 million
Overall, the gap between the Facebook user base and other platforms is simply too wide.
2. Meta Business Suite
Following the huge Meta update, Facebook developed the Meta Business Suite, which is a feature that allows businesses owners to seamlessly manage their online presence both on Facebook and Instagram. You can reach specific demographics, target certain interests, and so much more. Here are some features of the Meta Business Suite that make running your business simple:
- View your business at a glance: Once you open the Meta Business Suite, you'll see an overview of your entire business right at the homepage. This includes posts, activities, ad insights, and user metrics.
- Commerce Manager: Commerce Manager is a tool that allows you to manage your product listings, view your most popular products, track sales and orders, and many others.
- View insights: You can access data that shows the overall performance of your business, such as consumer trends, user activity, and other types of metrics.
- Ads Manager: Ads Manager allows you to run your entire advertising campaign at the palm of your hand. You can create ads, schedule them, monitor their performance, and allocate an advertising budget. You can even select and define the audience of your ads.
3. Ease of use
As a business owner, you'll be pleased to find out that selling on Facebook won't be as difficult since everyone knows how to use Facebook. Whether you're a 13 year old kid watching cat videos or a grandma that's looking to connect with your grandchildren, almost every person on the planet knows how the Facebook platform works.
To make things even better, the same can be said for the other side of the spectrum. You, as a seller, also won't have to worry about any difficulties with regards to running your business since Facebook makes it easy for eCommerce to thrive within their platform.
What Is Facebook Marketplace?
Facebook Marketplace is an online buy-and-sell site. It has a massive online audience, and it's easy to use. On the platform, people can browse listings, look for items for sale where they live, or find things they want to buy.
Research suggests that 51.2% of all social media consumers made their most recent social media purchases from Facebook Marketplace. Dropshipping on Facebook Marketplace Reddit users report that in 2024 you can leverage a ready-made audience and get in front of a ton of people. Then you can make more sales, boost conversions and earn money online.
What Is Dropshipping?
Dropshipping is a retail business model where you sell items online without owning physical products. Instead, dropshipping marketing relies on a third-party supplier to handle inventory and order fulfillment. Data reports that the global dropshipping industry is worth an estimated $2.8 billion and is projected to grow by 22.86% until 2027. In 2024, dropshipping is a chance to own an online business and sell to a broad audience.
Is There A Limit To How Much You Can Sell On Facebook Marketplace?
Yes, there is a limit to how much you can sell on Facebook Marketplace. In 2024, the daily Facebook Marketplace listing limit for a personal account is 150 items per day. This Facebook Marketplace dropshipping policy is to help safeguard against fraud or abuse of the platform.
Facebook Marketplace Dropshipping FAQs
To start dropshipping on Facebook Marketplace, you should have a budget of at least $150-$500. Since the platform holds monies for 15 to 20 days after an item is sold, dropshippers should have enough funds to cover the cost of the product and any shipping or additional fees.
To be eligible to dropship on Facebook Marketplace, you need to reside in a geographical location that offers Facebook Marketplace. You need to sell in a language supported by the platform, and be 18 years of age or older. Sellers also need an up-to-date Facebook app and an account that has existed for years since new accounts won't work.
If you have a new Facebook account, you still might be unable to access the Marketplace. This rule is enforced by the platform to protect buyers from fraud and potential scams. Facebook is strict about its policies. So if you post something that doesn't comply with their rules, your account will be blocked and you won't be able to access Marketplace.
To refresh your Facebook Marketplace listings:
- Go to Facebook Marketplace & click on 'My Account'
- Click on your listings
- Find the 3-dot icon beside each listing and click it
- Options that pop up include 'Renew/Restore Listing'
- Click the restore button and refresh your listing
The goal is to get your listings in front of your target audience. The algorithm likes new content, so constantly renew your Facebook Marketplace listings. Bump your listings back to the top to increase you chances of making more sales.
Payment options available on Facebook Marketplace depend on your geographical location. For US dropshippers, payment options include PayPal, CashApp, and Venmo, as they have shipping and checkout options directly on the platform. But there are rules that must be adhered to that include the following:
Dropshippers who reside outside of the USA may be able to use PayPal. Or they will need to set up an alternate payment arrangement with the buyer. If an order value is over $500, US residents must provide their Social Security Number as proof that they are US citizens.
How Does Local Lead Generation Compare To Dropshipping On Facebook Marketplace?
Dropshipping on Facebook Marketplace can be a profitable online business idea. However, it also has its challenges. To begin with, you'll have to spend big amounts on Facebook advertising. Your monthly revenues are also reliant on how much profit margin you can earn from each sale. Plus using the platform also means you are limited to selling products to Facebook users.
With lead generation, you don't rely on a third-party platform like Facebook. Rather, you have full control over every aspect of your business. You are not a middleman. You are a digital real estate owner who builds and ranks generic business websites you offer for rent. As you get those sites to the top of search engine results, they attract organic traffic and leads. You can then sell these leads to a small business owner for profits as high as 85% to 90%.
I've done dropshipping in the past but personally, I'd say lead generation is much more profitable. Today, I make $2,000 per month from a Grand Rapids tree care website that I own. In total, I earn around $52,000 monthly from owning multiple lead gen sites. I also teach a lead generation coaching program for anyone who wants to learn how to make passive income from this business model.
