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A comprehensive guide to leveraging Facebook to sell a car
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Facebook is one of the most frequently visited social media websites on the Internet. This makes it an excellent platform to advertise cars you're selling, because it allows you to connect with large numbers of potential buyers you wouldn't otherwise be able to reach. By using Facebook to connect with a larger pool of potential buyers, you can easily increase sales, boost profit, and sell cars quickly and efficiently.
How to Advertise a Car on Facebook
You can use Marketplace to list cars on Facebook. You can post your listing on your pages, and in local sales groups. Be sure to include as much information as possible (make, model, year, mileage, VIN, etc). Include multiple pictures from various angles.
Steps
Section 1 of 4:
Creating a Car Listing
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Get all the information about your car. You will need as much information about your car as you can provide. This includes the make and model, the year, the millage, the VIN (vehicle identification number), the condition, and any other relevant details. You will also want to take lots of pictures of the car.
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Log in to your Facebook page. Facebook Marketplace is a great way to sell cars because it connects you with nearby people who might be interested in your car. To log in to Facebook , go to https://www.facebook.com/ in a web browser and log in using the username and password associated with your Facebook account. You can also log in to the Facebook app on your mobile device.Advertisement
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Navigate to the Marketplace. To do so, click Marketplace in the panel to the left if you are on a desktop computer. On mobile devices, tap the icon that resembles a store front at the top of the page (on Android) or at the bottom (on iPhone).
- Facebook Marketplace is located at https://www.facebook.com/marketplace .
- If you don't see the Marketplace icon at the top or bottom of your feed, tap your profile icon, and then tap the Marketplace shortcut.
- While Facebook Marketplace is an easy way to connect with buyers, it offers less flexibility than posting to your own page. Most transactions done there are cash-only, so if you are considering financing or payment plans, this may not be the best option.
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Tap the Sell tab and then tap Create listing . The Sell tab is at the top of the page. Then tap the blue button that says Create listing . If you are using a desktop computer, click + Create New Listing in the menu panel to the left.
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Tap Vehicle or click Vehicle for Sale . If you are using a mobile device, click Vehicle in the pop-up menu at the bottom of the screen. If you are using a desktop computer, click Vehicle for Sale in the center of the screen.
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Select the vehicle type. Use the drop-down menu below "Vehicle type" to select "Car/Truck." You can also sell other types of vehicles (i.e. motorcycle, boat, commercial vehicle, etc).
- If you are using a desktop computer, the form you need to fill out is on the left side.
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Add photos and or video. Be sure to include lots of photos from multiple angles. You will also want to include photos of the inside. Alternatively, you can include a video of the car (1 minute max). Click or tap Add photos or Add videos and then select the photos/video you want to include.
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Add your location. If you are using a mobile phone, your phone can detect your location automatically. If you are using a desktop computer, enter the city you are in in the box labeled "Location."
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Enter the car details. Facebook Marketplace automatically prompts you to fill out important information, such as asking price, make, model, year, and photos. [1] X Research source Use the drop-down menu and text boxes to enter the following information:
- Year: Enter the year the car was manufactured.
- Make: Use the drop-down menu to select the car brand (i.e. Ford, Mitsubishi, Nissan, BMW, etc).
- Model: Use the drop-down menu or enter the car model or truck (i.e, F-150, Taurus, Focus, etc).
- Millage: Enter the current number of miles the car has on the odometer.
- Body type: Use this drop-down menu to select the body type (i.e. Coupe, Sedan, SUV, Truck, etc.).
- Trim: Use this drop-down menu to select the trim of the car's model (i.e. SL, XL, Limited, LT, etc).
- Exterior color: Use this drop-down menu to select the color of the car's paint job.
- Interior color: Use this drop-down menu to select the color of inside of the car (the seats and dash).
- Vehicle condition: Use this drop-down menu to select the condition of the car (i.e. Good, Poor, Excellent, etc).
- Number of owners: Use this drop-down menu to select the number of owners the car has previously had.
- Fuel type: Use this drop-down menu to select the car's fuel type (i.e. Diesel, electric, gasoline, hybrid, etc.)
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Enter your sales information. Use the following steps to include your sales information:
- Clean title: If the car has no significant damage or persistent problems, and the insurance company has never determined it is a total loss, click the checkbox next to "This vehicle has a clean title.".
- Price: Enter your asking price for the car next to "Price."
- Description: Use the box labeled "Description" to write a brief description of the vehicle. Include any details you think ought to be known.
- Phone: Be sure to include a valid contact phone number in the box that says "Phone" (optional).
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Click or tap Next . It's the blue button at the bottom of the menu.
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Select any groups you want to list your car in. If you are part of any local sales groups or car groups, click or tap the checkmark next to those groups. This will post the listing in those group pages.
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Click or tap Publish . It's the blue button at the bottom of the page. This will post your listing.
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Section 2 of 4:
Optimizing your Listing
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Include the asking price based on the vehicle’s market value. Use an online appraisal site, such as Kelly Blue Book, to determine the vehicle’s fair market value (FMV) . This will take into account your vehicle’s condition, mileage, and other details to give you an estimated transaction price, which is the price you want to end up at after negotiations.
- Set your asking price roughly 10-15% higher than the FMV to leave room for negotiations. For instance, if you want to sell your car at $5,000, set the asking price at $5,750.
- For more expensive cars, leave more room for negotiation. For instance, if you want to sell your car at $15,000, set the asking price at $16,500.
- Set your car just below benchmark numbers so the buyer feels like the price is lower than it actually is. For example, if you want to sell your car for $10,000, set the asking price at $9,900 instead.
- To make sure your asking price is in the right ballpark, run a quick search to see what similar cars are selling for in your area.
- You may want to have your car professionally appraised, as they can give you the value of your car in writing. This can be a valuable resource when negotiating price later on. [2] X Research source
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Write a full, honest, and detailed description of the car you’re selling. At the very least, make sure to include the year, make, model, mileage, and transmission type (manual or automatic). Let buyers know exactly what they’re getting. Some other details to include are the condition of your car (fair, good, very good, or excellent), any damage your car may have, and any accidents it may have been in. An example of a detailed, well-rounded description might looking something like this:
- “I’m selling my used 2008 silver Honda Accord, 106k miles, in good condition. It has an automatic transmission, a 6-cylinder motor, and brand-new tires. There’s a minor dent directly beneath the front headlight on the driver’s side, but it runs beautifully and has no mechanical problems, no further body damage, and a spotless interior. It also has a great sunroof and a brand-new stereo. I can provide maintenance receipts to prove the car has been regularly kept up with.”
- According to digital content and marketing expert Vikas Agrawal, you should add a complete and accurate description of the car, along with a lot of images from all angles. Then, complete the post by adding relevant tags and payment options.
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List several photos of the car you're selling from every angle. For the exterior, photograph the front, back, and both sides. You may also want to take pictures of the tires, wheels, and engine. For the interior, photograph the dashboard, all seats, carpet, and odometer. You may also want to photograph the inside of the trunk. Include these photos in your listing underneath the description.
- Wash and detail your car before you take any pictures of it. Photos are a key selling point for potential online buyers, so you want your car to looks its best. [3] X Research source
- The more pictures you include, the more trust the buyer will have that you are giving them an honest idea of what the car looks like. [4] X Research source
- If the car is damaged in any way, make sure you include pictures that accurately portray the damaged area.
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Post a walk-around video of the car you’re selling. Using your cellphone or camera, slowly walk around your car while taking a video of it. Try to shoot the video so you can see the car from every possible angle. When you make your listing, position the video underneath the description and photos.
- Including a walk-around video will allow the buyer to see the car from angles that they can't see from photos alone.
- Keep the video under one minute. This is the maximum amount of time allowed by Facebook. Potential buyers are likely to lose interest in videos that are too long. [5] X Research source
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Include a contact phone number in your listing. Consider including an alternate contact method if potential buyers can’t reach you at the first number This can include an email address or a second phone number. If you are open to communicating over Facebook Messenger, put that in your listing as well.
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Let potential buyers know what payment options you accept. Cash is the best option to avoid fraud. Other options to consider are a cashier's check or money order. While these are riskier, they are acceptable as long as you have the funds in hand before you sign over the title.
- Don't accept monthly payments, because they're no way for you to collect the money if the buyer stops paying. [6] X Research source
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Section 3 of 4:
Increasing Exposure
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Post the listing you created on your Facebook profile page. Try to max out your personal Facebook page at the 5,000 friend limit by sending as many friend requests as you can. The more people on your Facebook page, the more people that will see your listings. While you don’t have to personally know them, make sure the people you add live in your area and would be able to meet to pick up the car. [7] X Research source
- Try networking by sending friend requests to friends of your current Facebook friends.
- A good way to let people know that you sell cars is by changing your profile picture to a photo of you next to a car you’re selling. [8] X Research source
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Share your listing in Facebook groups that advertise cars or local sales groups. Run a quick Facebook search to find groups and pages where you can share your listing. A number of groups on Facebook are specifically dedicated to advertisements from individuals and dealers looking to sell their cars.
- Make sure the individuals in the group are primarily located in your area. They will be more likely to buy the car if they don’t have to travel a long distance to pick it up.
- If you are a car dealer looking to sell cars, look for local groups that are specific to the car brand(s) that you are selling.
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Create a separate Facebook page to sell several cars at once. If you have a large inventory of cars to sell, create a business page to help you organize your listings in an easily accessible way. This also allows you to keep your personal Facebook account while having a separate page where you can interact with buyers. [9] X Research source
- If you only plan on selling 1 or 2 cars, creating a separate page can be an unnecessary hassle.
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Boost your listing You can also use the paid "boost" option to maximize your post's visibility and get buyer offers faster. To boost a listing, go to the "Your Listings" section and click Boost listing . Select a custom duration and budget and select how long and how much you are willing to pay to boost your listing. Click Promote now when you are done. [10] X Research source
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Section 4 of 4:
Finalizing a Sale
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Respond to all inquiries within 48 hours. Ideally, try to reply to any questions or requests from potential buyers within 24 hours and no later than 48 hours. You don’t want them changing their mind because you didn’t respond quickly enough. [11] X Research source
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Negotiate the price with the potential buyer. If your vehicle is up for negotiation, allow the buyer to make an offer based on your asking price. If you are not happy with the offer, make a counter-offer. Have a dollar amount in mind that you will accept as the lowest possible price and stick to that amount. If your car is not up for negotiation, let the buyer know that your price is firm.
- A good rule of thumb is to not let the buyer know that your car is up for negotiation beforehand. [12] X Research source
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Get the potential buyer’s contact information. Once you’ve determined a buyer is serious about purchasing your vehicle, collect their information so you can move forward with selling it. This will allow you to confirm their identity, which is important to avoid fraudulent buyers. You want to collect their:
- Full name
- E-mail address
- Home address
- Phone number [13] X Research source
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Meet with the buyer in person to finalize the sale and collect payment. Ask the buyer what payment option they plan to use and have them meet you at their bank or credit union to complete the transaction. It’s best to accept only cash to avoid fraud, but you can accept a cashier’s check as long as you verify the legitimacy of the payment with the buyer’s bank before you part ways. [14] X Research source
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Fill out the sales paperwork as required by the state you live in. Each state has different requirements for selling a vehicle, so check the DMV website to see what paperwork is required by your state. It will walk you through the process of transferring the vehicle’s title. At the very least, you will need the bill of sale and the vehicle’s title. A bill of sale template can be found on the DMV website as well.
- A bill of sale template can be found on the DMV website. Consider having it notarized to avoid fraud.
- Even if they are not required, you may want to include warranty documents, copies of maintenance records, and a Release of Liability. [15] X Research source
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Sign the title over to the buyer once you receive payment. Instructions for signing over the title are usually provided on the back of the title itself, so use this as a guide on where you should sign it. If your name is the only name on the title, then you are the only one who needs to sign it.
- If there are multiple names on the title, check if there is an “and” or an “or” separating the names. If the two names are joined by “and”, both parties will have to sign the title. If they are joined by “or”, then either party may sign it over. [16] X Research source
- Don’t sign the title over to the buyer until you’ve received payment in full.
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Mark your listing as “sold” when the transaction is complete. Go back and edit any posts you’ve made about a specific car as soon as it sells. This is to keep buyers from getting confused and to keep your inventory organized. It will also cut down on the number of messages you receive about cars that have already sold.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionDo I need qualifications to do this?Will ZiadaCommunity AnswerIf you are selling cars privately, you don't need any qualification. In terms of soft skills, it's pretty easy. Just follow the format provided by Facebook Marketplace. Be sure to include the miles in the listing, and maintain a 4+ star Marketplace rating.
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QuestionHow do I post a car on Facebook for sale?Will ZiadaCommunity AnswerClick the Marketplace icon in the left-hand navigation (on mobile). Click the Sell button at the top of the page, navigate through the categories to find vehicles, select your make and model, and upload good-quality photos of both the interior and exterior (including a dash shot with odometer).
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Tips
- Don’t spam your page with tons of cars every day, as potential buyers can get overwhelmed (and annoyed) by too many posts. Limit your listings to around 3 cars each day. [17] X Research sourceThanks
- When taking pictures, place your car in front of a plain background. This will keep the focus on the car. [18] X Research sourceThanks
- Highlight your car’s special features in your advertisement to attract buyers. This includes things like upgrades, modifications, sunroofs, and stereos, among others. [19] X Research sourceThanks
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Warnings
- Use caution to avoid selling cars to fraudulent buyers . Always verify a potential buyer by gathering their personal information and following up via phone call or email.Thanks
- Always exercise caution when meeting someone you met online . Never meet up with anyone you meet online at night or alone. Always bring someone with you, and choose a public meeting place that is well-lit.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://digitalairstrike.com/blog/auto-dealers-sell-more-cars-on-facebook-marketplace/
- ↑ https://www.dmv.org/buy-sell/selling-your-car/negotiating-used-car-sale.php
- ↑ https://www.dmv.org/buy-sell/selling-your-car/selling-online.php
- ↑ https://www.dmv.org/buy-sell/selling-your-car/selling-online.php
- ↑ https://youtu.be/vNy-34-IW0I?t=318
- ↑ https://www.dmv.org/buy-sell/selling-your-car/guide-to-selling-your-car.php
- ↑ https://youtu.be/vNy-34-IW0I?t=237
- ↑ https://youtu.be/vNy-34-IW0I?t=282
- ↑ https://youtu.be/vNy-34-IW0I?t=120
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/business/help/304288543633513?id=150605362430228
- ↑ https://www.dmv.org/buy-sell/selling-your-car/selling-online.php
- ↑ https://www.dmv.org/buy-sell/selling-your-car/guide-to-selling-your-car.php
- ↑ https://www.dmv.org/buy-sell/selling-your-car/selling-online.php
- ↑ https://www.dmv.org/buy-sell/selling-your-car/guide-to-selling-your-car.php
- ↑ https://www.dmv.org/buy-sell/selling-your-car/guide-to-selling-your-car.php
- ↑ https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/loans/auto-loans/transfer-car-title/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/vNy-34-IW0I?t=294
- ↑ https://www.dmv.org/buy-sell/selling-your-car/selling-online.php
- ↑ https://www.dmv.org/buy-sell/selling-your-car/selling-online.php
- ↑ https://www.dmv.org/buy-sell/selling-your-car/selling-online.php
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