Do you know how to set up a shop on Facebook?
When first launched in 2004, the goal of Facebook was to connect people online. However, it’s become a valuable business tool over the years. Not only can users advertise and grow a brand’s digital presence on the platform, but it’s now also a place to sell via the Facebook shop.
If you run a business that sells products and have not yet created a FB store, you’re missing out on a huge amount of potential sales. With over 2.6 billion active users globally, it’s an excellent way to reach your target audience.
One of the great things about a Facebook shop is that you don’t need an existing online store. Your entire business can be run through Facebook if you like.
Here are a few more benefits of selling via Facebook:
- You can list as many products as you like and always add more.
- Products can be nicely organized into collections and categories.
- Customers can checkout directly via Facebook.
- Customers can contact you through your page.
- View reports on your sales, customers, and more.
Below, we give you a step-by-step guide for setting up a shop on Facebook.
What Types of Products Can You Sell On Facebook?
Before we get to setting up your Facebook store, it’s important to consider what type of products you intend on selling. Certain things cannot be sold on Facebook, while others fall in a bit of a gray area.
Fortunately, there is a wide selection of products that sell well on the platform. Clothing and fashion accessories, home decor items, pet accessories, and baby products are just a few examples.
Only physical items can be sold on Facebook, so you cannot sell digital or downloadable products. Additionally, healthcare items such as thermometers and first-aid kits are a no-go. You also cannot sell animals on the platform. Another, perhaps more obvious, “no-go” is counterfeit, illegal, or stolen items.
This makes selling on Facebook difficult for American CBD brands like Premium Jane and PureKana since CBD falls in a legal gray area. Australia has even stricter CBD laws, so Premium Jane Australia also cannot create a FB store. Many of these brands opt for a standard Facebook page to simply share information about the brand and link to their external online store.
If you’re unsure whether your product can be sold on Facebook, be sure to do some research before you decide to set up a FB store.
Step-by-Step Guidelines for Setting Up Your Facebook Shop
Creating a Facebook shop is not as challenging as many might think. By following a few simple steps, you should be set up and ready to sell in no time.
First, though, here is what you need before you can set up a shop:
- Facebook account
- Facebook business page
- Have admin privileges on the business page
Next, you can begin setting up your store.
Step 1: Add the Shop feature via Your Business Page
First, navigate to your Facebook business page and click the “shop” tab located in the main menu on the left-hand side. Other tabs found here include “posts,” “offers,” and “groups.”
Most business pages have the shop feature displayed by default. However, if you cannot find it on your page, you need to activate the “shopping” template. Here’s how to do that:
- Go to Settings and click Templates and Tabs.
- Click the Edit button in the Current Template area.
- Select the Shopping template.
- Now click on the shop tab, which should display on your page.
Once you select the “shop” tab, you will be asked to agree to Facebook’s Merchant Terms and Policies.
Step 2: Set Up Store Details
Next, you will be required to provide important information for your FB store. Facebook will guide you through the process step-by-step. Here is the information you should have on hand:
- Your location; if you’re based in the U.S., you need to provide your tax details
- The business street address and zip code
- The type of business you’re running (you can choose from a drop-down menu)
- The currency you accept
- What products you sell
- Your business representative information
- A customer service email
You will also need to provide information on your shipping and return policies. Facebook’s rules require sellers to ship within three days of receiving an order, and the customer must receive it within ten days. You must also use shipping services that provide tracking and delivery information.
Step 3: Configure Payment Options
Typically, the payment options depend on where you’re based. Currently, only U.S. businesses can link a bank account directly to their Facebook shop.
In some other locations internationally, FB gives businesses the option to set up payment via Paypal or Stripe. Facebook will guide you through the process of setting these up.
If none of these options are available to you, there are two standard checkout methods: Checkout with Messaging and Checkout on Another Website. The former means the buyer will make a purchase by sending you a message. The latter means customers will be redirected to checkout from your existing e-commerce platform. In this instance, you need to add a URL to Shopify or another e-commerce site when adding a product.
Step 4: Start Adding Products to Your FB Store
Now, it’s finally time to add products to your Facebook shop. The platform will prompt you to do this as soon as you’re on your shop page and all important information has been completed.
Select the button that says Add Product to start bringing your store to life. The form that generates is very simple and easy to follow. You will need a product name, image, price, and description for each product you add. Multiple images and videos can be added – just be sure to check Facebook’s guidelines regarding sizes, text restrictions, etc.
You can also input data on how much of each item you have in stock – this will allow customers to see if you’ve run out of stock. Tracking your inventory also allows you to gain valuable insight into sales volume and help you keep on top of things.
Finally, you also need to choose a shipping option from those you configured during the setup process.
Step 5: Organize Products into Collections
If you’re selling a large variety of products, it’s worth creating collections to organize your products. This makes it easier for buyers to navigate your store and improves the shopping experience.
For instance, if you’re selling clothing, you might have a collection of dresses, tops, skirts, and shorts, etc.
The Add Collection feature becomes visible under your products once you add items to your FB store. Next, you will have to create a name for your collection, add the relevant products, and click the Add button.
You can add, edit, or remove products on your FB store at any time. Once you upload the products, each of them will show up on a list inside your shop management panel. Simply navigate to the Publishing Tools tab in the top menu bar. Then select the Products tab on the sidebar – this is where you can make any necessary changes.
Step 6: Manage Your Orders
Now your store is up and running, and you can wait for the orders to start rolling in. Be sure to promote your Facebook shop and products through the various advertising avenues available on the platform to boost sales.
When you receive an order, you will get a notification. You can review and manage all orders in the Publishing Tools tab under the shop section. Next, you should see a Pending Orders link in the sidebar. This is where you can manage orders, check the details of each one (like shipping preferences and address), and fulfill the order.
Conclusion: Setting up a Facebook Shop
The Facebook shop feature has opened up a whole new world of opportunity for businesses worldwide. If you sell physical products that meet the platform’s requirements, you need to tap into the power of Facebook. With more than a billion active FB users globally, you can extend your reach drastically when selling on Facebook.
Hopefully, this guide has given you some much-needed insight into launching your FB store and shown that it’s not as complicated as many imagine. The best part is, you don’t even need an existing e-commerce site to sell on Facebook.
