How To Sell On Whatnot: Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

Are you interested in turning your hobbies, collectibles or handmade items into cash? Whatnot is a rapidly growing live streaming marketplace where sellers can engage with buyers in a fun and interactive way. If you sell comic books, trading cards, vintage toys & handmade items, Whatnot offers a platform that makes selling simple and entertaining. In this guide, we will outline in detail how to sell on Whatnot, so that you can feel prepared and confident even as a beginner....

Step 1: Create Your Whatnot Account 

The first part of selling on Whatnot is signing up. Download the Whatnot app from either the App Store or Google Play Store and create an account, sign up with your email, phone number or even your social media accounts.

Once your account is established, you will then set up your seller profile. You want to make sure that you add a profile picture and a short bio. Buyers like to know who they're buying from & being approachable & friendly in your profile goes a long way in building trust.

Step 2- Apply to Become a Seller

Not everyone can start selling on Whatnot right away. In order for you to sell, you must become a verified seller by applying. To apply:

1. Open the Whatnot app and go to the 'Sell' tab, then..
2. Click on- Apply to Sell..
3. Fill out the necessary information, including what type of items you will sell....

Whatnot is paving its way toward collectibles, vintage & niche items, so you want to make sure that whatever items you are selling fit that category. Once the request is made, Whatnot will review your application (usually within a few days to a week). Once the application is approved, you are free to sell on the platform..

Step 3- Set Up Your Payment Information

Before selling, it is required to set up your payment information to receive payouts. Whatnot employs secure payment methods to guarantee that all transactions are safe for buyers and sellers.

To set up your payment mode:

1. Visit your account settings....
2. Add your bank account or preferred payment method.....
3. Verify your information.....

Once a sale is complete, you'll automatically receive your payout in your selected account.

Step 4- Prepare Your Items

At this point, you are ready to prepare your products. Preparation is important to sell successfully on Whatnot. Here are a few tips:

1. Organize your inventory. You can quickly find your items while you're live streaming if they are organized well.
2. Take great photos. Whatnot is a live platform, but great photos in your listing will help buyers know what they're getting.
3. Price items. You can decide if you want to sell items at a buy it now price or in an auction style. Live bidding on Whatnot can drive a price higher, especially if multiple people want the items.

Step 5- Schedule or Go Live

Whatnot is mainly a live auction platform, so your selling is happening in real time. You can either schedule a live session ahead of time or go live immediately. Scheduling a session gives you time to promote your sale, which tends to get more people to watch and can help you sell collectibles online.

Here's how to go live:

1. Launch the Whatnot app and click the "Go Live" button.
2. Choose a title for your live session that will grab people's attention. For example, "Super Rare Pokémon Cards Auction" or "Collectible Comic Book Sale."
3. Add any relevant categories or tags for buyers to find your live session easily.

Step 6- Engage with Your Audience

Interaction is at the heart of live selling. While you are engaging with your items, be sure to engage with your viewers by:

1. Responding to any questions they have about the items.
2. Showing interesting features or rare details.
3. Thanking buyers for their auction wins.

The more personal and interactive you can be, the more buyers will engage and, hopefully, come back for future selling events. Keep in mind that you are working hard to build a following on Whatnot because it might lead to more sales for you in the future.

Step 7- Manage Sales and Shipping

After an item has sold, the next step will be packaging and shipping the sold items. Whatnot has a shipping label system, which usually makes it easy to ship an item quickly and securely.

Tips for easy shipping:

1. Package your items carefully to avoid damage.
2. Ship promptly or within a day or two of a sale.
3. If you will be delayed in shipping, communicate with the buyer.

Good packaging and communication create positive reviews, which can help with your seller status and encourage future sales.

Step 8- Review Your Performance

Following each live session, reflect on your performance. Whatnot gives you information on your sales, viewership and engagement. Determine what performed well, which items had the most viewers and how many total viewers watched your live stream.

Evaluating everything that takes place with each session will allow you to improve on future sales, whether you choose to change your prices, demonstrate items differently or pick better timeframes to go live.

Step 9- Build Your Audience

Succeeding on Whatnot is not just about individual sales, which is what some entrepreneurs may think before starting to sell. Succeeding on Whatnot is all about building a community. You should promote your sales on other social media platforms, such as Instagram or post clips from your live to share with your other followers on other platforms. The more followers who know about your live, the more likely you are to sell your items.

Final Thoughts

Selling on Whatnot could be rewarding and fun, especially if you like interacting with people while selling or auctioning your items. As a seller, you will create an account, apply to be a seller, get approved to sell, go live, interact with your audience and ship all of your items. This order takes you through the process of successful selling on Whatnot and shows you how to make money on Whatnot.

Success in any marketplace requires patience and time. The more actively you interact with your audience and learn about them, the more your sales will improve and increase. Get ready to go live and start earning from your hobby!