How to Actually Make Money on Poshmark

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I have suggested selling on Poshmark to so many people looking to get rid of clothes or make some extra cash, but I don’t think they realize how serious I actually am. If you are not sure you feel like reading this post, I’ll just tell you right out… I have made $XXX selling clothes on Poshmark. WHAT. I actually can’t even believe that and I know it’s true…. Oh whooops! I forgot to type the number. I guess you’ll just have to keep reading to find out. So you wanna know how I did it? Here they are…all my secrets that I believe helped me make some extra cash! I hope it makes a difference for you too.

1. Pick & Choose Your Pieces to Save Time

Not everything is worth the time and energy it takes to post on Poshmark. If there are egregious stains or holes, don’t bother. When cleaning out your closet, make a trash (very bad condition), Goodwill (okay condition), and Poshmark (very good condition) pile. Poshmark pieces should be relatively popular brands, excellent condition, and trendy selections. If the brand is not well known, your description and title will help the post stand out as people look for discount options for trending styles. You need to spend time taking photos and writing descriptions for each piece, so being selective with what you think will sell is key up front.

2. Take Quality Photographs of What Matters

I have gotten away from styling photos like I did initially, but quality photos is key to an increase of sales. If I have time, I will select a few accessories or put together an entire outfit with the available piece, create a flatlay styled shoot, and snap a clear, day lit picture. I do not tend to take pictures of myself in the item unless I already have a picture from an event that I can post or someone specifically asks me to model it. I always take a clear picture of the entire item, close ups on any small stains or problem areas (so that I am being honest about the condition), a photo of the tag showing the brand and size, and close ups on any cute details about the piece. I do not apply any filters, just increase brightness or contrast so that the images stand out.

3. Write Effective Descriptions & Titles

This part is important as these descriptions will help your item come up in searches. Be sure to include as many details as you can; brand, size, colors, name of the trend (i.e. bell bottoms, peasant top, fit and flare dress, etc.). You can also put relevant brands in parentheses in your description so that your search comes up in other searches. For example, maybe you are posting a bohemian style dress from H&M, you can include (Similar To: Free People, Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie) in the description box.

It is also fun to add styling ideas to your posts. Tell the potential buyer how they can wear the item or what it would go well with. “This top is perfect for brunch with friends, paired with flare jeans and heeled booties!” Be sure to disclose any issues with the item (holes, stains, broken pieces) so that you do not run into any trouble after the item is purchased. If you are not up front about it, they can reject the piece once received in the mail and you will not get paid.

4. Share to Feed & Curated Poshmark Parties

This tip is hard to understand unless you have used the app before. Poshmark hosts virtual shopping parties throughout the day that are themed by brand or style. You can share your pieces in the party for users to see if they are related to the theme. For example, I can share my Free People pieces in the Urban Outfitters, Free People, and Anthropologie party and it serves as a concentrated audience of people who are looking for just those brands. You can also share to your follower feed at any time so that your item goes to the top of their shopping feed and gets more exposure.

5. Use Private Price Drop to Likers

Once a user “likes” your item, they will be notified of any changes you make to the item, most importantly whenever you lower the price. You can offer private discounts to those who have liked the item or you can do it publicly. These private offers are limited to a 24 hour window and they encourage likers to pounce on the low price opportunity. These offers will also discount shipping prices, so there is a lot of incentive to buy at that point. This paragraph felt a little slim, so I’ll tell you now…I have made seven hundred dollars selling on Poshmark.

6. Cross-Promote on Social Media

Whenever I put a lot of items up on Poshmark, I always share my username and a few of the items on my Instagram story. I have seen followers go and buy immediately after viewing these stories. I have also shared my profile on Twitter and Facebook for more exposure. This has been a huge help in boosting my sales.

Why Sell on Poshmark?

I obviously really like using Poshmark, but there are a few negative sides. They do take a huge percentage of the earnings… a whole 20%. That is hard to swallow. But I do feel that it is the most effective way to sell clothing, without it getting lost in a sea of Ebay listings. Poshmark is purely for clothing, shoes, and accessories.

I have also tried taking my items to Buffalo Clothing Exchange or Plato’s Closet and have had everything rejected or I’ve sold one item to them for about $3. Yikes. I also appreciate how easy Poshmark makes the shipping process. The buyer pays $6 for a flat rate shipping fee, the seller gets a label emailed directly to them, and then all you have to do is put it in an envelope or box and put it in the mailbox. It is so simple.

Shopping on Poshmark

I have gotten a few questions on whether or not I purchase other people’s listings on Poshmark. And the answer is, I do! I prefer to search for things that are either never worn or new with tags. I have also found items that were sold out on the retailer site or Lack of Color hats that have very expensive shipping fees from Australia and are much more affordable to purchase on Poshmark. I don’t peruse like a shopping trip, I usually go in knowing what I am looking for, search for key terms, and find good deals on otherwise pricey items.

If you are new to Poshmark, you can sign up with my code “JOEVANS29” and receive $5 off your first order. You can shop what is currently left on my closet here.

Happy poshing!

xoxo,

jojo