The Ultimate Checklist for New Depop Sellers

The Ultimate Checklist for New Depop Sellers

Diving into the world of Depop is an exciting venture. You have unique items to sell and a global community waiting to discover them. But turning those items into consistent sales requires more than just snapping a picture and hitting “post.” To truly succeed, you need a strategy. This is your ultimate checklist for new Depop sellers, a comprehensive guide to getting started on Depop and building a thriving shop from day one.

This guide covers everything you need to know, from taking standout photos and writing sharp descriptions to pricing your items accurately and scaling your operations. Following these tips can help you reach the top in no time.

We’ll walk you through the essentials of setting up, listing, selling, and growing. Let's get started.

Getting Started on Depop: Your Foundational Checklist

Before you make your first sale, you need to build a foundation of trust and safety. A professional and secure shop encourages buyers to purchase with confidence. Here’s what every new Depop seller needs to prioritize.

Set Up Your Shop for Trust and Safety

Your shop's integrity begins with your very first listing. Authenticity is non-negotiable on a platform built on unique finds.

• Double-check authenticity. Always ensure the items you're listing are authentic. This builds a trustworthy reputation.
• Photograph labels and tags. For branded items, include clear photos of any labels, tags, or authenticity markers. This helps buyers trust that your item is the real deal.
• Always use original photos. Never use images from other websites. We will cover this more in-depth, but it’s a critical rule for getting started.
• Describe any faults. Honesty is the best policy. Clearly describe and photograph any faults or flaws. Buyers appreciate transparency, and it prevents issues post-sale.
• Comply with Depop's Terms of Service. Only list items that are permitted on the platform. Familiarize yourself with these rules to keep your account in good standing.

Protect Your Personal Information

Safety is paramount. To protect yourself, you should never share personal information with other users.

• Never include personal details like your phone number, address, or personal email in your bio.
• Do not put personal information in your listing descriptions.
• Never follow suspicious links sent by other users and keep all communications and transactions within the Depop app or website.
• If you receive a suspicious message, report it to Depop Support immediately.

The Core of Your Shop: Creating Listings That Sell

A good listing is what catches a buyer's attention, builds confidence in your shop, and ultimately, helps you sell your item. While it might seem like a lot at first, once you have the hang of it, listing becomes easy. Let's break down the three pillars of a perfect Depop listing.

Part 1: Mastering Depop Photography

Photos are the heartbeat of Depop. They are the first thing a potential buyer sees, and they can make the difference between a scroll-past and a sale. Using a mix of flat lays, model shots, and close-ups allows you to attract customers and increase your sales. A great photo can even help you become a global seller.

Your Photo Shot List: The Rule of Four

Don't just post one photo. Taking up to four photos instead of one can increase your chances of selling by 20%. A mix of four different images is always a good idea to show off how the item looks, how it fits, and any important details like tags or flaws.

A great combination includes:

1. A model shot: This shows buyers how the item fits on a person, giving them a better sense of its shape and drape.
2. A flat lay: This presents the item clearly and artfully against a clean background, showing its full design without distraction.
3. A close-up of details: Zoom in on unique features like buttons, embroidery, or fabric texture.
4. A close-up of tags or flaws: This shot builds trust by proving authenticity with brand tags and transparently showing any imperfections.

Lighting is Key

Good lighting can make or break your photos. The goal is to represent your item's colors and details as accurately as possible.

• Use natural light. Natural lighting always gets Depop's vote. Aim to take your photos near a window for soft, bright light that shows true colors.
• Avoid harsh shadows. Lighting that causes harsh, dark shadows never looks good and can obscure the details of your item.
• Shoot outside on a cloudy day. If you're shooting outdoors, a slightly overcast day is best. Direct sunlight can wash out colors and create those unwanted shadows.
• Invest in lighting if needed. If the natural light in your space isn’t great, consider investing in a simple lighting kit or ring light. It’s a small investment that pays off.

Backgrounds and Consistency

Your background should complement your item, not compete with it. A consistent photo style across your feed creates a cohesive and professional look for your shop.

• Keep backdrops simple. Try using a backdrop that doesn’t divert the buyer's attention from the product. A solid-colored wall, a clean floor, or a simple sheet can work perfectly.
• Get creative (but not complicated). Creative backgrounds can work well, but they don't need to be complex. Your local park, a basketball court, or an interesting city street can add personality to your shots.
• Maintain a consistent feed. Keep your photos in a similar style throughout your feed. This aesthetic consistency makes your shop look more professional and memorable.

A Strict No-Go: Stock Photos

It is critical that you only use your own photos. A stock photo is an image taken from another website without permission.

Using stock photos is not only against Depop's terms of use, but it is also often a breach of copyright. Listings uploaded with stock photos will be picked up by Depop's team and removed. Always use your own original photography to build trust and stay within the rules.

Part 2: Writing Descriptions That Convert

Once your photos have grabbed a buyer's attention, your description seals the deal. Well-written, interesting, and detailed descriptions make an item much more likely to sell. They answer a buyer's questions before they even have to ask.

Think Like Your Buyer

A useful exercise when writing descriptions is to put yourself in the buyer's shoes. What information would you want to know? What words would you use to search for this item?

Picture what buyers are most likely to be searching for and include those relevant keywords in your description. This simple step makes it much easier for the right customers to find your product.

The Anatomy of a Perfect Description

A great description is both comprehensive and easy to read. Be sure to include the following elements:

• Clear Item Details: Start with a clear title and a brief summary of what the item is.
• Accurate Brand Name: Always include the brand name. It's one of the top things buyers search for.
• Relevant Keywords: Think about the item’s style, era, and aesthetic (e.g., "y2k," "vintage 90s," "cottagecore," "gorpcore").
• Condition, Size, Age, and Color: These details are essential and can significantly alter an item's value. Be specific.
• Measurements: Include key measurements (like chest, waist, and length) as sizes can vary widely between brands and eras.
• Disclose All Flaws: Mention and describe any stains, holes, or signs of wear. Transparency builds trust.
• Use Hashtags: Include relevant hashtags in the description to make your item even more visible in search.

For more inspiration, Depop has a dedicated blog post about writing great descriptions.

Part 3: Pricing for Profit and Quick Sales

Pricing can feel tricky, but it's a skill you can develop with a bit of research and practice. The right price attracts buyers while ensuring you get what your item is worth.

Do Your Homework

Don't just guess a price. Make an educated decision by researching how similar items are priced by other sellers on Depop.

Look for items in a similar condition, from the same brand, and of a similar style. This will give you a good sense of the current market price. Remember that factors like condition, size, rarity, age, and color all alter an item's value.

Be Realistic and Flexible

While you want to get a good return, it's important to be realistic. Pick a price you are happy with, but understand that the market dictates value. If you're in doubt, it's often best to go with the market price.

Consider letting people make offers on your items. This not only increases the chance of a sale but also gives you valuable data that can inform your pricing strategy in the future. At the end of the day, if you don't think a price is good enough for your item, you shouldn't sell it.

Depop offers additional resources with more tips on how to price your items effectively.

Beyond the Listing: Pro Tips for Managing Your Depop Shop

A successful Depop shop runs on more than just great listings. How you manage your sales, interact with the community, and promote your business all play a role in your long-term success.

Post-Sale Excellence

The customer experience doesn't end at checkout. What you do after a sale is crucial for earning great feedback and repeat customers.

• Ship Items Promptly: Always ship sold items as soon as you can. Quick shipping is one of the easiest ways to increase your chances of receiving a 5-star review.
• Use Tracked Shipping: Depop recommends using Depop Shipping. If you choose to ship your own way, always use a tracked shipping method to protect both you and the buyer.
• Leave a Review: Once the purchase is complete, Depop recommends leaving a review for your buyer. This encourages them to leave one for you in return, which helps build your shop's reputation.

Growing Your Following and Engagement

Depop is a community, and active participation can lead to more followers and sales. Here are a few ways to grow your presence:

• List Frequently and Consistently: Regularly adding new items keeps your shop fresh and signals to the Depop algorithm that you're an active seller.
• Follow Other People: Following other users is a simple way to get more followers back.
• Engage with Your Audience: Answer every comment and question promptly, even the negative ones. Good communication builds trust.
• Promote Your Shop Online: Share your Depop store on Instagram and any other social media platforms you use. Include a link to your shop in your social media bios for better visibility.

Ready to Scale? How to Grow Your Depop Business with Reeva

You’ve mastered the Depop checklist. Your photos are sharp, your descriptions are detailed, and the 5-star reviews are rolling in. But as your business grows, so does the workload. Listing items, managing inventory across multiple platforms, and tracking sales can quickly become overwhelming.

This is where many resellers hit a wall. Manually juggling spreadsheets, spending hours creating listings, and risking overselling is inefficient and stressful. To become a real pro seller, you need the right tools. We are the all-in-one platform built to help you efficiently run and grow your resale business with ease.

We designed our platform to accelerate growth for resale businesses, helping them scale effortlessly by streamlining and automating the most time-consuming tasks.

How We Help You Sell Smarter, Not Harder

Our entire platform is built from the ground up for speed and simplicity. We streamline every part of the resale workflow, helping you break free from the inefficiencies that hold your business back.

Turn Photos into Listings Instantly

Imagine cutting your listing time in half. With our platform, you can. Our AI uses your item photos to instantly create your entire listing, including the title, description, tags, price, and even item-specifics for every marketplace you sell on.

Users like Nuzzydeals and FabFam have increased their listing speed by up to 60%, and Kilo L. found that our AI-generated listings completely changed how they work, allowing them to easily list 20-25 items an hour. As FabFam puts it, "By the time I put the item away, my listing is ready to go live."

Tired of tedious typing? Start our free trial and let our AI do the work for you.

List Everywhere with One Click

To maximize your sales, you need to be where the buyers are. Successful resellers know that cross-posting items on platforms like eBay, Poshmark, Mercari, and Etsy is key to growth. But listing manually on each site is a drain on your time.

We make it simple. With our platform, crosslisting happens instantly in the background. You can publish your items to all your marketplaces with a single click, without ever switching tabs. Hiview Reloved said our platform "has made it easy to expand to eBay and Depop."

Expand your reach beyond Depop. Try Reeva and see how easy it is to manage multiple marketplaces from one central hub.

Automate Your Way to More Sales

Our powerful automation features work for you around the clock to boost visibility and prevent costly errors. One of the biggest challenges of cross-posting is overselling. Our auto-delist feature instantly removes a sold item from all other marketplaces, so you never have to worry about selling the same item twice.

For user AlistairBP, it’s a game-changer: "The feature I use 100% the most—and couldn't live without—is the AUTO-DELIST feature." We also help you keep your inventory fresh by automatically relisting stale products to bump them to the top of search results.

Manage Your Entire Business from One Place

Say goodbye to endless spreadsheets and juggling multiple tools. We bring everything you need to run your business into one intuitive platform, accessible anytime, anywhere on mobile, desktop, or tablet.

Our system seamlessly manages your inventory, ensuring accurate stock levels across all platforms. Alexa N. synced over 50,000 inventory items with our platform, helping her sales grow by 7x. You can also track sales and profits with powerful business analytics and manage your finances with our full-service accounting tools. As PCT Vintage Finds noted, "No more spreadsheets. My bookkeeping is now all automated thanks to Reeva accounting."

We give you the power to manage your entire operation from your iPhone, just like user Will B., who now manages around 1,000 listings and sells 10-15 items a day.

Ready to get serious about your resale business? Explore our plans and start your free trial today. We make switching easy, and our team is available to guide you through a seamless onboarding process.

Your Depop Journey Starts Now

Your ultimate checklist for becoming a new Depop seller is complete. A successful shop is built on a foundation of stellar photography, detailed and honest descriptions, smart pricing, and excellent customer service. By mastering these fundamentals, you’ll be well on your way to making consistent sales and building a brand that buyers love.

But as your shop grows from a hobby into a business, the manual methods that worked at the beginning will start to hold you back. The time you spend on administrative tasks is time you could be spending on sourcing more products and growing your brand.

We built Reeva to help you break free from those inefficiencies and scale effortlessly. We streamline and automate your operations, giving you back time to focus on what truly matters. Stop juggling spreadsheets and start growing.

See how our platform can transform your Depop shop. Start your free trial today and let us help you build the resale business you've always wanted.