10 Proven Tips to Boost Your Depop Sales in 2024

1. Perfect Photography

How do you take professional photos for reselling clothes online? The most important tip to having a successful Depop shop is to take clear pictures that accurately show the condition of your items. The thumbnail picture is the first thing potential buyers will see before deciding to buy your item or move on to the next person’s listing. Good lighting, a clear background that contrasts well with your items, and close-up shots of important details are vital to converting listings into sales.

What type of lighting should you use when photographing clothing for reselling clothes? When it comes to lighting, there are a few options to consider. If you are looking to keep things simple, a room with lots of windows and natural light will do the trick. Be careful to avoid shadows and harsh lighting that distorts your images. Another option to consider is professional studio lights and backdrops. While this may sound expensive and daunting to set up, a professional setup can be achieved for less than a few hundred dollars. An expense that will turn into thousands in profit as your reselling business grows. A few LED studio lights, a simple piece of fabric for a professional background, and a nice camera will elevate your reselling photography.

Whether you choose a simple flat lay set-up with natural light on the concrete or go for a more professional approach with studio lights and backdrops, it is vital to take clear product pictures to make more sales on Depop.

2. Create Compelling Item Descriptions

How do you write Depop item descriptions that lead to more sales? Craft item descriptions on depop that are informative and honestly describe an item’s condition. It is important to accurately describe your items, highlight important details, and focus on descriptions that use keywords optimized for Depop’s SEO (Search Engine Optimization). Starting descriptions with targeted keywords such as “Y2K” or “Vintage” will help your item appear in more search results. Another tip is to include descriptive keywords about materials, styles, and trends to help boost visibility in Depop’s search. It is also important not to stuff your listings with non-relevant keywords or spam words you think will help you rank higher in search. This has the opposite effect and will cause less traffic to your store.

3. Set Creative Pricing

How do you price items for sale online? Best practices for pricing your items for sale on depop include doing pricing research to find similar items that have sold in the past, or similar items on the market. You don’t want to undersell your listings and leave a bunch of money on the table by selling a $100 item for $40, but you also don’t want to price that $100 item at $200, as it will never sell. It is important to list your items in a sweet spot that is priced around, or slightly under the competition. You can also look at the broader market for pricing information by looking at other reselling platforms like eBay, Poshmark, and Mercari.

4. Utilize Hashtags

Depop’s Search Engine Optimization also relies heavily on the use of hashtags to increase item visibility. Hashtags are short words or phrases used to draw attention to something about your listing. It is important to include relevant, trending, and descriptive hashtags to make more sales on Depop. For example, a listing of a vintage t-shirt titled “Vintage Patagonia Retro X Deep Pile Fleece Jacket Men’s Large might include the hashtags #Patagonia #Gorpcore #Hiking #Fall #Outerwear. These hashtags highlight the brand, a trending style “Goprcore”, an activity/season associated with wearing the brand/item, and the category the article of clothing falls under. All of these hashtags will boost the item’s visibility to shoppers looking for similar listings.

5. Post Regularly and Stay Active

Posting regularly on Depop is an excellent way to make more sales and grow your following. The Depop Algorithm rewards sellers who post regularly and often with more traffic and visibility to their listings. Consistency is key when looking to make more money on Depop as the more you post, the more listings you will have for sale, which inevitably leads to more chances to sell your items. It is recommended you post at least one item a day to stay relevant in the algorithm, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t post more than that. A goal to set is between 3-5 new listings per day. Another best practice is to build out a draft bank and post your items spread out over time. This can make posting consistently a little less daunting and show more consistent activity on your account.

6. Engage with Your Followers

Depop is firstly an app to sell items on the secondhand market. Secondly, it is a social platform built on creating a community of people based around second-hand clothing and fashion. To make more money on Depop, engaging with your followers and creating a sense of community around your shop will lead to more sales. A great way to do this is to follow other shops and hashtags that interest you. Responding to customer’s questions promptly and treating them with kindness and respect will also make them feel valued, which provides a great buying experience for them.

7. Offer Discounts and Bundles

How do you make more sales on Depop? Offering special promotions, discounts, and bundles will help convert potential buyers into customers. When buyers like items on Depop, sellers are given the option to send out special offers to them. Many times this little discount will help convert that like into a sale. Running seasonal sales, discounts on older, stale inventory, or shop-wide sales are also great ways to boost sales on Depop. Another way to make more Depop sales is to offer discounted bundle pricing. A bundle typically consists of 3-5 items from your shop that buyers are looking to purchase at once. By offering a certain percentage off, the buyer is more likely to make the purchase. Bundles encourage buyers by providing them with a better price and they are great for sellers as they can move a larger amount of inventory at one time.

8. Ship Fast and Affordably

When buyers purchase an item from your shop, they expect to receive it well-packaged and on time. Shipping items on Depop may seem difficult at first, but is pretty straightforward once you figure a few things out. The most simple way to ship items on Depop is to use Depop shipping. When making your listing you input the size of your item and once that item sells, Depop will send you a shipping label to your email. After that, you package your item up and send it off to the customer. The tracking number is included and this takes a lot of stress off of the person shipping the item. This method is recommended for the beginner/ casual seller shipping out a few items a month.

For the Depop user looking to sell a few items a week and beyond, this next option is for you. Shipping on your own using a platform like Pirate Ship is cheaper than using Depop shipping and allows you to pass savings onto your customers. When buyers are between two items, small differences like cheaper shipping can be the difference in them buying your listing over someone else’s. After an item is sold you will be given the buyer’s address. You will need to copy and paste this address into Pirate Ship, buy your label, print it out, and then package and ship your order. When using this method you will have to charge for shipping when creating your listing. For any item under one pound, you should charge $6, and for anything over that you should charge around $10.

When it comes to packaging supplies, it is good to have a few different sizes of Poly Mailers to fit varying sizes of clothing, a Scale for weighing packages, and a nice Thermal Printer / Labels for printing out shipping labels.

9. Optimize Your Shop and Branding

Creating a well-branded, appealing Depop profile is key to attracting buyers and building credibility. Here’s how you can optimize your profile to stand out:

1. Craft a Clear Bio: Write a concise, engaging bio that describes your shop’s style, the types of items you sell, and any unique features (like vintage or Y2K-inspired pieces).
2. Design a Catchy Logo: A recognizable logo establishes your brand identity and makes it easier for users to remember your shop. If design isn’t your strength, consider tools like Canva or work with a freelance designer for a custom design.
3. Establish a Consistent Theme: Consistency in your photos and descriptions reinforces your brand and enhances your shop’s visual appeal. Use a specific background color or photo style for each item to create a professional, unified look. Think about color schemes, font choices, and item presentation that align with your shop’s vibe.

10. Stay on Top of Trends

Depop is a platform that thrives on current fashion trends as its customers are looking for items to wear based on current trends. By offering items that are on-trend and attractive to buyers, you will increase your sales on Depop. Here is how to stay in the loop when it comes to trending Depop styles:

1. Research Trends: Keep an eye on trend analysis tools, fashion sites, and social media channels like Instagram and TikTok to see what’s popular. Platforms like WGSN, Vogue, and Trendspotter can also provide insights into emerging styles and seasonal changes.
2. Adapt Inventory: Incorporate trending items into your inventory, such as Y2K or minimalist pieces, to appeal to Depop’s fashion-forward audience Also keep an eye on Depop’s trending pages and popular hashtags. Some current styles include Gorpcore, Blokecore, Cottagecore, and Fairycore
3. Engage with Your Audience: Notice what items or styles your followers and buyers engage with the most. Experiment with sourcing or styling items based on that feedback, and use the feedback loop to continually improve your offerings.

Conclusion

Mastering the art of selling on Depop requires a combination of visually appealing photography, smart pricing, optimized descriptions, and a consistent posting schedule. High-quality images are essential to capture buyers’ attention and accurately convey an item’s condition. Crafting detailed, SEO-friendly descriptions and leveraging relevant hashtags can significantly boost your items’ visibility on Depop’s search. Competitive pricing and creative promotions, like bundling, add value for buyers and can increase sales volume.

By following these strategies—optimizing your profile, staying up-to-date with current trends, and engaging with followers—you’ll be well-equipped to make the most of Depop’s platform. Try implementing these tips in your shop and watch your sales grow.