Y’all, I’m telling you—Poshmark is the closest thing I’ve ever found to a get-rich-quick scheme.

Before I continue, two quick things in the name of transparency. First, Monica convinced me to sign up for Poshmark last summer, so me and my newfound $1k have her to thank for today’s post. And second, though none of the links to the Poshmark website or app download in today’s post are affiliate links, if you use the code JMFKA when you sign up, we both receive $5 of Poshmark credit. #winwin

Now back to what you’re really here for—the inside scoop on how to make some good side money on Poshmark. I don’t know about you, but when I first graduated college and found myself with a real income, I went a little crazy. I think at one point, I had literally purchased every statement necklace J Crew Factory had to offer. The J Crew Factory Claire cardigan? Also had that in every color. And don’t even get me started on the number of fast casual dresses and tops I purchased because it was a five-second trend I just had to try.

Eventually, I learned that my money wasn’t burning a whole in my wallet and it was best to spend my hard earned cash on experiences or classic, well-made items that would last a long time. But, of course, I still had a closet filled with barely-worn clothes that I didn’t know what to do with. While I’m all for donating clothes, I felt like I was wasting my money when I was giving away LOFT dresses with the tags still on or Gap crop pants I wore a few times. At first, I tried Thread Up and even made my first Plato’s Closet run since high school, but I felt like they were undervaluing my items and I didn’t like that I wasn’t in control of the process—go figure. So when Monica suggested Poshmark to me, I figured it was worth a shot. And boy—did it pay off.

So today, I want to share the love—because anyone can do this, not just bloggers! I’ve broken down the process for how to sell your clothes on Poshmark—which I’ve used to make over $1,000 from clothes I wasn’t wearing anymore—below.

One last thing before we dive in— I’ve found that items from brand name like Tory Burch, LOFT, J Crew, Nike, and Lululemon sell more on Poshmark than brands like Forever 21, Target—unless it’s a designer collaboration like Lilly Pulitzer, Wet Seal, and the like. So now,  I typically donate the latter brands to reputable places instead of trying to sell them. I also find that clothes sell best when they are gently used at most—no one wants to buy items that are hanging on by a thread. So now when I’m cleaning out my closet, I make three piles—keep, donate, and sell.

1. TAKE CLEAR, WELL-LIT PHOTOS.

The first step to selling your clothes on Poshmark—once you’ve downloaded the free app—is to take pictures of the item(s) you want to sell. I generally take pictures of the item on my iPhone because you can only upload pictures through the app and the photos have to be square. Thus, it’s really easy to shoot app-ready photos on your phone.

I recommend you add the maximum four photos for each item. I like to take one of the overall outfit, a couple of detail shots, and then, if applicable, a picture of the tag which states the fabric makeup and wash instructions. It is important that you document any defects or wear on the item as this help protects you from sellers complaining to Poshmark that the item is not as described—note, this has only happened to me once, and I won—and the people looking to buy your article of clothing are going to ask, so save yourself the trouble and take those imperfection shots upfront.

I like to take my photos during the daytime because I think natural light is the most visually appealing, which will help your items sell faster. I also think natural light helps show the true color of an item, which helps your customers have a realistic expectation of what the item will look like.

2. WRITE (VERY!) DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS.

Much like taking great photos helps you both sell your items and give your customers a realistic expectations, writing detailed item descriptions will do the same. I like to describe the fit* of the item—is it true to size? if it’s a medium does it fit more like a 6 or an 8?—the color, how many times I’ve worn it, the fabric makeup, and any imperfections. Think about anything you’d want to know before buying a gently used item, and make sure those questions are answered.

*For the fit of the item, I usually don’t provide exact measurements unless I am asked. This is mostly due to laziness! ;]

Two other things to note—you can trade items on Poshmark. So unless you specifically write “no trades” in the item description, you may receive many comments inquiring about trades. My goal on Poshmark is to sell my clothes, not buy more, so I always write “no trades” in the item description. Customers can also make an offer on your item—meaning, they can suggest a price other than the one you listed it at. I always write in the description that “offers are considered” so that people know I’m open to the idea of bartering. Now, I’m not going to take an 80% cut on an item, but if it’s $1 or $2 less than the asking price, I generally accept. Which brings me to my third point…

3. PRICE YOUR ITEMS TO SELL.

Now, I know it might be tough to sell a shirt you paid $45 for $15 or shoes you paid $200 for $100. But, I think of it this way—you’re not wearing the item and it’s more money than you would have had otherwise. Those sales add up over time and you’ll enjoy the money more than you are the unworn piece of clothing. Plus, I like to think of the time I’ve owned and worn the item as a rental fee, and then by selling it, I’m recouping the rest of my cost.

There’s no hard and fast rules about pricing items, and sometimes I lower the prices of my items if they aren’t moving because I’d rather have the money. The best way is to see what other people are selling a similar item for and then price your item $1-5 lower. I generally sell old Nike running shorts for $15-18 (original cost $40-45), J Crew chino shorts for $15-20 (original cost $40-45), Express Portofino tops for $12-15 (original cost $35-40), LOFT/J Crew/Banana shirts, skirts, and pants for $15-25, and Kendra Scott jewelry for $5-15 less than the original price because it has such high resale value. You’ll have a better sense over time where the sweet spots are for selling items without feeling like you’re “losing” money on them.

A note that Poshmark takes 20% commission on items more than $15 and a flat rate of $2.95 for all items under $15. The amount you’re to receive when your item sells is clearly stated when you pick the listing price. I don’t mind them taking a cut because they’re introducing me to a great marketplace and when an item has sold, it’s relatively easy on my part. The customer pays for shipping and Poshmark sends you a prepaid label. You simply have to package the item and drop it in the mail. No post office lines or no outrageous shipping fees—it’s all done for you.

4. GET SOCIAL.

Once your for-sale item is posted, I recommend that you get social on the app! Poshmark is designed like other social media platform where the algorithm rewards you the more your item is shared, liked, and commented on by others. In order to get that interaction on your items, you have to interact with other people’s items.

I try to log onto the app for at least 10 minutes every day and share, like, and comment on other people’s items so they will do the same on mine. It really doesn’t take a lot from my day and the return on investment is huge. I also try to follow everyone that follows me, which is a great way to grow your following over time.

Lastly, there are “Posh Parties” hosted by Poshmark moderators and editors around a particular theme, whether that be a segment of clothing or a trend—for instance, athleisure looks, spring clothes, accessories—or a designer or groups of designers—all things J Crew, all things Michael Kors and Marc Jacobs. I try to hop on to at least one of these a day because it’s a great way to promote your items to a party that’s attracting customers looking to buy those items. I make sure to share other’s items to those parties, too, so that other do the same for my listings.

Whew! I know today’s post was a long one, but I really hope it was helpful. I know a lot of my friends are trying to figure out what to do with those gently used, nice articles of clothing just taking up space in their closet, and think Poshmark is a great, low commitment way to sell those unwanted items.

If you have any questions about Poshmark or how to use it, feel free to leave me a comment, tweet me, or email me at katie@atouchofteal.com!

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All Photos by Rosa Loves DC