What is a listing in marketplaces?

A listing is an entry that’s posted on a marketplace to reach customers or providers. It can be a product or service, a rental property, a job offer – whatever it is the marketplace in question offers. Through the listing, other users on the marketplace can initiate a transaction. For example, on Airbnb, a provider can post a listing of the house, apartment, or room they want to rent. On Upwork, a customer can post a job offer listing to reach qualified freelancers.

Online marketplaces can feature various types of listings to cater to different needs and preferences of both sellers and buyers. Here are some of the common types of listings you can find:

1. Fixed-Price Listings: These are listings where the seller sets a specific price for the item or service. Buyers can purchase immediately at that price without the need for bidding.

2. Auction-Style Listings: In these listings, items are sold to the highest bidder at the end of the auction period. Buyers place bids, and when the auction time expires, the highest bidder wins the item.

3. Classified Ads: Similar to traditional classified ads in newspapers, these listings allow sellers to post items or services, and interested buyers contact the seller directly to negotiate and complete the transaction.

4. Buy It Now (BIN) Options: Often seen on auction sites like eBay, this option allows buyers to bypass the auction process and purchase the item immediately at a set price.

5. Best Offer Listings: Sellers set a price but also allow buyers to make offers. The seller can then choose to accept, reject, or counter these offers.

6. Freemium Listings: Common in service-oriented marketplaces, these listings offer basic services for free while charging for premium features or enhanced visibility.

7. Subscription-Based Listings: Used by some marketplaces (especially for services or software), where users pay a recurring fee for continued access to the product or service.

8. Group Buying or Crowdfunding Listings: These listings allow multiple buyers to collectively purchase a product or fund a project, often at a discounted rate.

9. Flash Sales or Limited-Time Offers: Listings that are available for a short period or until stock runs out, often at a discount. These create a sense of urgency among buyers.

10. Rental Listings: Common in marketplaces for accommodations (like Airbnb) or equipment rentals, where the listing is for temporary use of an item or property.

11. Service Listings: For marketplaces focusing on services (like Fiverr or TaskRabbit), where individuals or companies list specific services they offer, such as graphic design, writing, or home repairs.

12. Dropshipping Listings: Sellers list items that they do not physically stock. When an item is sold, the seller purchases the product from a third party and has it shipped directly to the buyer.

Each type of listing caters to different market dynamics and consumer behaviors, and marketplaces may offer several types to accommodate a diverse range of sellers and buyers.

← Back to the marketplace glossary

• What is marketplace liquidity?
• What is supply and demand?
• What is the chicken and egg problem in marketplaces?
• What is a marketplace admin or operator?