New in Sharetribe 🎉 Listings without images

Not every listing needs photos. Service descriptions, project briefs, and professional profiles often work just as well or even better with just text. 

Previously, images were mandatory for all listing types in Sharetribe. Now, you can turn them off and let listing authors choose a thumbnail style instead of uploading photos. 

Read on to learn more!

How listings without images work

Turning off listing images is really simple:

1. Go to your listing type settings in Console.
2. Click to add a new listing type or select a listing type you want to modify.
3. Scroll down to default listing fields.
4. Disable the Images field.
5. Save changes.

But for your end-users, the experience changes quite a bit! In listing creation, instead of uploading photos, the listing author can choose a style for their listing thumbnail from predetermined options. 

On the search page, the thumbnail will feature the listing title prominently. 

You can also have a listing type that requires images and another one that doesn’t in the same marketplace. The types will look great together in search results.

Though this is a quick setting to change, it unlocks many new possibilities and support for more marketplace types. More on that next! 👇

When to use listings without images

Listings without images can work on many types of marketplaces. If images are not an important part of understanding what’s on offer, removing the step to upload photos streamlines listing creation a lot. Here are a few examples.

• Reverse marketplaces: When customers post project requests, a clear description helps providers understand the requirements much faster than images.
• Service marketplaces: Professional services like consulting, tutoring, or coaching are often better described through text than photos.
• Classified ad sites: Text-based listings are a staple on platforms for job listings, announcements, or other opportunities.
• B2B marketplaces: Business services and professional offers typically rely on clear descriptions rather than images.

Update marketplace texts

This launch introduces new marketplace texts. Copy and paste them into your marketplace text editor!

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With listing images turned off, you can create a listing type that prioritizes the information your users need to make decisions. If you're building a service marketplace, reverse platform, or mixed marketplace, this feature helps you optimize each listing type for its specific purpose.

Head over to Console and test how listings without images work.