Get people into your next Whatnot show: short videos, posts between shows, product photos and turning buyers into regulars.
Updated October 8, 2026
Before you start
Get people into your next Whatnot show: short videos, posts between shows, product photos and turning buyers into regulars.
A show sells only to the people watching it. Put all your effort into the stream and none into bringing viewers, and your first few shows will run quiet.
Use this plan if you run one or two shows a week: set up a short-video account, post between shows, photograph the stock you will sell and keep the buyers you already have.
Kit for this
The products this guide uses, with typical US prices.
60-inch phone tripod with remote
Clothing and sneaker shows need a full-body or full-shoe shot from the front. A tripod gets the phone to eye level and the remote starts recording from across the room.
Typical price$15 to $35
See on Amazon
18-inch ring light with stand
Daylight in a spare room shifts through the day. Set the ring light once and your items look the same in the evening show as in your photos.
Typical price$45 to $75
See on Amazon16-inch photo light box
Matching white-background photos make your listings look like a store. The box folds flat when you need the desk back.
Typical price$18 to $45
See on AmazonClip-on wireless phone mic
Viewers leave a show when they can't hear you. A clip-on mic keeps your voice level while you reach for inventory.
Typical price$25 to $50
See on AmazonThe guide
Each step in the order you'll need it.
Set up one short-video account properly
Pick one platform to start: TikTok, Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts. Use the same name as your Whatnot shop, the same profile picture and a bio line that says what you sell and when you go live.
Put your Whatnot shop link in the bio. Post on that one account for a few weeks before you spread to the others.
Post the stock before the show
The day before a show, post a 15–30 second clip of the best items in it. Show them in hand, close up, with the show day and time on screen, in your viewers’ time zone.
A phone on a tripod and a ring light are enough, and you will use both for the show itself.
Fill the days between shows
Between shows, post short, useful clips: a new arrival, a packing video, a quick tip about the items you sell, the best moment from the last show. A 20 second clip every day reaches more people than one long video a week.
Batch them. Film five clips in one session, then post one a day. One setup session covers the whole week.
Photograph the stars of the show
Clear photos of the headline items do double duty: they go on your show listing and on social posts. A 16 inch photo light box gives small items a clean, even background.
Shoot from the same angle each time so your posts look like a set. Window light works for larger items if you shoot at the same time of day.
Kit for this step
Turn buyers into followers
A buyer has already paid you once. Thank them by name on stream, put a card in the package with your social handle and next show day, and close the mailer with a thank-you sticker.
Run shows on the same day and at the same time each week. Regulars can plan their evening around a fixed slot.
Kit for this step
Use what Whatnot gives you, carefully
Schedule shows in advance and share the show link on your social accounts. Whatnot changes these features, so check its help center for the current scheduling and sharing tools.
Stay inside the platform’s rules on promotions and giveaways. Read Whatnot’s current guidelines before you run anything that looks like a contest or sweepstakes.
Checklist
Run through it before each one goes out.
- 1Match your social name and picture to your Whatnot shop
- 2Put your shop link and show day in your bio
- 3Post a preview clip the day before each show
- 4Batch-film five short clips for the days between shows
- 5Shoot headline items in a light box from the same angle
- 6Add a card with your handle and next show day to every package
- 7Keep shows on the same day and time each week
Setups
Complete kits for one kind of seller, costed and laid out.
Questions
Straight answers to what sellers ask about this.
Which social platform works best for promoting Whatnot shows?
The one where buyers of your category already spend time. Card and collectible buyers are active on all three, so start with the one you understand best.
How often should I post between shows?
Aim for a short clip most days. Batch-filming five at once makes that possible.
Do I need a separate camera for social clips?
No. The phone, tripod and light you use for the show are enough.
Can I run giveaways to grow my audience?
Check Whatnot’s current rules first. Giveaways and sweepstakes have platform rules and, in the US, state laws behind them.
How long before a show should I promote it?
Post a preview the day before and a reminder an hour or two before you go live. Schedule the show early so people can find it.
Should I mention my show on other selling platforms?
Check each marketplace’s rules first. eBay, Poshmark and Mercari restrict sending buyers to other sites. Keep promotion to your own social accounts and inserts.