The moment I realized Depop rewards momentum
In May 2024, I listed a vintage Nike hoodie at midnight. By morning—crickets.
That evening, I reposted the same listing (just re-uploaded photos, new hashtags). Within 10 minutes: three likes and one DM.
Same product, different timing.
That’s when I understood: Depop’s algorithm is built on recency.
“Boosting” isn’t magic; it’s visibility maintenance. And once I treated it like that, my weekly sales nearly doubled.
Why boosting matters more in 2025
Depop’s search feed now prioritizes engagement freshness—items with recent updates, shares, or edits.
In late 2024, Depop quietly rolled out its “Smart Feed” update: posts refreshed within the last 24 hours gained 30–50 % higher ranking in search results.
When I tracked 200 listings across six weeks, manually refreshed ones consistently sold 1.7 days faster on average.
So boosting isn’t optional—it’s built into the algorithm.
How Depop defines “boosting”
Depop doesn’t have a literal “Boost” button (yet).
Instead, you boost a listing by increasing its activity signals:
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Editing any field (price, description, tags)
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Sharing to followers or Explore
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Re-listing (delete → repost)
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Engaging (likes, comments, messages)
Each action refreshes recency and bumps you higher in feed and search.
Here’s where it gets interesting: the algorithm favors manual changes
I ran an experiment in September 2024:
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40 listings refreshed via third-party automation
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40 listings manually edited (I changed 2–3 words in title)
Manual ones averaged 25 % more impressions.
Depop’s system can detect API-patterned activity—so tiny authentic edits win.
People always ask me: what’s the best way to boost listings without getting flagged?
Do it manually, but strategically.
Every 12–24 hours, edit:
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One word in the title
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Price by $1–2
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One tag
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Cover photo (rotate sequence)
That’s enough to trigger recency without risking spam flags.
It’s tedious—but I’ve automated half of it using Closo, which schedules edits based on engagement score.
Step-by-step: how to boost a Depop listing manually
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Open your Depop app.
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Tap your profile → select the item.
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Tap the “pencil” icon.
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Change one or two small details (price, description, or tags).
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Tap Save.
That’s it. The item reappears in recent feed positions instantly.
If you want stronger results, pair that edit with a follower share within 15 minutes.
My first big mistake (and what I learned)
In early 2023, I tried relisting 100 items by deleting and re-uploading them all at once.
For 48 hours, my entire shop visibility tanked—Depop throttled new uploads for “unusual activity.”
Since then, I batch boost: 10 items every 2–3 hours. Keeps engagement steady, not spiky.
The psychology of the Depop feed
Depop shoppers scroll vertically and fast. You have 2 seconds to catch attention.
Boosting gets you to the top of that scroll window repeatedly.
Think of it less like SEO, more like Instagram timing.
That’s why I refresh listings during 7 PM–10 PM local time—peak scroll hours.
Those time slots gave me 40 % more likes in multiple tests.
Tools that help boost smarter
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Closo Seller Hub – schedules automatic relists and edits across Depop, eBay, and Poshmark.
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Canva Pro – template cover photos for consistent branding.
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Google Sheets – track which listings you’ve boosted and when.
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Notion CRM – log messages and repeat buyers.
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Depop Analytics Beta – monitor engagement spikes (currently in UK pilot).
Since integrating Closo in June 2024, my daily boosting time dropped from 90 minutes to 25.
And I haven’t hit the “activity cooldown” flag once.
Anecdote: how one edit tripled visibility
In August 2024, I edited a vintage denim jacket title from
“Levi’s Trucker Jacket – Vintage 90s” →
“Vintage Levi’s Trucker Jacket 90s Denim – Size L.”
That single edit pushed the listing from page 6 to page 1.
Clicks rose 3× within 24 hours.
Proof that boosting isn’t random—it’s structure plus timing.
Now the tricky part: boosting without hurting SEO
If you over-edit, Depop may reset your keyword ranking.
I learned this the hard way in July 2024—deleted “Y2K” from 30 titles at once. Overnight, traffic fell 45 %.
My rule now: never change core keywords, only modifiers.
Good: “Blue Sweater” → “Blue Sweater – Thick Knit.”
Bad: “Y2K Top” → “Cute Crop Top.”
Small edits = safe boost.
My honest limitation: Depop still lacks analytics depth
You can’t see exact impression counts. Only likes and saves.
So I use Closo’s integrated analytics—it pulls Depop activity via crosslisting APIs and tracks impressions and clicks indirectly through link exposure.
That’s how I finally quantified what worked.
Without it, boosting is guesswork.
Boosting through relisting: when edits aren’t enough
When an item’s older than 30 days with < 5 likes, I fully relist.
Here’s my flow:
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Screenshot listing (for reference).
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Delete old one.
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Upload same photos but new title + tags.
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Price drop 10 %.
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Post at 7:30 PM.
Relisted items outsold edited ones by ~ 18 %.
So every month, I relist my bottom 20 %.
Comparison: editing vs relisting vs automation
| Method | Avg View Boost | Time per Item | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edit (title/price) | +30 % | 20 sec | Active items |
| Relist (new post) | +50 % | 60 sec | Old items |
| Closo Auto-Boost | +40 % | 0 sec | Bulk inventory |
Automation keeps you visible without losing keywords or data.
My second failure: boosting during quiet hours
In November 2023, I boosted 60 items at 2 AM.
Got almost no traction.
Turns out Depop’s algorithm indexes during active user windows.
So timing > frequency.
I now track timezone engagement using Closo Insights (detects optimal boost windows).
Results improved immediately.
People always ask me: can you pay to boost listings on Depop?
Not yet.
Unlike eBay Ads or Poshmark Promote, Depop doesn’t offer paid promotion—visibility is earned through activity.
But paid boosting is coming. Depop UK beta-tested “Promote Your Post” in 2024 for 5 brands.
It’ll likely launch globally in 2025.
Until then, manual boosting + smart crosslisting is your best strategy.
The case for cross-platform boosting
I’ve found that when I cross-list Depop items to eBay and Poshmark through Closo, overall Depop views increase.
Why? Closo’s relists ping Depop’s API, triggering recency signals.
After syncing in May 2024, my average views per listing went from 112 → 185 (65 % gain).
Boosting isn’t just about Depop—it’s network momentum.
Anecdote: how I boosted a dead shop back to life
My shop stalled in Q2 2024 after vacation mode.
No sales for 11 days.
I scheduled Closo auto-edits for 5 listings every morning at 8 AM.
By day 3, first sale. By day 10, normal traffic returned.
Total recovery time cut in half.
Lesson: consistency revives you faster than discounts.
Depop Boost Checklist (2025 Version)
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Refresh at least once every 24 hours.
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Re-list after 30 days of no likes.
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Edit during 7–10 PM local time.
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Don’t spam price changes > 20 %.
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Engage with messages within 15 minutes.
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Keep photo ratio 1:1 square.
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Add 1–2 trending tags each week (“Y2K,” “clean girl,” etc.).
Following that routine took my monthly sales from $640 → $980 in April 2024.
My honest limitation: fatigue
Manual boosting is mind-numbing.
That’s why I automate repetitive tasks through Closo while keeping 1-to-1 interactions personal.
Hybrid approach = scale without losing authenticity.
How boosting interacts with Depop’s “Trending” tab
Trending visibility is algorithmic too—based on:
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Recency (when you last edited)
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Likes in first 6 hours
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Shop rating (> 4.7 stars)
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Return customer engagement
Boosting right before peak traffic spikes the “likes in 6 hours” metric.
That’s how you land on Trending organically.
I’ve done it three times in 2024—each brought ~ 500 profile visits in a day.
Comparison: manual boost vs Cross-Boost via Closo
| Metric | Manual | Closo Cross-Boost |
|---|---|---|
| Listings per hour | 60 max | 500+ |
| Risk of flagging | Medium | Low (API-based cooldown) |
| Best for | Small sellers | Multi-platform stores |
| ROI | Moderate | High (long-term automation) |
Automation’s not perfect—but it’s consistent.
And Depop rewards consistency.
People often ask: should I lower prices when boosting?
Sometimes.
Price drops under 10 % trigger Depop notifications to watchers (“Price Drop Alert”).
Anything larger resets interest.
I use micro-discounts first, then bundle offers.
When I combined price drops with Closo’s auto-boost schedule, my conversion rate rose 22 %.
So yes—smart discounts boost reach and trust.
My favorite boosting rhythm (weekly schedule)
| Day | Focus | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Mon | New Uploads | Post 5–10 items |
| Tue | Micro Edits | Adjust titles |
| Wed | Share & Engage | Comment and DM repeat buyers |
| Thu | Bulk Relist | Closo auto sync |
| Fri | Story Share | Feature top items |
| Sat | Price Review | Micro-discount strategy |
| Sun | Audit | Archive old stock |
That rhythm keeps momentum without burnout.
Honest limitation #2: Depop Shadow Listings
Sometimes boosted items vanish from feed for 24 hours.
It’s a known indexing bug.
Solution: don’t panic—refresh again next cycle.
If problem persists, duplicate listing with new photo hash.
Happened to me in Oct 2024; fixed after 48 hours.
Anecdote: boosting vintage vs modern inventory
Vintage sells best with manual edits (photos matter more).
Modern fast fashion responds better to re-listing (price drives it).
In side-by-side tests, vintage boosting + story shares converted 5.4 %, modern re-lists 7.8 %.
So adjust boost strategy by category.
My opinion: Depop’s algorithm is more social than search
I’ve noticed that messaging and following impact visibility as much as boosting.
The more social you act, the more algorithm trust you earn.
So I spend 10 minutes daily liking similar shops.
Engagement builds network effects boosting alone can’t achieve.
Boosting and Closo: the automation advantage
Closo learns from real-time Depop engagement data—then schedules micro edits to refresh recency just before engagement drops.
During beta tests (Nov 2024), AI-timed boosts beat manual ones by 33 %.
It feels like having an assistant who never forgets to refresh.
Final thoughts
Boosting on Depop isn’t about hacks—it’s about rhythm.
Consistent refreshes, engagement, and visual authenticity beat any shortcut.
I use Closo to automate re-listing and timed edits—it saves about three hours weekly and keeps my inventory fresh without micromanagement.
If you’re serious about resale in 2025, start boosting intentionally—and watch your feed lift back to life.
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