Let’s face it. The glory days of ecommerce dropship businesses are over.
The low/no cost barrier to entry has attracted many dubious wannabe ecommerce millionaires into the space, resulting in low quality products, poor customer service and a mass of competitors all selling similar products.
Add to that long shipping times, a far more educated buyer & the biggest competitor being the most trusted ecommerce brand in the world and starting an ecommerce dropshipping business is an uphill battle!
However, it is still possible to start a profitable ecommerce dropshipping business if you follow the 7 tips below.
Quick Takeaways:
- Build a Brand That Resonates: Focus on creating a brand that stands for something larger than the products you sell, much like how Nike inspires athletes and Dove celebrates all forms of beauty.
- Choose Reliable Suppliers: Your dropshipping success hinges on partners who offer quality, speed, and communication – don’t settle for less.
- Create a Quality Ecommerce Store: Utilize platforms like Shopify to build a professional-looking store with ease, reflecting the high standard of your brand.
- Cultivate Your Email List: This is your most valuable asset. Use it to build relationships, offer value, and keep your audience engaged and ready to buy.
- Build a Strong Online Platform: Whether through SEO-driven blogging or social media, pick a platform to consistently engage with your audience and grow your presence.
- Leverage Influencer Marketing: Partner with influencers to tap into existing audiences that align with your niche, boosting your brand’s visibility and sales.
- Prioritize Customer Service: Distinguish your business by offering exceptional customer support, ensuring customer satisfaction, loyalty, and repeat business.
Discover;
- How to discover your niche and validate your product idea
- How to choose the right Print-on-Demand fulfillment app for your business
- How to build your Shopify store from scratch
- How to generate traffic and sales with Facebook marketing and email marketing
Overview;
Print-on-Demand is one of the fastest growing business models for ecommerce entrepreneurs.
With Print-on-Demand, you have the opportunity to print your own brand and designs on products like t-shirts, phone cases, pillows, hats and even shower curtains. You don’t have to hold any inventory, you simply need to focus on marketing and design, and choose a fulfillment company that will send your customer their product when you receive an order.
In this FREE course you’re learn from serial ecommerce entrepreneur Adrian Morrison, who will teach you the step-by-step process to create your print on demand store from start to scale (the level of success is up to you).
Here’s How to Start an Ecommerce Dropship Business in 2022 and Beyond.
1. Build a Brand.
So many of the lower quality sites have set themselves up as ‘cheapdealsrus’.com, and are willing to sell any old crap if there’s a buyer for it.
Don’t be this brand!
Sure, feel free to test the market to see what sells well.
But once you have a winner, build a great brand around that product.
- How can you stand out?
- How do you add maximum value?
- Why would your customers shop again with you and recommend you to others?
The goal in business is not just to attract new customers but to retain the ones you have.
You do that by building a brand ideal that resonates with your target market.
Think;
Nike – anyone can be an athlete
Dove – all women are beautiful
Redbull – extreme sports
These brands are so much bigger than just their products.
How can your brand resonate with the world views of your ideal audience.
2. Find Great Suppliers
The success of your ecommerce dropshipping business depends on you finding great suppliers.
You need suppliers who are reliable, offer quality products at decent prices, guarantee fast shipping, take responsibility for their products & are responsive communicators.
This is easier said than done and you’ll likely have to kiss a few dropshipping supplier frogs before you find your prince!
Remember, China isn’t the only country engaged in dropshipping anymore. Due to the explosion of dropshipping ecommerce businesses, you can now find dropshipping suppliers worldwide.
Explore sites like;
Then find dropshipping suppliers who offer all of the above by testing purchases yourself.
Order potential products to check shipping times, product quality & packaging, supplier communication, etc.
Finding a great supplier will give you the foundation to grow a reliable & trustworthy dropshipping ecommerce business.
3. Create an Ecommerce Store That Oozes Quality
There’s no excuse for cheap looking, low quality online stores anymore.
Sites like Shopify have made it so easy to build a beautiful looking ecommerce website at the click of a button.
Sites like unsplash.com have made it equally easy to upload high quality images.
The most critical element of your dropshipping store is your product page leading to checkout.
Shopify has done this for you, with all themes inclusive of simple, minimal and clean product pages & checkout funnels.
Don’t make life hard on yourself. For only $29 a month, you can easily create a dropshipping website for your e-commerce business with all the sales bells and whistles you need and ensure your site represents your quality brand.
4. Build an Email List
Start building your email list for your dropshipping business from Day 1.
Your email list will become your greatest asset as your ecommerce business grows.
Offer a pop up discount code to all visitors in exchange for their email address and send at least one email a week with interesting and valuable content or stories relevant to your brand.
Then as and when is relevant, send out sales offers, holiday promos and special discounts.
Making your subscribers feel like they’re part of your exclusive brand family, will;
- Increase sales conversions for new product launches
- Increase reviews for current products, which in turn will increase conversions on your online store
- Improve brand recognition
- Help grow your social media presence
- And many other brand benefits.
5. Build a Platform
Alongside building an email list, begin building an online platform for your dropshipping business brand.
Choose whether you want to build a blog & drive traffic via SEO, or grow your brand on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube or Pinterest.
My advice would be to pick one to start with as you can’t be everywhere all at once unless you have a team to assist you.
Then consistently post every single day.
As your audience grows you can begin to diversify and add other platforms increasing the presence of your online store.
6. Engage in Influencer Marketing
One of the fastest ways to grow your ecommerce dropshipping business is to get in front of ready made audiences in your niche.
Find influencers with relevant audiences and ask them to test out and review your products.
It will cost you to send a product to an influencer, but the resulting sales from just one influencer campaign could significantly outweigh your investment.
To encourage the influencer to work with you, give them an affiliate code so they make money from every sale made by their audience via their unique link.
Some may still want to charge an upfront fee. Many will not.
Make a list of ideal influencers who have already built an audience of potential customers & get DM’ing!
7. Offer Excellent Customer Service
Putting your customers front and centre of your dropshipping business will ensure you stand out in a sea of ecommerce dropshipping businesses.
Many ecommerce entrepreneurs are in it for a quick buck, so create some brand loyalty, longevity and cheaper marketing costs by offering premium customer service.
- Make it easy for customers to contact you.
- Be extremely responsive.
- Setup chatbots for when you’re not online.
- Make returns quick & painless.
Amazon has been able to reach its dizzying heights, by always putting the customer first.
While you may not be the next Amazon, you could create an extremely lucrative six or seven figure ecommerce dropshipping business by focusing on your customer above all else.
How to Start an Ecommerce Dropship Business: Summary
Building an ecommerce dropshipping business is no mean feat in today’s competitive online business world.
But online shopping continues to increase dramatically.
Online e-commerce sales are set to almost double in the next 3 – 5 years from around 750 billion in 2021 to over 1.3 trillion by 2025.
This means, there’s no reason why you can’t create a successful dropshipping business and your own online store like so many others by focusing on the tips above.
To learn how to start a dropshipping business step by step, see my detailed guide here – “Dropshipping 101: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide”.
In the meantime, don’t delay! Start your own dropshipping business today.
Good luck!
Discover;
- How to discover your niche and validate your product idea
- How to choose the right Print-on-Demand fulfillment app for your business
- How to build your Shopify store from scratch
- How to generate traffic and sales with Facebook marketing and email marketing
Overview;
Print-on-Demand is one of the fastest growing business models for ecommerce entrepreneurs.
With Print-on-Demand, you have the opportunity to print your own brand and designs on products like t-shirts, phone cases, pillows, hats and even shower curtains. You don’t have to hold any inventory, you simply need to focus on marketing and design, and choose a fulfillment company that will send your customer their product when you receive an order.
In this FREE course you’re learn from serial ecommerce entrepreneur Adrian Morrison, who will teach you the step-by-step process to create your print on demand store from start to scale (the level of success is up to you).
How to Start an Ecommerce Dropship Business: FAQs
How can a beginner start dropshipping?
Embarking on the dropshipping journey starts with choosing dropshipping business ideas that resonate with your passions and market needs. Follow a structured dropshipping tutorial to decide on your preferred dropshipping business model, select products, and choose a reliable supplier. Finally, commit to starting a dropshipping business by setting up your online store and preparing to launch.
What are the initial costs to start dropshipping?
Starting a dropshipping business can be cost-efficient. Decide on a business structure and develop a business plan that should account for expenses such as setting up a website, acquiring a domain, and marketing. Typically, a few hundred dollars can set the stage for your entry into selling online.
Can dropshipping still be profitable today?
Absolutely! With a strategic approach using a reliable dropshipping guide and a profitable dropshipping business plan, entrepreneurs can see healthy margins. Choose a dropshipping business idea that requires selecting the right dropshipping products, optimizing your offering, and effective marketing to ensure success.
What should I look for when choosing a dropshipping supplier?
Your dropshipping supplier should offer a combination of high-quality products, reliable shipping, and responsive customer service when you sell online. It’s crucial for your supplier to align with your business model and help you uphold customer satisfaction when you start selling.
What are some effective ways to market your dropshipping store?
Market your dropshipping store by leveraging SEO best practices, engaging in social media marketing, and utilizing email marketing campaigns. These strategies will help attract and retain customers, boosting your online presence.
What steps should I follow to set up my dropshipping business?
Start dropshipping by conducting market research to pinpoint your niche. Then, create a solid business plan, set up your ecommerce platform, choose a dropshipping supplier, and prepare your marketing strategy for launch. This sequence is key to building a foundation that’s poised for growth.
How do I decide which dropshipping products to sell?
Select products based on market research, consumer trends, and profitability. Optimize your offering by choosing items that are in demand yet not oversaturated in the market. This ensures a higher potential for sales when you launch.
Is it necessary to have a formal business entity to start dropshipping?
While not always necessary, deciding on a business structure and possibly registering your business can provide tax benefits and legal protections. This step also enhances the credibility of your store as you commit to starting a dropshipping business.
How do I create a profitable dropshipping business plan?
A profitable dropshipping business plan outlines your market analysis, financial projections, marketing strategies, and detailed information on your chosen products. It should guide you through the set-up and launch phases, focusing on long-term success.
What are the first steps after launching my dropshipping store?
After you launch, prioritize marketing your dropshipping store and analyzing customer data to refine your strategies. Continuously optimize your website and product offerings based on feedback and performance metrics to maintain and grow your business.