Dropshipping is one of the fastest-growing trends in eCommerce. It’s easy to get started because you don’t have to invest any upfront capital, and it’s also an excellent way for beginners to learn about online marketing.
If you’re looking for ways to improve your dropshipping business, these are the best blogs that will give you tips on everything from product sourcing and customer service down to how much money you can make with this type of business model.
What Is Dropshipping?
Dropshipping is an online eCommerce business model where you don’t need to purchase the items you sell. You list products for sale on your website and handle orders, but once an order comes in, the manufacturer fulfils it and ships it directly to your customer.
There are different ways of getting these products into your hands. For example, you could have a warehouse to store the products and fill orders once they come in. Or you can work with a third-party vendor or supplier who gets the product to your customer on your behalf.
Benefits of Dropshipping
Now that you know what dropshipping is, you’re probably wondering what makes it a better choice than other eCommerce models, such as retail arbitrage.
No inventory required
Dropshipping is best for anyone who doesn’t want to worry about investing in inventory. You can get started by putting up a landing page with an email collection form to gauge your interest in your product. Once you begin receiving orders, you place an order through your supplier and ship it directly to your customer’s doorstep.
Low startup costs
Dropshipping is a great way to get started with an eCommerce business because it’s so affordable, especially when compared to other online business models that require more upfront investment. If you invest some time in building your email list and promoting your product, the exposure will also help you earn faster.
It’s easy to scale up.
Dropshipping is an appealing option for anyone who wants to grow their business but doesn’t know where to start. If you feel like your business has reached its limit with one supplier, you can switch over to someone else without having to worry about purchasing or storing inventory. In addition, there are no upfront costs or investments, so this is an excellent option for anyone who wants to expand quickly and reach more customers.
A wide range of products
Dropshipping suppliers typically offer all products, including clothing, shoes, jewellery, accessories and home decor items. There are even dropshippers that sell more unique items, such as stuffed unicorns and personalized coffee mugs.
There’s less risk
Even if you find a good supplier and build up a solid customer base, the main benefit of dropshipping is that it limits your liability. If you sell an item that doesn’t sell well or an expensive product breaks, you aren’t out any money. Your supplier handles the refunds and returns, so you have to worry about marketing your products.
How Does Dropshipping Work?
Dropshipping is a fairly straightforward business model for understanding because it should be pretty simple to implement once you find a dropshipper willing to work with you.
Identify your target audience.
The first thing you need to do is identify your target market. You want to clearly describe your ideal customer, which will make it easier for you to promote the product appropriately. The more specifically you can target your niche, the better off you’ll be when it comes to finding a supplier willing to work with you and making sales.
Choose a product
It would be best to decide what you want to sell in your dropshipping business before choosing a supplier. Your supplier will tell you what they can offer and how much it will cost, so choose something that’s within your budget and target market. In addition, you’ll be promoting this product on social media, so make sure it appeals to your customer base.
Find a supplier
Once you know what product you want to sell, start searching for a supplier that offers the products at the price point and quality level you’re looking for. Since you don’t need to worry about stocking inventory, your key focus should be finding a supplier with high product turnover and high-quality images of their items.
You’ll be listing these products for sale on your product pages, so the better the photos, the more sales you’ll make.
Best Ecommerce Blogs To Follow in 2021
Now that you know what dropshipping is and why it works, you can use these blogs to help you get started. Each blog offers valuable information about the niche, including product trends and how to find suppliers.
Importify
Importify is an eCommerce blog with all kinds of helpful tips for entrepreneurs starting their online businesses. We talk about everything from automation to marketing and frequently discuss trends in the industry. You can also find some advice for choosing a supplier, which you’ll need to consider before getting started with dropshipping.
Through our blog, you will be able to connect with us and get inspired. You can also read our stories about dropshipping success, failure, customer service and plenty of other topics.
TurnTo
TurnTo is a blog that features product reviews and insights for online merchants. If you’re interested in dropshipping, you’ll find plenty of information on this site about which suppliers to use and tips for managing your store. You can also learn more about building relationships with customers and eCommerce trends as a whole.
They can help you stay on track with your business and marketing efforts, as well as provide valuable tips for improving your skills as a salesperson.
Shopify Blog
The Shopify blog offers advice to help entrepreneurs start an eCommerce store and run a smooth operation. This blog features articles about dropshipping, along with other related topics such as marketing and leadership skills. In addition, you can read the latest industry news on this site and find success stories from eCommerce experts who have done well in this niche.
They have guides for beginners and more advanced information for people who are already running a successful business. In addition, you’ll be able to expand upon your knowledge of dropshipping with this blog and connect with fellow merchants through the comments section of each article.
ShoutMeLoud
ShoutMeLoud is a blog where you can find plenty of tips and tricks for working with Shopify. Here you’ll find information about the platform and product reviews and guides on building your online store using that software. You can also learn more about SEO, social media advertising and general eCommerce marketing strategies.
They also have tips around hosting, email hosting, security and much more!
Sumo blog
The blog at Sumo provides information about how to use the internet for marketing and selling products. They have guides on building an email list, creating content that sells, running online advertising campaigns, and much more. You’ll also find success stories from eCommerce entrepreneurs who are having success in this niche.
This blog can help you connect with other merchants and find out how they started, where their focus lies and what you can learn from them.
Tidio Blog
The Tidio blog features e-commerce tips and tricks for entrepreneurs. You’ll find information about the best products to sell online as well as how to market and advertise your business. You can also find out more about building a fantastic team and improving your workflow.
They’re mainly focused on Shopify, but you’ll also learn practical ways of making money with dropshipping.
ECommerce Nation
This blog is full of news, ideas and advice for online entrepreneurs. They have posted on dropshipping as well as many other topics related to eCommerce marketing and sales. There’s also a series of guides to help you get started with Shopify and explain how to use this software for your business.
You’ll be able to connect with the team and other Shopify business owners who are also running a dropshipping company. Launching an eCommerce store can be challenging work, so it’s best to have a community surrounding you that understands what you’re going through.
Nosto
The Nosto blog features the latest news from the eCommerce world. You’ll find reviews for different software, business ideas and marketing strategies, as well as guides on how to build your own sales channels. They have a series of guides on Shopify and blogs about advertising with Facebook Ads and Google AdWords campaigns.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do I need to invest in dropshipping?
Unless you’re prepared to work with a platform like Shopify, you need to have at least $250 to build your eCommerce website. You should consider investing more money into your store to sell high-volume products that need to be shipped, like clothing or accessories.
What’s the difference between product sourcing and product listing?
Product sourcing is when you determine where to buy products from and what quantities to purchase. You need to make sure your supplier is reliable and can provide you with the products you need, in the proper condition and at the right time.
Product listing is when you add items to a website or application so customers can purchase them. For example, product listing usually happens on an online store or shopping cart when running a dropshipping business.
What is the best eCommerce platform for dropshipping?
Customers can use any platform to run a dropshipping business, including Shopify, WooCommerce and Squarespace. The most crucial factor in choosing your perfect eCommerce platform is ensuring it has all of the features you need to run a successful, growing business.
What tools should I use for dropshipping?
There are a number of different tools to help you with your ecommerce store and marketing efforts. You can use Google Keyword Planner, or KeywordChef to find profitable products to sell online. You’ll need a quality logo and banner design created, so check out Fiverr for affordable design services.
Last Thoughts
Dropshipping is an excellent opportunity for entrepreneurs to start an eCommerce business with minimal capital. The best blogs that provide drop shipper’s tips are worth following to learn how to make the most of their online store and increase product sales. If you’re considering starting your website, this list will give you some helpful advice on which blog posts to follow!