12 Proven Dropshipping Tips For Beginners

The Do’s and Don’ts of Dropshipping.

Dropshipping. It’s an odd term right? Are you dropping something, shipping something, or both? Jokes aside. Dropshipping is serious business. It’s a popular e-commerce business model that has earned a reputation as a get rich quick scheme, but nothing could be further from the truth.

The basis of dropshipping is when a store owners “product supplier” delivers all the sold products directly to the end user. Therefore dropshipping involves the purchase of a product from a store that does not keep that product in stock. Most often, the consumer will NOT know that this is the case.

Once a purchase is made, the store owner then places an order for the product with their supplier. The supplier then arranges delivery to the customer. It’s a simple and very effective system.

Whist dropshipping isn’t difficult to operate, there are many dos and don’ts when it comes to dropshipping that will help your business succeed.

Read on to learn more….

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Dropshipping Tips For Beginners ~ The Do’s

Create Amazing Deals

Everyone loves an amazing deal there’s no doubt about it.

When starting out with your dropshipping store the first thing you should do is create amazing deals. Your first promotions should be aimed at getting attention over making profit. Sure you need to make a profit but you also need to create a buzz and social engagement around your products. If you can’t afford to make a loss on sales then try to break even.

In addition try to offer things like free shipping and money back guarantees.

Try to make the customers shopping experience memorable

First Class Customer Service

It’s said that an unhappy customer will tell ALL their friends whereas a happy customer keeps it to themselves. The key here is not the number or reviews you get but the quality of the reviews you get. You should always strive to get 5 star feedback.

And the only way to do that is by offering 5 star customer service.

Here’s some things that you can do in order to excel with customer service:

Live Chat:

Younger generations simply don’t make phone calls like the older generations. Your business must adapt with the changing times. Make use of the many online chat apps available to support customers. Chats also give you some flexibility because users often expect to wait up to 24 hours for a response.

Telephone Assistance:

On the other hand, there are still those who prefer picking up a phone and speaking to a human voice. Having both live chat help as well as a telephone number to call will serve to keep everyone happy.

Reminding your customers that they are working with real human beings, will separate you from other brands who strictly rely on chatbot automation.

Here’s some more things you can do to show your appreciation to the customer:

Send personalised thank you cards.
Send follow up emails asking are they satisfied.
Send special deals to regular buyers.

Making sure that your customers are satisfied is just as important than trying to find new ones. A satisfied customer is one who trusts you; if you gain a customer’s trust they will buy from you again and again. Always voice your appreciation wherever you can.

Know Your Niche

The most successful stores are those who operate in a certain niche. Specializing in one specific category of products allows understand your customer base thoroughly. by knowing your customer base inside out allows you to target them with your marketing more effectively.

As your brand grows you can then slowly expand or add more niche products. A great example would be Amazon. Amazon originally started as a smaller online book store. Now, they are one of the largest dropshipping brands in the world. This is one of my favourite dropshipping tips for beginners.

Learn More About Online Marketing

If you think that you can avoid promoting your business online, you are wrong. Having a website just isn’t good enough anymore. Your website is one of many marketing channels that need exploring, and one that should be consistently and effectively promoted on social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter.

Marketing your business and website online is the only way to expose your company and get noticed. In other words, your website is irrelevant if people are unaware that it even exists.

Facebook Ads:

Creating a Facebook page allows you to create and run sponsored ads. Think of a sponsored ad as a more advanced TV commercial. When you run a Facebook ad, you have the ability to target specific potential customers by choosing locations, audiences, ages, and interests. Facebook content and active pages will drive an audience to click your website and therefore expand your business with new customers and purchases.

Twitter Promotions:

For a lot of brands, especially for a dropshipping business, Twitter can be used to promote specials, hot deals, and flash sales. It can also be used for customer queries. It can be a quick way to resolve issues and keep customers happy. Twitter is great for publishing your company news.

Dropship tips for success continued…

Dropshipping Tips For Beginners ~ The Don’ts

Don’t overlook long term goals

Successful, six-figure businesses are not built in a couple months. In fact, it takes years. While short-term, goals are helpful, you must also plan out long-term goals that your business needs to reach, in order to continue climbing up the ladder of success.

One aspect of a company that people tend to overlook is the most important part of what keeps your business running; and that is, your employees!

If your employees are happy, then your customers will be too.

Don’t get caught up in small details

You can’t afford to waste time on small details that do not necessarily give value to your business. For example, spending too much time deciding on website colors will never get the business launched. That time and attention could be better used by focusing on the customer acquisition.

Furthermore, pricing decisions should be quick and revolve around your customer’s needs. Its more important you focus on a product’s price that benefits you as well as the customer than it is to focus on the pricing of competing brands.

Don’t under price your products

Companies who under price their products tend to forget that marketing, the cost of goods, and paying employees gets expensive. Don’t compete with a company’s lower price by lowering yours. Keep your prices fair, and don’t try to match anyone else’s tactics for quick gains. This business takes time to build.

Don’t over spend on your website

Websites needs to be simple and eye catching, especially for companies that don’t have a physical high street presence. Your website is a reflection of your business, and first impressions are vital when it comes to dropshipping. Be very wary of adding all the latest bells and whistles. Costs can rise very quickly and get out of control. Also be sure to keep your website updated, easily accessible, and uncluttered.

Conclusion – Dropship Tips for Success
Dropshipping is a unique business model that can be started by anyone. By leveraging the products of wholesalers you can focus on your brand, marketing and customer experience. By following the do’s and don’ts of this article you’ll be well on your way to establishing a successful dropshipping business in next to no time.

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