Dropshipping 101: Your Beginner’s Guide to Building a Profitable Online Store

What Exactly Is Dropshipping?

Dropshipping is a business model where you sell products online without keeping any inventory yourself. When a customer places an order on your website, you purchase that item from a third-party supplier who ships it directly to the customer.

Sounds simple, right? Well, it is—but there’s more to it than just setting up a website and waiting for the money to roll in. You need to choose the right products, find reliable suppliers, and market your store effectively.

Step 1: Finding Your Product

First Solve a Problem:

So here's how it works, first identify a problem in a specific industry and find a product that can solve it. You don't need to create a whole different product.

Most problems already have products created to solve them but the thing is, not many people know about the product. So your job is to distribute and tell people about it. Get the word out there.

Imagine it like this; There's a product out there that can solve bad back posture and there's someone out there who has had bad posture for decades because they never even considered that there's a solution for it. So it's your job to bring it to them and help them.

This is why products that solve everyday problems tend to do well. They are easier to market because people can see the value immediately as opposed to something like a glow-in-the-dark charger, it'll be pretty hard (but not impossible) to market it.

For example, this product solves the problem of having to manually feed your cat every time.

Or this anti-snoring mouth guard that helps prevent snoring. The value is pretty straightforward.

Or you can check out this blog to have an idea of what niches are out there

So where and how do we find these products?

In the olden days. You'd have to do tedious research to find reliable suppliers to buy inventory for the product before you've even sold anything, store that somewhere so it doesn't get stolen, and a whole bunch of manual rif-raf.

But Platforms like Tradelle allow you to do all this and much more. Here's how they help:

• You can compare products
• See potential profits on each product
• Not have to deal with suppliers
• Automatically import the product to your Shopify store with one click!
• Switch between suppliers with one click!
• See shipping rates for different countries

Access to a multitude of products

Switch suppliers

See the demand and saturation of the product.

Step 2: Building Your Online Store With Shopify

Now it’s time for the exciting part, setting up your online store. You should use Shopify. It's the best and the market leader when it comes to dropshipping. And you can try their paid plans for 3 months for only $1/month. So the risk to start is so low.

Key Elements of a Great Store:

User-Friendly Design: Make sure your website is easy to navigate. Shopify comes with templates that you can use to quickly get your store up and running. Check out the example below.

But for a more premium and professional-looking store. You may want to consider a paid template (theme) although they're pretty pricy. If you're going all in and can afford it then go for it.

High-Quality Images: Use clear, high-resolution images for your products.

Detailed Descriptions: Provide thorough product descriptions that answer potential questions.

Trust Signals: Include customer reviews, trust badges, and secure payment options to build credibility.

Social Proof: Shopify has apps that can help import reviews from people who have already purchased the product and then display them on your store. The one below is called Loox

Step 3: Marketing Your Dropshipping Store

Building a store is just the beginning. To get sales, you need to drive traffic to your website AKA tell people about the product.

Order a Sample Product and Create a Viral Video for TikTok or Instagram

If you're serious about standing out, ordering a sample product and creating your own content is one of the smartest moves you can make.

1. Order Your Sample Product

Before you start filming, you need the actual product in your hands. Order a sample from your own store. This not only lets you verify the product quality but also gives you an authentic item to showcase in your content.

2. Plan Your Video Content

Your goal is to create a video that grabs attention within the first few seconds. Think about your target audience and what type of content they engage with the most. Is it a quick tutorial, a funny skit, or an aesthetic product showcase?

3. Film Your Video

Here’s where the magic happens! Use your smartphone camera or a basic ring light setup to film. The key is authenticity, people love raw, relatable content. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect; what matters most is that it feels genuine. Check out this TikTok as an example

4. Post

Now it’s time to share your masterpiece with the world! Post your video on TikTok and Instagram, using any relevant hashtags and a catchy caption.

Step 5: Handling Customer Service

Good customer service can make or break your dropshipping business. Even though you’re not handling the shipping yourself, you’re still responsible for ensuring your customers are happy.

Tips for Great Customer Service:

• Be Responsive: Answer customer inquiries promptly (this is absolutely key). Don't keep your customers waiting
• Handle Complaints Gracefully: Resolve issues quickly and professionally.
• Set Clear Expectations: Be transparent about shipping times and return policies.

Final Thoughts: Is Dropshipping Worth It?

Dropshipping isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme, but it’s a fantastic way to start an online business with low upfront costs. And with any business, it will take some time to see any results but if you’re willing to put in the work, be consistent with your marketing efforts, and most importantly patient, you'll do great.

And lastly, believe in yourself and your ability to make it work. I know it sounds corny but seriously you have to have faith it'll all work out. These people making money from dropshipping are just people, and you are people too. So best of luck young padawan!