While the concept of purchasing items and reselling them for a higher price is certainly not a new business model, the internet as we know it is still rather young—which means that dropshippers are still trying to determine the best formula for success (if there’s a formula at all—as they say, it’s more of an art than a science). Dropshipping is one of the best home business ideas for everyone, but how can you be sure you are getting the most out of your efforts? Though there is no set path to success, here are a few tried-and-true elements that will increase your chances:
Reliable suppliers
Dropshipping is a marketing-intense business, but no matter how your brand yourself, you are only as good as your suppliers are. Will people continue to buy from you if their packages always arrive late? Will customers tell their friends positive things about you if their orders are made of low-quality materials? Definitely not—which means that you need to only sell products manufactured by vendors that you trust.
When you are vetting suppliers, ask other dropshippers who have used them what their experiences were like. Double check their locations and shipping policies, too (it’s important to consider how long it will take for packages to reach customers). If a customer purchases from you and something goes wrong, they will contact you, not your supplier, even if the mistake is not your fault, so it’s essential that you partner with vendors that you can cultivate a healthy relationship with and call at a moment’s notice.
A solid SEO strategy
When people search the internet for products you sell, wouldn’t it be great if you were one of the first options listed? While search engines like Google are powerful, this does not happen automatically. There are things you need to do to optimize your website so that Google’s “spiders” can analyze your page quickly and deem you worthy of a high ranking.
Using frequently searched keywords on your website is not enough. There are many technical and creative steps you can take: regarding the former, it helps to create a sitemap so that Google’s bots can index your site quickly and efficiently. As for the latter, it might be a good idea to write a blog with informative and engaging content that strategically employs keywords.
A social media strategy
Social media is an essential resource for any marketer or entrepreneur. Billions of people are online, so there’s bound to be an audience out there for you somewhere—the task is connecting with them amongst a scattered digital landscape. To accomplish this, you should not target just anyone, or you will waste your efforts attempting to appeal to people who have no possible interest in your business. Instead, it’s imperative to have a niche audience. CEO of Sourcify, Nathan Resnick, says:
“For example, kitchenware occupies a respectable slice of the ecommerce pie. But instead of bouncing around from product to product, continue brainstorming and testing to discover the idea that will stick. Continuing with our example, you might find that coffee mugs with snarky comments on the side is the way to go. Whatever it is, find your niche, own it, and stick with it.”
There are tools available that can help you determine potential customers and followers. When it comes to acquiring followers, it’s also crucial that you interact with them regularly by liking their posts, answering questions, responding to comments, thanking them for their business, and more. Some social media platforms, like Facebook and Pinterest (and Instagram with the right external tools), allow you to sell directly through your feed, so you can reach customers there as well.
Accessible customer service
As mentioned previously, when something goes wrong, your customers will turn to you to fix it. If someone’s order is late or does not arrive at all, it’s imperative to be accessible so that this customer can contact you as soon as possible. Be open to multiple methods of interaction, such as via email or phone calls—and you may even elect to hold online “office hours” where people can reach you via direct messaging on Facebook or Twitter. Consumers remember positive customer service interactions, so while they might not recommend you to friends if something goes awry, they at least are less likely to complain about you if you handle problems swiftly.
People are still figuring out the dropshipping game, but the most successful ones all have a few things in common. If you are a dropshipper or plan to become one, what do you believe you’ll need for success?
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