This article will walk you through the steps required to successfully start and run a drop shipping business.
Steps
Step 1. Find a market niche
It is useless to have the best product in the world if no one is willing to buy it. Don't think about selling a particular product before you have done proper keyword research (as most of your sales will be done through internet sites). One way to know if there is demand for a particular product is to check if there is competition. Type the keyword of the product you intend to sell into a search engine such as Google. Are ads appearing to the right of the results page? If the answer is yes, it means there is demand for that product. Also check websites that compare sites online to see if there is a competitor selling that product. Know that this is only the beginning of your search
Step 2. Find a drop shipper with a good reputation
- As a next step, you will need to find someone who can supply you with the products you want to sell. There are several online portals where you can find drop shippers that provide this service.
- Get in touch with them and find out about the profit margins available to you, payment options, return policy, conditions of transport, etc.
Step 3. Find and register a domain name
Once you have discovered the market niche and a drop shipper provider, the next step is to register a domain. In order to optimize your site's ability to be found by search engines, use keywords related to the products you are selling. For example, if you are selling fitness equipment, you can choose equipmentfitness.com as the domain name if it is available. Choosing a domain name like shopsoscontidisally.com won't help
Step 4. Find a web provider for your online store
It will save you time and money compared to having to build a website from scratch. Some online web store providers charge a monthly fee, and this will give you the ability to update the site whenever you need it, rather than waiting for a web designer to follow your instructions. From personal experience, many would tell you that having a customized website is the best way to start this type of business
Step 5. Start uploading your products
Once you have chosen the web provider for your online store, start uploading the products you will be selling. It would be better not to upload all the products before launching your website, because it is better to launch your site as soon as possible and have the possibility to modify it when you get feedback from the market. Alternatively, you can hire someone to do this job
