Products » Education » How to Drop Ship Successfully

Have you ever thought of starting an online business? Do you daydream about working from home? Does the thought of carrying inventory stop you from fulfilling your dream? If you answered yes to the preceding questions, a lucrative career in drop shipping might just fit the bill.

Drop shipping is a viable business solution that can help you achieve the success you desire. Make no mistake, drop shipping -- just like any other job, requires significant work to prosper. If you are willing to work for it though, success can be yours.

With a little Internet savvy and this how to guide, you can make your dreams come true.

1. Select a drop ship provider

It all starts with the right drop ship provider. A reputable provider is an essential element to your business. A superior drop ship provider, such as Drop Ship Access, offers brand name goods at wholesale prices, educational resources to help you build and grow your business, and cares about your success. Credible providers want you to succeed.

Consider the following points when selecting a provider:

• Is the provider recognized by the Better Business Bureau?
• Does the company list their contact details?
• Is the provider located in your country of residence?
• Do they offer a free trial membership?
• Do they carry the products that you want to sell?

2. Find a niche market

A well-defined niche market empowers you to market and sell products efficiently. Some sellers mistakenly believe that niche marketing narrows their selling potential too much. Quite the contrary, by defining a market you can tailor your selling strategies to target specific buyers.

Niche marketing enables you to spend your dollars wisely. With a defined market it is easier to determine what type of advertising to use, and where to use it. Creating an efficient website that caters to a target demographic is easier as well, as is selecting enticing add-on products and services. Always keep your target buyers in mind.

A niche allows you to become an expert resource, which gives you the upper-hand in the industry. Knowledgeable sellers attract more buyers. Experts can offer credible advice, provide trustworthy recommendations, and offer insights into the benefits of their products. Customers feel secure buying from sellers with expertise.

3. Write sales copy

Persuasive sales copy is crucial. Whether a potential buyer stumbles onto your website or was carefully guided there with a pay per click ad, it is your sales copy that has the most effect on their decision to buy. Think of your sales copy as a sales person. An effective sales person effortlessly leads customers through the selling process. That is what your sales copy must do to maximize sales. Worried? Don’t be.

There is a proven 9-step selling process that you can use:

1. Pique curiosity with a powerful and irresistible headline.
2. Tell how your product or service can solve a problem.
3. Present reasons why you should be trusted to solve the problem.
4. Use customer testimonials to show that you are trustworthy, and your products are reliable.
5. Reveal the benefits of the product or service.
6. Use high-quality before and after photos, if applicable.
7. Offer a money-back guarantee or limited time risk-free trial.
8. Create a sense of urgency.
9. Ask for the sale.

4. Design and build a website

This step used to be quite difficult. Not anymore! Turnkey solution providers offer fully-functional websites complete with shopping cart, product catalog, secure payment processing, and everything else you need to start selling the same day. Fill in the details, personalize your site with an easy-to-use control panel, and you are ready to sell! It’s that simple, which is why turnkey solutions are rapidly gaining in popularity.

The advantages of turnkey solutions are obvious, but there is one drawback. Your business will not stand out if you use the same website template as everyone else. Although solution providers offer hundreds or even thousands of templates, many templates look very similar. Even if they do not, how many other sellers are using the same template? Creating a business that stands out is important.

Fortunately, there is an easy solution to this little problem. Select a turnkey provider that offers design services. For a reasonable fee, you can have a professional designer create a website that exceeds your expectations. If you can afford it, the extra cost is worth it. Some turnkey providers allow users to modify templates, which presents another option. Of course, you can always design your own website and save a few bucks.

A simple website that grabs your visitor’s attention and holds it is best. Visitors decide within seconds whether a site is interesting or not. Keep visitors happy with a website that is easy to use.

What elements make a website user-friendly?

• Easy to read font on a white background.
• Consistent, simple navigation on the top or left-side of each page.
• Logical site organization.
• Images, audio, and video that complement site content.
• Email opt-in offer to receive updates on new content, special promotions, etc.
• Privacy policy that states you will not share users’ personal information.

5. Drive traffic to your website

Use niche keywords to optimize your website for search engine results. Submit your website to all major search engines and as many small ones as possible. Use pay per click ads to increase traffic and test various selling approaches. You can test ads by creating several designs. Try using different keywords, price points, headlines, etc.

Share your expertise to gain recognition, respect, and credibility. Post in forums across the web. Start a blog. Write articles and submit them to online article directories. Create how-to videos. Join social networking sites. Offer sound advice and personal recommendations. Share your content with as many people as possible. Let visitors share your content too. Give away coupons to lure new customers. Offer returning customers loyalty coupons. Have a contest. Give away freebies. Offer doorbuster prizes during your next promotion. Value your customers to build strong relationships and receive free word of mouth advertising. There are endless ways to drive traffic to your website. With creativity and a little hard work, you could be the next leading seller in your niche.

One last note…

If you are new to drop shipping, follow this guide step-by-step. Experienced sellers may want to browse through the steps to determine what areas they may have missed or neglected. Successful drop shippers know that there is always room for improvement.