Indispensable in the USA, dropshipping, the method allows us to create e-commerce without stock - is slowly democratizing in France. In your online store, you sell the products of a supplier who would be responsible for shipping the goods. In exchange, they pay you a commission on the sale. It's easy to create, inexpensive, and risk-free. The article below is the 7-step method that will save you a lot of time while planning for your promising dropshipping business.
Step 1: Choose your industry
Before you start, you will need to choose your activity. What are you going to sell? Do not ask yourself this question lightly and think of carrying out market research beforehand. There is no point in launching yourself into a saturated market. Remember to differentiate yourself in a thriving sector in which you can bring your personal touch.Step 2: Create your business
E-commerce is a business. You are less likely to sell your products and negotiate with suppliers if you do not have a Siret. Do you want to start alone, with a minimum of costs? We advise you to opt for the micro-entrepreneur status. Its simplified management design is perfect for testing your project and collecting your first sales.
Step 3: Find and contact your suppliers
Brands and wholesalers do not always advertise this possibility on their website. Contact them directly to find out if this solution is possible. Think also of professional sellers on Amazon, eBay, AliExpress… marketplaces as well as automation tools for CMS platforms.
Step 4: Develop your online store
It's time to develop your e-commerce! For this, you can use a dropshipping solution like Shopify. You can also hire a professional developer. The latter will be able to provide you with an online store that meets your needs and the expectations of your customers. A professional can deliver a perfectly functional site, endowed with efficient ergonomics and all the functionalities necessary for an e-commerce site. Think about it!
Step 5: Work on your SEO
To make your e-commerce attract its first visitors, consider working on your keywords. Using Google Keywords Planner, find expressions used by your prospects to search for your products. The goal is to establish a list of keywords to insert in the structure of your site, as well as in the content.Step 6: Write the product descriptions
Once the site is set up, collect the photos from your suppliers, and create a detailed description of your products. For the good of your reference, do not copy the files of the brands or wholesalers, and write unique demonstration, in which you would insert your keywords. This work is often long and tedious, but you can, for example, hire a freelance writer on Fiver.com.
Step 7: Develop your web marketing strategy
When your e-commerce website is ready to make its first sales, think about promoting it! The first thing you need to consider is to create profiles on the social networks where your target clients are located. For an online store whose products are aimed at the general public, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest are the most suitable channels to start with.
For B2B, think of Linkedin and Twitter. Besides, use the Google Adwords advertising network to make targeted campaigns on your keywords. In that way, you will have more chances to appear on the front line when Internet users make requests on these expressions. Also think of creating a blog, to boost your SEO and to have quality material to share on your social networks. All of these strategies will work together and set up a wholesome digital communication system.
