Dropshipping from AliExpress in 2022- All in one Tips & Tricks

In just a few short years, dropshipping from AliExpress has become one of the most popular methods of online retail. Nevertheless, as the industry grew, so did its challenges.

In this blog post, we’ll be looking at all-in-one tips, tricks, and guidance for anyone looking to start or grow their business using AliExpress dropshipping in 2022.

So, whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced retailer, read on for everything you need to know!

Table of Contents

What is DropShipping?

If you have just started online sales, dropshipping is something that you might not know. This simple business plan enables your customers to buy directly over the internet from your online dropshipping store. In this case, your suppliers ship the goods on your behalf and deliver them straight to your customers.

What is AliExpress?

By now, you may know about Chinese billionaire Jack Ma. But did you know that he created Alibaba, the world’s biggest online marketplace? In 1999 it grew out of an unsatisfactory experience by Ma. The resulting technology helps Western buyers contact Chinese and Asian sellers and revolutionizes eCommerce globally.

Alibaba originally started to sell wholesale. Sellers typically require minimum orders for bulk goods. The Chinese manufacturing industry provides direct communication for order fulfillment.

AliExpress is one of its subsidiaries, enabling small businesses to source products directly from China suppliers at wholesale prices. Sellers list their goods at low margins. It enables them to offer lower prices to buyers, allowing lower-priced retailing.

What is AliExpress Dropshipping?

The idea behind the AliExpress dropshipping service is that Chinese suppliers ship products on behalf of store owners, which are sold directly through an online store to consumers. Your supplier ships your goods on your behalf, and you make a profit because you buy the products at a lower price than your selling price.

Through their AliExpress dropshipping center, you can source the best products for your dropshipping store from reliable AliExpress sellers. In case you don’t know how to use it, read our article AliExpress Dropshipping Center: The Definitive Guideline.

How does Dropshipping from AliExpress work?

When you dropship a product you sell online to your customer, your dropshipping suppliers will send it to your consumer. You do not have to maintain stock, pack, and ship items. Dropshipping from AliExpress will require that you sell products from AliExpress through your own online store.

When customers buy something, it is done by placing a order on AliExpress. The seller sends the item, and you retain the price difference. Once your order arrives with your buyer, the buyer assumes you send the item.

Although AliExpress is an individual eCommerce selling place, most customers on the AliExpress platform are resellers, which is a well-known fact. Because of this, AliExpress dropshipping will be easy because their suppliers already work with drop shippers and are prepared to work with you on a particular project or requirement.

What are the Benefits of AliExpress Dropshipping?

AliExpress dropshipping offers several benefits to fledgling retailers, including:

A vast range of Aliexpress dropshipping products-

Selling almost anything is possible, from jewelry or clothing to cosmetics and luxury watches. There’s practically no limit to what you can sell from an AliExpress.

Dropshipping is a low-risk business model.

When you dropship, there’s no need to invest in expensive inventory, so the risk of going out of business is reduced. Even if you are selling something particular, there are likely to be AliExpress products that relate to your niche.

Many suppliers are available-

When you start your own dropshipping business, the first thing you think of is where to get your product. You can choose from thousands of Aliexpress dropshipping suppliers available on the AliExpress Dropshipping center.

Low startup costs –

With AliExpress dropshipping, there’s no initial investment required in stock or manufacturing. You simply need a website or online store to market the products.

Low revenue share –

The percentage of sales you pay on AliExpress dropshipping is meager, which means you keep more money in your pocket.

High-profit margins are possible –

There are ways to increase your margin on all products sold on AliExpress, including by boosting prices for imported goods or offering bundling or kits.

Dropshipping from AliExpress: setting up your store

Constructing your own dropshipping store using AliExpress products is very easy. You can use a website builder, such as Shopify, to create your online retailer in minutes. When you sell on Shopify, you can automatically sync your AliExpress products with an app like Oberlo. To get started with AliExpress dropshipping, choose a product to sell, select your shipping options and set your markup level.

>> Signup for your Shopify store now!

To start selling online with AliExpress using the dropshipping model, there are 5 steps you need to follow:

Step1: Create your online Store on any eCommerce platforms like Shopify
Step2: Add any apps like Oberlo to sync with AliExpress
Step3: Find the product on AliExpress
Step4: Add it to your eCommerece store
Step5: Set your price, and you’re good to go!
Final step. Marketing your store to reach more customers.

You should keep in mind that if you want a successful store, you need to ensure that your products are presented in a way that will convince a potential customer to buy them. Dropshipping is not a get-rich-quick strategy. It takes work to create compelling presentations for your products, so you need to have the desire and dedication to make it through the initial stages of your business.

Let’s now discuss tips and tricks for successfully completing these steps.

Tips & Tricks to creating a successful Shopify store:

For creating a successful Shopify store, you have to do lots of homework. For initial setup procedures, you may find it helpful to read the Shopify Dropshipping Business Guide . You can benefit from a few tips and tricks.

>> Free! Free! Signup for Shopify free trial here!

Ensure your website looks professional-

Shopify is the best solution for all who don’t have any web design or coding knowledge because it provides simple click-and-drag website customization tools.

Remember that the design of your Shopify store will be one of the first things a customer sees, so make sure it looks professional and use high-quality images to highlight the products you’re selling.

Select the best theme-

To improve your site, it is essential to select the best themes. For this purpose, you have to do a little bit of research and choose one that perfectly suits your needs. You can check out free Shopify themes at the official store. Before selecting your theme, don’t forget to read our article How to pick the right Shopify theme in 2022: 10 pro tips.

To boost sales, you can also read 2022’s top 10+ Shopify dropshipping themes.

Attractive store name-

The name of your online store is the first thing that a visitor will see. It should be catchy, memorable, and ideally contain a few keywords relevant to your niche market.

Create a catchy logo –

Upon landing on your site, the first thing they should see should represent your brand. And the first thing they’ll likely notice is your logo, so the color scheme and design must fit in with the products you’re selling. Your logo can be simple or complex, but just make sure it looks professional to attract potential buyers.

Ensure payment security-

Shopify offers numerous payment options, including Shopify payments and other third-party payments like credit cards, PayPal, etc. From the beginning, Shopify has been designed to ensure security for the financial transactions that occur within your store. However, it is still essential to find a secure payment service to process credit cards and other forms of payments.

Set up standard pages-

To run your eCommerce business smoothly, you need to set up all the standard pages for your Shopify store. To have a complete eCommerce solution with Shopify, you need to set up your shop policies, return policy, and the about me page. For more details, read 13 Shopify standard Pages: How to Set Up.

How to Sync AliExpress to your Shopify store:

If you’ve created a Shopify store and want a simple way to add products, then AliExpress is the best marketplace for you.

When using AliExpress as a supplier, you’ll need to do some manual work every time you add products to your store.

There are a few ways to sync your AliExpress store to your Shopify store. Here are a few of the most popular methods:

Import AliExpress products into Shopify as individual products. It is the simplest method, but it can be time-consuming if you have a lot of products on AliExpress.
Use an app like Oberlo to automatically import products from AliExpress into your Shopify store. Using this option is ideal if you want to automate the process and don’t want to manually add each product individually. It is the most efficient method.
Use an API integration to sync your AliExpress and Shopify stores automatically. It can be more complicated to set up, depending on your technical skills.

While syncing AliExpress to Shopify, it is better to use the Oberlo app because it is easy to use and set up. Another benefit of this app is that its free version is also available. You can read our article Dropshipping with Oberlo: Your all-in-one Solution.

Tips and tricks to find the best dropshipping products:

Now that you have a Shopify store, it’s time to stock it with products. Which dropshipping products should you sell? For that, you need to select your niche.

Before selecting your product, just be sure that you are ready to do the necessary research. If you want to find the best dropshipping niches, then check out our article Top 10 Profitable Niches for Dropshipping in 2022.

When choosing a product to sell, it is crucial to consider several factors:

Cost –

When choosing a product, one of the most important factors is understanding your profit margin. You need to know how much you’re going to spend on the product and how much money you will make from selling it.

Product demand –

Be sure that your target audience actually needs to buy the product you plan to sell. You can find out by checking out the competition, as well as asking friends or family members for their opinion.

How easy it is to buy –

Is the product available on AliExpress? If so, you’re likely to be able to sell it more easily.

Fulfillment time –

You’ll need to consider how long it takes for your supplier to ship your order. You don’t want your customers waiting weeks before they receive their purchase. So, you need to understand the fulfillment time before selecting a product.

Trustworthy suppliers-

Always try to select a reliable and trustworthy supplier. AliExpress is full of suppliers that you can choose from, but it’s up to you to pick the one that gives your customers the best experience possible. If your customers don’t have a good experience, you won’t be able to build trust, and they’ll turn elsewhere for their purchases.

Tips & tricks for adding products to your Shopify store:

Now that you have a product in mind, it’s time to add it to your Shopify store. You can add products manually or use an app like Oberlo to automatically add the products from AliExpress.

Before adding products, here are a few things you need to know:

Listing Title-

Be sure to start your listing title with the product name. For example, if you’re selling “blue t-shirts,” then use that as the first part of your title.

You can also use this section to develop different variations of your product names. For example, if you’re selling blue t-shirts, then try adding other relevant keywords, such as “men’s blue t-shirt,” “Cotton blue t-shirt,” etc.

Before listing the title, you need to do some keyword research. (Keywords are the words people type into search engines to search for products like yours.) You can use a keyword planner, such as Google Keyword Planner, and type some keywords related to your product.

Product Description –

This section is where your product description should be listed. You can add a detailed description of the item, along with any other important information about it. For example, if you’re selling men’s blue t-shirts, then mention things like the size, colors, material, and other features.

The product description section is an excellent place to add keywords you found with the keyword planner. This will help Google find your listing when people search for related terms.

Product Images –

There are some basic guidelines for adding images to your listings:

Use high-quality photos of the product- Make sure your main image is a clear picture of the product from multiple angles. Add photos of your product with other objects, people, or in different settings. This will help buyers see how it looks in their life. Try to use pictures that show the scale of your product.

Add images from different settings- Add a few other pictures to give your potential customers a better idea of what they’re getting. For example, you can add pictures of the product from different angles, in different settings (such as outdoors, inside, with people), and show the scale of the product.

Custom attributes- These are important because they help improve your conversion rates. You should include images of any unique features, as well as information about the benefits your product offers.

You can also use custom attributes to list special notes or requirements that your customers should be aware of when they’re purchasing your product.

Use ALT text- The ALT text allows you to add keywords to help people find your listing when they search on Google. For example, if you’re selling men’s blue t-shirts, use “Men’s blue t-shirt” as the ALT text.

What to look before setting up your price-

Shopify has templates for AliExpress products that include automatic prices, but if you want to set your own price, this is how it works:

The Item Price –

This is the main price of the product. It’s usually in the local currency (USD, GBP, Euro), but some stores also show prices in other currencies. You can set this to update based on the currency value automatically or manually change it yourself.

The shipping costs –

This is the price for shipping and handling and is charged per order (not product). For example, if you charge $3 for shipping per order, a customer who buys two products will have a total shipping cost of $6.

You can also offer free shipping by entering $0 as the value. Make sure to check the total cost from your supplier when setting up your products.

The Tax Price-

An optional value allows you to add sales tax to your products. If you’re not required to pay tax on your product, then enter $0 as the value. If you need to pay the tax, you should conduct with responsible authorities before imposing your tax.

Profit Margin-

Finally, don’t forget to add your profit margins to your final product price.

>> Start your Shopify store here!

Shopify free plus pricing method

As a new eCommerce store owner, you can try the Shopify free plus shipping technique. It’s a way where your product costs will be $0, and your shipping cost will be the sum of your actual product cost, shipping costs and your desired profit.

Example: If your product price is $5, the shipping cost is $2, and your desired profit is $3. Then in Shopify’s free plus shipping method, you’ll list your product’s price as $0, and the shipping cost is $10($5+$3+$2).

You can read 2022’s complete guide to setting up Shopify free plus shipping for more details.

Tips & tricks to marketing your Shopify store-

Here are some marketing tips I’ve learned over the years, especially for new e-commerce entrepreneurs.

Create amazing content-

The most important thing to do as a new store owner is to create amazing content. There are two main types of content you can create:

i) Product-based- In this case, you’ll produce either high-quality images or videos for your product. The goal here is to attract potential buyers and make them want to purchase your product. If you’re selling, let’s say, men’s t-shirts, then take high-quality images of the t-shirt and create a compelling video that will appeal to your target audience or potential customers.
ii) Value-based content- This form of content is about building trust with your customer base by giving them value. For example, influencer marketing has become very popular lately because it provides value to the customer. You can do this by interviewing your top customers, researching the factors influencing buying decisions, or publishing infographics that provide product features and benefits.

Optimize your listing-

You should optimize your listings for search engine traffic to find your product when they search on Google. In addition to the normal SEO practices, you should add your product description and add as many relevant keywords as possible.

Be social-

You should make a Facebook page for your Shopify store and share your content there. Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and even Instagram can be useful depending on your target audience’s location. Just share your product content there and be active on those platforms.

Use email marketing-

There are many tools, such as Mailchimp and Campaign Monitor, which you can use to create an email list for your store and send related content to people who sign up. I recommend you set this up as it’s one of the best ways to drive traffic back to your website.

Engage customers via calls-to-action-

You can make use of a call-to-action button that allows customers to purchase your product without having to navigate away from your website. 3rd party apps are generally better because they’re more customizable and have more options.

Promote your store-

Social media is a great way to promote your eCommerce site, mainly when using Facebook ads. You can also use Google remarketing ads if you want to advertise to people who have already visited your website and left.

Test different copies until something sticks-

The final tip is to test different types of copies until something sticks. For example, you could try using a title with more urgency or a call-to-action that tells the user what they’ll get if they buy your product. In addition to this, use popups on your site and track where they get clicked. This way, you can see what areas of your site drive the most conversions and optimize them accordingly.

It’ll be helpful for you to read our article’s best marketing method for dropshipping.

AliExpress dropshipping business: How to grow?

After generating your first couple of sales, you need to consider the possibilities to increase the income through AliExpress and drop shipping. Eventually, it becomes easier for you to identify which supplier is reliable and provide quality products.

Here are some helpful tips for growing your AliExpress dropshipping business.

You should choose a product that you love, and that you will be interested in buying from other people as well – this is key!
Next, make sure to research the supplier of each item before making contact with them so they know what kind of customer service they can expect when dealing with someone new on their site or via email;
Thirdly always ask questions during every stage. If something doesn’t seem right, don’t hesitate to ask until either side has made everything clear.
Fourthly, find a way to stand out from your competition;
Another good dropshipping tip for businesses is building trusting relationships. This will help improve pricing and priority order handling. Some drop shipped vendors I have seen on AliExpress use Wechat and WhatsApp. If you often order from one vendor, you should ask them your Skype username to establish a good business relationship.
And lastly, you will need to keep up the good work and stay ethical at all costs.

Shipping Methods available in AliExpress

There are many shipping methods such as China Post Registered Air Mail (cheap and doesn’t have tracking), Express shipping, FedEx, DHL etc. Let’s discuss some of the types of shipping methods on AliExpress:

AliExpress Standard Shipping

AliExpress Standard Shipping is a shipping option offered by AliExpress that guarantees delivery to over 200 countries and territories. Orders shipped with AliExpress Standard Shipping will take an average of 10-30 business days to arrive, depending on the destination.

AliExpress Standard Shipping is free for most items and includes insurance and a tracking number. There are some exceptions; however, heavier or oversized items may incur additional shipping fees.

ePacket Shipping

ePacket delivery is a shipping option that enables buyers to receive their purchases faster. ePacket delivery is available for products that weigh less than 2 kg (4.4 lbs) and are valued at less than $400. Buyers can track their packages using the Local Tracking website. Before Covid-19, ePacket was used to deliver the best balance of cost and delivery. But now, it is no longer the best option for AliExpress suppliers due to its rising shipping cost.

FedEx Shipping

FedEx shipping is available for countries and regions such as the United States, Canada, Brazil, Russia, Australia, etc. Orders shipped through FedEx usually take 10 business days to arrive.

EMS Shipping

EMS shipping is a type of express mail service offered by the Universal Postal Union (UPU). It is generally faster and more expensive than regular airmail but provides tracking and insurance.

When shopping on AliExpress, you may see the option to choose EMS shipping for specific products. This will typically result in a faster delivery time and added protection against damage or loss. You should be aware that some products are not eligible for EMS shipping, depending on their weight or size.

DHL Shipping

DHL provides global courier services and shipping services for Aliexpress. When choosing DHL as your shipping option, be sure to keep the following in mind:

-Shipping cost may be higher than other options

-DHL only delivers to physical addresses, so you will need to provide a valid address during checkout. PO boxes are not accepted.

-You will be responsible for any customs or duties charges that may apply.

DPEX Shipping

DPEX is an express shipping company that offers courier and freight services to businesses and consumers in the Asia Pacific. Services offered include international parcel delivery, freight forwarding, customs clearance, and e-commerce fulfillment.

DPEX has a network of over 190 countries and territories worldwide and offers express delivery services to over 7,000 cities. In addition to its courier and freight services, DPEX also provides e-commerce fulfillment services through its subsidiary, DPEX Fulfilment.

How do I start my business without money or capital?

Dropshipping is a great way to start your business without any money or capital. Since dropshipping doesn’t require stocking or shipping products, you won’t need to worry about that.

Dropshipping has the advantage of not requiring any upfront investment or risk on your part. You can test it out for free by signing up for a free trial with Shopify.

Here are some tips to get started:

1) Do your research. Make sure you understand the industry you want to enter and what it will take to succeed in that industry.
2) Come up with a business plan. It will help you map out your goals and strategies for your business.
3) Network with other business owners. Look for successful people in the industry you’re entering, and ask them for advice.

AliExpress from Dropshipping: is it safe and reliable?

Yeah! Aliexpress is a great place to buy goods and services. Not only does it offer free delivery on any order, but the site also has many features that help customers at all stages in their sales process – from shopping for products online through buying them off of Aliexpress (the company’s marketplace).

When you choose any merchant, there must be some consideration given towards ratings as well as how often they’re selling. So, make sure only get items from sellers who have high scores, both above average or even excellent ones, if possible because these individuals will likely provide better service than others due to diligence beforehand.

Why dropship using AliExpress?

AliExpress is a popular online marketplace — and it has a good reason.

AliExpress can identify thousands of trustworthy sellers offering products at very affordable rates. In addition, many businesses now use AliExpress suppliers because they understand entrepreneurs and try to accommodate your requirements.

AliExpress products have no upfront costs. Therefore, you’ll have the freedom to test various goods with no worries about spending money.

How to find a niche on AliExpress?

There are a few ways to find a niche on AliExpress.

One way is to search for products in specific categories that you think would be profitable and then look for related sub-categories to target.
Another way is to find popular products with low competition and high demand and then pick the best products to promote.
On AliExpress, you can also search by keyword to find products by keyword and then research the competition for each product to see if it’s worth targeting.
Lastly, you can use the “Browse by Category” tab on the AliExpress website to find popular categories and sub-categories that might be worth targeting.

AliExpress Return and Refund Policy

Sellers and buyers can benefit from AliExpress Buyer Protection. Their goal is to provide accurate products to customers and protect them during the purchase process. Many manufacturers also do not offer refunds. The cost can be added to your company’s budget. The problem might be caused by orders not arriving or descriptions that aren’t correct. AliExpress will refund all unreceived orders. Before receiving the money, you must wait at least 45 days.

Here is a summary of the AliExpress return and refund policy:

-You can return most items you purchase from AliExpress for a full refund within seven days of receiving the item.

-There are some exceptions to this policy, such as digital items, personalized items, and perishable goods. If an item you received is ineligible for a return, AliExpress will provide instructions on processing the return.

-To initiate a return, you must first contact AliExpress customer service. They will help you through the process and provide you with a return address.

-Once AliExpress has received your returned item, they will process your refund and notify you via email. It may take up to two weeks

Guide to filtering AliExpress Dropshipping Product Ideas

You need to narrow your products down so that they only contain the best ideas for your AliExpress dropshipping store.

Various search methods are available for products, including keywords, category, sub-category, and price. If you want specific items with certain features, use keywords to target them directly. For example, if you want an iPhone case with a built-in battery, type in “iPhone battery case.”

You can also filter products by the number of orders they receive on AliExpress. The more orders are made, the better the chance people are interested in them.

The key to finding good dropshipping ideas is finding a product trending upwards in search results. The higher the demand for a product, the more likely it will make you money. you can check the product on the Google trend. If you don’t know how to use Googlr trends we suggest you to read our article Dropshipping: 12 Secret Tips for Using Google Trends 2022.

Beware of products with too many orders as these may be counterfeits or banned from certain directories. You must also make sure that your target market includes the product’s country of origin.

Lastly, choose products that represent a great demand for an affordable price. You should also look at the images and descriptions to ensure they do not violate copyright claims.

Questions and Answers about AliExpress Dropshipping

Q1) Is AliExpress good for dropshipping?

Answer: Yes, AliExpress is a good site for dropshipping. It has a wide variety of products and low prices, and it’s easy to use.

The Alibaba Group owns AliExpress, the world’s largest online and mobile commerce company. Alibaba Group also owns other popular sites like Taobao, Tmall, and Juhuasuan. So you can be confident that AliExpress is a reputable site that will be around for the long haul.

Additionally, AliExpress offers a dropshipping program that makes it easy to get started with dropshipping. The program provides you with access to millions of products from thousands of suppliers, and it automates many of the tasks involved.

Q3) Does Shopify integrate with AliExpress?

Answer: You can run your AliExpress dropshipping business through Shopify. The Oberlo or AliDropship apps will help you quickly and easily import the products from AliExpress to your Shopify store.

Q4) Does Shopify allow dropshipping?

Answer: Yes, Shopify allows dropshipping. Entrepreneurs can create their own online stores using Shopify, a leading eCommerce platform. The Shopify dropshipping store is simple to use, so you won’t need any technical experience to create your store.

Ecommerce entrepreneurs who dropship products sell them without having to carry inventory. A store owner contacts the supplier in response to a customer’s order, who then ships the products directly to the customer. You can sell products from a range of suppliers with dropshipping apps such as Oberlo.

Q5) How do I automate Shopify on AliExpress?

Answer: There is an assortment of ways to automate Shopify on AliExpress.

One way is to use an app like Oberlo, which automates adding products from AliExpress to your Shopify store.

There is also the option of using AliDropship, which can automate the process of adding products from AliExpress to your Shopify store and other tasks, like emailing you when a product is sold.

Finally, you could also use a custom script or Google Sheets add-on to add products from AliExpress to your Shopify store automatically.

Q6) How do I join dropshipping on AliExpress?

To join dropshipping with Aliexpress, you need to do several things-

Set up your online store on any eCommerce platform like Shopify.
Add and import products from Aliexpress.
Identify the best trustworthy suppliers.
Advertise your products and make sales.
Simply place that order with your AliExpress supplier when you get an order.
Your supplier will then ship out the items to your customers.

Final thoughts

So, there you have it – our top tips for dropshipping from AliExpress in 2022. Hopefully, you found this article useful and given you a good starting point to begin your own successful dropshipping business.

Before making any purchases, test different products and suppliers, and keep track of your sales and conversions so that you can continue improving your online business over time.

Do you want to share any other tips or advice you would add? Let us know in the comments below!