Dropshipping in 2023: Is Shopify still a good option? (Pros and Cons)

Dropshipping has taken the eCommerce world by storm in recent years, and for a good reason: it’s a simple business model that can be implemented quickly and easily. Dropshipping in 2022: Is Shopify still a good option? (Pros and Cons)

In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the pros and cons of using Shopify for dropshipping. By the end, you’ll be able to make an informed decision about whether or not Shopify is right for you. Let’s get started!

What is dropshipping, and what are the benefits of dropshipping?

Dropshipping is a business model in which you sell products without holding any inventory. Instead, your products are made and shipped directly by the manufacturer after placing an order on your online store.

Dropshipping model allows you to work from anywhere, and the actual business operations are pretty straightforward. You simply set up a Shopify dropshipping store (or any other e-commerce platform such as WooCommerce), market it on social media, and wait for orders to roll in.

The dropshipping business model makes it easy for anyone to get into the world of e-commerce. You don’t even need any product knowledge or investment because you partner with a supplier to handle these tasks.

>> Start your dropshipping business with Shopify here!

There are many benefits of dropshipping that we will discuss in the following section.

Pros and cons of Shopify as a dropshipping platform

Choosing a Shopify dropshipping store as your e-commerce platform for this business model is one of the best decisions you could make. Using Shopify for dropshipping has many benefits, and we will present some of them in the following section:

Pros of Shopify as a dropshipping platform

Shopify is an easy-to-use platform 

Shopify allows you to create e-commerce stores with ease. It will enable you to create your website while it handles hosting, allows you to list products while it keeps track of inventory, and also allows you to analyze data while it collects it. And a lot more, in short, Shopify will enable you to build your successful online business from A-Z with just a few clicks and drag and drop.

Shopify offers plenty of apps 

Shopify offers plenty of apps that can be used in your store, including social media integration and email marketing. Apps are also another great reason you should choose Shopify to start your business. You need to do a little research on the apps that you want to use, install them into your store, and then configure them to suit your needs.

Using apps is a great way to improve the functionality and appearance of your Shopify store. Read more about Shopify apps Best Shopify Apps for Dropshipping in 2022 

Shopify allows you to customize your store 

Shopify allows you to customize your store with pre-made templates and themes without any coding knowledge. There is a vast collection that you can select from.

There are free and paid themes. Each theme has a variety of features, templates and plugins, that can help you achieve an attractive and branded design while optimizing for speed and user experience.

You can read How to pick the right Shopify theme in 2022: 10 pro tips for more information”

The customer service team at Shopify is available 24*7 

Shopify offers excellent customer service that you can take advantage of to get all the help you need.

The customer service team at Shopify is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for any help you need. This is a massive advantage for anyone who wants to start a dropshipping business in 2022 because it allows excellent support whenever you need it.

Many popular payment options are available 

Shopify will help you accept payments on your store using PayPal, Apple Pay, or Google Wallet and even crypto currency’s. This means that both customers and suppliers can easily buy and sell products in a safe and hassle-free environment.

Also, the Shopify POS (point-of-sale) app allows users to accept payments using tablets and smartphones.

If you are selling in countries where PayPal is not available, Shopify will help you accept credit card payments. This is an essential feature for any store that wants to sell worldwide.

Shopify’s payment options are very cost-effective compared to other shopping carts. To accept crypto payments read Shopify: How do you accept Bitcoins (and other crypto payments)? 

You get access to Facebook advertising tools through the app store.

Facebook marketing is compelling when it comes to e-commerce. It’s one of the best ways to get traffic, and the best thing is the amount of data Facebook has on its users. This type of marketing allows you to target your audience precisely, so you must take advantage of all these incredible tools.

You can create ads for your Shopify store and run them on various Facebook ad networks. It applies to your Shopify store as well, across all online retailers.

With the help of Google Analytics, you can also track conversions generated through your Google ads. If someone clicks on an advertisement for your Shopify store, you’ll be able to see what keywords they used to find it.

Cons of Shopify as a dropshipping platform

Shopify needs some monthly fees

If you are a new drop shipper, you may wish to use an affordable platform. In Shopify, there won’t be any hosting fees, but their monthly plan starts at $29/mo for their Basic Shopify plan. That’s a good value for money.

Also, Shopify charges transaction fees for any purchases made in your store. You need to configure the rates you want to apply, and then Shopify will automatically charge these fees whenever someone makes a purchase.

It can be challenging to find good Shopify experts who are affordable.

As Shopify becomes more popular, the demand for developers to integrate apps and customize your store will also grow. Finding a reliable developer for your ecommerce store within a reasonable budget can be a challenge.

They may ask you for high rates to do custom work on your online store because they know that customers prefer working with someone who has an established reputation. But don’t worry, as you gain more experience and become better known in the eCommerce community, this will be less of an issue.

There is no multilingual option in Shopify

The world is moving towards globalization, but there’s still no option in Shopify that offers all languages. For example, if you live outside the United States and have customers from other countries who don’t understand English well enough. They’ll be unable to buy anything on your site since most marketing materials will only appear in this language at its default setting. There’s no way to change that from the Shopify dashboard.

If you use a third-party website builder, then it could be possible for you to do this by adding a custom CSS code through your theme options. If you’re using Shopify and a customized theme, then there might be an option somewhere in the code that could allow you to change the language in your global section. However, if there’s no option like this, it would be worth checking with your theme developer to make changes.

There have been reports of Shopify shutting down stores

This issue isn’t widespread, and it mainly concerns the Basic Shopify plan (which is now called Shopify Lite). If your store doesn’t make any sales in a specific period, Shopify can temporarily suspend it and delete it after one or two months.

This is just a technicality, and you need to be aware that this could happen because there’s no guarantee that your dropshipping store will always be profitable. Many users have had their dropshipping stores suspended only once or twice, so it’s not a big concern.

Also, thousands of dropshipping stores use the Basic Shopify plan, and they’ve been in business for years with no issue.

How to deal with the cons of dropshipping on Shopify?

Fortunately, the pros of Shopify completely overshadow the minor cons. If you are wondering: Is Shopify still a good option for dropshipping in 2022? Our answer is yes, it is!

Most users don’t have any problems with Shopify, so if you are worried about these cons holding you back from using this eCommerce platform, then don’t be.

Shopify is still one of the best dropshipping platforms available today.

This is why many people now use this software to run their online stores. It’s an excellent opportunity for anyone who wants to build a business without having to worry about marketing or product supply.

The fact that you can start a dropshipping business with Shopify and not have to worry about anything is compelling.

Shopify Dropshipping: An Overview of Pros and Cons in Dropshipping in 2022

Shopify is a massive name for eCommerce, and a big reason is their dropshipping app. The Shopify dropshipping system has made it much easier for people to enter into this industry and start making money.

This growth in popularity has resulted in many new users who want to know more about Shopify and exactly how this platform works.

One of the biggest pros of using Shopify is its ease of use, especially for beginners. They have an excellent user interface that makes it easy to navigate through all the features and start building your online store quickly.

They also have many pre-made themes that you can choose from, allowing you to customize your dropshipping store and make it unique.

Shopify can integrate with many apps and tools, making it easier for users to set up and manage their stores.

Dropship on Amazon vs. a self-hosted website

In the dropshipping business, most people start with a managed Amazon store. A storefront on Amazon can drive more traffic to your products, and you can sell products at a retail price while many merchants still prefer to use Amazon’s services. But stores on Amazon lack their branding.

Self-hosted shop owners can associate themselves with their brand name, not just the one on their product catalog. This is a crucial advantage of having your store located elsewhere than Amazon’s website.

On top of all this, you’ll get a lot more website traffic than with an Amazon store since you’re able to target people who are already searching for your products.

As we’ve just mentioned, dropshipping on Amazon is highly competitive and can be very tough to compete with other merchants selling similar products. That’s why you’ll switch platforms if you want your business to succeed in the long term.

Dropshipping in 2022 – will Shopify still be a good option for new businesses in 5 years?

We think Shopify will stay relevant and valuable for new entrepreneurs in the future. That’s mainly because of its ease-of-use, an industry leader for eCommerce website builders.

But fewer people want to dropship on Amazon in 5 years from now (i.e., they’ll prefer their own dropshipping business).

More merchants will learn about the disadvantages of selling products on Amazon compared to having your own eCommerce business as time goes by. Today, we are already seeing that trend where several entrepreneurs are transitioning from Amazon dropshipping to Shopify self-hosted stores.

Shopify has a vast ecosystem of apps and integrations which you can use to automate your business. That’s a considerable advantage over running an Amazon eCommerce store where you’re mostly stuck with basic features and can’t build a lot of customized features on your own.

Tips to get started with your first online store using Shopify

Tip #1: Attend a Shopify Meetup

If you’re new to dropshipping, do yourself a favor and attend some Shopify meetups in your part of town. These events are significant for contacting other dropshipping store owners and developers who can provide tips, advice, referrals – or even become future colleagues.

Tip #2: Get yourself an attractive domain name

When someone visits your website, what they see on their screen is your domain name. That’s why you need to have an attractive one for people to remember it.

A catchy domain name can be a massive benefit for your business over the long term. If you want to increase your website visitors, choose a short and simple one. You can also try using some keywords in your domain name since these keywords can help people find your website when they do an internet search.

Tip #3: Create your professional store name and logo 

Besides your domain name and the main image of your product, you’ll need to develop a professional store name and logo for your business. This way, potential customers will find it easier to remember you without confusing you with other stores that sell similar products.

You can hire a freelancer or an agency, or you can use professional software to work out the service. Of course, you can do it yourself as well if you have a good eye for design.

Tip #4: Research your product to see if it’s available on other platforms 

Before you develop a store on Shopify, we recommend researching first. Make sure you understand the difference between dropshipping and private labeling to avoid getting stuck with inventory for products already available elsewhere.

Tip #5: Search for similar products on Etsy, eBay, and Amazon to see what they’re selling their items for 

Since you’re new to dropshipping, it can be beneficial to research your competition. This way, you’ll know how much shoppers are willing to pay for a product before you start pricing yours.

Researching your competition is easy – search Etsy, eBay, and Amazon for the keywords that describe your product. Look out for the best deals and compare them to your fixed costs (i.e., how much it costs you to build a Shopify store from scratch).

Tip #6: Connect your social media accounts to make it easier for customers to follow you there

This tip is vital if you’re new to dropshipping because it allows customers to follow your business on social media. As a result, you’ll get more exposure and make it easier for shoppers to find your store wherever you post updates.

Tip #7: Make it easy to buy products on your website

When someone lands on your page, you want to make sure that they can quickly and easily find and add the products they’re looking for into their shopping carts. You can test out your online store design elements to increase conversions. If people get overwhelmed by your website, they’ll leave.

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

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

#Q1: What are the common mistakes people make when starting Dropshipping, and how can I avoid them myself?

A: Some common mistakes that beginners make include:

1. They are rushing into a business without understanding what they are doing.
2.  Lack planning and preparation before starting a business.
3. They are choosing an unoriginal product and not doing any market research.
4. Don’t have a well-planned shipping strategy and breach customer trust by failing to deliver their items on time (which results in bad reviews).
5. They lack handling the stress of starting with different business models.

It is recommended to read up on guides written by experienced drop shippers to get an idea of what you should be thinking about before getting started.

#Q2: What are some tips on choosing an excellent dropshipping supplier for my Dropshipping business in 2022?

A: Here are some tips to choose an excellent dropshipping supplier for your dropshipping business:

1. Only deal with dropshipping suppliers who can provide you with samples.
2. Work with dropshipping suppliers who fulfill the orders on time (or even earlier than expected).
3. Only deal with dropshipping suppliers who do not mess up your shipments by sending you wrong items or poorly packed products.
4. Look out for reviews of their service and read through them to help you gain more insights about your potential dropshipping supplier.
5. Ensure that their products are 100% original and not fake or infringed upon copyright/intellectual property rights.
6. Deal only with a dropshipping supplier who can offer after-sales customer support since they should help you with the returns/refunds process.

# Q3: What will it cost to start a Dropshipping business in 2022?

A: It is possible to start a dropshipping business with as little as $100, but it can be hazardous and challenging since you will need to handle everything independently.

It is recommended that you begin with $1,000 – $3,000 at least if you wish to gain some breathing room and keep your business afloat in case something goes wrong.

You also need to seek an alternative source of income while testing the waters since it can take a considerable time before you can gain anything from your business.

#Q4: How do I create a reasonable tone of voice in my store to captivate customers’ attention?

A: A reasonable tone of voice in your store is vital to help gain the trust of your customers swiftly.

You can achieve a reasonable tone of voice through some straightforward techniques, such as:

1. Writing in a friendly and down-to-earth manner.
2. Using simple words that are easy for anyone to understand.
3. Writing in a tone that is considerate and empathetic.
4. Make your writing conversational and clear with no ambiguity.
5. Maintaining a certain sense of urgency makes customers feel like they need to act now if they do not want to miss out on the deals or sales.
6. Clear call-to-action statements.
7. Compelling product descriptions and titles so your customers know what they are getting for their money without asking you questions.

#Q5: How can I increase my success in dropshipping by working with influencers?

A: There are various ways you can work with influencers to help grow your dropshipping business, including:

1. Give them products in return for a shoutout on their social media accounts.
2. Asking for suggestions on an influencer’s audience when picking product suppliers.
3. Helping to promote influencers’ content by sharing their posts on social media.
4. Placing links to influencer posts at the end of your content to gain more traffic.

#Q6: How can I make sure my customers are satisfied with their purchases?

A: Here are some steps you can take to ensure your customers are satisfied with their purchases:

1. Check that the customer received the items promptly and that the supplier sent the correct products.
2. To offer them after-sales support, such as returns and refunds.
3. To make sure that your customers will always have a great experience buying from you, so they will be likely to shop with you again.

#Q7: What are some ways to get more traffic to my website?

A: You can increase traffic to your website, or any store in general, in a variety of ways. Here are just some of them:

1. Using search engine optimization (SEO) tactics, such as writing meta descriptions and building backlinks.
2. Purchasing ads on social media platforms to drive more traffic.
3. Use influencer marketing as another way to spread the word about your store.
4. Offering some social media engagement, such as giving away a free product in return for a post on social media.
5. Use email marketing to reach existing customers and encourage them to buy from you again.

Conclusion

Startups and small businesses are increasingly using Shopify’s eCommerce platform because they can easily customize their Shopify store to match their unique business needs. This allows entrepreneurs to build professional-looking stores that provide a great shopping experience for potential customers.

Not only that, but Shopify is affordable and efficient when you start dropshipping and you don’t have a big budget for advertising. When you’re first starting, we recommend using the “Buy Button” option since it will allow shoppers to make purchases on your website without leaving their current page.

Once you’ve built a store on Shopify, you can use SEO strategies and social media marketing to help generate more traffic for your products.

>> Get your Shopify store here!