Is It Too Late to Get Into Dropshipping? Check The Reality

Is It Too Late to Get Into Dropshipping? Let’s find the answer. Dropshipping has exploded in popularity over the last few years.

Seemingly overnight, e-commerce entrepreneurs everywhere were rambling about this business model that lets you sell products online without actually stocking any inventory.

Just find cool products, build a Shopify store, and you’ve got an online business.

But lately, there’s been some buzz that the glory days of dropshipping are over. Some folks claim the market is just too saturated now.

After all, it seems like everyone has a dropshipping store these days. All the so-called “gurus” have scared people off, saying there’s too much competition now.

So is it really too late to start a successful dropshipping business? I’m here to tell you that’s absolutely not true.

While the market has gotten more competitive, the opportunities are still massive if you approach it the right way.

In this article, I’ll break down:

• Why dropshipping is still viable.
• Strategies for standing out in a crowded market.
• How to leverage trends and find profitable niches.
• Key mistakes to avoid as a new dropshipper.

Don’t believe the hype. With the right game plan, dropshipping can still be an amazing path to entrepreneurship and freedom.

Ready to learn more? Let’s dive in.

Is It Too Late to Get Into Dropshipping? – Quick Reply

NO. While the dropshipping market is more competitive than ever, it is absolutely not too late to get started and build a successful business.

Dropshipping remains a viable and lucrative model. Thanks to continued growth in e-commerce sales, the emergence of new niche markets, and lower barriers to entry compared to traditional retail.

With the right product selection, branding, marketing strategies, automation, and customer service, new drop shippers can still carve out a profitable niche despite saturation.

It takes work, but by staying adaptable and capitalizing on trends it’s still possible to launch and grow a dropshipping business from the ground up.

Current State of the Dropshipping Industry

To understand if dropshipping is still viable, we need to look at what’s happening right now in the industry. There are a few key trends shaping the current dropshipping landscape:

The E-commerce Boom

First off, e-commerce as a whole is absolutely exploding right now. More people than ever are shopping online thanks to:

• COVID-19 accelerating the shift to digital.
• Improvements in shipping speed and convenience.
• Increased trust in online shopping.

Total online sales are expected to hit $1 trillion in the U.S. alone by 2023. That’s a massive opportunity as more spending moves online.

Lower Barriers to Entry

Another factor is that it’s easier than ever to start a dropshipping store today. You don’t need:

• A lot of technical skills.
• Big upfront investment.
• Physical products or inventory.

This low barrier to entry is a blessing and a curse. It’s great that anyone can start, but also means a lot more potential competition.

Proliferation of Dropshipping Stores

Speaking of competition, there has definitely been a proliferation of dropshipping stores over the past few years. Again, the low startup costs mean new stores pop up constantly.

Exact numbers are hard to gauge, but some estimates say there are over 500,000 Shopify stores alone focused on dropshipping. That seems like a scary big number.

More Niche Opportunities

More niche markets emerge every day as well. While big niches like fashion and electronics get saturated, new specialty niches pop up all the time around specific:

• Hobbies and interests.
• Pet breeds.
• Health conditions.
• Occupations.

These “micro-niches” offer much less competition to tap into.

How COVID-19 Changed Things

The pandemic was a key accelerator in pushing retail sales online through stay-at-home orders and brick-and-mortar closures.

But it also led to some supply chain crunches that dropshippers need to navigate around delayed shipping and low stock.

At the same time, demand remains high in many niches like home office products, fitness equipment, recreational items, and more.

So while dropshipping is definitely more competitive today, the e-commerce boom also brings huge potential. There are still plenty of under-served niches to tap into. By understanding the current dynamics, we can make smart decisions and succeed as new dropshippers.

The next step is figuring out strategies to thrive in today’s landscape.

You may also like to read:

• Is Dropshipping Oversaturated
• Problem-Solving Products to Dropship

Keys to succeeding in today’s dropshipping market

So we know the dropshipping landscape is more competitive today, but still offers opportunities if you play it right. Here are the most important keys to succeeding with dropshipping:

Choose the Right Niche

One of the biggest mistakes new dropshippers make is selling whatever popular products they find, without a focused niche.

Trying to compete in huge niches like fashion, beauty or electronics is insanely hard for a new store. You’re up against thousands of established merchants.

Instead, you need to identify a profitable and underserved niche where you can better stand out.

A few smart ways to select a niche:

• Brainstorm your interests and passions. Can you build a store around something you already know and love?
• Use Google Trends and other tools to find rising niche opportunities.
• Check Facebook groups and subreddits around hobbies, conditions, occupations, etc. Look for engaged communities passionate about a topic.
• Ensure your niche has enough search volume and consumer demand to drive sales. But not too much competition yet.

It takes some research, but finding that ideal niche is crucial.

Secure High Quality Suppliers

The key to any dropshipping operation is great suppliers. This means manufacturers or wholesalers who:

• Offer high-demand products that match your niche.
• Have fast order fulfillment and shipping.
• Provide excellent customer service.
• Are reliable & responsive in communication.

For most new dropshippers, ordering samples to quality check potential suppliers is smart. Test their delivery times and customer service before fully committing.

Examining carefully your suppliers takes work upfront but prevents issues down the road.

Build an Authoritative Brand

With so many fly-by-night dropshipping stores out there, building brand legitimacy and trust is crucial.

You want customers to see you as an authority they can rely on, not some faceless middleman. Ways to build authority include:

• Creating a polished, professional-looking online store.
• Gathering reviews and social proof for your business.
• Producing high-quality content like blogs and videos.
• Engaging actively with followers on social media.
• Sponsoring influencers and events related to your niche.
• Getting media publicity in industry publications.
• Networking with others in your niche to cross-promote.

Focus on Marketing

Discover and master new marketing tactics beyond basic Facebook ads and influencers. With rising ad costs, diversification is key.

Some top marketing channels right now:

• TikTok – Organic and paid ads are powerful on this fast-growing platform
• Pinterest – Highly targeted audiences for many niches here
• Instagram – Especially Instagram Stories and Reels for video
• SMS/Text Marketing – Use messaging to build relationships with subscribers
• Retargeting Ads – Remarket to previous site visitors across channels
• Podcast Sponsorships – Good way to reach very niche audiences

Don’t rely solely on a few channels. Spread your efforts across multiple marketing avenues for the best results.

Obsess Over the Customer Experience

With so many choices online, customer experience is a key differentiator.

Leveraging video content for dropshipping

Video is an incredibly powerful medium today that smart dropshippers should tap into.

Platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram have created huge audiences hungry for short, engaging video content.

Dropshippers can leverage video in various ways:

• Product demos and unboxings – Show your products in action instead of just product photos. Help buyers understand sizing, features, and quality.
• Short video ads – Create bite-sized video ads for TikTok, YouTube pre-rolls, Facebook, etc. Entertain viewers in the first 3 seconds to drive clicks.
• Behind-the-scenes business footage – Let customers get to know you and your brand better through videos showing your office, warehouse, team, etc.
• Influencer collaborations – Work with relevant influencers to create sponsored video reviews and unboxings of your products.
• Repurposing video content – Turn a long YouTube review into short clips for Instagram Reels. Extract an audio podcast from the footage. Adapt for multiple platforms.
• Driving traffic to products – Use video descriptions, end screens, and captions to link back to your online store and specific products.

The key is creating video content that provides value to viewers while also intelligently promoting your store and products. Work video content promotion into your overall marketing strategy.

With practice, video can become one of your most powerful customer acquisition and brand awareness tools.

SEO and keyword optimization for dropshipping

Driving organic traffic from search engines through SEO is vital for dropshippers today. With more stores competing for the same keywords, you need to be strategic with SEO to rank high and get found.

Research Target Keywords

Start by using keyword research tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Google Keyword Planner to find low-competition keywords that get search volume. Look for long-tail variations of your main keywords like:

• Dropshipping for beginners.
• Shopify dropshipping step-by-step guide.
• Best fitness equipment dropshipping suppliers.

Go deep on keywords to unlock traffic and avoid saturation.

Optimize Your Content

With your target keywords selected, optimize your site content to rank for them organically.

• Use keywords naturally in headings, subheadings, image names, URLs, etc. Don’t overstuff.
• Include related keywords in meta descriptions and alt text.
• Link out to authority sites to build domain authority.
• Publish long-form, in-depth content like blog posts and guides.
• Refresh old content and publish new content regularly.

Analyze Results

Check Google Search Console and analytics to see which pages rank for which keywords. Identify any gaps and keep optimizing.

With time and consistency, your content will rank high in search results funneling your targeted organic traffic 24/7.

SEO combined with paid advertising gives dropshippers the free and paid traffic needed to drive big sales.

Conclusion and Key Takeaways – Is It Too Late to Get Into Dropshipping?

The bottom line is that while dropshipping is more challenging today, you can still find success if you play your cards right.

This isn’t some get-rich-quick scheme. To build a profitable dropshipping business now, you need grit, smarts, and the ability to adapt.

But if you choose the right niche, and obsess over marketing and customer experience, you can compete even in a crowded market.

Will it take time and effort? Of course. Starting any business does. But with the right passion and drive, you can carve out your slice of the e-commerce pie.

Here’s a quick recap of the keys we covered to dropshipping success:

• Select a profitable, under-served niche.
• Vet suppliers carefully to find diamonds.
• Build an authoritative brand that inspires trust.
• Diversify your marketing across multiple channels.
• Prioritize customer satisfaction above all else.
• Stay adaptable as market conditions evolve.

The opportunity is there if you want to put in the work. Don’t listen to the pessimists. With the right strategic approach, dropshipping can still be an amazing business model for you.

I hope this article “Is It Too Late to Get Into Dropshipping?” provided value and inspired you. Now get out there and start executing.

Let’s wrap up with answers to some common questions about “Is It Too Late to Get Into Dropshipping?”.

FAQs – Is It Too Late to Get Into Dropshipping?

That concludes the article “Is It Too Late to Get Into Dropshipping?”. Hope you enjoyed it. Thanks for visiting.