Thousands of Dropshipping guides on YouTube are outdated, lengthy, or created by individuals lacking real e-commerce knowledge. This article provides a step-by-step guide on how to start Dropshipping for free.
The first step is finding a good product with high demand. TikTok is an ideal platform for beginners, allowing you to find viral products attracting customers without spending hours searching on AliExpress. Search for “TikTok made me buy” and filter videos by most likes in the past week to see recently viral products.
The product should solve a problem or make a strong impression. For example, back-stretching devices have helped many people earn millions of dollars because they address a problem and are visually impressive. Find a “wow” product and build a profitable store.
LED lights are another example, similar to sunset lamps and other LED lights that have generated millions in revenue. Before building your store, check if the supplier supports dropshipping. Visit AliExpress, search for the product (e.g., crystal LED desk lamp), compare prices and supplier ratings, and consider shipping costs to choose the right supplier.
Next, create an attractive online store on Shopify. Sign up for a free Shopify account (free trial and deals via referral link). Create a dedicated email for your store (contact@yourstorename.com). Choose your store name, country, and password.
Design a simple logo related to your product, using a maximum of three colors, with Canva. Download the logo as a PNG file. Install necessary apps on Shopify. Import products from AliExpress to Shopify using DeEssers. Set the selling price at double the import price, using comparison pricing to create a sense of discount (minimum 50%).
Choose a free Shopify theme (e.g., Studio). Write product descriptions using the formula: GIF – Reasons to Buy. GIFs showcasing the product in action are more effective than static images. Find the best selling points by searching the product name along with “Shopify” on Google and researching competitor stores.
Create GIFs by downloading product videos, converting them to GIFs using Adobe Free GIF Maker, and inserting them into Shopify. Simplify the product page, keeping only the title, product information, and reviews. Create a similar homepage that leads to the product page, including the text from the GIF, featured products, and additional information.
Import reviews from AliExpress using a reviews app, filtering for 5-star reviews with images. Use the Vitols 40 app to add a countdown timer and animated cart effects. Install the Tidio chatbot for live customer support.
Choose a white background if unsure. Use a maximum of two main colors. Choose an easy-to-read font (Arial, Times New Roman, Verdana). Round button corners with a 40px radius and add a subtle drop shadow.
Finally, promote your products for free through organic content on social media (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube Shorts, Spotlight). Create branded accounts, using the same profile picture and an engaging bio across platforms. Post 2-3 TikTok videos daily and repost them on other platforms.
Two other free advertising methods are affiliate marketing (sharing revenue with influencers) and repurposing others’ video content (exercise caution regarding copyright).