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How to Start Dropshipping Now on AliExpress: A Complete Guide

How to Start Dropshipping Now on AliExpress: A Complete Guide
Selling items online via dropshipping is a common and lucrative practice as it eliminates the need to manage inventory, shipping, and fulfillment.
AliExpress is one of the best platforms to source products from, and start dropshipping now. In this article, you will learn everything you need about dropshipping on AliExpress, from finding a niche and choosing products to set up your store to marketing your business.
Table of contents
  • What is AliExpress?
  • Does AliExpress allow dropshipping?
  • 7 Reasons to Choose Shopify
  • How much does it cost to dropship on AliExpress?
  • What are the benefits of dropshipping on AliExpress?
  • Set up your AliExpress dropshipping store with Shopify
  • How to use AliExpress to dropship
  • Growing your AliExpress dropshipping business
  • Conclusion
  • AliExpress dropshipping FAQ

What is AliExpress?

Traders and consumers from all around the globe may find one another on AliExpress. Primarily sourced from China, it provides millions of items in hundreds of categories. Everything from cosmetics and clothing to gadgets and furnishings is available.
You also have low costs, quick delivery, and dependable customer service.

Does AliExpress allow dropshipping?

Yes, AliExpress allows and supports dropshipping.
Many of the sellers on AliExpress are dropshippers themselves, or they work with dropshippers. You can easily find and contact dropshipping-friendly suppliers on AliExpress. They will ship the products directly to your customers without any branding or invoices.
AliExpress Homepage

How much does it cost to dropship on AliExpress?

Dropshipping on AliExpress is cost-effective, as you don’t have to pay for inventory, storage, or shipping fees.
You only pay for the things when you sell them and retain the profit from charging more than what you paid. The only costs you need to consider are setting up and running your online store, such as domain name, hosting, platform, theme, apps, and marketing.

What are the benefits of dropshipping on AliExpress?

Dropshipping on AliExpress has many benefits, such as:
  • Low startup costs: You don’t need much money to start dropshipping on AliExpress, as you don’t have to buy or store any products. You can start with as little as $100 and scale up as you grow.
  • High scalability: You don’t have to worry about running out of stock or fulfilling orders, as your supplier handles everything. You can sell as many products as you want without limitations or risks.
  • Flexibility: You can sell products from any niche, market, or country, and you can run your business from anywhere in the world. You can change or test your products, prices, or strategies anytime without hassle or commitment.
  • Variety: You can choose from millions of products on AliExpress, and you can always find something new, trendy, or unique to sell. You can also offer different options, such as colors, sizes, or variants, to your customers.
  • Quality: You can find high-quality products on AliExpress, as many suppliers are manufacturers or wholesalers with strict quality control and inspection processes. You can also check the product reviews, ratings, and feedback from other buyers to ensure the products' and suppliers' quality and reliability.

Set up your AliExpress dropshipping store with Shopify

Shopify is one of the most popular and user-friendly platforms for dropshipping.
It allows you to create and customize your online store, manage your products, orders, and customers, and integrate with various apps and tools.
To set up your AliExpress dropshipping store with Shopify, you need to follow these steps:
  • Sign up for Shopify and choose a plan that suits your budget and needs. There is a free 14-day trial that you may use as a springboard to a premium subscription.
  • Choose a domain name and a theme for your store. Your domain name should be catchy and memorable, and your theme should be professional and attractive. Either utilize your domain name or purchase one from Shopify. Shopify has its theme shop, or you may use one from another provider.
  • Import products from AliExpress to your store. Using the Oberlo software, importing products from AliExpress into your Shopify store is as easy as clicking a few buttons. You can browse and select products from Oberlo’s dashboard or use the Oberlo Chrome extension to import products directly from AliExpress’s website.
  • Optimize your product pages for SEO and conversions. You must write compelling product titles, descriptions, and meta tags and add high-quality images, videos, and reviews to your product pages. You must also use keywords, headings, and bullet points to make your content clear and searchable.
  • Set up your payment methods, shipping rates, and taxes. You need to activate and set up your payment methods like Shopify Payments, Stripe, or PayPal before you can take payments from customers. You must also set up your shipping rates using Shopify’s default rates or by creating your own based on weight, price, or location. You must also set up your taxes using Shopify’s default settings or create your own based on your country and region.

How to use AliExpress to dropship

Once you have set up your online store, you must use AliExpress to dropship your products to your customers.
To use AliExpress to dropship, you need to follow these steps:
  • Place orders on AliExpress. When you receive an order from your customer, you must place the same order on AliExpress, using your customer’s details as the shipping address. You can do this manually or use Oberlo to automate this process. Oberlo will automatically place the order on AliExpress for you and sync the inventory and prices between your store and AliExpress.
  • Track orders on AliExpress. After you place the order on AliExpress, you need to track the order status and the shipping information. You can do this manually or use Oberlo to automate this process. Oberlo will automatically update the order status and the tracking information on your store and send an email notification to your customer with the tracking number and the tracking link.
  • Communicate with your AliExpress suppliers. You must maintain a good relationship with your AliExpress suppliers, as they are your partners in your dropshipping business. You must contact and communicate with them regularly to confirm the order details, request faster shipping, negotiate better prices, or resolve any issues or disputes.
  • Optimize your product pages for SEO and conversions. You must write compelling product titles, descriptions, and meta tags and add high-quality images, videos, and reviews to your product pages. You must also use keywords, headings, and bullet points to make your content clear and searchable.
  • Set up your payment methods, shipping rates, and taxes. You need to activate and set up your payment methods like Shopify Payments, Stripe, or PayPal before you can take payments from customers. You must also set up your shipping rates using Shopify’s default rates or by creating your own based on weight, price, or location. You must also set up your taxes using Shopify’s default settings or create your own based on your country and region.

What are some of the best AliExpress dropshipping products?

Choosing the best products to sell is one of the most critical factors for your dropshipping success.
The best products to sell are high demand, low competition, and good profit margins.
To find the best AliExpress dropshipping products, you can use various methods and tools, such as:
  • Bestsellers: You can check the bestsellers section on AliExpress to find the most popular and trending products in different categories and niches. You can also filter the products by orders, ratings, or price to find the ones that suit your criteria.
  • Hot products: You can check the hot products section on AliExpress, where you can find the latest and hottest products in different categories and niches. You can also filter the products by orders, ratings, or price to find the ones that suit your criteria.
  • New arrivals: You can check the new arrivals section on AliExpress, where you can find the newest and most innovative products in different categories and niches. You can also filter the products by orders, ratings, or price to find the ones that suit your criteria.
  • Other tools and sources: You can use other tools and sources, such as Amazon, eBay, Shopify, Instagram, Pinterest, or YouTube, to find more product ideas and inspiration. To find out how big of a market your product ideas have, how popular they are, and how profitable they are, you may utilize tools like Google Trends, Keyword Planner, or Facebook Ads.
Here are some examples of the best AliExpress dropshipping products in 2022:
Best Products To Dropship In 2022: How Can You Find Them?
  • Wireless earbuds are one of the most popular and trending products in the electronics niche. They offer convenience, comfort, and quality for music lovers, gamers, and fitness enthusiasts. You can find wireless earbuds on AliExpress with different features, such as noise cancellation, waterproofing, or touch control, with prices ranging from $10 to $50.
  • Magnetic eyelashes: Magnetic eyelashes are one of the most popular and trending products in the beauty niche. They offer a natural, easy, and reusable way to enhance the eyes without using glue, mascara, or extensions. You can find magnetic eyelashes with different styles, lengths, and volumes on AliExpress, with prices ranging from $2 to $10.
  • Resistance bands: Resistance bands are among the fitness niche's most popular and trending products. They offer a versatile, portable, and effective way to exercise, tone, and strengthen the muscles without using weights, machines, or gyms. You can find resistance bands with different colors, sizes, and resistance levels on AliExpress, with prices ranging from $5 to $20.

Growing your AliExpress dropshipping business

Once you have chosen your products and set up your store, you must grow your AliExpress dropshipping business.
You need to advertise your wares and encourage customers to visit your shop using various marketing methods.
Such as:
  • Facebook ads are among the most influential and popular ways to market dropshipping products. You can create and run targeted ,optimized adad campaigns to reach your target audience and generate product awareness, interest, and sales. You can also use tools like Pixel, Catalog, and Dynamic Ads to track and retarget your visitors and customers and show them personalized and relevant ads.
  • Instagram: Instagram is one of the most influential and popular ways to showcase your dropshipping products. You can post engaging content, stories, and reels featuring your products, benefits, and testimonials to attract and connect with your followers and customers. You can also collaborate with influencers and use hashtags to grow your reach and exposure.
  • Email marketing: One of the best and most common methods to keep dropshipping customers around is via email marketing. Automated and tailored email marketing campaigns are at your fingertips to build trust, loyalty, and repeat purchases, including welcome emails, abandoned cart emails, newsletters, and promotions. You can also use tools like Mailchimp, Klaviyo, or Omnisend to create and manage email campaigns.
  • SEO: Search engine optimization is a robust and sustainable marketing strategy for dropshippers. Optimizing your website, content, and keywords may improve your store's organic traffic and search engine rankings. Use tools like Google Search Console, Analytics or Ahrefs to monitor and improve your SEO performance.

Conclusion

Dropshipping on AliExpress is a great way to start and grow your online business without dealing with inventory, shipping, or fulfillment.
You can find and sell millions of products from thousands of categories and enjoy low prices, fast shipping, and reliable customer service.
You can also use Shopify and Oberlo to create and run your online store and use various marketing channels and strategies to promote your products and drive traffic. If you want to create a successful online company and dropship on AliExpress, this article will show you how.

AliExpress dropshipping FAQ

In this section, we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about dropshipping on AliExpress, such as:

How do I find reliable suppliers on AliExpress?

Finding reliable suppliers on AliExpress is crucial for your dropshipping success, as they will affect your products' quality, price, and delivery.
To find reliable suppliers on AliExpress, you can use the following tips:
  • Check the supplier’s ratings, reviews, and feedback from other buyers, and look for positive and consistent comments, especially about the product quality, shipping time, and customer service.
  • Check the supplier’s store information, such as how long they have been selling on AliExpress, how many orders they have completed, and what certifications they have, such as Top Brand, Gold Supplier, or Trade Assurance.
  • Find out how quickly, politely, and professionally the supplier responds when you contact them directly with queries on their items, pricing, delivery alternatives, and policies.
  • Order samples from the supplier and test the products before selling them to your customers. You can also order from your competitors and compare the products and suppliers.

How do I deal with long shipping times on AliExpress?

One of the main challenges of dropshipping on AliExpress is the extended shipping times because, depending on the goods, the supplier, and the location, the delivery time to the consumer might range from seven to forty-five days.
To deal with long shipping times on AliExpress, you can use the following tips:
  • Choose products and suppliers that offer fast and free shipping options, such as ePacket, AliExpress Standard Shipping, or AliExpress Premium Shipping, which can deliver products within 7 to 20 days.
  • Inform your customers about the shipping times, and set realistic expectations before placing their orders. You can include this information in your product pages, checkout pages, and confirmation emails.
  • Provide your customers with tracking information and update them regularly on the status and location of their orders. Oberlo, Aftership, or Tracktor are tools that can automate this operation.
  • Offer your customers incentives, such as discounts, coupons, or gifts, to compensate for the extended shipping times and encourage them to buy more or return.

How do I handle refunds and returns on AliExpress?

Refunds and returns are inevitable in any online business, primarily dropshipping. You don’t have control over product quality, shipping, or fulfillment.
To handle refunds and returns on AliExpress, you can use the following tips:
  • Create and communicate your refund and return policy, and make sure it is fair, transparent, and easy to understand. You can include this policy in your store’s policies and terms and conditions and display it on your product pages, checkout pages, and confirmation emails.
  • Follow the refund and return policy of your AliExpress supplier, and ensure it matches or exceeds your policy. You can find your supplier's policy on their product and store pages or by contacting them directly.
  • Process refunds and returns promptly, and communicate with your customers and suppliers throughout the process. You can use tools like Zendesk, or LiveChat to manage and resolve refund and return requests.
  • Offer your customers incentives, such as discounts, coupons, or gifts, to compensate for the extended shipping times and encourage them to buy more or return.

How do I avoid scams and frauds on AliExpress?

Scams and frauds are rare on AliExpress, as the platform has strict rules and regulations to protect buyers and sellers.
However, it would help if you were still careful and vigilant, as some dishonest or unscrupulous suppliers or customers might try to cheat or trick you.
To avoid scams and frauds on AliExpress, you can use the following tips:
  • Use AliExpress’s secure payment system, and never pay the supplier outside of AliExpress, such as through PayPal, Western Union, or bank transfer. This way, you can ensure that your money is safe and that you can get a full refund if anything goes wrong.
  • Use AliExpress’s dispute and escrow system, and never confirm the receipt of the order until you or your customer have received and checked the product. This way, you can ensure that the product is as described and that you can open a dispute and request a refund if anything is wrong.
  • Use AliExpress’s Trade Assurance service, and only buy from suppliers who offer this service. This way, you can ensure that the supplier will deliver the product on time and according to your specifications and that you can get a full refund if they fail.

How do I differentiate my store from other dropshippers on AliExpress?

One of the main challenges of dropshipping on AliExpress is the competition, as many other dropshippers might be selling the same or similar products as you.
To differentiate your store from other dropshippers on AliExpress, you can use the following tips:
  • Choose a unique and profitable niche and focus on a specific segment, market, or audience rather than selling generic or saturated products. You can also create your brand, logo, and identity to stand out.
  • Add value to your products and offer something extra or different from your competitors, such as better quality, features, design, or packaging. You can also create product bundles, collections, or kits to increase your perceived and average order value.
  • Create original and engaging content, and avoid using the default product descriptions, images, or videos from AliExpress. You can write your own product titles, descriptions, and meta tags and take your product photos, videos, and reviews to showcase your products in a better and more appealing way.
  • Provide excellent customer service, and go above and beyond to satisfy and delight your customers before, during, and after the sale. You can offer fast and free shipping, easy and flexible refunds and returns, friendly and helpful communication, and incentives and rewards to build trust, loyalty, and repeat purchases.
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