Dropshipping has exploded in popularity in recent years as a business model that allows entrepreneurs to sell products online without having to deal with inventory or shipping. One of the most popular platforms for finding dropshipping suppliers is AliExpress. The marketplace connects dropshippers to manufacturers and wholesalers, primarily in China.
But while AliExpress provides a huge selection of affordable products, it can be challenging to source quality items and identify winning products that will sell. This is where guidance from experts like Dropshipping Copilot can help tremendously.
Dropshipping Copilot is a mentorship community dedicated to ecommerce success. They have extensive experience with dropshipping from AliExpress to major marketplaces like Shopify and Ebay. Copilot’s founders and mentors leverage their knowledge to help members shortcut the learning curve and build profitable businesses more quickly.
In this article, we’ll share Dropshipping Copilot’s best tips for finding winning products on AliExpress and optimizing your ecommerce business. Follow this advice to take the guesswork out of AliExpress dropshipping.
How Dropshipping Copilot Uses AliExpress for Their Business Model
The team at Dropshipping Copilot have been sourcing products from AliExpress and running successful dropshipping stores for many years. Here is an inside look at how they leverage AliExpress as part of their overall business model:
– They search AliExpress frequently for new product listings and use tools like Alispy to analyze top sellers. This allows them to quickly identify emerging trends and profitable products.
– They focus on finding “long tail” niche products that have strong demand but low competition among dropshippers. These overlooked items provide big opportunities.
– They thoroughly vet potential suppliers, reviewing factors like processing times, reviews, and service history. Reliable suppliers are critical for good customer experiences.
– They order product samples to evaluate quality and take custom product photos. Good branding helps products command higher prices.
– They focus on products with at least 100-200 orders and look for signs of repeat customers in reviews. This helps validate market demand.
– They consider shipment times but don’t rule out longer shipping if a product has high profit potential. Setting expectations is key.
Finding Winning Products to Dropship on AliExpress
The biggest factor in AliExpress dropshipping success is finding products that sell. Dropshipping Copilot follows a strategic process for identifying winning products with strong profit potential. Here are their top tips:
Look for Trends and Best Sellers
Review category sorting options like “orders” or “reviews” to surface products gaining momentum. AliExpress also shows curated collections of trending items. Staying on top of trends is key for maximizing sales.
Search for Untapped Niches
Don’t just look for winning products in popular niches like phone accessories and fashion jewelry. Thoroughly explore AliExpress for niche products overlooked by most sellers, like gardening tools or fishing gear. Competition will be lower.
Analyze Product Reviews
Reviews provide valuable intel on product quality, shipping, and overall demand. Look for repeat customers in the reviews as a good sign. Browse both positive and negative reviews to make informed decisions.
Use External Product Research Tools
Browser extensions like Alispy provide additional data points to assess product viability like estimated sales, revenue, reviews per day, and more. These insights expand on AliExpress’s defaults.
Evaluate Shipping Times
Faster shipping means higher conversions. Look for products with ePacket delivery which is faster than China Post. Run manual shipping estimates to destinations like US and UK to assess delivery speeds.
Consider Cross-Platform Potential
Some products have demand across multiple platforms like Shopify, Amazon, and Ebay. Multi-channel potential increases sales opportunities and offsets risks of platform changes.
Search Beyond Featured Products
Don’t just rely on curated sections like “Hot Items”. Browse subcategories extensively for hidden gems. The long tail approach surfaces many opportunities missed by most sellers.
Adding and Optimizing AliExpress Products for Your Dropshipping Store
Once you’ve identified winning products on AliExpress, it’s time to add them to your store. Dropshipping Copilot provides this advice for seamless integration:
– Copy product titles and descriptions, but rewrite them for better SEO, marketing and branding. Don’t duplicate content verbatim.
– Take your own professional product photos if possible for better branding. Many AliExpress images lack optimal lighting, angles, etc.
– Set accurate delivery timelines based on supplier processing and shipping times. Underpromise and overdeliver to exceed customer expectations.
– Research competitor pricing for each product so you can price competitively while preserving healthy profit margins.
– Create bundled offerings like 3 for 2 promotions to increase order values and expose customers to more items.
– Write detailed product descriptions to convince shoppers why the product is worth the price. Include key benefits, features, and use cases.
– Automate order fulfillment with Oberlo or another sync tool to easily import AliExpress items and process orders.
– Offer excellent customer service. Communicate order status proactively, and resolve any issues quickly and fairly. This earns trust and loyal repeat buyers.
Keys to Long-Term Success and Avoiding Pitfalls with AliExpress Dropshipping
While the strategies above will help you identify and import winning products, Dropshipping Copilot emphasizes several best practices to build a sustainable AliExpress dropshipping business over the long-term:
Find and Cultivate Reliable Suppliers
Vet suppliers thoroughly and order samples to evaluate product quality and delivery times. Stick with consistent, responsive suppliers long-term for better inventory reliability.
Focus on Excellent Branding and Marketing
Invest in branding through customized packaging, thank you cards etc. Market creatively through blogs, videos, social media etc. Strong branding leads to higher perceived value.
Provide Outstanding Customer Experiences
Communicate proactively about order status. Resolve issues quickly and fairly. Follow up after delivery. Customer satisfaction drives repeats and referrals for long-term revenue.
Diversify Your Product Selection
Don’t rely on one or two winning products. Continuously expand your store’s product range to minimize risk if one item declines in sales.
Monitor Product Performance
Use ecommerce analytics to monitor key metrics. Phase out lagging products and continuously test and add fresh items to optimize conversions.
Prepare for Platform and Policy Changes
Marketplace platforms may change fee structures, API access, etc. Diversify channels so your business isn’t reliant on a single platform as your sole revenue stream.
Conclusion
AliExpress provides a nearly endless selection of products for ecommerce businesses to access. But identifying and capitalizing on winning products takes knowledge and effort. With strategic product research, branding, marketing, and customer service, Dropshipping Copilot has leveraged AliExpress to build highly successful stores.
Implementing Copilot’s tips like evaluating reviews, finding hidden niche gems, taking custom photos, focusing on excellent marketing, and obsessing over customer satisfaction will help you replicate their AliExpress dropshipping success.
The opportunities abound for those willing to put in the work. Use the wisdom from Dropshipping Copilot to take advantage of all the potential that AliExpress has to offer your ecommerce business.