It’s exciting to consider the possibility of starting an online business in a matter of hours through dropshipping, which appears to be a simple and straightforward process. But actually doing it can be a time-consuming chore, especially for newcomers.
That’s why we’ve prepared this handy checklist for your dropshipping business.
Whether you’re considering opening a dropshipping store on Shopify, WooCommerce, or some other platform, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got everything on this list.
Okay, so let’s get going.
Getting Started
It’s exciting to consider the possibility of starting an online business in a matter of hours through dropshipping, which appears to be a simple and straightforward process. But actually doing it can be a time-consuming chore, especially for newcomers.
That’s why we’ve prepared this handy checklist for your dropshipping business.
Whether you’re considering opening a dropshipping store on Shopify, WooCommerce, or some other platform, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got everything on this list.
Okay, so let’s get going.
Domain Name
This is what customers and visitors will see when they arrive at your site. Get a domain name that reflects your company’s identity and purpose. Any of the common suffixes (.com,.net,.org, etc.) are available for your use.
However, you should pick a name that is descriptive of your dropshipping goods in general. Any generic moniker will do the trick if you’re opening a general store.
Make sure the domain name is simple and memorable for your target audience.
Domain names are available for purchase from a variety of reputable registrars, such as GoDaddy, Namecheap, Bluehost, etc.
Hosting
Web hosting is a service that allows your website to be viewed online and for files like product descriptions and images to be stored and made available online.
If you want to open a shop using WordPress (Woocommerce), you’ll need to invest in reliable hosting. Many companies offer web hosting; some of the most well-known are Bluehost, HostGator, Hostinger, etc.
Shopify takes care of hosting for you, so you can focus on building your store. Shopify’s monthly fee includes these extra features.
Setting Up Your Store
As soon as you have your domain name and hosting in place, you can begin setting up your dropshipping store. In that case, you’ll definitely need the dropshipping store list down below.
Theme
Having a theme for your website helps give it form. It determines the overall layout, design, and features of your website. Whether you use Shopify or Woocommerce for your dropshipping business, you will need to install a theme on your website.
The good news is that some themes are available for free on both platforms. In addition, there are paid themes available for a one-time or recurring fee.
Some premium themes also include additional functionality. A theme may include numerous useful tools, such as a countdown timer and a display of the current number of online shoppers.
You can get these features by downloading apps, so you can ignore themes that include them.
Settings
Before releasing your website to the public, you’ll need to make a few adjustments. The icons, location, and even the order in which your products appear on your site are all examples of settings.
For instance, you’ll have to figure out where on your site the “Checkout” button should be displayed so that it’s most visible to potential customers. The number of times a product page’s checkout button appears is one example of a customization option.
Logo
If you run a dropshipping business, you know how important it is to have a professional logo. DIY logos are possible with the help of tools like Canva. You can hire a freelance logo designer through sites like Fiverr and Upwork if you don’t feel like designing the logo yourself.
A logo isn’t something that needs much thought. Select a logo that is both easy on the eyes and effectively conveys the essence of your company.
As a case in point, the arrow in the Amazon logo does a great job of conveying the company’s extensive product catalog (which includes everything from a to z).
Favicon
You have undoubtedly encountered favicons while using multiple tabs in your web browser to view various websites all at once. A favicon is the small icon displayed in the upper left corner of a web browser, and it is the shortest representation of your site’s design.
To create a memorable favicon, it’s best to base it on your company’s logo. If you want your website to look professional, a favicon is a must-have, regardless of how long it’s been up and running.
Must-have Pages
There are a few bare minimums that must be present on any credible and professional website. To provide potential customers with even the most basic knowledge about your company, these pages are essential. In including these sections, you are making an effort to appear legitimate and competent.
You’ll want these pages, in particular, if you’re thinking about making money through search engines like Google. The following are included in this collection of pages:
Homepage
If someone were to type in your website’s address (URL) or domain name, they would be taken to the page known as the homepage.
If your domain name is xyz.com, for instance, any user who types just that into a browser will be taken directly to your site’s index page.
Your homepage is the first impression that visitors will have of your website, so it deserves careful attention to detail in its design.
Every major product you sell can be displayed on your home page, along with links to their individual product pages and any current discounts or sales.
About Us Page
Since your dropshipping website will be brand new to the online retailing community, it is important to provide some background information for potential customers. Because of this, this page goes by a variety of other names, such as “Who We Are” or “Know About Us,” etc.
Since 86% of consumers value authenticity, it’s important that this page comes across as genuine and professional as possible.
Keep in mind that while honesty is always appreciated, it is also important to present yourself in a professional manner. Try to make it seem on your homepage as though you are a legitimate business, even if you are just one person running a dropshipping operation.
Contact Us Page
The purpose of this page is to facilitate communication between your business and its customers. When users submit feedback or questions to a website, a well-thought-out and prompt response from the website’s administration can win over their trust.
Customers can get a sense of whether or not their questions will be answered and whether or not they will be supported after they make a purchase from a given website.
To make a contact us page for Woocommerce dropshipping, WordPress provides free plugins. In order to add a contact us page to your Shopify store, you will need to install an app. You can also manually include this page if you prefer not to use an app.
Policy Pages
Your company’s policies are outlined on this page. Your company’s vendors and other pertinent details, such as “the origin of the products,” should be mentioned even if you don’t have any firm policies in place.
Privacy Policy
Customers’ names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses will be required if they wish to purchase items from your website.
Get the message across to your site’s visitors and customers that their data is secure with you. In particular, when entering sensitive financial information like a credit card number, your customers need to feel safe.
That’s why it’s so important to spell out in your privacy policy that no outside parties will have access to the data your customers provide.
Return & Refund Policy
You, the dropshipper, would be in the dark regarding the product’s true form and condition. That’s because if you did, you’d be trying to sell goods that you don’t actually have.
One helpful hint is to model your return and refund policy after that of the product’s official supplier.
In the absence of substantial initial funding, it is not recommended to offer a refund policy for your dropshipping business if the actual supplier does not provide one.
Shipping Policy
Customers will want to know how long it will be before they receive their orders, and you can provide that information on a shipping policy page.
The date and number of days after which you plan to ship the products, as well as whether or not your business will provide shipment tracking information, are also included.
There should be no confusion about your shipping policy or the estimated time of arrival for the products on this page.
It’s a good idea to check the original website for each product mentioned in your store for more specifics on how to order and pay for shipping. Please specify the earliest and latest dates on which customers can expect their orders to arrive.
Optional Pages
In addition to the homepage, you may design additional pages for your website. If you want to start a blog about your company, you can either make a standalone page for it or, as in the case of this screenshot, create a subpage under the main page.
In addition, you can make a page specifically for UGC (User Generated Content) like a frequently asked questions or product review page.
Important Apps
The efficiency of your website can be increased with the help of apps. You can use these apps to help automate your dropshipping business.
Shopify and Woocommerce both offer a wide variety of useful apps that can streamline your workflow and increase your efficiency. With just one click, you can, for instance, import a product’s details from AliExpress into your dropshipping store.
Numerous other apps help your shop appear more credible, which in turn increases sales. Rather than starting from scratch manually, you can use these Shopify tools as a springboard for your business.
For instance, if you use Shopify, you can get the best review app so that customers can leave feedback on your products directly on your site. If you’d rather use Woocommerce dropshipping on WordPress rather than Shopify, you’ll find a wealth of relevant plugins and themes.
Extensions
An extension is a piece of software designed to improve the user experience within a web browser.
There are literally hundreds of dropshipping-related extensions available for the Google Chrome web browser.
To get the product reviews on your Shopify store without selling a single product is an intriguing example of an extension, as we discussed in the p of apps. Check out one of the following review importers:
Yes! You can get visual and textual product reviews in your online shop. With the help of an extension, you can install the review app on your Shopify store and immediately begin pulling in the desired customer reviews from the original website.
Payment Gateways
If you want to open a dropshipping store, you will need to have some sort of payment processing setup. That’s because you’ll need to arrange for a means on your site for customers to pay for the products they order and for you to receive payment.
You can choose from a variety of different gateways to accept payments from customers on your website. Popular methods of payment include Shopify’s own in-built payment system as well as PayPal, Google Pay, AliPay, Apple Pay, Stripe, etc.
Check to see if these gateways can be used in your region before committing to them. If none are readily available in your country, select one that is so that you can quickly and easily receive payments in your local bank account.
Analytics
To keep tabs on how many people visited your site and what they did while they were there, you can use a tool called website analytics.
If you want to keep up with the latest events and user behavior on your site and accurately assess its success, you need to install a solid analytics tool.
Although Shopify’s dashboard does provide some information, you’ll still need a good analytics tool to get a full picture of your online store’s health.
The Google Analytics tool is a fantastic resource for keeping tabs on your website’s data.
If you want to submit your site to Google Analytics, you can. One of the greatest features of this tool is that it can be used to check the information of numerous websites or dropshipping stores simultaneously.
Social Media Links
The use of social media and drop shipping are natural partners. The majority of dropshippers start their online stores on social media sites like Facebook and Instagram.
If you want your customers to follow you on social media, you should provide links to your various profiles on your online shop’s homepage.
More importantly, you need to enable them to spread the word about the products via their various social media channels. If you want to expand your clientele, these sorts of actions are highly recommended.
Incorporate the social media icons into your online shop’s header, as well as the headers of individual product pages.
Banners & Badges
People in your target demographic wouldn’t have experienced your store before. Consequently, you should incorporate trust badges into your site to assure users that they are on a secure page and can make purchases without worry.
Similarly, you should incorporate the appropriate banners into your website’s primary page. These banners are essential for advertising deals, discounts, and other important details like free shipping for orders over a certain threshold.
Custom Email
In order to keep in touch with your customers until they receive their orders, a personalized email is a must-have. It’s also helpful when announcing sales and doing email marketing.
Don’t rely on common services like Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, or anyone else’s. The impression that this gives to potential buyers is not a good one. GoDaddy, Namecheap, Hostinger, and many others offer custom email services.
FAQs about Dropshipping Store Checklist
The most common concerns regarding dropshipping store checklists have been addressed.
Is Dropshipping Store Checklist the Same for a Niche Store?
Yes. If you want to open a dropshipping store, whether it’s a general one or one that specializes in a specific area, you’ll need the tools and resources we’ve outlined here.
That’s because you can’t risk dismantling your store’s credibility and professionalism by cutting corners anywhere. There are some essential features that your shop should provide, and you should not neglect them.
What Will Be the Dropshipping Store Checklist for One Product Store?
There wouldn’t be much difference between the fundamental needs of a general store and those of a specialty shop or store selling a single item.
If you want your store to leave a lasting impression on customers, there are a number of conditions that must be met. You won’t make any money any other way.
All of the features included in the dropshipping store checklist are required for a functional online shop. Dropshippers face increasing pressure to distinguish themselves from the crowd.
Thus, even if you only plan on selling a single item, you should still adhere to all the guidelines outlined in this manual.
Can I Launch My Store Quickly Without Implementing a Dropshipping Store Checklist?
One of the most critical preparation tasks for dropshipping is creating a dropshipping store checklist. Before opening for business, you should make sure you’ve taken care of everything that’s listed in this manual.
You can choose from the following alternatives if you don’t have enough time to carry out the tasks on this checklist.
Rather than taking on the task yourself, consider contracting a freelancer to help you out.
The use of AI software can help you quickly and easily replicate your store’s environment.
Those wrap up the frequently asked questions relating to dropshipping store checklists.
