Curious about drop shipping but not sure how it works or whether it fits your business model? Mark breaks down the fundamentals of drop shipping, explains why it is a great model for beginners, and walks through the key criteria for selecting winning products.<\/p>\n
Mark considers affiliate marketing the best way for new business owners to get started online, but drop shipping is another excellent option that is actually quite compatible with affiliate marketing.<\/p>\n
So what is drop shipping?<\/strong> Products are sent directly from your wholesaler or manufacturer to your customer. You never touch the product, hold inventory, or manage shipping logistics. This makes it an ideal model for beginners.<\/p>\n Here is how the process works:<\/p>\n The appeal is clear: minimal upfront investment, no inventory risk, and the logistics of shipping are handled for you. But as with any business model, there are challenges to navigate.<\/p>\n Finding suppliers.<\/strong> It may seem daunting, but there are literally hundreds if not thousands of suppliers because drop shipping is an entire industry. Companies exist solely for the purpose of serving drop shippers.<\/p>\n Selecting the right products.<\/strong> This is where the real skill lies. Mark outlines four critical criteria:<\/p>\n The entire drop shipping game is about identifying products, listing them in your store, managing ads, and making go-no-go decisions on a product-by-product basis. You test, you evaluate, you scale what works and cut what does not. It is a methodical process, and it is worth looking into.<\/p>\n Mark recorded this episode in March 2020. The drop shipping industry has matured significantly since then. Shopify<\/a> remains the dominant platform for drop shipping stores and has made the setup process even simpler with built-in integrations for product sourcing and advertising.<\/p>\n The shift toward US-based fulfillment that Mark recommended has become the industry standard. Platforms like Spocket, CJ Dropshipping (US warehouses), and Zendrop specialize in connecting drop shippers with US-based suppliers offering 2-5 day delivery times. The old model of shipping from China with 3-4 week delivery times is largely obsolete for serious sellers.<\/p>\n Google Shopping, which Mark discusses in the follow-up episode LNIM199, has become an even more important channel for drop shippers. Free product listings on Google Shopping, launched in 2020, give drop shippers organic visibility in addition to paid ads.<\/p>\n Competition has increased, making product research and niche selection more important than ever. Successful drop shippers in 2026 tend to focus on specific niches rather than general stores, and they invest more in brand building and customer experience to differentiate from competitors.<\/p>\n If you found this episode helpful, you might also enjoy:<\/p>\n Listen to Late Night Internet Marketing on Apple Podcasts<\/a> or Spotify<\/a>. Have a question for Mark? Call the digital recorder at 214-444-8655 or drop a comment below.<\/p>\n\n
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