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Introduction

If you’re looking for a way to make money without a huge upfront investment, and without a lot of hassles or work, drop shipping with an e-commerce platform is exactly what you’ve been looking for.

It’s simple, inexpensive to get started, and your business can be run in your spare time or turned into a full-time business, if you wish to branch out.

With drop shipping, you don’t have to worry about having money to invest in inventory, or about dealing with finding warehouse space or shipping out packages.

Simply add products to your online store, place orders with the drop shipper, and have them sent directly to your customers. For the most part, it’s incredibly straightforward, and hassle-free!

Obviously, like any business, you’ll have to be ready to deal with issues occasionally, but we’re going to cover some easy ways you can minimize any such issues and keep your business running like a well-oiled machine.

This special report is all about helping you get started with drop-shipping quickly and easily. Not only will I show you how to find the best drop shipping sources, but I’ll even show you to jumpstart your business by generating premium traffic to your store.

So, let’s get started!

How Drop Shipping Works

Let’s take a quick look at how the drop shipping process works, starting with how to sell using just a single product as an example.

Let’s say you decide to drop ship fidget spinners. You choose a model you believe will be popular, and you create a simple web page for the product with a photo, description, basic information, and a link to buy.

When someone makes a purchase from your page, they pay you at the time of purchase. You then order the product from the supplier’s website, paying for it with the money the customer already paid you, and enter your customer’s shipping address instead of your own.

It’s a bit like making a gift purchase from a site like Amazon. You pay for the product, but you have it shipped directly to the buyer.

Okay, you probably have a whole bunch of questions running through your mind right now. We’ll get to most of them shortly. But yes, it really is that simple.

The first thing you’re probably asking is, “Why not just order the products from Amazon if it’s that simple?”

Well, there are two BIG problems with that.

First, you’d never make much of a profit doing that. Products on Amazon are being sold around retail price, so making a profit would be pretty difficult unless you somehow manage to get into a niche market with a lot of demand where you can charge a premium price and still have buyers.

Second, Amazon puts their own promotional material all over everything they send out. While you might get one order from a customer, once they realize the products came from Amazon, they’ll go there, discover the product was much cheaper there, and never order from you again.

It’s just not a smart way to build your own brand.

With drop shipping, most companies won’t put their materials or branding on or in the boxes, and some may even put your promotional material into the packages for you, if you ask!

Example: I’ve purchased coder stickers from a popular programmer online and while he’s transparent about the fact that he purchases the stickers from a drop-shipper in China, when the package arrived every sticker package had his branding and logo on the box! I would have never known it was a drop shipped package from China.

And that’s the point. You are selling products as though they come directly from you, even though you never have to bother shipping anything out or tracking packages. You simply receive payment, order the item, and let the company handle delivery.

Are you starting to understand why so many people love drop-shipping?

Drop Shipping Benefits

You don’t have to use drop shipping to be successful in e-commerce. You can find success with just one simple, inexpensive product with a relatively small upfront investment.

You can also find success investing a great deal upfront in stock and offering a wide variety of items. It’s totally up to you and your circumstances.

However, if you want to have a full e-commerce site, and you don’t have a lot of money to invest in the beginning, drop shipping is the perfect business model to help you get started. You can always invest in inventory later, once your business is profitable enough.

Keep in mind that drop shipping is not a perfect business model. There are a few issues you need to keep an eye out for, which we will address in the next chapter. But there are some big benefits, too.

Let’s take a look at some of the biggest benefits of drop shipping.

For one thing, you don’t have to invest a huge amount of money in the beginning to get started. All you need to get started is a domain, website, and the software to run your shop. In most cases, you can get started for less than a hundred bucks.

Also, you don’t have to spend as long sourcing products. One of the most time-consuming elements of e-commerce is finding the right products for your shop, and when you use drop shipping, you’ll often be able to source multiple products from the same supplier.

It’s also very easy to add inventory to your shop, because most major drop shipping suppliers either have a plugin you can use to automatically add inventory to your shop, or they have CSV files you can import into your software to control your stock. This is a huge time saver.

Another great thing about drop shipping is that there is much less risk involved. Since you aren’t investing in product upfront, you don’t have to worry about getting stuck with unsold inventory if you buy something that turns out to not be as popular as you anticipated.

It’s also very nice to not have to worry about having warehouse space, managing inventory, and sending out packages. These are all things that are expensive and time-consuming, and they are completely avoided by using drop shipping.

These are just a few of the biggest benefits, and you can probably already see how great it can be for someone who’s just getting started!

Avoiding Potential Pitfalls

Let’s take a look at a few of the most common problems that might come along, and how you can minimize the potential of experiencing them.

Products Out Of Stock

One of the most common complaints you’ll get is when certain products are out of stock, especially if they are particularly popular and hard to find. This can happen to any store, even monolithic stores like Amazon. And it definitely upsets customers when it happens.

However, it’s important to keep track of stock to minimize the potential of upsetting customers, because they will be a lot unhappier if they think you have the product in stock and place an order only to find out the product was out of stock than they would be just being notified before they purchase that the product isn’t available.

For this reason, it’s a very good idea to use some sort of plugin that will automatically update your site whenever products are out of stock.

We’ll take a look later at a nifty extension you can use to keep track of stock, and it will help make your job of finding and adding stock much easier, too!

Product Returns

Every single company on the planet must deal with returns. Even if you have a strict no-returns policy, you will still have to deal with unhappy customers that attempt to get a refund. And telling them no will just result in very angry customers.

I know someone who purchased a lot of items from one very popular discount shopping app, found that the quality was terrible and the sizing was way off, and could not return them because the company had a no-returns policy. The customer was very upset, and left bad reviews for the company all over the place. And this person was far from the only person complaining about not being able to return items.

For this reason, it’s not a good idea to have a no-refunds policy on physical products. This will just lead to chargebacks, which could get your account with PayPal or any other billing company canceled. It’s not worth the chance.

Plus, people who are unhappy with their purchase and cannot return it will spread bad reviews, which can have a negative impact on sales over the long run.

Always make sure your product descriptions are as accurate as possible, and make sure to have sizing charts and pictures to minimize returns.

If a product is under $20, you might just ship another item to the customer without requiring them to return the original. If the product is over that price, have the customer ship the return to you, and when it arrives, send them a new one as quickly as possible. If it is returned because it’s damaged or defective, return it to the supplier.

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Introduction

In case you haven’t heard much about podcasting, let me tell you a little bit about it, and how it’s commonly used by business professionals.

Think of podcasting as somewhat like a radio talk show, only podcasts aren’t typically broadcast live. They are usually pre-recorded, edited, and then uploaded. Sometimes they CAN be live shows that are recorded and uploaded later, but that’s far less common.

Podcasts can be set to download automatically by fans of that podcast, and can be listened to anytime, from any location, as long as internet is available to download the podcast at some point before listening.

Podcasts are a great way to stay in touch with your audience, while also expanding it quickly. Millions of users listen to podcasts every day, and you can reach a large number of those users quickly and easily.

In fact, Pat Flynn of the Smart Passive Income blog, says that his podcast has become his top method for reaching new customers and generating fresh traffic to his website, ranking podcasting’s global outreach above Google, social media, and inbound links!

As a result of his podcasts, Pat has received lots of media coverage and opportunities that probably would not have been open to him if he hadn’t started his podcast.

Wouldn’t you like to have that kind of exposure?

Then let’s get started!

Podcasting 101

Podcasts are an incredible way to reach both current and new prospects, no matter what type of business you’re running, or what niche market you are positioned in.

Podcasting is also a great way to stand out, and set yourself apart from the competition. Lots of people have blogs and YouTube channels and social media profiles, but not nearly as many people have a podcast!

There are around 100 million people who listen to podcasts every single day, but only about 200,000 active podcasts. Compare that to the millions of active blogs out there!

Podcast readership is also still growing. Between 2015 and 2016 alone, listeners grew by a whopping 23%!

Podcasting is a fantastic way to gain exposure for your blog, YouTube channel, social media profiles, books, courses, brand, app, software, video game, or anything else you’re working on!

Plus, it’s a great way to gain exposure for people who aren’t as comfortable in front of a camera. People never have to know what you look like. And even if you hate your voice, you could use a voice changer to modify it!

But don’t think you have to have a fantastic voice to do well with a podcast. As long as you have something interesting to say, listeners will keep tuning in.

Whatever you’re trying to accomplish with your business—whether it’s selling products, getting readers for your blog or books, getting views to your YouTube videos, or building your brand—you can achieve it with podcasting!

Types of Podcasts

There are many different types of podcasts you can create for your audience, and nothing says you need to stay with a single format. In fact, lots of people use multiple formats for their podcast based on whatever they are trying to accomplish at a given time.

Let’s take a look at some of those different formats, and how they can best be used.

Solo

Most podcasts are solo, simply because it’s usually individuals who start them. Solo podcasts generally consist of one individual talking about a particular subject during each “episode”.

Duos

Duos are also popular, with two people talking together about the topic. Duos are often spouses or friends, but may be business partners, or other close acquaintances.

The reason most duos are close is that their personalities need to mesh well for the podcast to be interesting.

Duos need to feed off each other, joke around with each other, and be able to read each other to understand where the other one is going with the conversation and respond thoughtfully.

Interviews

Interview based podcasts typically involve two people. One, the host asks questions, and the other party provides information and shares their strategies, and experiences within the podcast.

The interview format is a simple one: The host provides a set list of questions ahead of time, giving their guest a chance to review the material and prepare for the episode. Just like in any other podcast scenario, it’s always best to have a pre-written outline of what you plan to cover within the podcast, as well as opening and closing remarks.

Interview based podcasts can work especially well if you manage to get well-known people in your industry to participate, because those established names can draw in additional listeners, and they may even promote your podcast to their own fans or followers.

Groups

The group format can be tricky, because powerful personalities often have difficulty taking a backstage to each other and tend to talk over one another and interrupt. But they can be very successful if they are properly moderated.

If you’ve ever watched a show like Real Time with Bill Maher or The View, you’ve pretty much seen how interesting, and dynamic this type of format can be.

The group format isn’t as common in podcasting because of the need to moderate so many personalities and because of potential scheduling conflicts, but they can be quite successful if executed correctly.

As I mentioned before, you don’t have to stick to a single format. You might run your podcast as a single format most of the time, and switch to other formats here and there, or you might switch it up all the time. It’s totally up to you, and what you hope to accomplish.

If you are just getting started with podcasts, you’ll likely want to start with just a solo podcast format. That way, you can cut your teeth on the process involved in creating great podcast content, gain experience and become more comfortable speaking to your audience.

Then, as you become more familiar with the process and feel prepared to try a new format, consider the interview-style format where you can welcome a guest from within your niche market to appear on your podcast. It’s a great way to network with others in your industry while giving your listeners helpful information that will motivate them to continue tuning in each week, or month.

Plus, with interviews, you aren’t required to come up with as much content as you would in a solo-format. You simply create a list of questions and let your guest provide the answers. In exchange for them appearing on your podcast, you could promote one of their products or website. It’s a win-win!
Getting Started With Your First Podcast

A lot of people mistakenly believe that they need special equipment in order to create a podcast, but the truth is, you probably already have most of what you need on your computer.

Here’s what you need:

A computer
A microphone
Some sort of recording software
Audio editing software (optional)
Domain
Hosting

Let’s take a closer look at each piece of equipment you need, so you can get started quickly and easily.
Computer
You don’t need the world’s most powerful computer to create a podcast. Working with audio isn’t nearly as intensive as working with graphics or video, so a basic computer is fine.

Technically, you can even create a podcast on your phone or tablet using software such as BossJock Studio. It’s one of the only apps on the market that will allow you to record two mics at the same time, and if you plan to do any interviews, you’ll need this feature. It’s a very affordable app, and you can upload and publish your content as an MP3 file directly from the app.

Microphone

Many people just use the built-in microphone that comes with their computer or mobile device, and that’s fine when you’re just getting started. But the sound quality will probably not be what you want it to be.

Built-in microphones are generally low quality and will pick up too much ambient noise, and may include annoying artifacts such as static, hissing, wind, etc. This will hurt the overall quality of your podcast considerably, especially for people wearing earbuds or headphones.

Instead, it’s recommended that you pick up an external microphone--ideally one that has a stand, noise reduction, and a windscreen or pop filter.

A pop filter is a shield that attaches to the microphone and blocks any air from your mouth and nose from reaching the mic, which will help reduce wind noise when you’re speaking. Since it sits between you and the microphone, it won’t block ambient airflow from other directions.

A windscreen is usually made of foam and fits over the mic itself to help reduce wind from all directions. This is useful for blocking wind when you’re recording outdoors, but will also reduce noise from fans, air conditioning, etc.

You can buy pop filters and windscreens separately if your device doesn’t come with them. If you aren’t ready to invest in these accessories, you can also cover it loosely with a tissue or thin cloth to help reduce wind. It won’t be as effective as a paid product, but it will help some.

There are many different types of microphones on the market. The least expensive models are generally not very good, but you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to get a quality mic.

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Introduction

Are you frustrated because you’re still not making the kind of money you would like to – even after you’ve spent hundreds of dollars and countless hours marketing your business the way everyone else told you to?

You’re not alone!

We’ve all wasted time and money on things that don’t work. In fact, statistics show that the average new Internet marketer will lose $1500 to $2500 during the first year of business on worthless products and programs.

I’m not going to lie and tell you that you don’t have to spend money to get your business off the ground and keep it going, because you do, but once you’re up and running it shouldn’t be costing you money. Now I’m not talking about your everyday business expenses. You do have to fork out money for website hosting, a shopping cart service, autoresponder account, and things like that. But when you start spending more money than you make driving traffic to your website, you need step back and take a serious look at your current marketing strategies.

So isn’t it time to leave behind those high ticket products and oldfashioned advertising methods and learn the real deal to building a solid, long-term business?

Because that’s what you want don’t you? A business with a foundation meant for longevity and growth.

Of course it is. And that’s what this guide is all about. I won’t be sharing some overnight success secret, or telling you how to skip all the bull and go right to the finish line.

But what this guide does give you; is insight into one of the most effective and valuable marketing techniques available to you – and it doesn’t have to cost you a dime. Honest!

So what am I talking about?

Content marketing. Yup, you’ve probably heard about it. But what is it really?

Well, basically, it’s a way to gain exposure for your business by creating high quality content and distributing it on the Internet. As a direct result, your market finds you and your products or services with minimal time and effort on your part to make it happen.

Why Is Content An Important Part Of Your Marketing Strategy?

Content is and should always be the driving force behind your business. Essentially, it’s what directs traffic to you – meaning, you don’t have to go out and hunt down customers; instead they come to you.

If you’ve been online for any amount of time, you’ve likely heard that “Content is King”, a phrase that is especially true when it comes to marketing your business.

Why?

Because there’s nothing else available that even remotely comes close to bringing you the kind of benefits content does.

Think about it…

Our society is saturated with technology and the gadgets they’ve produced, and consequently, we’ve become accustomed to getting what we want, when we want it.

So it’s not surprising that the Internet has become one of the world’s most valuable resources, simply because it’s always there when we need – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We can hop online and in a matter of minutes find information on just about anything we want to know.

And where does that information come from?

You got it - content.

See, by producing content and getting it into the hands of all those information seekers, they will find their way to your website. And that means you don’t have to go out and find them, because your content does all the work for you – even while you’re sleeping.

Okay, so now that you understand why content is so important, let’s take a look at how it directly benefits your business: Who Are You?

People in your hometown know who you are as well as your friends and family members. These people know if you’re trustworthy or if you have your head on straight to make a go of your business.

That’s great, but the people that will be purchasing your products or hiring you for your services don’t know you at all. When they don’t know you, how are they supposed to feel confident that you are the person they can trust when they need to buy a certain item?

Content enables them to get to know you. The Internet is a wondrous thing, but it doesn’t give you the ability to meet and assist your customers in person. Which means it’s much more difficult to gain customer trust quickly online as opposed to a brick and mortar store. This is where content comes in.

Your customers will get to know you through the content you produce and distribute online. They’ll be able to see first hand if you know what you’re talking about when it comes your particular niche, and they’ll likely be making the decision about whether or not you can be trusted when it comes time to hand over their hard earned money. Content allows you to create yourself as the “go-to” person in your niche and people will begin to associate you with a particular product or service when they’re in need.

Are You For Real?

Besides the great things that the Internet gives you, it’s also a hotbed of scammers and spammers. As a result, people have become incredibly wary about offers they see browsing online. There are far too many people touting their products as high-quality, and then they simply don’t deliver.

Another common problem is that too many people claim that miracles will happen if they buy a certain product, and so consumers who’ve bought into it; anxiously await for the amazing results they’ll get, only to be disappointed when it never comes to fruit Unfortunately, those people have made it that much more difficult for the legitimate business folks. Consumers have become hardened to all claims, valid or not, and getting them to feel confident about purchasing from can be tough to do.

Content will help soften them towards you simply because you’re showing them that you’re not a scammer, but a genuine expert. Pick Me!

You may have gotten some exposure for your business, but there’s still one problem you’ll have to overcome, and that’s that you are not the only one person selling products or services in your niche market. You are competing against several other business owners who are all vying for the attention of your niche market. So, you will need to find a way to stand out and show potential customers that you’re the go to business.

This is how content will be key for your business. You need to provide your target market with information that your competitors aren’t giving them. High quality content about the chosen niche helps get you ahead as an expert in that particular field.

Do I Remember You?

How many times have you visited a website and left never to visit again? You may have liked the site, but you don’t remember how to get back there or you may have even forgotten that the website ever existed.

Regardless of the reason, we may not visit the same website again the fact remains that everyday internet users view tons of websites. That means when it comes time for internet users to make a purchase your