How to Set Up Your Dropshipping eCommerce Website the Right Way
- Elita
- Apr 8
- 3 min read
If you're a small business owner ready to jump into the world of dropshipping, first off—congrats! Dropshipping is a low-risk way to enter the eCommerce space, but setting up your online store the right way can make or break your success.
At Soma Marketing, we’ve helped countless small business owners go from idea to fully-functioning online store, so we’re giving you the full playbook on how to set your site up correctly—and avoid the costly mistakes we see far too often.
✅ Step 1: Choose the Right Platform
The best platforms for dropshipping are:
Shopify – Best all-around for beginners and scaling with built-in dropshipping tools like DSers and Oberlo
WooCommerce (WordPress) – Great for those who want full customization and own their hosting
BigCommerce – Scalable, secure, and ideal for growing stores with lots of SKUs
Wix – User-friendly with a drag-and-drop builder and easy integration with apps like Modalyst
Squarespace – Beautiful templates and solid for brands that prioritize visual design; integrates with Printful and Spocket
Tip: If you want a quick, low-maintenance setup and strong design flexibility, Wix or Squarespace can be great starting points. For more advanced functionality, Shopify and WooCommerce are hard to beat!
✅ Step 2: Connect to a Dropshipping Supplier
Reliable suppliers are the heart of your business. You can use:
DSers (AliExpress)
Spocket
Printful (for print-on-demand)
Set up automated syncing between your supplier and your store so inventory, pricing, and orders are always up-to-date.
⚠️ Tip:If your supplier doesn’t offer automation or their pricing cuts too deep into your margins:
Use a virtual assistant or inventory management tool like Syncee or Inventory Source to manually update stock and pricing.
Negotiate bulk or long-term pricing with your supplier to lower costs over time.
Consider switching to a supplier that integrates directly with your platform to save time and reduce fulfillment errors.
✅ Step 3: Organize Your Products & Pages
Your product pages should include:
High-quality images (up to 3)
Clear and transparent descriptions
Pricing with shipping info
A simple, compelling call-to-action (like “Buy Now” or “Get Yours Today”)
Pro Tip: Group products into logical categories and use filters to help customers shop more easily.
✅ Step 4: Set Up Payment, Taxes & Shipping
Payment: Connect Stripe, PayPal, Square or Shopify Payments
Taxes: Set your store to calculate sales tax automatically based on location
Shipping: Set clear expectations. Consider using flat rates or “free shipping” baked into product pricing.
✅ Step 5: Optimize for Mobile
More than half of shoppers are buying from their phones. Make sure your theme is mobile-responsive and that buttons, text, and images all look great on small screens.
🚧 Common Dropshipping Pitfalls (And How to Avoid Them)
❌ Slow Shipping Times
Fix: Be upfront about delivery windows. Choose suppliers with US-based warehouses or faster shipping options.
❌ Low-Quality Product Images
Fix: Use supplier images only if they meet your quality standards. If possible, order samples and take your own branded photos.
❌ No Branding or Trust Signals
Fix: Add an “About” page, contact info, and real policies (shipping, returns, etc.). Include reviews, trust badges, and SSL security.
❌ Abandoned Carts
Fix: Set up automated email sequences to remind customers to complete purchases. Add exit-intent popups with discount offers to encourage conversions.
Don’t Have Time to Set It All Up? We Do.
Running a business is enough work already. Let Soma Marketing handle your full dropshipping store setup from start to finish.
✔️ Custom-built eCommerce store
✔️ Supplier integration
✔️ Optimized pages, branding, and SEO
✔️ Mobile-friendly, conversion-ready
💰 Just $750 flat fee for store setup
📈 Ongoing digital marketing starting at $400/month.
Let’s bring your dropshipping dream to life—for a fraction of the cost.
Comments