How I made $1,000,000+ in my first year dropshipping at 19...

Summary

In this video, a 19-year-old entrepreneur shares his journey to making over $1 million in dropshipping within his first year. He recounts the mistakes made with TikTok ads, the challenges of inconsistent sales, and how he pivoted to Facebook ads, which proved to be more stable and profitable. After months of learning, he found success with a branded product and solidified his brand. His message: focus, learn from others, avoid shortcuts, and never gamble with your business. The key to success lies in consistency, strategy, and adapting to what works.

Takeaways

• 😀 Focus on long-term consistency: The speaker emphasizes the importance of sticking with a strategy that’s sustainable, such as Facebook ads, over short-term, inconsistent methods like TikTok ads.
• 😀 Avoid falling for 'TikTok guru' tactics: The speaker warns against trying to replicate the success of TikTok influencers, as their results are often unsustainable and inconsistent.
• 😀 Invest in knowledge and mentorship: The speaker shares that investing in a solid mentorship course was pivotal to their success, confirming they were on the right track.
• 😀 Take calculated risks: While the speaker invested thousands in their store and website design upfront, they had done extensive research and were confident in their choice of product.
• 😀 Be prepared to work hard and sacrifice: The speaker sacrificed their social life, deactivating Instagram and focusing entirely on learning and building their business.
• 😀 Learn from mistakes: The speaker points out that they wasted five months experimenting with TikTok ads, but those mistakes became learning experiences to help them scale faster later on.
• 😀 Understand the product: The key to success is knowing what makes a good product. Experience and constant research are crucial for identifying winning products.
• 😀 Facebook ads are more reliable than TikTok ads: The speaker highlights that Facebook’s ad platform offers consistent results, with less need for constant optimization, compared to the chaotic nature of TikTok ads.
• 😀 Focus on high-margin products: The speaker’s main brand is running on 30% margins, which allows for more sustainable growth and pure profit over time.
• 😀 Building a strong brand is key to long-term success: By focusing on branding and professional-looking websites, the speaker was able to stand out and scale faster than competitors.
• 😀 Consistency over time leads to success: The speaker stresses that by dedicating just one year of focused work, including learning about marketing, product research, and ads, they achieved significant success in dropshipping.

Q & A

What was the speaker's initial approach to dropshipping?

The speaker initially followed advice from TikTok gurus, focusing on TikTok ads, using tools like Surfscale and P ads. They believed these shortcuts would quickly lead to success but soon realized the inconsistency of TikTok ads.

What mistakes did the speaker make during the first 5 months of their journey?

The speaker wasted time and money trying to scale their store using TikTok ads, which they later realized were inconsistent. Despite testing multiple products, they couldn’t scale profitably and struggled with gambling-like ad strategies.

What was the turning point in the speaker’s dropshipping journey?

The turning point came in May 2024 when the speaker and their business partner realized that TikTok ads were inconsistent and that they should switch to Facebook ads, which were more stable and scalable for long-term growth.

Why did the speaker decide to quit TikTok ads and switch to Facebook ads?

The speaker found TikTok ads to be unpredictable, with products often peaking and then failing. After learning that successful dropshippers on Facebook were consistently achieving profitable results, they decided to invest their time in mastering Facebook ads instead.

What were the challenges of learning Facebook ads?

Learning Facebook ads was challenging due to the lack of reliable information and resources. There was also a risk of getting banned, making it difficult to learn how to run ads effectively. However, the speaker persevered by watching content and learning from legitimate sources.

How did the speaker achieve success after switching to Facebook ads?

After switching to Facebook ads, the speaker tested a new product and saw success. They followed a structured approach, focusing on learning the correct strategies and building a brand. Their main brand now runs with steady sales and 30% profit margins.

What was the impact of mentorship on the speaker’s business?

Investing in a mentorship course gave the speaker the confidence that they were on the right path. It reassured them that their strategies were sound, and they could achieve success with the right approach.

What lessons did the speaker learn about product testing?

The speaker learned the importance of testing products strategically. After learning from their mentorship, they were able to find winning products consistently, leading to profitable results within the first month of testing.

How did the speaker’s approach to website design affect their success?

The speaker invested in a custom website before even testing the product, knowing that a well-designed, high-converting site would give them a competitive advantage. This investment paid off as it helped them stand out in the marketplace and improve conversions.

What advice does the speaker have for beginners in dropshipping?

The speaker advises beginners to focus on Facebook ads, as they offer more consistent results than TikTok. They recommend spending time learning about marketing, finding good products, and analyzing competitors to succeed in the long term.