Drop That Ship | Dropshipping Made Easy

Doba
  • 5.0 (5)
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  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

Welcome to Drop That Ship, the podcast for scrappy entrepreneurs who want more freedom, more income, and fewer cardboard boxes in the garage. Brought to you by the team at Doba, the platform that connects you to vetted suppliers, automates your fulfillment, and makes your storefront actually work, this show is where real dropshipping gets real simple. Brought to you by the team at Doba, we make e-commerce simple, scalable, and inventory-free—so you can focus on what matters: your business. Each week, we cover real strategies for product research, supplier vetting, store optimization, SEO, automation, fulfillment, and yes—even making your first sale. Whether you're launching your first Shopify store or leveling up your fifth, we’ll help you dodge the rookie mistakes, use the right tools, and turn traffic into repeat customers. It’s time to stop guessing and start building, your business, your rules, your future. New episodes drop every Tuesday, so hit follow, bring your ambition, and remember: you don’t need to go viral. You just need to get started

  1. 1H AGO

    The Economics of Influence | Building Recurring Affiliate Revenue in E-Commerce Part 1

    In this episode, Megan Hansel challenges ecommerce creators to rethink what “influence” really means. She breaks down the economics behind influence in e-commerce, showing how it acts as infrastructure, shaping the overall experience with dropshipping. Megan reframes affiliate strategy as ecosystem design that can take your company to the next level.She explains how supplier relationships directly impact your revenue opportunities. This bleeds into your leverage and retailer networks, which can either make or break your sales. You’ll also hear practical execution strategies for monetizing more strategically, without feeling too salesy. If you work with sellers in any capacity, this episode will shift how you view influence, partnerships, and recurring income in e-commerce. [Start] Giving Away Leverage: Megan introduces the concept of recurring influence in e-commerce. 02:51 Retailer Recommendations: A breakdown of how supplier choices impact several areas of your company. 04:27 Economics of Influence: How affiliate programs create monthly income instead of one-time payouts. 05:21 Execution Strategies: Steps to improve your income without feeling pushy. 06:52 The Identity Shift: How creators can structure influence into sustainable recurring revenue.  Links and Resources: Doba.com – Official site Get Started with Doba! Use code “podcast” for 10% off your first month of the Monthly Standard plan. Inquiries about partnerships? Want to join Megan on the podcast? Email mhansel@doba.com and connect!

    9 min

  2. 5D AGO

    The Trust Economy | Why Reviews Are the New SEO Part 2

    In Part Two of The Trust Economy series, Megan why most review request emails fall flat. Contrary to popular belief, it’s because the messages miss the customer’s intent. When follow-ups feel generic and automated, they ultimately lead to failure. To help drop shippers engage customers and increase response rates, Megan outlines seven category-specific review request frameworks. She unpacks how tone, timing, and positioning shape customer response and why strategic review collection reduces returns, increases conversion, and strengthens trust. Chapters [Start] Why Most Review Requests Fail: Megan explains why one-size-fits-all messaging kills response rates. 00:47 Seven Review Frameworks: How to align tone with buyer psychology for all types of seller categories. 05:04 Advanced Execution: Techniques to take reviews to the next level. 06:05 The Truth About Negative Reviews: Looking at negative reviews as an opportunity to show your integrity. 07:24 Using Reviews Strategically: How reviews can become one of your greatest assets to increase conversion. Links and Resources: Doba.com – Official siteGet Started with Doba! Use code “podcast” for 10% off your first month of the Monthly Standard plan. Inquiries about partnerships? Want to join Megan on the podcast? Email mhansel@doba.com and connect!

    8 min

  3. FEB 17

    The Trust Economy | Why Reviews Are the New SEO Part 1

    For Megan Hansel, reviews are more than a five-star metric—she calls them the trust layer of your store. In a marketplace flooded with AI-generated perfection, customers are verifying everything. Just five real reviews can increase conversions by 270%, yet most sellers still treat them like a checkbox. Megan breaks down why generic review emails often fail, how timing determines review quality, and why detailed customer feedback now impacts SEO more than ever. Before you send another automated review request, listen to this. Chapters [Start] The Verification Era: Megan introduces Part One of the two-part series on why reviews are an often overlooked, yet incredibly important tool for brands. 2:20 The Zero-To-One Problem: The biggest jump in performance doesn’t happen at 500 reviews—it happens at five. Why most sellers never clear that first hurdle. 2:56 Why Review Requests Fail: The psychology behind altruism, ego, and what actually motivates someone to respond. 5:15 The Joy Window: How different product categories have different emotional timelines and how to hit the moment that matters. 6:51 Reviews As Trust Infrastructure: Reviews are the trust layer of your business impacting conversions, SEO visibility, and long-term brand stability. Links and Resources: Doba.com – Official site Get Started with Doba!  Use code “podcast” for 10% off your first month of the Monthly Standard plan. Inquiries about partnerships? Want to join Megan on the podcast? Email mhansel@doba.com and connect!

    10 min

  4. FEB 12

    AI Strategies Every Dropshipper Should Know Part 2 | EKOM AI with Leila Smith and Brittany McGregor 

    Megan continues her conversation with Leila Smith and Brittany McGregor from EKOM AI, unpacking how automation, structured data, and AI-driven optimization are reshaping the way online stores scale. Instead of adding more manual work or more tools to manage, this discussion focuses on removing friction from product pages, streamlining workflows, and preparing catalogs for how discovery actually works today. Together, they explore what happens when product data, SEO, and automation work in sync. The conversation moves into practical clarity: how much manual work automation can remove, what brands should stop doing on their product pages, and the future of AI-driven discovery. For scrappy entrepreneurs who want more freedom, more income, and fewer cardboard boxes in the garage, this episode lays out a realistic path for building systems to support long-term growth. Chapters [Start] Where AI Fits in the Future of E-commerce: Megan brings Leila and Brittany back for Part Two to explore how automation and AI are shaping product pages, catalogs, and scaling strategies. 01:20 How Automation Reduces Manual Work: A breakdown of how AI-driven catalog optimization removes hours of manual PDP work and integrates into existing e-commerce systems. 05:16 The Shift From Traditional SEO to AI Discovery: Why brands must think beyond traditional search and prepare for AI-driven discovery platforms that surface products based on structured data. 09:42 Fixing Product Pages and Category Structure: Practical advice on improving conversions through clean category architecture, consistent PDPs, and better product data hygiene. 13:02 What to Stop Doing on Your Product Pages: Common mistakes brands make, from relying too heavily on ads to writing product descriptions only for humans instead of AI-driven discovery. Links and Resources: About EKOM AI: EKOM AI is the infrastructure for modern discovery - an agentic commerce platform that transforms product catalogs into dynamic, intelligent systems optimized for both humans and machines. Born from Writerly AI (which reached over 1 million users), EKOM helps brands of all sizes make their products ultra-visible across Google, ChatGPT, Perplexity, TikTok Shop, and the entire modern commerce ecosystem. Our formula is simple: content paired with context equals confidence - for customers, algorithms, and brands. Connect with EKOM AI: Website: ekom.aiBook a Demo: https://www.ekom.ai/demoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ekom_ai/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565919023586LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ekom-ai/Semantics Search Stack (Newsletter): https://searchsemantics.substack.com/Connect with Leila Smith, Marketing Director: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leila-smith-ekom/Ready to make your catalog work as hard as you do? Book a demo with our team and discover how EKOM can transform your product data into your biggest competitive advantage. Customer Success Director - Brittany McGregor- EKOM AI: The AI layer powering the next generation of ecommerce growth! Connect with Brittany McGregor: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-mcgregor-39a90a124/ Doba.com – Official site Get Started with Doba!  Use code “podcast” for 10% off your first month of the Monthly Standard plan. Inquiries about partnerships? Want to join Megan on the podcast? Email mhansel@doba.com and connect!

    20 min

  5. FEB 10

    AI Strategies Every Dropshipper Should Know Part 1 | EKOM AI with Leila Smith and Brittany McGregor

    Megan Hansel welcomes EKOM AI experts Leila Smith and Brittany McGregor to discuss the growing world of artificial intelligence and e-commerce operations. Recognizing that product pages and data infrastructure are some of the most overlooked parts of online selling, they discuss how sellers can improve their listings and feel more confident in their structure. Optimized product data can significantly impact the discoverability of your store, which can lead to higher conversion rates. Leila and Brittany share insights into how AI can simplify catalog management without sacrificing creativity or brand voice. They explain how automation eliminates repetitive tasks, freeing business owners to focus on what really matters: strategy and growth. The conversation helps sellers identify common mistakes in platform production and prioritize scalable systems. This episode is part one of a two-part series, laying the groundwork for running an online store effectively in an AI-driven marketplace. Chapters [Start] Why Product Pages Matter: Megan introduces Leila and Brittany and frames the discussion around AI’s growing role in e-commerce operations. 04:07 The Origin of EKOM AI: Leila explains how EKOM evolved from early AI tools after seeing a need for catalog product optimization. 07:40 What EKOM AI Does: Brittany outlines how AI-driven optimization improves traffic and conversions with search standards. 14:23 Common Product Data Mistakes: A breakdown of issues that hurt your visibility. 19:20 Why AI Matters for Dropshippers: How automation helps merchants keep pace with constantly changing catalogs while staying competitive. Links and Resources: About EKOM AI: EKOM AI is the infrastructure for modern discovery - an agentic commerce platform that transforms product catalogs into dynamic, intelligent systems optimized for both humans and machines. Born from Writerly AI (which reached over 1 million users), EKOM helps brands of all sizes make their products ultra-visible across Google, ChatGPT, Perplexity, TikTok Shop, and the entire modern commerce ecosystem. Our formula is simple: content paired with context equals confidence - for customers, algorithms, and brands. Connect with EKOM AI: Website: ekom.aiBook a Demo: https://www.ekom.ai/demoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ekom_ai/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565919023586LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ekom-ai/Semantics Search Stack (Newsletter): https://searchsemantics.substack.com/Connect with Leila Smith, Marketing Director: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leila-smith-ekom/Ready to make your catalog work as hard as you do? Book a demo with our team and discover how EKOM can transform your product data into your biggest competitive advantage. Customer Success Director - Brittany McGregor- EKOM AI: The AI layer powering the next generation of ecommerce growth! Connect with Brittany McGregor: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-mcgregor-39a90a124/ Doba.com – Official site Get Started with Doba!  Use code “podcast” for 10% off your first month of the Monthly Standard plan. Inquiries about partnerships? Want to join Megan on the podcast? Email mhansel@doba.com and connect!

    25 min

  6. FEB 5

    Selling the Right Products | The Single Biggest Mistake in Dropshipping Part 2

    In Part 2, Megan breaks down why some products never convert, no matter how good the ads look or how polished the website feels, and why working harder is rarely the answer. Instead of chasing trends or endless tweaking, this conversation reframes product selection as the foundation that determines everything else in your business, especially identifying non-converting products before they drain time and momentum. Megan walks through the hidden reasons stores stall out, from selling the wrong categories to building momentum around products that actively resist growth. She introduces the anti-blacklist mindset—a way of thinking that prioritizes elimination over addition, clarity over noise, and long-term stability over viral wins. The result is a smarter, calmer path forward for scrappy entrepreneurs who want more freedom, more income, and fewer cardboard boxes stacking up in the garage. Chapters [Start] Why Good Ads Can’t Save Bad Products: Megan sets the stage by explaining why traffic without conversions is usually a product problem, not a marketing one. 00:43 The Products That Can End Your Business Overnight: A clear breakdown of copyrighted goods and viral fads, and why these categories create legal risk, burnout, and instability. 01:58 How to Spot a Bad Product Before You Sell It: Red flags like inconsistent images, razor-thin margins, vague use cases, and unclear shipping timelines—and why each one kills trust. 03:12 The Anti-Blacklist Mindset: Why successful dropshipping is a game of subtraction, and how eliminating the wrong products improves ads, conversions, and confidence. 04:41 What Scalable Products Actually Have in Common: A look at high-perceived-value, brandable products that solve real problems, support storytelling, and compound over time. Links and Resources: Doba.com – Official site Get Started with Doba! Use code “podcast” for 10% off your first month of the Monthly Standard plan. Inquiries about partnerships? Want to join Megan on the podcast? Email mhansel@doba.com and connect!

    8 min

  7. FEB 3

    Selling the Right Products | The Single Biggest Mistake in Dropshipping Part 1

    Megan Hansel challenges the assumption that dropshipping fails because of ads or algorithms. Instead, she reframes what actually determines success or failure long before a store ever launches. She breaks down why product selection is the real business model behind sustainable ecommerce, and why getting it wrong can sabotage even the most experienced stores. Megan walks through the hidden costs of selling the wrong products: wasted ads, low conversion rates, refunds, and burnout. Rather than relying on branding, Megan lays out a practical framework for understanding which products create leverage and which ones destroy momentum. If you’ve ever felt stuck despite “doing everything right,” this episode offers a reset and a smarter path forward Chapters [Start] Dropshipping as a Decisions Game: A look at how dropshipping is influenced by product decisions, and how failure is not based on ads. 02:08 How Bad Products Influence Conversions: Why generic products confuse algorithms and deplete buyer trust. 04:02 The Commodity Trap: Why selling everyday items can put you in direct competition with retail giants. 04:54 High-Risk Products: Fragile, oversized, and unbranded products that lead to refunds and burnout. 06:09 Categories That Get You Banned: Categories that platforms don’t like and why some niches aren’t worth the risk. Links and Resources: Doba.com – Official site Get Started with Doba! Use code “podcast” for 10% off your first month of the Monthly Standard plan. Inquiries about partnerships? Want to join Megan on the podcast? Email mhansel@doba.com and connect!

    9 min

  8. JAN 29

    The New Path to E-Commerce Visibility | Finding Your Niche Part 2

    Megan closes out her two-part series by moving into what real, sustainable growth in dropshipping actually looks like. She centers the conversation on clarity and system-first execution, showing how narrowing your niche builds trust with modern buyers. Megan invites listeners to think like builders, not gamblers, and to design stores that make sense to customers at first glance. She then breaks down three specific niches that are positioned to perform well in 2026–ones that are grounded in real human needs rather than hype cycles. Megan explains how outcomes drive conversion, as consumers prioritize practical sustainability and wellness. Her discussion emphasizes the importance of listening to reviews and using AI as an accelerator instead of a shortcut, while reinforcing that reliable fulfillment and supplier partnerships are the backbone of any brand that plans to last. Chapters Start] Why Focus Beats “Hot Products”: Reframing e-commerce success around clarity, identity, and system-driven execution. 01:45 Niche #1:Smart home and organization products that give customers visual relief and everyday routines. 03:15 Niche #2: Eco-friendly and sustainable living products that give customers a feeling of trust and practicality. 04:25 Niche #3: Personalized wellness and self-care products that give customers routine and support. 05:31 Winning Products with Niches: Using reviews, social signals, AI, and supplier reliability to help you scale. Links and Resources: Doba.com – Official site Get Started with Doba! Use code “podcast” for 10% off your first month of the Monthly Standard plan. Inquiries about partnerships? Want to join Megan on the podcast? Email mhansel@doba.com and connect!

    8 min
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About

Welcome to Drop That Ship, the podcast for scrappy entrepreneurs who want more freedom, more income, and fewer cardboard boxes in the garage. Brought to you by the team at Doba, the platform that connects you to vetted suppliers, automates your fulfillment, and makes your storefront actually work, this show is where real dropshipping gets real simple. Brought to you by the team at Doba, we make e-commerce simple, scalable, and inventory-free—so you can focus on what matters: your business. Each week, we cover real strategies for product research, supplier vetting, store optimization, SEO, automation, fulfillment, and yes—even making your first sale. Whether you're launching your first Shopify store or leveling up your fifth, we’ll help you dodge the rookie mistakes, use the right tools, and turn traffic into repeat customers. It’s time to stop guessing and start building, your business, your rules, your future. New episodes drop every Tuesday, so hit follow, bring your ambition, and remember: you don’t need to go viral. You just need to get started

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