Drop That Ship | Dropshipping Made Easy

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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. 2 DAYS AGO

    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

  2. 4 DAYS AGO

    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

  3. 5 FEB

    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

  4. 3 FEB

    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

  5. 29 JAN

    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

  6. 27 JAN

    The New Path to E-Commerce Visibility | Finding Your Niche Part 1

    Megan Hansel takes a look at why the “hot product” era of dropshipping is officially over, and why that’s good news for serious builders. Instead of chasing trends, she reframes success in 2026 around clarity and niche ownership. Megan looks at e-commerce as a structural shift, not a short-term opportunity. This mindset will help your brand identity and positioning so that you don’t fade into the background. Megan also explores artificial intelligence and social commerce as powerful forces reshaping buyer behavior. She walks through how discovery now happens inside feeds rather than search bars. This is why micro-niches and visual storytelling are key to creating leverage across social platforms and long-tail SEO. Megan’s conversation encourages listeners to use infrastructure instead of guesswork and build around a clear identity, transforming effort into sustainable momentum. Chapters [Start] The End of an Era: Why random product chasing no longer works, and what has replaced it. 01:50 Social Commerce Reshapes Buying: How discovery and social feeds now drive demand more than search bars. 03:19 The Importance of Niche Selection: The role of micro-niches and long-term categories in building brands. 05:12 A Real Infrastructure Niche Case Study: How narrowing your focus can improve conversion, shipping speed, and clarity. 06:57 Coming In Part 2: A wrap-up of Part 1 and a look at what’s to come in Part 2. 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

  7. 22 JAN

    Making Content for Growth | TikTok as a Commerce Engine Part 2

    In this episode, Megan breaks down how TikTok has evolved into a full-funnel commerce engine and why scrappy entrepreneurs who want freedom, income, and scalability can no longer afford to treat content as guesswork. This isn’t about chasing virality or posting more and hoping something sticks. It’s about building a repeatable operating system that turns attention into demand, and demand into revenue. From decoding TikTok’s Creative Center as real-time market intelligence to understanding how AI tools, search behavior, and data-driven editing shape modern selling, this episode reframes how e-commerce actually works in 2026. Megan shows how alignment beats hustle, why execution matters more than inspiration, and how sellers who connect content, logistics, and automation build brands that survive platform shifts, without warehouses, chaos, or burnout. Chapters [Start] TikTok as Infrastructure, Not Inspiration: Why the Creative Center is no longer optional—and how sellers use it as a real-time demand engine instead of an idea board. 01:34 Data Over Guesswork: Using top ads dashboards, keyword insights, and video analytics to build content that aligns with buyer behavior instead of trends. 03:04 AI, Speed, and Smart Execution: How TikTok’s AI tools, templates, and automation replace wasted effort and make testing faster than perfection. 04:04 When Logistics Becomes Marketing: Why fulfillment, inventory, and post-purchase experience now directly affect reach, distribution, and growth. 05:09 The Remix Model for Sustainable Growth: How to stay original, compliant, and scalable while building a repeatable system instead of chasing virality. 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

  8. 20 JAN

    Making Content for Growth | TikTok as a Commerce Engine Part 1

    Megan Hansel gives a breakdown of why the e-commerce playbook from a few years ago no longer works. Instead of focusing on ad tactics or polished product pages, she shows success in 2026 through visibility inside culture, not just inside platforms. Megan challenges the idea that better websites or more tools create demand, and instead points listeners toward where attention actually forms—inside content that feels real rather than promotional. She also explores how TikTok has evolved into a commerce engine that tracks not just views and clicks, but buyer satisfaction after purchase. Megan explains why speed and alignment between content, product quality, and fulfillment now determine reach and growth. This is not a call for creators to become influencers; it’s an invitation to think like a system builder: using platform-provided data and assets to create sustainable momentum in an environment where attention moves in milliseconds. Chapters [Start] Why the Old E-commerce Doesn’t Work: Reframing failure as invisibility, not bad products or lack of effort. 02:37 TikTok as a Commerce Engine: How discovery and purchase satisfaction now influence reach. 04:23 Velocity Over Mastery: Why speed and iteration outperform static content. 06:22 Inside TikTok: How data-backed assets remove time and budget barriers for sellers. 08:34 Real Content, Trust, and Conversion: Why blending into the platform’s culture drives attention and sustainable growth. 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
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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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