Apple is making wholesale changes to its platform. All iOS apps will now have to ask permission to collect and track user data. How will this change affect digital marketers dependent on dropshipping?
The iOS 14 update last year sent shockwaves in the development and marketing spheres. Apple is radically changing its privacy policy to create more transparency on how user data is used by iOS apps.
This effort will essentially force iOS apps to explicitly ask users permission for data collection and tracking. This includes every app on the Apple App Store, including Facebook.
How will this affect dropshippers?
How do dropshippers sell products?
Digital marketers that have drop shipping websites generally sell products with Facebook ads. They essentially serve personalized ads to specific audiences. They’re able to sell a lot of products because Facebook is good at serving their ads to the right audience.
With curbs on data collection and tracking, Facebook will lose a lot of its proficiency in serving ads to the right audience. This will atleast be true if dropshippers target people using Apple devices. Such a change will naturally affect dropshippers adversely.
What is the solution?
The obvious question to ask here is what the solution to this challenge is.
Firstly, this change in privacy policy has only exposed the overdependence of dropshippers on Facebook ads. Depending solely on serving personalized ads to power an entire business is very short-sighter. Unfortunately, a lot of dropshippers are caught in the same malaise.
What is the solution?
The solution is to find a different channel for sales. Facebook is not the only platform where you can sell your products. There are other channels that can offset the pushback your sales will receive because of Apple’s privacy policy changes. The following sections discuss some of the alternatives.
#1 – Search engine traffic
Social media is not the final frontier if you’re looking to sell dropshipping products. You can also sell products through search engines.
Google is a great place to start. You can optimize your website to get organic traffic by ranking for relevant keywords or use paid search ads.
The latter option can naturally deliver traffic to your website instantly. It is however advisable to not depend on paid search ads for traffic alone. Develop the SEO-readiness of your dropshipping store to create a regular stream of traffic.
#2 – Reaching out to old customers
Dropshipping websites rarely reach out to their old customers. They’re generally more interested in serving Facebook ads.
To make more sales, dropshipping stores can simply launch email campaigns targeting their old customers. This is a very simple tactic and doesn’t require a large capital investment like a Facebook ads campaign.
This is a great tactic partly because you’ve nothing to lose and a lot to gain. Creating a base of loyal customers can help your dropshipping business truly stand apart.
In conclusion
This article presents insights into the effect of Apple’s privacy policy on dropshipping businesses.
Dropshipping is a great way for digital marketers to make money online. You first however need training in digital marketing to master dropshipping. DelhiCourses.in is a great digital marketing institute in Delhi if you’re interested in learning about dropshipping.