14 Ways to Advertise Your Dropshipping Store (No Facebook!)

Do you feel like you spend too much time on Facebook Ads and are not getting your desired results?

Or are you looking for other ways to advertise your dropshipping store?

In this article, we'll share 14 ways to advertise your store that don't involve Facebook Ads!

1. Instagram advertising

Let's kick this list off with advertising on Instagram!

Although Instagram is part of Meta (Facebook), it's still worth looking at.

Instagram advertising through Facebook

The first way you can advertise on Instagram is through Facebook.

Yes, I said no Facebook, but officially, it's advertising on Instagram, so I had to put it on this list.

It's basically the same way as advertising with Facebook Ads, but then you select Instagram Feed instead of Facebook Feed:

So, yes, the advertising part is the same, but you will see that there is a whole different audience waiting for you on Instagram.

Creating your own Instagram business page

Of course, before you start contacting Instagram influencers or boosting posts, you need to have an Instagram account for your dropshipping store!

I did write a full guide on how to set up your dropshipping Instagram account and how to grow it from scratch.

You can read it here if you're interested in having your own Instagram business page. Or you can view these 11 Instagram account examples here.

Boosted Instagram post

A boosted Instagram post is basically a normal post that you "boost."

Boosting is the same as advertising it:

It's slightly more limited than advertising through Facebook, but it's also simpler.

Also, it's ideal for boosting the momentum of organic posts.

If you want to advertise with Instagram but don't know if you should boost your post or advertise through Facebook, then I suggest advertising through Facebook.

You will have way more options; plus, this way, you can use it together with your Facebook Ads (if you've got these).

Instagram influencer shoutouts

If you don't know what Instagram influencers are, then I suggest reading this article here, or you can read this article here, both of which go over the pros and cons of using Instagram influencers for dropshipping.

Basically, you pay a person to post your content on their Instagram page for some time (most commonly, it is 24 hours).

After that time has passed, the influencer will remove your post from their page, but you could try to make a deal that he or she will keep it on their page if that's something you would like.

The price of an influencer shoutout will depend on how big their page is (how many followers) and how good their engagement rate is.

If you're interested in learning more about finding Instagram influencers, I suggest reading this article here.

That article contains five tips on how to find Instagram influencers for your dropshipping store, and I will go over what kinds of influencers are worth your money. (Hint? Not the fake ones!)

Plus, you can take a look at these 10 Instagram shoutout examples to get some inspiration already!

If you want to know how to quickly test products using Instagram influencer shoutouts, I suggest reading my article here.

Instagram Story Ads

Another option to advertise on Instagram is by having Instagram Story Ads.

You can also do this with Instagram influencers. They will post your story video (or image) as their story!

If they have over 10,000 followers on their Instagram page, you can use the swipe-up function from Instagram in your story.

For more information about this, check out our list of 10 Instagram Story shoutout examples!

2. TikTok Ads

TikTok has rapidly become one of the most influential social media platforms, especially among younger audiences.

Its unique format of short, engaging videos makes it a powerful tool for advertising your dropshipping store.

Here are some of the types of TikTok Ads you can use:

• In-Feed Ads. These ads appear on the user's "For You" page, which means they blend with organic content. You can add various call-to-actions, like visiting your website:

• Brand Takeover Ads. These full-screen ads appear when a user first opens TikTok. They are more prominent but also more expensive.
• Hashtag Challenges. You can also sponsor a hashtag challenge, encouraging users to copy a specific action. It encourages user-generated content and has a higher chance of going viral:

Your TikTok ads' success largely depends on the creativity of your content. Try to use trending music, hashtags, and challenges to make your ads more engaging.

If you want to learn more, check out our article about dropshipping with TikTok!

3. PPC Ads

PPC Ads are ads where you Pay Per Click (PPC).

So, you will only pay when someone clicks on your ad!

You won't have to pay anything if nobody clicks. Although, that's not really your goal, right?

Google

The biggest advertisement platform with PPC Ads is Google.

So, how can you advertise with Google?

Well, you can check out our guide here to learn more about it!

It will cover all the topics that I'll show you below, like Google Shopping ads and Google search results ads.

Google Ads

With Google Ads (previously known as Google Adwords), you will pay Google to get on top of the search results:

If you're interested in learning if Google Ads is right for you and your dropshipping store, I suggest reading the articles I've linked below:

• Google Ads for Dropshipping: A Beginner’s Guide (2024)
• How to Set the Right Google Ads Budget for Dropshipping Stores

Google Shopping

Another really popular option for people who are running ecommerce stores is using Google Shopping, also known as Product Listing Ads.

These ads are displayed, mostly at the top, when someone searches for a product on Google:

You can also find Google Shopping ads by going to the Shopping tab on Google:

Again, these product listings are pay-per-click.

SEO

If you don't want to pay money to get on top of Google's search results, another great option is to learn SEO for your dropshipping store.

This way, you will rank your store in search engines for free, but it might take some time before you're at the place you want to be.

For example, these are the Google results when you type in talking hamster:

Bing Ads

Most people focus on Google because it is much bigger and gets much more traffic than search engines like Bing.

But it's still worth the try to see if your target audience uses Bing more.

Or maybe you can get the same results you would have gotten from Google Ads but for way less money!

Bing Ads almost works exactly the same as Google Ads. You can even import your Google Ads campaign(s) into Bing Ads.

If you want to try Bing Ads for your dropshipping store, I suggest reading this article to see some results after using Bing Ads. You will also learn what you need to avoid when using Bing Ads.

4. Pinterest

Pinterest works great for getting traffic and buyers to your dropshipping store.

Just remember to research your target audience to check if they are active on Pinterest.

For example, Pinterest works well in these categories:

• Fashion/beauty
• Food
• Auto
• Home decor
• Travel
• Antiques & collectibles, which is a major industry dominated by Pinterest (see picture below)

And yes, you can do product research on Pinterest as well!

Remember that most Pinterest users are females. (According to Statista, 76.2% of the users are females).

If you're interested in giving Pinterest a try, I suggest reading these articles:

• How to Get Free Traffic From Pinterest for Dropshipping
• How Do I Advertise My Dropshipping Store With Pinterest?

Free traffic from Pinterest

If you don't have enough money yet to test if Pinterest will work for you, another option is to do it for free first.

This way, you can see if your target audience is active on Pinterest without spending money on advertising, but you might need to spend some money on a pin scheduling tool.

You can read more here about how to use Pinterest for free traffic.

5. Affiliate marketing

Have you ever thought about getting other people to help sell your products?

That's what affiliate marketing stands for!

In simple terms, affiliate marketing is when you let other people (affiliates) promote your products. In return, they earn a commission for every sale made through their referral.

It's a win-win situation.

You get more sales, and they get rewarded for their marketing efforts.

Starting an affiliate program for your dropshipping store might sound complicated, but it's actually straightforward.

If you're using Shopify, you can easily create your own affiliate program using an app like UpPromote:

It will handle the tracking, payments, and management of your affiliates!

When it comes to finding affiliates, you can take a more 'professional' approach by contacting influencers or bloggers, but you can also simply reach out to satisfied customers!

And the better your offer, the more motivated your affiliates will be to promote your products. A commission rate of 10-20% per sale is a good starting point.

Related article: Dropshipping vs. Affiliate Marketing: What’s the Difference?

6. YouTube advertising

YouTube is another great option to advertise your dropshipping store.

There are a few options that you can try if you want to use YouTube as your advertising platform.

YouTube influencers

People trust what influencers say when they recommend products and brands in their YouTube videos.

Instagram influencers might be better for dropshipping, but if you're in a specific niche, you can always look around and see if there are any YouTube influencers available inside your niche!

If you've found a YouTube influencer inside your niche, you could ask them to do something like a product review.

Don't forget to let them link to the product in your store!

If you're interested in learning more about using YouTube influencers for your ecommerce store, I suggest reading this.

YouTube Ads

Another option is to advertise directly on YouTube. Not through YouTube influencers but directly on the platform.

You have probably seen a YouTube ad before.

You know; those video ads that pop up before you can finally watch the video you want to watch?

These ads are called pre-roll ads.

For example, they can allow you to put your video ad about your dog toy in front of a dog video.

I suggest watching the video below to learn more about how powerful these pre-roll ads are:

Youtube Advertising - eCommerce Guru's BEST KEPT SECRET!

Creating your own YouTube channel

If you want to try out what YouTube can do for your dropshipping store but you don't want to spend any money on it yet, then a great way to start is by creating your own YouTube channel for your dropshipping store!

You can find out more information here about how to get free traffic from YouTube.

7. Direct mail

With online marketing becoming increasingly expensive, it's becoming more important to look for alternatives.

And one effective yet often overlooked strategy is direct mail marketing!

By sending physical postcards, you can create a memorable experience and connect with customers or store visitors. (Unlike digital ads that get lost in crowded inboxes.)

Services like PostPilot make this process easy by offering targeted campaigns that integrate directly with your ecommerce platform:

Direct mail provides a physical touchpoint that digital ads can't match.

Customers are more likely to remember and engage with something they can hold in their hands!

Unlike crowded email inboxes, direct mailboxes have less competition, increasing the chances of your mail being noticed.

According to PostPilot, direct mail gets up to 95% open rates and 28% response rates!

Receiving a well-designed mailpiece can also build trust and credibility with your customers.

This can really upgrade your brand image as most other dropshippers (and even established brands) simply don't use this marketing method!

The con of direct mail is that it works best when you have a significant amount of data that shows customer segments you can target.

Therefore, PostPilot recommends having at least $3 million in annual store revenue to ensure the segment sizes are large enough to gather statistically relevant data and impact your overall business.

8. Reddit Ads

Another option that could work for your dropshipping store is using Reddit Ads.

You have probably heard of Reddit before, but in case you haven't, it's called the "front page of the internet."

Reddit says it gives you the best of the internet in one place.

A constantly updating feed of breaking news, fun stories, pics, memes, and videos.

One thing to keep in mind is that Reddit users like to spam Reddit ad posts with comments enabled.

This might not be the case for you, but you should keep it in mind!

If you want to, you can always disable comments on your Reddit Ad post.

9. Email marketing

The next marketing method is like a direct line to your customers' inboxes.

That's right, email marketing!

However, to start email marketing, you need emails.

When possible, start with customers who've already made a purchase.

However, you can also encourage website visitors to subscribe by offering them something valuable in exchange, like a discount code or a free guide related to your niche.

Email marketing platforms like Omnisend or Avada offer automation features that can send welcome emails, thank you messages, and personalized product recommendations:

When creating an email campaign, your goal is to add value to your subscribers' lives, not just sell products.

Share tips, stories, and insights that resonate with your audience, along with your latest offers!

You should also use tactics like segmentation, which means adjusting your emails to fit your readers' needs and interests.

Did they browse dog toys but leave without buying them? Send them an email highlighting your best-selling dog toys with a special offer!

Learn more: Email Marketing for Dropshipping: A Beginner’s Guide (2024)

10. Twitter Ads

Another option to advertise your dropshipping store is by using Twitter Ads.

Twitter is another big social media platform. It had an estimated 335 million monthly users in 2024!

Also, 53% of people on Twitter are more likely to be the first to buy new products.

Of course, like many options on this list, there is a free way to get traffic from Twitter. You can find out more about it here.

11. Snapchat Ads

You probably know Snapchat already, but if you don't know anything about Snapchat, then this is for you.

Snapchat is one of the most popular social media platforms on mobile.

You can send pictures, videos, and messages that are only available for a short period. After that time has passed, they disappear and are no longer available to view.

You're probably wondering how to use it to advertise your dropshipping store.

Well, it's called Snap Ads!

Snap Ads are vertical, full-screen, mobile video ads that are 3-10 seconds long.

While the Snap Ad is playing, the users can swipe up to watch a long video, read an article, install an app, and so on.

12. LinkedIn Ads

LinkedIn Ads are best used for B2B companies. It allows you to target professionals in any industry.

So, this might not be a great advertising platform for every dropshipper out there, but it might work for you if you're in a really specific niche!

If you think your niche and dropshipping store could work with LinkedIn Ads, I suggest reading this article for more information about how to advertise on LinkedIn.

13. Display advertising

Display Ads are some of the most common forms of online advertising.

You have probably seen one before, like when you're reading an article on a website.

They are commonly found on blogs, digital newspapers, forums, and online communities.

Most Display Ads have different shapes and sizes, but banner ads are the most common.

I've got some great examples of different Display Ad platforms for you:

1. Google AdSense
2. Taboola

14. Free advertising

The last and best way to advertise your dropshipping store is to use free advertising options!

Getting free traffic to your dropshipping store is not only great for people who are just beginning and don't have the biggest budgets yet but also for people who want to save on advertisement costs.

For example, you can optimize your pages for SEO to get organic traffic to your store.

You can use tools like ConvertMate to achieve this, which optimizes your product pages for SEO using AI:

It is a Shopify app that's specifically designed to increase organic traffic to your product pages.

ConvertMate generates SEO-friendly product titles, product descriptions, meta titles, meta descriptions, and URL handles for you.

The result?

As claimed by ConvertMate, you can expect at least an 84% increase in organic traffic after using the app for three months!

Conclusion

So, there you have it!

14 Amazing ways to advertise your dropshipping store online without using Facebook Ads!

I hope that opened your eyes to so many more possibilities to advertise with than just Facebook.

If, after reading this article, you still want to do Facebook Ads (which is awesome, don't worry), then I suggest reading this article here.

It includes the pros & cons of advertising your store with Facebook Ads and why people advertise with Facebook.

If you've got any suggestions for this list or if you have any questions, then let me know by commenting below or contacting me directly by pressing the "Contact Us" button at the top!

Good luck with advertising your dropshipping store!

Getting started with dropshipping in 2024

So, are you ready to get started with dropshipping? Or maybe you have already started, but you’re looking to get some inspiration?

If so, I suggest reading my complete Shopify dropshipping guide!

It's a huge article, but it contains everything that you need to know to create your own Shopify dropshipping store in 2024. It's like a dropshipping course, but for free!

Reading this article will help you to get started and stay motivated while beginning and continuing your dropshipping journey!

Just don’t forget that success takes time. Keep improving each and every day!

Shopify Dropshipping: A 20-Step Guide to Starting Your Store

Here are some of our best articles:

• Dropshipping Startup Checklist: 10 Things to Do Before Starting
• The Complete Guide: Can You Start Dropshipping Without Money in 2024?
• 12 Reasons Why Most People Fail With Dropshipping in 2024 | Beat Them!
• 23 Awesome Shopify Dropshipping Store Examples

Also, if you don't have a Shopify store yet, then you can click here to get a free 3-day trial + 1 month for $1!

Want to learn more about dropshipping?

Ready to move your dropshipping store to the next level? Check out the articles below:

• Instagram Marketing for Dropshipping: A Complete Guide!
• How to Advertise Restricted Products: 4 Great Tips for 2024
• ImportYeti Review: Find Any Online Store’s Suppliers! (2024)

Plus, don’t forget to check out our in-depth guide on how to start dropshipping here!