Drop Ship Lifestyle Course Overview
Introduction to Anton
Let's cut to the chase: this Anton Kraly guy was featured in Forbes. Not just in passing, but a full article about his online successes was written back in May of 2017. Major street cred right there.
His dropshipping business made $3.68M in revenue in three years before he sold it. Since then it seems he has been solely focused on the course, Drop Ship Lifestyle, which brought in $3.5M in 2016 alone...
That's pretty impressive if you ask me.
On his personal blog, Anton states that he has been making a full-time income online for the past eight years, all the while being 100% location independent.
This means he truly lives the laptop lifestyle, where he is not bound by an office and can work from virtually anywhere (anywhere that has a wifi signal, that is.)
Anton made money online by creating eCommerce stores, running Amazon Affiliate Stores, promoting for Affiliate Networks and by creating Digital Products.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, MY DISCLAIMER:
What to Expect in this Course
You won’t find an introduction video to the course inside the course itself. In order to get some background on what the DSL business model is, you need to go to the course home page and watch Anton’s introduction video.
(You'll find it under the heading “Why Drop Ship Lifestyle®? What is the Difference Between Traditional Dropshipping and The Drop Ship Lifestyle® System?”)
And that’s exactly how Anton lures you in. He describes Drop Ship Lifestyle as being very unique in comparison to other, more traditional dropshipping methods.
In my opinion (and based on my own dropshipping experience) that's just not going to happen! Yes, you can virtually work from anywhere, BUT...you still have to work at it. And when it comes to dropshipping especially, you have to work at it HARD. A lot.
Remember that Anton doesn't make his money from dropshipping anymore, he makes money by selling COURSES...
Just let that sink in for a minute before you read the rest of my review...
On paper it already appears impressive, right? It definitely sounds like an alternative to the "traditional" dropshipping business model.
Here's some more of his bait...uhm, I mean..."info."
This is how Drop Ship Lifestyle works:
Okay. So it all SOUNDS pretty impressive, right?
Let's dig just a liiiiiiiittle bit deeper into the course to see if there's any real basis for all the hype.
The Drop Ship Lifestyle Course Breakdown
- Drop Ship Blueprint
- Adwords PPC Course
- Paid Social Traffic Course
- Events
Section 01 - Drop Ship Blueprint
Section 02 - Adwords PPC
Section 03 - Paid Social Traffic
Most Helpful Things You're Shown in this Module:
- How to create a campaign mapping spreadsheet (a template would have been a nice touch, but it's not difficult to set up.)
- How to set up your Facebook Business Manager and FB Ads Manager Accounts
- How to install the FB Pixel, a product catalog and a Pixel for Dynamic Product Ads
- How to set up the Product Catalog Tool and a Product Feed (used to create Dynamic Product Ads.)
In this very short 5-minute module, Michael shows you how to set your Instagram Ad Campaigns up in Facebook. It's super easy and definitely not rocket science, so I understand why he didn't spend too much time on this one.
In this module, Michael shows you the different types of Pinterest Ads and how to open a Pinterest Business Account.
He also offers advice about what works on Pinterest and then shows you how create and track the progress of your Pinterest Ad Campaigns. Solid advice!
Think of this module as the recap of everything you've learned in the previous five.
Michael reiterates that you need to keep the golden "3 R's Rule" in mind for every single ad you run, regardless of the platform:
Target the Right Person with the Right Offer at the Right Time.
Michael also gives some valuable advice on when to use retargeting ads and the reminds you that you have be active during your campaign. If you try to "set it and forget it," you can pretty much forget earning any profits too. Those ad campaigns can never be successful.
Section 4 - Events
- Stalking Prospective Buyers on Facebook
- Selling your Online Store
- How to balance Work, Life and Family (and joining groups and VAs)
- Influencer marketing
- Building a Brand
- Alternative Traffic Sources
- Content Marketing
Before I get down to my review overview of the course, here are some FAQs I've come across about the DSL course and Anton Kraly:
FAQ's about Drop Ship Lifestyle
- The Drop Ship Lifestyle dropshipping course
- The Drop Ship Lifestyle private Facebook Group
- The Drop Ship Lifestyle YouTube channel (which anyone can subscribe to) - it is one of the most active dropshipping course channels available. Anton posts new videos
on a regular basis . As of December 2020, Anton has over 450 videos! - The Drop Ship Lifestyle Webinar (which is totally FREE and you can find it here) - It includes an "
In Depth Guide on How To Build A Highly Profitable, Semi-Automated Drop Shipping Store in 21 Days."The Webinar is also referred to as the Drop Ship Lifestyle mini course. - The Drop Ship Lifestyle Blog - a blog with useful posts about dropshipping. You can access it here.
- The Drop Ship Lifestyle Retreat - every year, Anton hosts a "mastermind" seminar in an exotic location where members can meet and network, and invited guest speakers host talks on dropshipping-related matters.
Drop Ship Lifestyle has been a successful business since 2014, so it is definitely a legitimate course. Anton has many successful students
Whether it is the best
This question gets asked
Since Drop Ship Lifestyle is one of the most expensive dropshipping courses available, any sane person would probably want to know about the refund options. But if you go to the Drop Ship lifestyle website, you won't find any mention of a refund policy on the main page.
Unlike Franklin Hatchett who has the Refund Policy for his popular
But we're here to help you out, so you can find the info about DSL Refunds here.
DEFINITELY NOTE THIS ABOUT THE DROP SHIP LIFESTYLE REFUND POLICY:
There is no DSL Refund Policy document as such, but to quote: "IMPORTANT: To be eligible for a refund you must prove you have completed the following action tasks within 30 days: 1) Select a Niche, 2) Find 20 suppliers, and 3) Build a Website. Under no circumstances will refunds be issued outside of 30 days and without completion of the action tasks listed above."
Is it a worthwhile course?
- You don't waste time constantly looking for new products
- You don't constantly scavenge for new trending products
- You don't use suppliers/manufacturers from China
- Because of #3, you don't have to worry about delivery times from China
Is Drop Ship Lifestyle's take on dropshipping a good business model?
- It's great that Anton's team will do some research for you and tell you straight up if you've chosen a winning niche or not. A lot of people get caught up on niche selection because they're scared of choosing the wrong one, so this added benefit will put some of those fears to bed.
- Once you've made your final selection, you will only focus on that one niche and specialize in it.
- The support that you enjoy from the DSL group is great.
- There's no need to constantly look for new trending products (which will save you an ENORMOUS amount of time)
- You don't need to employ yet anther VA to do product research on an ongoing basis. This will save you money AND give you more control over your business.
It sounds great and is definitely worth considering if you really have to go into dropshipping.
For some people, it works. Others will find it more difficult, or even next to impossible to find local suppliers who are willing to fulfill and ship the orders for you.
The biggest problem, though, isn't Anton's course....It's the business itself.
It had its ups and downs (which is only to be expected) and most of my success was dependent on my advertising campaigns. I've made some money and I've lost some money. And pretty much every business owner will experience that to some degree as long as the periods of turning a sufficient profit come around more frequently and last longer than the ones that don't. And I didn't find that to be the case for me; this business model is just not reliable and consistent enough. On top of that, the dropshipping competition is only getting more intense as time goes by.
You see, the reason why most dropshippers prefer to sell trending products is that it converts a lot better on Facebook. The problem with selling evergreen products as Anton suggests is that you can end up burning through your wallet testing different ads, trying to find the product and ad campaign combo that works best.
In a perfect world, you'd be able to find a good quality product and sell it using Facebook ads without any problems, but the issue is...most people on Facebook aren't looking to buy anything. They're there to socialize. And the cost of ads is constantly going up, chomping away at your profits Pac-Man style. Fobes put an article out about this too.
So back to the DSL course...
In all honesty, it's not my favorite dropshipping course, simply because it is very theory based.
I love that Anton Kraly's take on the business model is different from every other dropshipping course out there, but I have to wonder why he's is purely concentrating on his online courses nowadays, rather than the business model he advocates...
I'm one for facts and figures. All the other dropshipping coaches boast about the turnover of their online stores. Anton doesn't....why is that?
Can the Drop Ship Lifestyle method work in 2020, though? After all, it has in the past. Is it still possible to repeat those successes in 2021 and beyond?
Yes. I am sure it can. With the right amount of commitment and perseverance, advertising budget, support, suppliers, time, marketing savvy and luck, it is definitely possible.
So....What's the bottom line, then?
Will you be well-enough equipped to be an online e-commerce success after this course? In 2020...I personally found it very challenging.
What Truly Creates Long-Term Success in Dropshipping
Over time, I've come to realize that the only true dropshipping businesses that can stay profitable long-term are ones where the actual product is pretty unique and even ground breaking, because that causes those ads to be share-worthy.
Lots of bold claims in that ad there, but boy do they grab your attention. They've also spent the money to create such new products and all the marketing content around it.
These products have the potential to go viral.
And that's the key to creating sustained, long-term results when selling e-commerce with Facebook ads.
If it's just any regular ol' product, most people will just go to Amazon.com (I mean, wouldn't you?)
With Facebook ads, people need to be made to feel like it's such a unique product that they aren't gonna find anywhere else, and if they don't buy now, they may never find that product again once the ad disappears from their news feed.
The problem is, this is VERY difficult vibe to create for anyone who is just starting out in e-commerce.
Final Verdict
If you want a different spin on dropshipping, then this is most definitely the course for you! But in my opinion, other dropshipping courses offer a lot more content and practical examples on how the things you're learning should be implemented. There's a lot of theory in the course and you're not actually shown how to implement all that theory. Theory always sounds great, but I am interested in the practical (I like facts, remember?) So I want to see achievable results of a business, not just hear about it...
Anton did prove back in 2015 that this method works. But since then...?
But to recap: Instead of cheap trending products that are mass-produced in China, you sell "evergreen," higher-end products (Anton suggests a minimum price of $200, but you should really aim for more than $700...It's easier to sell one $1000 product than
1000 x $1 products...)
You also don't get suppliers or manufacturers from China, but instead you'll source them "locally." And you only approach and apply to work with suppliers who enforce Minimum Advertised Price (MAP) policies.
And that's where the problems start--this takes a lot more effort than simply getting a supplier on AliExpress. You also can't set the minimum price. And you only target the upper middle class.
Often times, it ends up costing a lot more money to create a unique spin on a product so that it stands out when you run Facebook ads with it.
None of these things are real deal breakers, but this form of dropshipping definitely involves a lot more initial work than some of the other dropshipping business models, so be forewarned.
What I like:
What I didn't like:
Drop Ship Lifestyle on Reddit:
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
I wanted to hear what the people had to say about this course, and if there's a better place than Reddit for that, I haven't found it yet. But let's just say that in the world of dropshipping, the word on the street has nothing to do with Drop Ship Lifestyle. People just ain't talkin' about it too much. The most informative tidbits that I could find were from years ago. But I'll drop em in here anyways and let you decide if it's helpful or not.
THE GOOD:
This Reddit member mentions that it was a few years ago that they bought the course (obviously when it was much less expensive.) They thought they got good value for the money at the time. I'd be super curious if they'd feel the same now that the price of the course is much higher, tho...
THE BAD:
This person mentions that they purchased the course, but after a few hours of skimming through the information, they felt it wasn't worth the cost.
THE UGLY:
Now this is one of the posts from 5 years ago. It's a long one with some pretty in-depth insights about the course. But I highlighted the part of it that was the most shocking and telling to me. 80% of the best Shopify stores from members in the course had closed. That is an extremely bad sign! But I'm not totally surprised, and we'll get into why that is later...
So Putting the Course Aside, What About Dropshipping as a Business Model?
Yay or nay?
- DS01: Advertise trending products and sell them through your online store. The suppliers in China handle delivery.
- DS02: Advertise high-end products that are not prone to being influenced by trends (or seasons.) Locally sourced suppliers handle delivery.
Both models have their pros and cons.
DS01: Trendy Products
- You have to quickly jump on the bandwagon or guess what the next trending product will be.
- You're constantly looking for new, "hot" products.
- There's a lot of quick money to be made IF you are willing to take big risks on advertising...
- Competition is stiff.
DS02: Evergreen, high-end products
- You specialize in one niche selling only high-end products - some say this is an advantage, others say it's a disadvantage. You be the judge...
- It takes much longer to find suppliers (there's a chance you might not find any at all, and then you'd have to start all over again.)
- There's a lot more scope where targeted audience advertising is concerned. Being able to use Google Ads is a big plus.
- Competition is not so stiff which is great, but your target markets are much, much smaller which is not so great...
I won't go into a ton of details because you can read about it here, but the bottom line was this:
My best month made $48k! $48k in just 30 days. Whoa! Not, bad right?
Wrong.
All these dropshippers tell you they have 6 and 7 figure stores, but they don't tell you how much profit they make on those big numbers...
Out of almost $50k in sales, guess how much I actually banked that month.
$3,000.
For all that time and effort...
And that was my best month...
Okay, so what's the alternative?
There are many online business models out there to choose from. And what's cool about Anton is that he's even proved that you can take an existing business model, put your own little spin on it, and make it your own. Maybe you can even make some improvements to help you see better results.
The four most successful online business ventures that you can get into today are:
- Digital Marketing
- Amazon FBA
- Dropshipping
- Affiliate Marketing
If you're dedicated and put in a lot of hard work, your chances at success are much better than the next guy who half asses a few things to make a quick buck. So if you really go balls-to-the-walls, all-in, with a succeed-or-die-trying attitude, then you can make money from any of those four methods. (Some will make you more than others though...)
- You're not looking for a get rich quick, pie-in-the-sky business model that is not sustainable.
- You want to change your life. Permanently.
- The goal is to work smarter, not harder.
Local Lead Generation
DROP- SHIPPING | LOCAL LEAD GENERATION |
|---|---|
Requires CONSTANT attention You're always having to find new products. Then there's running, checking, killing, or scaling your ads. Then you add managing shipping to customers etc and ugh... | Hard work at the start You put in all the effort right at the beginning. But it does take patience as you're waiting to see the results of your efforts, and this is where a lot of newbies quit (big mistake, by the way.) |
Marketing budget You need to run FB Ads and Google Ads and probably Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest &/ Snapchat... | What marketing budget? You rely on FREE organic traffic. You never have to pay a cent for advertising! EVER! |
Competition cloning Usually competition is good, but with dropshipping, ANYONE can steal your entire business (your website, your products, your ads) within a few hours. | Competition? New biz, who dis? Once you've ranked your site, no one can steal your business. Why? Because you have to be an EXPERT in order to rank organically. |
Product sales With dropshipping, you're usually selling trending/hot/seasonal products. It changes all the time... | You sell a highly sought after SERVICE Lead gen is not dependent on a fad, or craze. It's a service that businesses constantly need (talk about "evergreen.") |
Longevity? Dropshipping is a short-term business model. Trending products reach a saturation point within months. You need to constantly start anew... | Get comfortable. You'll be here awhile. If you get into lead gen, EVERY local business needs the skills that you've acquired. It's not going to go out of style or disappear. As long as there are businesses, those businesses will need LEADS to stay afloat. Once you go lead gen, you're in it for as long as you want to be. |
Income With dropshipping, you never know what you're going to get from month to month. Your success depends on a lot of variables, such as your products, advertising, and competition. | The Golden Ticket: PASSIVE INCOME Yup, it's that elusive goose that lays the golden eggs! With lead gen you get a PASSIVE income EVERY single month... |
This site has been making me $2,000 per month on auto-pilot since 2015.
DSL is ok for beginners, but a lot of his content is lacking actual real-world case studies and actual things that work. His niche selection module doesn’t give you what you actually need to start, he just tells you to ask your friends, check your credit card statement and brainstorm ideas… wow, thanks Anton! Another thing his that his shopify theme is not very well optimized for conversions, you have to do a lot of work to make that theme convert well, and it loads slowly… its basically a modified version of the Shopify supply theme. The google shopping course isn’t even taught by him but his friend who owns an agency, and its missing key steps for profitability which I figured out on my own and through communication with other high-performing ecommerce store owners through masterminds. The automation module just has “ideas” not actual actionable how to tutorial videos like you would be led to believe. Then, you’re left on your own to either purchase coaching from a group of coaches in which half aren’t even doing high-ticket drop shipping anymore but amazon fba… and their forum is just endless amounts of beginner confusion… their top contributors aren’t even successful… you might be able to launch a store using this course, but most people who do aren’t successful unfortunately. I decided to create a way better, more in-depth course so people could actually get what they need to succeed with high ticket drop shipping, and even though I was a partner with Anton and an affiliate with him at the time, he decided to kick me out of his course completely claiming I copied his course, and he also kicked me out of the other courses i bought from him, thousands of dollars worth, with no communication besides sending me a copy of his privacy policy. he is a shady guy even though he looks super friendly on his youtube channel. he is buddy-buddy with Johnny FD! he has had him at almost every retreat he has done. Johnny is also known as pick up artist Johnny Wolf (readers can just search that on reddit to read all about that guy’s shady past taking advantage of women). It’s just a group of people you should stay away from and my goal here is to warn people out there who you are deciding to learn from and associate with… Unfortunately, he was one of the only guys with a good-enough course on this stuff up until about a year ago when just about every one of his successful coaches and students left the DSL tribe because of Antons big falling out with all of his coaches, and start their own courses and tribes and groups. So now you have lots of choices for better training and better people to work with. unfortunately for most people, anton is really good at running a webinar and selling via email, so for now he will most likely still convince a lot of people to sign up with him. beware of someone who is really good at running webinars and selling but doesn’t have any real world examples of successful drop shipping stores he runs himself…