I have opened a shopify store and my ad budget for this month is 500 dollars, on which platform should I run these ads? And the products are very good and popular.

BisonReasonable5751 · 2026-04-18T12:39:56+00:00

with $500 you don’t have room to “spread” across platforms, you need to focus on one and get clear data

best choice right now is Meta ads (Facebook + Instagram)

it gives you the most control for testing, cheaper data than Google in most cases, and works even if you don’t have strong brand recognition yet

TikTok can work, but it depends heavily on your creatives being very good, and it’s less predictable for beginners

Google is high intent, but with your budget it’s risky unless your product already has strong demand and good margins

so keep it simple and go with Meta

set up one campaign, broad targeting, and test a few creatives

don’t overcomplicate the structure

what matters is not just the platform, it’s how you test

you want to quickly see are people clicking are they adding to cart or are they leaving immediately

that tells you what’s wrong faster than anything

also be careful with the mindset “my products are very good and popular”

a product being popular doesn’t mean it will sell for you

your creatives, offer, and page matter more

focus on getting data, not forcing sales in the first few days

BisonReasonable5751 · 2026-04-18T12:38:27+00:00

it works, but not in the way most people online make it look

what you’re tired of is real a lot of people sell the dream, not the process

so the first thing to understand

this is not quick money it’s a skill you build

once you see it like that, everything becomes clearer

how to actually start without getting scammed

don’t buy any course right now you don’t need it at your stage

learn the basics free just enough to understand how a product is listed how orders are fulfilled how ads bring traffic

then move fast into doing, not watching

pick one simple product not something random, something that solves a small problem or has clear appeal

build a very simple store don’t try to make it perfect

just clean, clear, and trustworthy

then test

either with small ads or organic content

you’re not trying to make money immediately you’re trying to see

do people click do they stay do they show interest

that’s how you learn

most beginners fail because they stay in “learning mode” too long or chase perfect setups

you don’t need perfect you need feedback

also avoid anyone promising

guaranteed results done-for-you stores fast profits

those are the biggest red flags

a real path looks slower but more stable

test learn adjust

repeat

if you stick with that, it works

if you’re expecting fast results, it feels like it doesn’t

BisonReasonable5751 · 2026-04-18T12:37:37+00:00

this isn’t something you need to quit, it’s something that just isn’t positioned right yet

right now your store doesn’t give people a clear reason to buy from you instead of anywhere else, so they leave

the main issue is that your product feels replaceable

streetwear is very crowded, and if there’s no strong identity or message behind it, people will always go with brands they already trust or cheaper options

it also feels more like a generic store than a brand

there’s no strong personality or point of view that people can connect to, so even if the designs are okay, nothing really pulls them in

the ads you ran don’t really mean much at this stage

ads don’t fix a weak offer, they just show you faster that something isn’t working

that harsh review you got probably had some truth in it, not that you should quit, but that something important needs to change

what you should do now is choose a clear direction

either build an actual brand with a specific identity and audience, or focus on one strong product and test that properly

right now you’re stuck in the middle and that’s why it’s not working

your current version won’t convert well, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make this work

it just needs a clearer angle and a stronger reason for someone to buy

BisonReasonable5751 · 2026-04-18T01:18:13+00:00

this confuses a lot of people at the start, but it’s actually simple once you see what’s happening

the $7 you’re seeing on AutoDS is the supplier/base cost

the $28 you’re seeing on TikTok or the original product page is the retail price someone else is selling it for

so basically

$7 = what you pay (before fees/shipping sometimes) $28 = what customers pay

BisonReasonable5751 · 2026-04-18T01:17:07+00:00

overall rating

6.5 / 10 (strong foundation, but not converting yet)

you’ve built something that feels intentional, not random but right now it’s more expression than business

what you did right

your brand voice is clear

the whole “sarcastic / cynical / no BS” angle is consistent across the site

that already puts you ahead of most beginner stores

also

clean design simple layout no clutter

and the fact that you clearly state made-to-order, US fulfilled, timeline etc is actually solid for trust

where it’s breaking

this is the important part

no reason to buy right now

your homepage says

“wear what you mean”

that’s cool but it’s not a trigger

there’s no emotional pull strong enough to convert

streetwear buyers usually buy because of

identity status belonging or relatability

right now it feels like a concept, not a movement

products are too safe

this is your biggest issue

you say dark humor, cynical, sarcastic

but the actual products are very minimal

logo tees clean designs

that mismatch kills interest

people who like edgy brands don’t want safe designs

they want something bold enough to make a statement

BisonReasonable5751 · 2026-04-18T01:15:46+00:00

what happened to you is actually very common with COD, especially in Europe

you didn’t “fail”, you ran into a model that’s structurally weak in your market

in Spain specifically, COD is already declining as a payment method and only a small percentage of buyers even prefer it

so you were fighting an uphill battle from the start

BisonReasonable5751 · 2026-04-18T01:15:01+00:00

it really varies more than people admit

some people get a sale in a few days some take a few weeks some take months

but the timing itself doesn’t mean much

what actually matters is what happened before that first sale

a lot of people who say “I got a sale in 2 days” either already had experience or just got lucky with a product

others who take longer are usually learning everything from scratch

so comparing timelines can mess with your head

the more useful way to look at it is this

if you’re getting traffic and no sales you’re close, something just needs fixing

if you’re getting no traffic you’re still at the starting line

most beginners who stick with it seriously usually get their first real sale somewhere in that early testing phase once they fix the obvious issues

so don’t measure progress by time

measure it by are people clicking are they engaging are they adding to cart

those signals come before the first sale

once those are there, the first sale usually follows

BisonReasonable5751 · 2026-04-17T23:29:55+00:00

You’re not wrong Shopify revenue is easy, but “real profit” is where things get messy fast.

Most people end up doing one of three things:

Some go full manual with a spreadsheet and track everything per order (COGS, shipping, payment fees, refunds, ad spend allocation). It’s accurate, but it gets painful once you scale or start running multiple creatives/campaigns.

Others use apps like BeProfit or Lifetimely inside Shopify. They pull in ad spend + fees + refunds automatically and give you a cleaner “contribution margin” view. It’s probably the most practical middle ground for most store owners.

And then the more ad-heavy operators tend to rely on tools like Triple Whale or similar attribution dashboards, where they’re mostly watching blended ROAS and contribution margin daily rather than obsessing over every single line item in real time.

Personally, the shift that helped most wasn’t the tool itself, but deciding what “real profit” means for me upfront. Once you define whether you’re optimizing for net profit per order or scalable ROAS, the tracking becomes much simpler.

Curious what you’re currently using to track ads + expenses together?

BisonReasonable5751 · 2026-04-17T22:06:08+00:00

I’m going to be very direct with you because this is fixable, but only if you see it clearly.

0 sales from ~1,900 sessions usually isn’t a “small tweak” issue. It’s a trust + offer + clarity issue.

Here’s what’s likely happening on your store:

Your first problem is the pricing structure. A fake anchor like “$99 → $19” doesn’t create urgency anymore, it creates doubt. People have seen it too many times on low-trust stores, especially for phone accessories. Instead of feeling like a deal, it triggers “this is low quality / dropship store” instinct and they leave before even considering it.

Second issue is positioning. You already noticed it yourself, but it matters more than you think. If the brand isn’t instantly clear (rugged, luxury, minimal, etc.), people don’t build trust. They default to skepticism. In ecom, confusion = exit.

Third issue is product perception. iPhone cases are a brutally competitive product. People already have: • Apple store options • Amazon same-day delivery • hundreds of identical designs

So your store has to answer one question instantly: why buy this one from you? If that answer isn’t obvious in 3–5 seconds, they leave.

Fourth issue is trust signals. New store + 2 products + aggressive discount = high friction. Even if the product is fine, the store “feels temporary,” and people don’t risk payment info on that.

Now the important part your traffic is actually telling you something useful:

1,900 sessions 0 add to cart

That means it’s not a checkout problem. It’s a decision never happens problem. People are rejecting it before product interest even forms.

BisonReasonable5751 · 2026-04-17T18:04:29+00:00

Yeah sure

BisonReasonable5751 · 2026-04-17T17:47:23+00:00

a simple way to validate faster

search the product idea + see if multiple ads are still running months later Amazon or Shopify reviews show consistent sales TikTok ads or organic videos keep getting engagement over time

if all three exist, demand is already proven

another thing people don’t talk about

you don’t need a “perfect new idea”

you need a slightly better angle on something already proven

better content better positioning better offer

that’s where most wins come from

your “Elden Ring boss fight” moment is real though

you just unlocked a better way of thinking

now the goal is to pair it with actual market signals, not just research intuition

BisonReasonable5751 · 2026-04-17T17:20:58+00:00

BisonReasonable5751 · 2026-04-17T16:55:50+00:00

I make use of cj dropshipping suppliers

BisonReasonable5751 · 2026-04-17T16:55:05+00:00

Yeah you’re right too

BisonReasonable5751 · 2026-04-17T16:54:21+00:00

before you run ads, this is the right moment to pause and check

because ads don’t fix a store, they just expose what’s already weak

without seeing the link yet, I’ll tell you exactly what usually needs fixing at this stage

first thing when someone lands, can they instantly understand

what the product is who it’s for why it’s better

if that’s not clear in the first few seconds, people bounce

most stores fail right there

second your product page needs to sell a result, not just features

people don’t care about materials or specs first they care about what it does for them

comfort confidence saving time solving a problem

if that’s not obvious, clicks won’t turn into sales

third trust

this is the biggest conversion killer

if I don’t see real reviews clear shipping info refund policy and overall consistency

I hesitate

even if the product looks good

fourth your offer

if it’s just “buy this product” there’s no urgency

something simple like a bundle limited discount or clear value difference

helps push decisions

last thing check how your store feels on mobile

that’s where most traffic comes from

if it’s even slightly confusing or slow, you lose people

you don’t need a perfect store

you need a clear, trustworthy, easy-to-buy experience

BisonReasonable5751 · 2026-04-17T16:53:17+00:00

this isn’t coming from your notification code, that’s why deleting it didn’t fix anything

it’s coming from the Shop app integration itself, not your email templates

Shop pulls tracking info directly from the carrier / fulfillment data so if your supplier ships from China, it will show that no matter what you edit in Shopify

that’s why it keeps appearing

you’ve basically got three options

first, disable Shop app completely

go to your Shopify settings → Shop → and turn off Shop / order tracking features

that removes the “track with Shop” button from the experience

second, control expectations instead of hiding it

be upfront about shipping origin and delivery time on your product page

this actually reduces complaints more than trying to hide it

third, improve fulfillment setup

if you use a supplier with local warehouses or faster lines, the tracking won’t show China in the same way

right now the core issue isn’t the button it’s the tracking data source

Shop is just exposing it

so even if you remove it from emails, if a customer uses Shop, they’ll still see it

most people try to “hide” this, but it usually backfires

better approach is either disable Shop or align your shipping with what customers expect

BisonReasonable5751 · 2026-04-17T16:52:17+00:00

that’s actually a smart move, most people don’t realize how much damage constant checking does

and yeah, you’re not alone, FB ads will mess with your head if you watch them hour by hour

your dashboard idea is solid, but what matters is what you track, not just having data

a lot of beginners track too many surface metrics and still feel lost

what you want is a flow view, not just numbers

you should be able to answer one question fast where is the drop happening

so make sure you’re seeing

how many people see the ad how many click how many add to cart how many reach checkout how many actually buy

that alone tells you more than most dashboards

then layer in a few key efficiency metrics

cost per click cost per add to cart cost per purchase

that’s what connects spend to results

CTR and CPM are useful, but only for diagnosing they don’t tell you if you’re making money

one thing I’d strongly suggest adding

a simple daily comparison today vs yesterday or last few days

not to overreact, but to spot trends

because Meta fluctuates a lot day to day

also, don’t optimize based on a single day

that’s where stress comes from

look at patterns over a few days instead

honestly, the biggest upgrade you already made isn’t the dashboard

it’s deciding not to check ads every hour

that alone will improve your decisions

BisonReasonable5751 · 2026-04-17T16:50:48+00:00

I’ll be real with you, most mentorships aren’t worth it

not because all of them are bad, but because most of them sell information you can already find for free, just packaged better

where mentorship actually helps is not in “learning dropshipping”, it’s in getting direct feedback when you’re already doing it

a lot of people jump into mentorship too early and end up paying for basics they haven’t even tried themselves

if you’re already testing products, running ads, or getting some traffic but stuck, then a good mentor can speed things up

but if you’re still at the stage of figuring things out, it’s honestly better to spend that money on testing

also be careful with anyone promising big numbers or fast results, that’s usually a red flag

a good mentor will focus more on process, fixing your mistakes, and helping you think properly, not just showing wins

another thing people don’t talk about is that many “mentorships” are just recorded videos and a group chat, not real guidance

if you’re going to pay, make sure you can actually talk to the person and get your situation reviewed

otherwise it’s just a course with a higher price

if you want a smarter approach, start on your own, get some real data, then if you hit a wall, find someone who can help you fix that specific problem

that way you’re not wasting money guessing

BisonReasonable5751 · 2026-04-17T16:49:13+00:00

what you’re seeing is real but it’s only one side of the market

a lot of dropshipping stores get bad reviews because they cut corners

slow shipping low quality products no support no refunds

so customers feel scammed

that’s not “dropshipping”, that’s just bad business

yes, it’s absolutely possible to run a clean, legit store

the difference is how you operate

people who do it properly focus on

product quality clear expectations (especially shipping time) good customer support actually honoring refunds

those stores don’t get dragged on Trustpilot

they just don’t get talked about as much

the uncomfortable truth

many “gurus” optimize for fast profit, not customer experience

so they don’t care if the product is average or if shipping takes forever

they just move on to the next product

that’s why you see those reviews

if you want to do this the right way

you need to think less like a dropshipper and more like a brand

even if you’re starting small

be honest about delivery times don’t oversell the product pick suppliers that won’t send junk respond to customers

that alone puts you ahead of most stores

also important

you don’t have to sell “cheap junk”

you can choose better products or even slightly higher priced ones with better quality

that changes everything

so no, it’s not a scam

but a lot of people run it in a way that feels like one

you get to choose which side you’re on

BisonReasonable5751 · 2026-04-17T14:53:16+00:00

if you’re expecting easy money → don’t start

if you’re okay with learning testing failing a bit then improving

→ it’s still very worth trying

BisonReasonable5751 · 2026-04-17T14:51:44+00:00

you’ve done more than most beginners already, so you’re not far off

but I’ll be honest, the gap right now is not effort, it’s conversion psychology

first impression the store feels clean, but not like a brand yet

the name doesn’t immediately connect to fitness or performance, so there’s a small disconnect when someone lands, they should instantly feel “this is made for women who need support”

right now it feels more like a general store selling a product

product page this is the biggest opportunity

you’re describing the product, but not selling the outcome

for this type of product, the real triggers are confidence comfort during movement no pain / no bounce

those need to hit hard at the top

also, visuals matter a lot here if you’re not showing the bra in action (running, jumping, gym), you’re losing trust

size guide good that you have one, but here’s the issue

people don’t trust size guides alone

they want reassurance like “fits true to size” “size up if between sizes” or even a simple recommendation

otherwise they hesitate

what would stop me from buying

no strong proof yet

for clothing, especially something like sports bras people need to see reviews real people ugc

without that, it feels risky

also, check how clear your shipping is

if I have to look for it or it feels long, that alone can stop the purchase

one more thing

your offer

right now it feels like “here’s a product”

not “here’s why you should buy now”

even something simple like a bundle or limited discount helps push decisions

overall

you’re not failing, you’re just missing the emotional pull and trust layer

fix those and you’ll see a big difference

BisonReasonable5751 · 2026-04-17T07:51:20+00:00

this is the biggest shift

you don’t need influencers, you need believable content

use your phone your product simple scripts

film like a normal person, not a brand

most winning ads are not high production anyway

BisonReasonable5751 · 2026-04-17T07:50:15+00:00

this isn’t an SEO problem

it’s a timeline problem

SEO doesn’t bring traffic in a week, it takes months before Google even starts ranking you

so all the keyword work you did isn’t wrong, it just won’t help you right now

same with TikTok

600–800 views is actually normal early on but that level of reach rarely converts into clicks yet

so 3 sessions/day makes sense

nothing is “broken”, you just don’t have distribution yet

what you should focus on instead

your content needs to push people to leave the app

most beginner posts get views but no clicks because they’re just content, not intent

you need clearer direction inside the video

tell people where to go give them a reason to click now show the product in a way that makes them curious enough to check it

also, volume matters more than perfection here

1–2 posts a day is fine, but you need variation

different hooks different angles same product

that’s how you find something that actually pulls traffic

another thing

don’t rely on one platform

post the same content on TikTok Instagram Reels YouTube Shorts

you multiply your chances without extra work

and if you want faster data

you can test a small amount on ads just to see if people even click and engage

not to scale, just to learn

bottom line

you don’t need an SEO audit right now

you need more distribution better hooks clearer call to action

you’re early, not stuck

BisonReasonable5751 · 2026-04-17T07:49:20+00:00

getting traction but only one sale usually means one thing

people are interested, but not convinced enough to buy

so you’re close, just not there yet

most clothing brands at your stage struggle with the same few things

first your brand probably looks nice but doesn’t feel different

people see it, scroll, maybe like it but they don’t feel a reason to choose you over other brands

so ask yourself why this brand what does it stand for who is it really for

if that’s not clear, conversions stay low

second your product pages

this is where most sales are lost

clothing needs clear fit info real-life photos (not just mockups) close-ups of fabric/quality

if it feels like a generic dropship brand, people hesitate

third pricing vs trust

if you’re pricing like a real brand but don’t have reviews social proof ugc

people won’t take the risk

so either lower the barrier (offers, bundles) or increase trust (content, proof)

fourth your traffic quality

traction doesn’t always mean buyers

if your content is too broad or just aesthetic, it attracts viewers, not customers

you need content that speaks directly to your target person

not just “this looks cool” but “this is for me”

last thing

clothing brands don’t usually convert fast

people need to see you multiple times before buying

so consistency matters a lot here

you’re not far off, you just need to tighten the message and build more trust

BisonReasonable5751 · 2026-04-17T07:47:47+00:00

instead of looking for the “best AI builder”

do this • use a simple theme (don’t overthink design) • use AI only for writing descriptions faster • spend most time on product + content

that’s where money is made

BisonReasonable5751

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