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Welcome to this in-depth review of Simplified Dropshipping 4.0 sold by Scott Hilse.
I thought I should review this course because I've taken it and followed Scott on YouTube for some time. So let's get into it. Here is my honest experience and if it's something you should buy.
Simplified Dropshipping 4.0 Overview |
Overall: 3.5 |
Price: $497 (January 2021) |
Content: About 3 hours total. 39 videos + private facebook group + some bonus videos |
What You Learn: Scott Hilse's overall strategy is branded one-product dropshipping stores. You learn how to build stores that focus on just one product and how to scale it with Facebook Ads. |
Who Is Scott Hilse?
Scott Hilse is a dropshipper from St. Louis, Missouri. You probably already know him from his YouTube channel where he's posted over 100 videos on shopify, dropshipping and more:
Course Breakdown
These are the 39 lessons inside Simplified Dropshipping 4.0:
Simplified 2.0 and 3.0 is also included (67 videos):
Most of the material is the same but not all. There is quite a few extra videos in these.
What To Expect In This Course
- It's quick and to the point
- You will build branded dropshipping stores
- You will build one-product stores
- You'll learn Shopify and Facebook Ads
Overall, Simplified Dropshipping 4.0 is just under 3 hours and it goes straight to the point. You'll enjoy that a lot if you want to start dropshipping quickly. If you want something more extensive then look elsewhere. If you just want the essentials with no fluff this is it.
As for the material, Scott Hilse builds dropshipping stores that sell just one product. That's right, he focuses on branded one-product dropshipping stores.
This isn't a common strategy but it's worked for Scott to build multiple six-figure stores. He got the inspiration from Russel Brunson who founded Clickfunnels. Funnels are focused and meant to convert so Scott tried this for dropshipping and ran with it.
What Does Simplified Dropshipping Come With?
Scott Hilse's course is very short and to the point. However, it still touches all the essentials you need to start dropshipping. If you're looking for a complete A to Z course with hours of content, this is not it. But if you want something to get started quickly, look no further.
3 Hours Of Content
The course is short and to the point. In the members dashboard you will see 39 video lessons in total.
Simplified Dropshipping Theme
Inside the course, you can download a theme called "Jumpstart" which was discontinued by Shopify. Scott recommends this theme for branded one product dropshipping stores because of it's simple design.
Private Facebook Group
Scott writes on his website, "I personally mentor everyone in Simplified Dropshipping in the private Facebook group." This group has about 3000 members who are also building branded one product dropshipping stores. You can search old posts, ask questions, and definitely get value from this community.
Bonus Videos
You have access to the old versions of the course (Simplified Dropshipping 2.0 and 3.0) which is an additional 67 videos. It's not much to get excited about though because most of the topics are the same, just recorded at a different time. However, there are a few separate lessons here that are good.
Simplified Dropshipping Affiliate Program
If you want to promote Simplified Dropshipping there's an affiliate program for all members. You get $100 usd for each sale that comes through your link.
No Money Back Guarantee
One thing the course does not come with is a money back guarantee. This is what Scott says on his refund policy page:
All sales are final. In Simplified Dropshipping, my entire store, products, and Facebook ads are revealed within the first video. This alone, as well as all the other videos/information is very sensitive data that can't be unseen/unlearned. I do not offer a refund policy because I PERSONALLY mentor everyone in Simplified Dropshipping in the private Facebook group and I will only invest my time in those willing to invest in themselves all in, with no backups.
Lessons 1-12
The first section of the course is about mindset, building your store and how to find winning products to test on your one product store. He builds a store from scratch using one of his winning products which is extremely helpful.
- You learn the 'dropshipping mindset' which is very helpful
- Scott shows you his 2 most successful products with his thought process finding them and how he advertises them
- You learn how to research products, what prices to look for and how to spot a winner
- A few basic tutorial videos on how to build your Shopify store
- How to make your landing page plus tips to get high conversions
Lesson 13-26
This section of the course focuses mostly on facebook ads and how to sell your product. There are simple videos as well as very specific walkthroughs here like:
- How to setup your facebook page, pixel, business account, ad account and so on
- The best apps to boost conversions on your Shopify store
- Building and launching your facebook ad. He gives a beginner video to facebook ads and then gets very specific in later videos
- Many Facebook ads strategies. For example, how to launch your product if you’re on a budget and how to launch if you have more capital
- How to monitor your ads after they are launched and what to focus on to get your first 100 orders. These videos get very specific into optimizing your Facebook ads
- How to scale if your product is profitable and what to do if it’s not selling
Lessons 27-39
Here you learn what to do when your store is making money. It goes even deeper in to facebook ads, how to scale, and how to run this as a real business. You will learn:
- Lots of videos on Facebook ads strategies to scale your store. Retargeting, lookalike audiences, horizontal scaling and more
- Order fulfillment and 2 options you have which are Oberlo and Silkroad
- How to outsource and find freelancers using Upwork
- When and how to form an LLC to save money
Click here to visit Simplified Dropshipping
Bonus Lessons from Simplified 2.0, 3.0 and More
Simplified 2.0 and 3.0 has some extra videos to learn from. Here is everything else you get:
- 3 minute video on upsells
- More Facebook ads strategies
- How to sell your store if it is successful
- How to make money with Scott’s affiliate program
- How to test multiple products on one website while still making it look like a One Product Store
- Videos on business mindset, how to manage your online reputation, and how to get free traffic if you’re on a budget using facebook groups
- 2.0 and 3.0 gives you an option to watch at 2x speed which I really like
Pros:
Cons:
Is Scott Hilse Legit?
Scott Hilse's course definitely has value.
His course teaches what he promises you. Also, he has interviews with Oberlo, Shopify and he gives lots of great dropshipping advice on YouTube which you can watch for free.
For example, the video he did with Oberlo gives a lot of golden nuggets on launching facebook ads and finding winning products:
Is Simplified Dropshipping 4.0 Worth It?
Simplified Dropshipping gives you your money’s worth. If you want a quick, to the point course that lets you get up and running quickly, this will be for you. However, if you want to stretch your money further (it is $497 after all) you can definitely find more extensive courses out there.
Simplified Dropshipping does deliver on its promises. On the website it says:
“I will build everything from scratch and allow you an inside look at my store and even my products to learn exactly how I did it.”
Scott does that. He shows you his winning products, how he found them and how he marketed them.
One thing I don’t like is where it says:
“You can build your entire store, fan page, fill your inventory, and launch your first ad in less than 6 HOURS. It is even possible that you have your first sale in less than 24 HOURS.”
This makes dropshipping sounds easier than really it is. Yes, it’s possible to get a sale on your first day if you’re experienced. If you’re a beginner though, just understand there is a big learning curve and there is nothing easy about building a business. It takes hard work and lots of learning.
Overall, I do recommend the course and I give it 3.5 stars out of 5. If Scott added more content and taught you more than just Facebook ads it has potential to be a 4 or 4.5 out of 5. It is a good course though that teaches you the essentials, and that is enough for you to be successful.
Is Dropshipping A Bad Idea?
Starting any business is very difficult and dropshipping is no different. There is no easy road to success.
As long as you understand that I don’t think dropshipping is a bad idea.
Dropshipping is a great business model and you can get started with relatively low money.
There’s also many online businesses you can try in 2020.
The most important thing I would say is do your research and pick an online business that best suits you.
Is Dropshipping Relevant In 2021?
Dropshipping is harder now then in 2017 but that doesn’t mean you can’t be successful. It’s still very relevant, you just have to stay current with the times and deal with more competition. The days of selling crappy Aliexpress products are over!
That’s why I’m a fan of Scott teaching branded one product stores. It separates you from the competition and the branding gives you higher perceived value. The funnel aspect gives you higher conversions. And having just one high quality product lets you narrow your focus and build a store very quickly.
Will Dropshipping Ever Die?
Dropshipping will probably never go away but it’s constantly evolving and changing over time.
For example, the days of selling crappy Aliexpress products are gone. Customers are getting smarter and their expectations are getting higher (for example they want fast shipping).
You must adapt to the current landscapes and deal with more competition but dropshipping is not going to die.
Final Thoughts
Simplified Dropshipping 4.0 is a three hour, straight to the point course. If you want to start dropshipping quickly it’s for you. If you want something longer and more in-depth then try a different course.
It’s worth the money as it covers all the essential elements you need to start getting sales. If you’re on a very tight budget, youtube and blog posts do the job. It takes much longer, but it’s 100% possible to learn that way.
Lastly, Scott’s strategy of branded one product stores, is very relevant for 2021 in my opinion. He is aware of how dropshipping is evolving and doesn’t teach you to sell crappy products like some other instructors.
So overall, I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars. The content that’s there is good, but it would get 4 or 4.5 stars if Scott added more lessons and depth to the course.