Crafting Your Business: Dropshipping Products for Craft Enthusiasts

In today's online shopping and e-commerce era, dropshipping has become a method for aspiring entrepreneurs to kickstart their ventures without hefty initial investments. One particular area that can be lucrative is catering to individuals passionate about crafts. With the increasing popularity of do-it-yourself projects and the rising demand for handcrafted items, there's never been a moment to delve into dropshipping and provide crafters with the necessary supplies.

Image: Aigen

In this article, we'll delve into the advantages of dropshipping for craft enthusiasts and offer some guidance on selecting the products to offer.

Grasping the Concept of Dropshipping

Before delving into it, it's essential to grasp an understanding of dropshipping. Dropshipping is a business model in which you market products that are stocked and shipped by a third-party supplier. As a seller, you are relieved from concerns about managing inventory or handling shipping operations. Instead, your focus is establishing your brand identity and boosting sales while your supplier manages order fulfillment. Identifying the best dropshipping products is crucial to succeed in this business model, as they will significantly impact your sales and profitability.

Benefits of Dropshipping in the Crafting Sector

When it comes to selling products tailored for crafting enthusiasts, dropshipping provides advantages over retail methods:

1. Variety in Product Selection

Through dropshipping, you gain access to an array of crafting products from suppliers. This enables you to offer a range of items without investing heavily in inventory upfront.

2. Minimal Initial Costs

Establishing a store using a dropshipping approach requires a small investment compared to setting up a physical shop. There's no requirement for renting or purchasing storefronts, and you can often bypass expenses like packaging materials.

3. Simple Expansion

With dropshipping, scaling your business as it grows is relatively straightforward. Whether there's an increase in product demand or if you opt to venture into crafting niches, adjusting your product line can be done swiftly without concerns about inventory.

Selecting the Right Merchandise

To ensure success in dropshipping for crafting enthusiasts, choosing products that meet their needs and preferences is essential. Here are some pointers to help you make decisions:

1. Keep Abreast of Trends

Stay updated on crafting trends by monitoring blogs, forums, and social media platforms focused on crafts. Explore the products and techniques crafters are gravitating towards to pinpoint the ones with demand and sales potential.

2. Quality is Key

Craft enthusiasts value top-notch materials and tools that deliver outcomes. In addition to staying updated on trending items, they should pay attention to the quality of products from suppliers. Positive feedback from customers can serve as a gauge of quality.

3. Specialize in Offerings

of competing with large retailers offering various crafting supplies focusing on niche products tailored to specific crafting styles or niches. This strategy allows you to target an audience and establish expertise in that niche.

4. Embrace Uniqueness and Personalization

Craft aficionados seek out tools or materials that enable them to create bespoke pieces. Seek suppliers who provide personalized items, empowering your customers to infuse their creativity into their crafts.

Establishing Your Brand

While dropshipping offers convenience and adaptability, building a brand identity is crucial for standing out in e-commerce.

1. Craft an engaging website

Develop a visually appealing website with user-friendly navigation and captivating visuals related to crafting. Make it simple for visitors to locate what they need and ensure your website mirrors the personality of your brand.

2. Content with Value

Share content like tutorials, project inspirations, and crafting tips on your website's blog or social media platforms. This helps establish your expertise in the field, and fosters trust with your audience.

3. Exceptional Customer Care

Provide customer service by addressing inquiries and resolving any concerns that may arise. This level of attention can differentiate you from competitors, leading to feedback, repeat business, and referrals through word of mouth.

In Summary,

Dropshipping offers entrepreneurs an opportunity to meet the increasing demand from craft enthusiasts. With investments and the flexibility to offer a wide array of products, dropshipping enables entry into the crafting industry while mitigating financial risks. Through market research, selecting high-quality merchandise, and cultivating a brand identity, you can establish a thriving dropshipping venture catering to the diverse community of craft enthusiasts.

by Asim BN via Digital Information World

Understanding Trends in Search Advertising: Conversion Rates and Costs

LocalIQ/WordStream’s annual Search Advertising Benchmark Report for 2024 shows that conversion rates in paid advertising industries have decreased, while the cost of generating leads through search ads is increasing. The 2024 edition of the report covers the same key metrics as the 2023 report – click-through rate (CTR), conversion rate, cost per click (CPC), and cost per lead (CPL). Google’s parent company, Alphabet, is maximizing profits as advertisers spend more on clicks and leads. Data indicates significant competition due to the monetization of Google’s SERPs, with Google justifying continuous price increases.

LocalIQ/WordStream reported that the conversion rate for 2024 is 6.96% in 12 out of 23 industries. Conversion rates decreased in Dentists and Dental Services (19.57%) and Finance and Insurance (32.40%). Conversely, conversion rates increased in Career and Employment (80.97%) and Fashion and Jewelry (112.01%). In 2023, the conversion rate was 7.04%, down from 7.85% in 2022, indicating a gradual decline over the years.

Cost per lead (CPL) has increased by 25%, now at $66.69 in 2024 for 19 out of 23 industries. In 2022, CPL had increased by 27%. Click-through rate (CTR) increased by 5% in 70% of industries and is now 6.42%. Cost per click (CPC) is $4.66 in 2024 after a 10% increase in 86% of industries. The industries with the biggest CPC increases were Personal Services, Real Estate, and Sports and Recreation. CPC was $4.01 in 2022 and $4.22 in 2023.

Data courtesy of: LocalIQ/WordStream.

Business Category	Average Click Through Rate	Average Cost Per Click	Average Conversion Rate	Average Cost Per Lead
Animals & Pets	7%	$3.90	12.03%	$34.81
Apparel / Fashion & Jewelry	6%	$3.39	3.33%	$83.10
Arts & Entertainment	13%	$1.72	4.22%	$44.70
Attorneys & Legal Services	5%	$8.94	5.64%	$144.03
Automotive — For Sale	9%	$2.34	6.49%	$42.95
Automotive — Repair, Service & Parts	6%	$3.39	12.96%	$27.94
Beauty & Personal Care	7%	$3.56	8.01%	$48.42
Business Services	6%	$5.37	5.78%	$105.64
Career & Employment	7%	$4.53	5.63%	$117.92
Dentists & Dental Services	5.38%	$6.82	8.36%	$86.49
Education & Instruction	6.21%	$4.39	7.91%	$71.52
Finance & Insurance	7.71%	$3.00	2.78%	$75.94
Furniture	6.50%	$3.29	2.53%	$119.10
Health & Fitness	6.88%	$4.71	7.40%	$61.56
Home & Home Improvement	5.59%	$6.96	8.62%	$82.27
Industrial & Commercial	5.83%	$4.95	6.84%	$77.48
Personal Services	7.95%	$4.95	8.83%	$52.98
Physicians & Surgeons	6.73%	$4.76	11.08%	$59.74
Real Estate	9.20%	$2.10	2.91%	$87.36
Restaurants & Food	8.68%	$2.18	8.72%	$29.67
Shopping, Collectibles & Gifts	7.81%	$2.61	3.49%	$42.10
Sports & Recreation	9.66%	$2.34	5.35%	$49.90
Travel	10.16%	$1.92	5.36%	$66.02

Which industry has the highest average conversion rate?

Personal Services with an average conversion rate of 8.83%.

Which industry has the lowest average cost per lead?

Automotive — Repair, Service & Parts with an average cost per lead of $27.94.

Which industry has the highest average click-through rate?

Travel with an average click-through rate of 10.16%.

Which industry has the lowest average conversion rate?

Finance & Insurance with an average conversion rate of 2.78%.

Which industry has the highest average cost per click?

Attorneys & Legal Services with an average cost per click of $8.94.

Which industry has the highest average click-through rate among those listed?

Travel leads with an average click-through rate of 10.16%.

What industry has the lowest average cost per click?

Real Estate, with an average cost per click of $2.10.

Which industry exhibits the highest average conversion rate, apart from Personal Services?

Physicians & Surgeons, with an average conversion rate of 11.08%.

Among the industries listed, which one has the highest average cost per lead?

Attorneys & Legal Services, with an average cost per lead of $144.03.

What is the average click-through rate for the Apparel / Fashion & Jewelry industry?

6%.

Which industry shows the highest average cost per click after Attorneys & Legal Services?

Business Services, with an average cost per click of $5.37.

What is the average conversion rate for Dentists & Dental Services?

8.36%.

Which industry has the lowest average conversion rate after Finance & Insurance?

Furniture, with an average conversion rate of 2.53%.

What is the average cost per lead for Education & Instruction?

$71.52.

Which industry has the highest average click-through rate after Travel?

Sports & Recreation, with an average click-through rate of 9.66%.

What is the average cost per click for Health & Fitness?

$4.71.

Which industry has the lowest average conversion rate after Furniture?

Real Estate, with an average conversion rate of 2.91%.

What is the average click-through rate for Industrial & Commercial?

5.83%.

Which industry has the highest average cost per click after Business Services?

Dentists & Dental Services, with an average cost per click of $6.82.

What is the average conversion rate for Restaurants & Food?

8.72%.

Read next: AI Boosts Marketing Efficiency, Insights from Gartner’s 2024 CMO Spend Survey
by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

Refugee Exodus: Iran and Turkey Host Millions, Syria, Afghanistan, and Ukraine Lead Contributors

Global report by Internal Displacement showed that 75.9 million people from 116 countries were internally displaced at the end of 2023. This is a 51% increase in internal displacement from 2022 and is expected to rise in the coming years. The reasons for these displacements include conflicts between countries and natural disasters which made people leave and live at borders. According to the data, 20.5 million people were internally displaced because of ongoing conflicts in 2023 while 26.4 million got internally displaced because of natural disasters.

The countries with the highest internal displacement rates because of conflicts in 2023 were Republic of Congo, Palestine (Gaza), Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar. The total number of people displaced was 68.3 million. The countries with the highest rate of internal displacement due to natural disasters in 2023 were Turkey, China, Bangladesh, Somalia and the Philippines. The natural disasters these countries experienced were earthquakes, floods and storms.

According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), 114 million people were forced to be displaced all over the world in 2022. Data from mid-2023 showed that 115 million people who have been forcibly displaced cannot go back to their homes. UNHCR has predicted that the number of forcibly displaced people can reach 130.8 million by the end of 2024. It is important to note that this number of internally displaced people is probably higher than what UNHCR had reported.

Year	IDPs of concern to UNHCR	Refugees under UNHCR's mandate	Palestine refugees UNRWA mandate	Asylum-seekers	Other people in need of international protection	Stateless persons	Others of concern
1956	0	1767975	924922	0	0	0	0
1960	0	1656664	1136487	0	0	0	0
1970	0	2464730	1445022	0	0	0	0
1980	0	8454917	1863162	0	0	0	0
1990	0	17395914	2466516	0	0	0	0
2000	5998501	12129079	3806055	947322	0	0	1653841
2010	14697804	10548835	4691079	835969	0	3463073	1255578
2020	48557439	20661846	5703521	4184926	3862102	4179349	3940730
2023	57013324	30510629	5936247	6081133	5322120	4391680	5758910

UNHCR has also reported that about 36.5 million refugees had been living under UNHCR or UNRWA in mid-2023. The countries with the highest number of refugees are the ones which are near to countries experiencing wars or conflicts. Take Iran as an example where 798,343 people were living as refugees in 2021 but these numbers changed to 3,425,091 in 2022. Turkey has about 3.4 million refugees out of which 3.3 million are from Syria.

Country of Asylum (as of 2023 data)	Refugees under UNHCR’s mandate	Asylum-seekers	IDPs of concern to UNHCR	Stateless persons	Others of concern
Iran (Islamic Rep. of) (IRN)	3,443,522	7	0	7	0
Türkiye (TUR)	3,368,976	260,605	0	439	0
Germany (DEU)	2,509,506	349,034	0	29,562	0
Pakistan (PAK)	2,080,501	48,893	0	59	139
Uganda (UGA)	1,512,681	48,956	0	67,000	0
Russian Federation (RUS)	1,249,342	773	0	93,802	0
Poland (POL)	989,877	3,820	0	1,425	1,328
Bangladesh (BGD)	961,801	16	0	961,729	0
Sudan (SDN)	926,433	33,272	3,020,517	0	3,697
Ethiopia (ETH)	921,822	4,038	2,123,435	0	610

Many people flee from their countries and the countries with the most numbers of people fled are Syria (6.5 million), Ukraine (5.9 million), Afghanistan (6.1 million), and South Sudan (2.2 million). These are only based on the data provided by the UN so the actual number of people fled from these countries are unknown.

Read next: Survey: Environmental Concerns Vary Globally, Brazil Tops with 44%
by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

How to Control your Content in Google’s AI Overviews

When Google introduced AI Overviews in the US search results, it caught the attention of SEOs and content creators. Many were eager to learn how they could prevent their content from appearing in these AI-driven summaries. Thankfully, there are Google Search controls that let you manage this.

Glenn Gabe, an expert in this field, tested the ‘nosnippet’ control/tag, and it proved effective. He shared his experience in a case study, explaining how adding a ‘nosnippet’ meta tag to the sections of his content removed them from the AI- driven features. However, this also led to the removal of descriptions from the normal search listings, which could be a drawback.

Experimenting with variations of the nosnippet tag, such as 'max-snippet' and 'data-nosnippet,' can also help manage how content appears. But this requires a lot of trial and error with each URL featured in the AI Overviews, which can be time-consuming.

• Also read: Six-Week Facebook Break Reduces Belief in Fake News, Lessens Political Engagement, Affects Voter Turnout

Choosing whether to appear in AI Overviews is a tough decision, especially since Google does not provide related data through Google Search Console. To help, Google has set up a separate page for AI Overviews on their website and has updated the pages concerning robots meta tags and documentation for subscription and paywalled content.

In the screenshot from Twitter, Glenn Gabe mentions his success with these controls. He highlights the process of removing content and links from Google’s AI Overviews by using preview controls like ‘nosnippet’, ‘data-nosnippet’, and ‘maxsnippet’. This case study provides a practical example of controlling how content is featured in Google’s new search tools.

Read next: ChatGPT and Other LLMs Can Be Tricked into Giving Dangerous Advice
by Mahrukh Shahid via Digital Information World

ChatGPT and Other LLMs Can Be Tricked into Giving Dangerous Advice

Some AI researchers from AWS AI Labs found that many Large Language Models (LLMs) can easily be manipulated and they can give users some harmful information. Upon researching, the researchers found out that LLMs like ChatGPT can get easily swayed into giving information that isn’t allowed by developers. They can be deceived and give information like murdering someone, making a bomb etc. Some users also use these LLMs to write hateful texts that are then used on the internet to harass people.

When the complaints of these behaviors by AI reached developers, they tried adding some rules that could prevent LLMs from giving answers to questions that were dangerous, illegal or harmful. But this study has found out that those preventions and rules weren’t helpful in making AI safe for all people. Many users started using audio cues to manipulate LLMs. The researchers from AWS also tried questioning LLMs using audio and they found out that audios aren’t helpful in the restrictions AI developers have imposed on AI.

The researchers examined many LLMs by giving them audio cues about some original queries and they found out that those LLMs ignored all the negative aspects in the questions and still gave an answer. The researchers concluded that AI developers should start adding random noises to audios sent to LLMs so these AI models can stop ignoring the rules and protection schemes of those developers.

Image: DIW-Aigen

Read next: 2024's Top Payment Apps for Freelancers Worldwide Uncovered, A Must-Read List
by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

Six-Week Facebook Break Reduces Belief in Fake News, Lessens Political Engagement, Affects Voter Turnout

A recent study has found that taking a break from Facebook for six weeks can greatly reduce a person’s likelihood of believing fake news. The research, published in the journal PNAS, is the biggest experiment of its kind. It included more than 35,000 users of Facebook and Instagram who chose to disconnect during the 2020 US Presidential election.

Researchers worked together with Meta, the parent company of social networks. Meta provided them with access to data and algorithms from the platform. This was during a time when there was a lot of fake news on Facebook about the presidential election.

The results of the study are quite revealing. People who stopped using Facebook were less likely to believe misinformation once they returned to the platform. However, these same people also engaged less in political content on social media after their break.

The findings of the study can be summarized into four main points. First, not using Facebook led to reduced political participation, especially online. Second, while stopping Facebook use did not significantly change overall knowledge levels, it did seem to decrease knowledge of general news and possibly reduce belief in misinformation.

Third, the study suggests that not using Facebook might have lowered the number of people voting for Donald Trump in the election, in which he was defeated by joe Biden. The report noted a decrease in positive views about Trump, lower voter turnout among republicans, and higher turnout amount democrats due to Facebook deactivation.

Lastly, the study found that neither Facebook nor Instagram deactivation had any significant effect on how divided people felt about issues or candidates. Despite ongoing claims from Trump’s camp about voter fraud and conspiracy theories about voting machines, the study indicated no effect from social media use on these perceptions.

Courts in the US, including the Supreme Court, have rejected numerous legal challenges from Trump regarding the election results.

Image: DIW-AIgen

Read next: 2024's Top Payment Apps for Freelancers Worldwide Uncovered, A Must-Read List
by Mahrukh Shahid via Digital Information World

2024's Top Payment Apps for Freelancers Worldwide Uncovered, A Must-Read List

The world of freelancing has given rise to a plethora of opportunities to make money online and add sheer ease to your life. But it wouldn’t be wrong to mention that it does come with its fair share of challenges.

From managing time to finding your next best gig online, the hurdles and obstacles to overcome are a lot. And at the end of it all, most people are just trying to get paid on a timely basis and through a reliable gateway.

But even getting your payment through a safe and secure channel can at times prove to be a struggle. This is why so many people continue to experiment with their options on a routine basis. If you happen to be in the same boat, trust us when we say that you are not alone.

Below, we’re counting down the top five payment platform options for 2024. This includes why they’re on the list and all other details like transaction fees, pros, cons, and beyond So let’s get right into it.

Payoneer

Those working on popular freelancing platforms like Upwork and Fiver would agree that getting your income through Payoneer is an option* that’s been there for years. Not only does it deal with a plethora of currencies but you can even withdraw money to the same bank account in your region. If that’s not enough, you can make use of the card by Payoneer. This gives you the chance to send invoices through direct means. So it’s quick and convenient.

The best benefit is doing business with foreign clients situated anywhere around the globe has never been easier. Anytime you are paid in a foreign currently, you can best believe that you’d get the same amount in your local currency. Customer service is considered to be one of the best out there with raving reviews from customers for years. To get the most secure experience, go ahead and set up 2FA, which is rarely found in other payment gateways.

But with the good comes the bad. There is an added fee that might be a little complete for some to comprehend. This gets even more confusing when currency conversions are involved. Secondly, withdrawing funds does not happen immediately and could take up to a few days. So if you need cash quicker on some days than others, it’s not happening here.

Skrill

Skill has long been in use as freelancers’ favorite digital wallet option when it comes to payments. The app gives users the chance to fully utilize this via several means. For starters, it’s your digital wallet. You can store funds inside your online account and whenever you need it, just use the card to shop online or at your favorite store.

Secondly, you can use it to transfer funds to a host of other users online or even to bank accounts located around the globe. So the benefits include easy account setup that’s linked to your own personal bank account.

In the same way, the app gives users incentives like a rewards program. The feature dubbed Knect allows people to earn funds each time financial connections are made via the app. You can then exchange that to get cash rewards in return.

As a whole, it’s a platform that is simple and convenient to use. Did we mention how secure it is with regulation from the FCA so you can rely on it with options to avail like business accounts or personal accounts?

But the drawback cannot be ignored and the biggest one happens to be the fee attached. It’s a little hard and confusing for some to understand. Even international transfers have fees attached and if you don’t use it for a while, it gets tagged dormant. Customer service isn’t the best either and no features for live chats with representatives are on offer either.

PayPal

Whether you happen to be a freelancer or not, PayPal is one platform that we’re sure you’ve heard of. The app gives users the chance to receive funds from anywhere around the globe and that’s great when dealing with foreign clients.

The biggest advantage is the each of use, which is the biggest reason for its popularity. You can begin with the simple account creation process where you choose one account type, add details, link your prospective bank account and cards, and that’s it.

After getting accepted, share the details with clients you’re working with so they can pay you through this gateway directly. Once that’s done, you can transfer that to the bank and keep it inside PayPal to carry out other online transactions.

There’s a whole bunch of currencies that you can deal with which many see as a major plus point if you’re working with clients from all over the globe. The app even gives users the chance to have a debit card that is one of a kind and is used in all those locations where the regular Mastercard can be accepted.

So imagine shopping online or in-store with your PayPal debit card - a feature not to be seen with other online apps for payments. But like the rest, there are a few downsides worth a mention.

The fees are not cheap and that is the case when clients you happen to be working with are foreign. They do charge a high percentage plus fixed fees when you’re dealing with global payments. See, the real amount is linked to the nation in question and the sort of transactions you’re dealing with.

Other than that, currency conversions across PayPal aren’t the best. It’s something you need to be mindful of when you have foreign clients on your list because some do feel they might not be getting the best rate here.

Wise

The popular app that was once called Transferwise is certainly another popular choice amongst freelancers today for payments. They work through rates for real exchanges so you can have payments done in multiple currencies that allow you to hold and even ensure conversion arises in different currencies.

To begin, users develop accounts and then link those to local banks so that Wise is in direct collaboration. You can find this on the app’s Homepage and similar to how the PayPal app works, you can benefit from a foreign debit card option. The latter is only present in a limited number of nations.

Clients and recipients are included and the requests for payments are generated. Another neat option is the addition of a QR code where you can request a payment called Wisetag which is shareable with instant payment options. But one of the most useful features on this front is the option to schedule transfers so payments are done on a timely basis without hassle and delay.

So what you get is a cheaper, quick, and reliable option than others when you’re dealing with global transfers and clients. We also adore how there are no hidden fees or charges attached as the app’s transparency is hailed for obvious reasons. There is even an option called multi-currency which is a great point for those working with global clients.

As far as the disadvantages are concerned, it’s not great when you’re dealing with local clients. There are far cheaper options to avail than this app. And while it might be cheaper than local banks, funds transfer is not free and so the fee tends to add up to be a lot when you’re transferring big amounts on a routine basis.

Escrow

Last but not least, we’ve got Escrow on the list. It’s a platform that you cannot download directly on your device but it deserves a special mention on our list for some obvious reasons.

The platform puts security and user privacy of funds as one of its top priorities. To begin, you initiate a contract where both parties enter into an agreement of payment terms and conditions. So if the client wishes to pay, they send funds to the Escrow account instead of direct means in advance.

This gives rise to secure payments that are held in place until both parties involved are happy with the terms outlined at the start. This just gives you a sense of security and reliance that the party involved did pay and will not run away in the end when you submit the work.

The client also has the satisfaction that only work that meets its demand would be compensated for so it's a win-win situation on both ends with such security nets.

After account creation is complete, transactions are done by adding details from the contract with details from the buyer. This is shared through QR codes or a specific URL that only the client can see. After the amount gets deposited inside Escrow, you begin working on the task.

But nothing comes for free here as there’s a fee attached. And the amount is a certain percentage of what is being held. In some situations, Escrow could slow down the entire payment endeavor with funds only rolled out when all terms are met. So you can expect a slight delay for this reason than those carried out directly.

* When you sign up for these essential payment apps using our affiliate link, you'll unlock exclusive bonuses and rewards, giving your freelancing journey an extra boost.

Read next: Oxford Study: Internet Boosts Global Well-Being, Counters Negative Perceptions
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World