Top 10 Mistakes To Avoid When Finding Trending Products

Finding trending products is the most important step for any eCommerce business, so making the wrong choices may lead to unnecessary losses and wasted time. To help you stay on the right path, we’ve collected the top 10 mistakes you should avoid when researching trending products.

Ignoring Market Research and Data

Relying solely on gut feelings or what’s popular on social media may lead to poor decisions. Many sellers overlook the importance of in-depth market research when selecting products.

So, it’s essential to use tools that offer real-time data, such as sales analytics, customer behavior insights, and competitor performance. 

Skipping this vital step can result in selecting products that might be trending now but lack long-term demand.

Overlooking Profit Margins

The allure of a trending product often overshadows the importance of maintaining healthy profit margins. So, sellers should calculate all costs before they decide to sell a product, including manufacturing or sourcing expenses, shipping, marketing, and additional fees such as platform commissions. 

Many sellers also think that a product’s high demand will automatically lead to profits, but if your margins are too thin, you may spend more on acquiring customers than you’re making from each sale.

For example, if you're selling a trending makeup product with a high cost and shipping fee, your profit per unit could be very low. Even if it sells in large volumes, this can quickly eat into your profits.

Focusing Only on Popularity

While trending products for dropshipping or in general may seem like a shortcut to success, relying purely on popularity could be a mistake. Currently trending products might not align with your brand, customer needs, or niche. 

A trending product might be a hit with a younger audience, but if your store is targeting professionals or a different demographic, it might not be a good fit.

Moreover, jumping on popular items without considering how they resonate with your target market also results in a lack of customer loyalty. You should remember that to build a long-term, trusted brand, you first need to offer your customers products that match their desires and values—not just chase trends.

Not Considering Seasonality

Some products are seasonal, with demand peaking in months or specific events. For instance, fitness products or apparel could be highly popular at the beginning of the year due to New Year’s resolutions but might decline sales as the year progresses.

Ignoring seasonality can leave you with unsold inventory that you’ll struggle to move in the off-season. 

So, you should be sure to note when demand spikes for specific products (like Christmas-related items, summer essentials, or Halloween costumes) and plan your strategy accordingly. 

Selling trending products without understanding their seasonality could lead to a surge in sales followed by a sharp, unanticipated drop.

Failing to Differentiate from Competitors

Many sellers quickly pick up trending products and forget the intense competition. When a product starts to trend, many other sellers jump on the bandwagon, often leading to oversaturation. 

If you're not offering something unique, whether it's a different branding approach, enhanced features, or a better price point—you’ll struggle to stand out.

For instance, if you're selling a tech gadget, but all the other competitors have the same product with the same features, you’ll find it's quite difficult to capture customer attention. The point here is you must know how to differentiate your products. 

You can do that by implementing creative marketing strategies, developing unique selling propositions, or bundling them with other items that add value to the customer.

Underestimating the Importance of Competitor Analysis

While focusing on trending products is essential, it’s equally important to study the competition. A product seems like a great idea because it’s trending, but if multiple established competitors already offer it with stronger brand recognition, it can be challenging to capture market share. 

Without a proper competitor analysis, you might enter a saturated market with slim margins and fierce competition.

Some factors like competitor pricing, marketing tactics, product variations, customer service quality, and overall brand reputation can give you critical insights into whether it’s worth pursuing the trending product or you should look for something less competitive.

Ignoring Customer Reviews and Feedback

When you find a trending product, don’t rely on the initial data or its popularity, you should always check customer reviews and feedback. These can provide you with valuable insights into the actual performance and product quality. 

Many trending products may have flaws or poor customer reviews that hurt your reputation if you sell them.

For example, a trending makeup product with negative reviews about quality or skin reactions is highly demanded. Selling such a thing without caring about customer sentiment can spike returns, refunds, and negative reviews, ruining your brand image in the long run.

Not Tracking Performance Metrics

Once you’ve selected and launched a trending product, it’s vital to track its performance regularly. Failing to monitor key metrics like conversion rates, cost-per-click (CPC), and customer lifetime value (CLV) can bring missed opportunities for optimization. 

Many sellers even forget to continuously analyze how their products perform after launch.

If a trending dropshipping product isn’t converting well, you may need to tweak your marketing approach or revisit the product description and images. 

Without tracking, you won’t have enough data to make informed decisions on whether to double down on marketing, offer discounts, or discontinue the product altogether.

Relying Too Much on Social Media Trends

Social media is a powerful tool for discovering trending products, but it can also be misleading. Just because something is viral on Instagram or TikTok doesn’t guarantee that it will translate into sustainable sales. 

Social media trends often move quickly, and products can go from trending to forgotten in weeks. Relying solely on viral content can make you jump on a trend that’s already be on its way out.

While it's important to stay updated on what’s gaining attention on social media platforms, you should also validate products by reviewing market trends, researching consumer demand, and evaluating how the product fits into your broader business strategy.

Neglecting the Marketing and Advertising Strategy

Finally, one of the most significant mistakes is thinking that a trending product will sell itself. Even the best trending products can underperform without a well-executed marketing and advertising plan. 

Many online business owners even assume that the hype surrounding a trending product will drive sales on its own, but that's simply not the case.

A solid marketing strategy, which includes social media advertising, search engine optimization (SEO), email marketing, and influencer collaborations, is vital to reaching the right audience and converting leads into paying customers. 

Without a robust advertising plan, you might struggle to stand out or attract enough buyers to make your product profitable.

Finding Trending Products Effortlessly with Fiidom

Finding the perfect trending products for dropshipping can be time-consuming and overwhelming. Fortunately, tools like Fiidom are designed to make this process easier and more efficient. 

Fiidom is an AI-driven tool that assists sellers in identifying top trending products for dropshipping, allowing you to stay ahead of the curve with minimal effort.

With Fiidom, you can access real-time data about the most popular products across various categories, it leverages AI to recommend products that are most likely to succeed based on current market analysis.

Not only does Fiidom help identify trending products, but it also provides additional features that can simplify your selling process. It can suggest ideal prices, so you can stay competitive while maintaining healthy profit margins. 

Moreover, Fiidom also offers AI-generated product descriptions, which can save you valuable time and keep your listings optimized for conversions.

Whether you're looking for trending products to sell online or exploring new dropshipping opportunities, Fiidom makes the entire process streamlined, accurate, and user-friendly

Try Fiidom Now

Final Thoughts

The journey to finding trending products is not always smooth, but avoiding common mistakes can increase your chances of success. From conducting proper market research to using AI tools like Fiidom to stay ahead of product trends, sellers can make informed, profitable decisions.

By thinking about finding trending products, you can align your offerings with market demand while setting yourself apart from the competition. Trends can evolve quickly, so you need to stay agile and continuously adapt to shifts in consumer behavior if you want to succeed when doing online business.

FAQ

What are trending products, and why are they important for eCommerce business?

Trending products experience a surge in demand within a specific time period, often driven by consumer interest, social media, or seasonal factors. Identifying and selling the right trending products can increase sales and visibility for your eCommerce store.

How can I find trending products for dropshipping?

To find trending products for dropshipping, you should monitor social media platforms, eCommerce marketplaces, and use keyword research to track emerging trends.

What are the risks of selling trending products online?

While trending products can lead to a profitable business, they come with risks such as intense competition, fluctuations in demand, and market saturation. So, it’s crucial to monitor trends, conduct research, and ensure your products align with your target audience’s preferences.