In 2022, close to 60% of e-shoppers in the United States reported being unable to purchase products due to products being out-of-stock. A Shopify waitlist is a surefire way to capture customer interest and mitigate sales losses by ensuring that potential buyers are the first to know when products are back in stock. For product pre-launch, a waitlist can also help gauge customer interest and build anticipation, ensuring a successful launch with eager buyers ready to purchase. Adding a waitlist allows customers to sign up to be notified when a product becomes available. This helps increase demand for your products and creates a sense of exclusivity. In this guide, we will fully discuss the benefits of using waitlists on a pre-launch for your business and the simplest way to implement them for your Shopify store, helping you capture customer interest and ensure you never miss a potential sale.
Benefits of Using Waitlists on a Shopify Pre-Launch
As a business owner, you are always looking for ways to improve your product and increase your profitability. One way to do this is by using waitlists on your Shopify pre-launch. By pre-launching your products, you shift the focus away from selling items once they have arrived to generating interest earlier on. In the long run, this can prove to be an invaluable asset to your business.
Builds Anticipation
A waitlist is a great way to build anticipation for a pre-launch. You create excitement and generate buzz by providing a way for people to sign up for updates or be notified when the product is available. This could get people talking about your product before it’s even available, which can lead to more sales and a better launch.
Creates a Sense of Exclusivity
Almost everyone enjoys having exclusive access to things, and a waitlist gives them just that. You can control the number of people that will be able to access your product before it becomes publicly available by requiring interested customers to sign up for a waitlist.
This creates anticipation among those lucky enough to be on the list leading up to the launch.
Measures Demand
Introducing a pre-order model can be an effective way to measure demand for the product. Simply put, you get a sense of how many people are interested in the product. This can help the business decide how much stock to order for the product’s launch and whether to continue developing it. This, in turn, reduces costs and eliminates excess inventory.
Allows for Market Research Opportunities
Customers who sign up for your waitlist are likely to fall within your ideal buyer profile, because of this, valuable market research opportunities will present themselves, such as surveying customers to gather vital information that can be used to improve your product and business.
Using this data, you can determine what features your target market is most interested in and get feedback to better position yourself.
Expands Your Email Marketing List
Not using email marketing yet? You should be. It provides a significant return on investment (ROI), with an average return of $42 for every $1 spent! Adding a waitlist can help you gain high-quality contacts that should result in better engagement and conversion rates when you begin your email campaign. Your customers will also be able to learn about progress, updates, and special offers related to your products.
Steps to Add a Waitlist to Your Shopify Store
Now that you know the benefits of adding a Shopify waitlist, where do you start? The ability to pre-order products is not integrated into Shopify, so you will need to add a Shopify preorder manager app to make this possible.
Introducing Amai PreOrder Manager + Notify
Amai PreOrder Manager + Notify is the ultimate tool for Shopify merchants aiming to streamline preorders, backorders, and waitlist management. It allows for effortless management of preorders and backorders, enhancing customer engagement with options to sign up for stock alerts and ‘Coming Soon’ notifications. The app supports flexible payment options and automates preorders based on inventory levels, making it perfect for building anticipation and ensuring you never miss a sale. With its user-friendly interface and reliable performance, this tool is essential for any merchant focused on maximizing their sales through effective waitlist management.
How to Install and Use Amai PreOrder Manager + Notify for Waitlist
- Download Amai PreOrder Manager + Notify in the Shopify app store via this link.
- Click ‘Add App’ for installation, and it will be added to your sidebar for quick access.
- In your Shopify admin, select ‘PreOrder Manager’ from the apps section to access your management dashboard.
- Enable pre-orders by toggling the ‘Pre-order’ setting to green. Use the “Default Settings” for basic options.
- Customize the button text and display message to align with your Shopify theme. You can also set terms & conditions, limit pre-order quantities, and offer discounts on pre-orders.
- Create your waitlist email capture by using the “Notify Me” and “Coming Soon” features to let customers sign up for email notifications about stock updates.
Features and Advantages of Amai PreOrder Manager + Notify
- Comprehensive Waitlist Management: Automate waitlists with the “notify me” feature, allowing customers to sign up for back-in-stock alerts, ensuring they don’t miss out when their desired products become available.
- Flexible Payment Options: Enable pre-orders with options for partial payments and discounts, making it easier for customers to commit to products before they are in stock.
- Customizable Pre-Order and Waitlist Settings: Tailor every aspect of pre-orders and waitlists, from scheduling pre-order dates based on stock levels to customizing the appearance and functionality of pre-order elements on your store.
- Build Anticipation with ‘Coming Soon’: With the app, you can replace ‘Buy Now’ buttons with ‘Coming Soon’ for products that are not available. This helps generate interest and excitement ahead of product launches.
- Set Quantity Limits for Pre-Orders: Manage supply and demand by setting pre-order quantity limits, which can also be used to enhance the urgency for waitlisted items.
- 24/7 Support and Developer Assistance: Access reliable 24/7 live chat support and developer help to ensure seamless operation and integration of waitlist and pre-order features.
Useful Tips
- Offer early access to waitlist subscribers, making them feel part of an exclusive group that gets first dibs on new products.
- Categorize waitlist subscribers based on their interests and past purchasing behavior to tailor communications and product recommendations.
- Keep potential customers excited by providing sneak peeks of the product, such as behind-the-scenes content or previews of upcoming features.
- Encourage waitlist subscribers to provide feedback on what they’re expecting from the upcoming product, which can help refine the final offering.
- Maintain interest and momentum by sending regular updates about the product’s status, enhancements based on feedback, and expected release dates.
- After the launch, follow up with waitlist subscribers to thank them for their patience and to solicit feedback on their purchasing experience and the product itself.
Summary and Advice
Implementing a waitlist or reserve items feature on Shopify can capture the interest of potential customers and enhance your chances of converting them into buyers. Make sure the waitlist is user-friendly and well-designed to encourage more sign-ups. You can also use marketing techniques to encourage people to sign up for the waitlist, such as offering exclusive discounts to those who do. With a well-executed waitlist strategy, you’ll be able to increase your shop’s sales and grow your business. A well-executed waitlist strategy can significantly boost sales. Wouldn’t it be helpful to have a tool that automates tasks and simplifies waitlist management? Amai Preorder Manager + Notify might be the solution you’re looking for. Check it out on the Shopify App Store today.
