Adding a waitlist to your Shopify store can enhance your customer experience and sales. Instead of turning away potential buyers when items are out of stock, a waitlist allows them to express interest in products and get notified once they’re available again. This keeps customers engaged and helps you gauge demand and plan inventory more effectively. But do you know how to add a waitlist to Shopify? Let’s learn how to set up a Shopify waitlist quickly and easily.
How To Add A Waitlist to Shopify
Adding a waitlist feature to your Shopify store involves integrating an app that allows customers to join a list for out-of-stock items. This process is straightforward and can be done through the Shopify App Store. And it’s definitely worth doing; Shopify is a huge platform. In 2023, consumers spent $235.91 billion on the platform, a growth rate of over 20%. Knowing how to leverage a waitlist means that even more of this growing customer base will have access to your products.
Choose an App
In your Shopify admin dashboard, go to the Apps section and access the Shopify App Store. You can search for various third-party apps that offer waitlist functionality. Your chosen app will automatically integrate into your Shopify store.
Configure Waitlist Settings
With the app installed, it’s time to configure your settings. Most waitlist tools allow you to select which products or variations will have the waitlist option. You can choose specific items, or apply it store-wide for any products that are currently unavailable.
Customize the Waitlist Button
Personalizing the waitlist feature helps make it more appealing to your customers. You can customize the button text to something like “Join Waitlist” or “Notify Me When Available” and style it to fit your store’s branding. This small step can make a big difference in visibility and user engagement.
Set Up Notifications
Automated notifications are key to keeping customers in the loop. Once a product is restocked, customers on the waitlist will receive back-in-stock emails, letting them know the item is available. Make sure to configure these notifications to match your store’s tone and branding, ensuring a consistent experience.
Customizing the Waitlist Experience for Customers
Once your Shopify waitlist is set up, you’ll want to optimize the user experience. The key to an effective waitlist is making it easy for customers to sign up and stay informed. Here’s how to enhance the experience:
Make the Waitlist Button Visible
Ensure that the waitlist button is prominent on product pages, especially for high-demand or out-of-stock items. A clearly visible button encourages customers to sign up rather than leaving the page empty-handed.
Use Clear Messaging
After customers join the waitlist, provide them with clear confirmation that they will be notified when the item becomes available. This helps manage expectations and keeps them engaged.
Keep Customers Updated
If restocking takes longer than expected, sending updates can maintain customer trust and interest. Offering alternative suggestions or letting them know about similar products helps keep them engaged with your store.
Managing Your Shopify Waitlist for Success
Once the waitlist feature is live, you’ll need to manage it effectively. Regularly checking sign-up activity and product demand allows you to make informed decisions about restocking. If a certain product has many customers on the waitlist, it’s a clear sign that it should be prioritized in future inventory orders.
Also, it’s important to clean up your waitlist data periodically. If a product is discontinued or won’t be restocked soon, communicating this to waitlist members and removing inactive entries helps streamline the system. This ensures that customers are kept in the loop without feeling forgotten.
Using Waitlists for Product Launches
Waitlists aren’t just for restocking hot products; they can also create buzz around new products. By offering a waitlist for upcoming releases, you allow customers to sign up before the product officially launches. This strategy builds excitement and ensures a ready audience for your launch, increasing the likelihood of early sales.
Leveraging Waitlist Data for Marketing
Beyond helping with inventory, your waitlist provides valuable data for marketing. The information you gather from waitlist sign-ups can reveal customer preferences, helping you tailor your promotional efforts. For example, products with high waitlist interest could be featured in special campaigns or offered in limited editions.
By segmenting waitlist customers based on the products they’re interested in, you can create targeted marketing messages that resonate with specific groups. Whether it’s offering early access, exclusive discounts, or personalized offers, leveraging waitlist data helps boost engagement and sales.
Why It’s Important To Know How To Add A Waitlist to Shopify
Adding a waitlist feature to your Shopify store is a simple, effective way to enhance customer engagement and manage your inventory. It makes sure that you don’t miss out on potential sales due to stock shortages and keeps your customers engaged, increasing their likelihood of returning to complete a purchase. Last year, about 675 million people bought products from Shopify stores; knowing how to add a waitlist to Shopify means that you can access a bigger part of that market. Knowing the right sales strategies and having access to the right tools is an important part of Shopify success. Now that you know how to add a waitlist to Shopify, find out more about waitlist solutions with our Pre Order Now app!
