Boost AI Search & Discovery is thrilled to roll out our newest feature: Pre-order! This innovative tool allows merchants to sell products that may be temporarily unavailable or newly introduced. This ensures customers can secure their desired items and businesses can maintain revenue and interest during inventory shortages.
Benefits of Using Pre-order
Pre-order is a win-win for both you and your customers. It offers a seamless way to manage inventory gaps, allowing you to gauge demand for upcoming products and avoid disappointing shoppers.
By allowing your customers to place orders in advance, you create a sense of exclusivity and anticipation. Also, you’ll encourage window shoppers to commit to a purchase before the product is available using Pre-order. This feature helps manage demand effectively and builds anticipation for upcoming stock, fostering loyalty among shoppers.
Note: Pre-order feature is available on Boost TURBO and for Essential and Professional users. Check your app version by following this guide.
How To Set Up Your First Pre-order Campaign
Getting started with pre-orders is easy! Follow these simple steps to create your first campaign:
Step 1: Feature Access
Navigate to the Cart icon on the right-hand menu in the Boost dashboard. This indicates the Pre-order section in your Boost app. Click Pre-order campaigns to begin.
Step 2: General Information & Trigger
Campaign Information: Click Add new campaign and give your campaign a descriptive name (this is for internal use only).
Product Selection: Choose the specific products or collections you want to include in the pre-order campaign. You can select individual product variants or entire collections for streamlined management.
Stock Conditions: Define when the pre-order button appears. Choose from options like Only when out of stock, Always available, or set a specific inventory threshold. Then click Next.
Step 3: Payment and Discounts
Payment Plan: Select your preferred payment plan (full, partial, or no upfront payment). You can also offer enticing discounts to incentivize pre-orders.
Delivery and Inventory Policy: Set clear expectations for shipping times, choosing from options like “As Soon as Possible”, a specific date, or a set number of days. Also, determine when inventory is updated (on sale or fulfillment).
Step 4: Theme Integration
Integrating Boost’s Pre-order widget into your theme works just like adding the Recommendation widget. Ensure the Boost Core (New) app embed is set to Active in your theme editor. Additionally, make sure the Continue selling option is enabled in your Shopify settings for all pre-order items.
You can also customize and preview how pre-order works on your storefront in the General settings.
Best Practices for Pre-order Success
To maximize the effectiveness of your Pre-order campaigns, consider these essential strategies. Implementing best practices promises a smooth experience for both your customers and your online empire, enhancing satisfaction and driving sales.
Clear Communication: Be transparent with customers about estimated delivery dates and any potential delays. Use the customizable delivery notice text to provide upfront information. To promote new product launches effectively, communicate excitement around upcoming items while clearly outlining pre-order details.
Strategic Marketing: Promote your pre-order campaigns through email marketing, social media, and other channels. Highlight the benefits of pre-ordering and create a sense of urgency.
Manage Multiple Campaigns: If you run multiple pre-order campaigns simultaneously, double-check each campaign's settings to avoid conflicts, especially regarding payment and delivery dates.
Monitor Performance (coming soon): In the next phase of Pre-order, we’ll release an insightful Analytics dashboard for all your campaigns. Then, you can keep an eye on your pre-order sales and customer feedback to optimize future campaigns.
With Boost's Pre-order feature, you can turn out-of-stock situations into opportunities for growth. Start leveraging the power of pre-orders today and keep your sales momentum going strong!
Boost's new Pre-order feature lets you sustain sales even when stock runs out or during new product launches. Customers can reserve items and ensure they get them as soon as the products are available. At the same time, you maintain sales momentum and manage demand. This exciting addition helps you build anticipation and customer loyalty, turning potential lost sales into guaranteed future revenue.
