What Does Pre-order Mean?
Pre-ordering is a sales strategy where customers can order a product before it is officially released or available for purchase. Pre order feature allows customers to secure their purchase in advance, ensuring they receive the product as soon as it becomes available.
This sales strategy can benefit both customers and you as store owners. Customers can be sure they will get the product they want, and store owners can predict the demand and stock accordingly. It also helps store owners gauge a product's interest and make any necessary adjustments before it is released.
Benefits of Setting Pre Order on eCommerce Website for Store Owners:
There are several benefits to setting up pre-ordering on an ecommerce website for store owners:
Increased demand forecasting
Pre-ordering allows store owners to predict demand for a product before it is released, which can help them better plan for inventory and production.
Improved cash flow
By accepting pre-orders, store owners can receive payment for a product before it is even manufactured or shipped, providing a cash flow boost.
Reduced risk of unsold inventory
With pre-ordering, store owners can gauge interest in a product and adjust production accordingly, reducing the risk of having unsold inventory.
Increased customer engagement
Pre-ordering can create a sense of exclusivity and urgency, encouraging customers to engage with the product and make a purchase.
Better customer relationships
By taking pre-orders, store owners can build trust with customers by informing them about the product's release date and delivery status.
Early feedback
Store owners can get early feedback about their products from the pre-ordered customers, which can help improve the product and make it more appealing to a wider audience.
Marketing
Pre-ordering can be used as a marketing tool by creating a buzz around the product and building anticipation.
Reduced competition
By accepting pre-orders, store owners can lock in early sales and reduce the risk of losing customers to competitors.
Now, let's discuss the benefits to buyer.
Benefits of Pre Order on eCommerce Shopify Website for Buyers
There are several benefits for customers when pre-ordering products on an ecommerce website:
- Guaranteed availability
- Early access
- Exclusive offers
- Personalization
- Convenience
- Better planning
- Reduced shipping costs
- Better customer service
After reading the benefits of pre order let’s jump to the a step by step guide to setup pre order on your Shopify store. Here is the guide.
Step-by-step instructions for creating a pre-order product listing in Shopify
- Create a new product template: In your Shopify theme, create a new product template specifically for pre-order items. This template should be different from the regular product template. For example, you can create a new file called product.preorder.liquid and save it in the templates directory of your theme.
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Add pre-order information fields: Add fields to the template for pre-order information such as release date, expected ship date, and stock status. You can use the Shopify Liquid language to add these fields to the template. For example, you can add the following code to your template to display the release date of the product:
Copy code<p>Release date: {{ product.metafields.preorder.release_date }}</p>
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Customize the layout: Customize the layout of the pre-order product template to match your store's design. This can include adding images, videos, and product details. For example, you can add a banner image to the top of the template to indicate that it is a pre-order product:
Copy code<img src="preorder-banner.jpg" alt="Pre-Order">
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Add a pre-order button: Add a pre-order button to the template that will allow customers to place pre-orders. For example, you can use the following code to add a button that says "Pre-Order Now":
Copy code<form action="/cart/add" method="post"> <input type="hidden" name="id" value="{{ product.id }}"> <input type="submit" value="Pre-Order Now"> </form>
- Test your template: Test the template by creating a new pre-order product and setting it to use the new template. Make sure the pre-order information and button are displayed correctly.
- Additional logic can be added as per your requirement.
If it seems complicated let's contact us for free consultation our Shopify expert help you to setting up pre order.
Note: You can also add pre-order products to existing collections and use those collections to drive traffic to your pre-order products page.
Adding pre-orders is not enough to boost sales and attract customers; you must write effective product descriptions. Want to know “how?” read tips further.
Tips for writing effective product descriptions and pricing strategies for pre-order items:
Use clear and detailed product descriptions
Make sure to provide accurate and detailed information about the product, including its features, specifications, and benefits. Use high-quality images to showcase the product and its features.
Highlight the pre-order status
Make sure to communicate that the product is available for pre-order clearly and when it will be released.
Use pre-order pricing strategies
Consider offering a special discounted price for pre-order customers or a limited-time offer for early birds.
Create a sense of urgency
Use language that creates a sense of urgency and scarcity, such as "limited stock" or "first come, first served," to encourage customers to pre-order.
Be transparent
Be transparent about the delivery date and any potential delays. Provide regular updates to customers on the status of the pre-order.
Use customer reviews
If available, use customer reviews to build trust and credibility for the product.
Use social proof
Use social proof such as testimonials, influencer endorsements, or media mentions to build trust and credibility for the product.
Create a sense of exclusivity
Use language to create a sense of exclusivity, such as "limited-edition," "early access," "first to get it," and "pre-order now."
Build an email list
Build an email list of pre-ordered customers and keep them updated about the product release and any changes.
Use pre-order bundles
Offer pre-order bundles with other products for a discounted price.
By following these tips above, you can create effective product descriptions and pricing strategies that will help you promote your pre-order products and increase sales.
Now discuss the different options available for managing pre-order inventory on your Shopify store.
Different options available for managing pre-order inventory on Shopify:
Setting release dates
You can set a specific release date for your pre-order product, and Shopify will automatically make the product available for purchase on that date.
Managing stock levels
You can choose to set the stock level for pre-order items as "available on request" or "limited stock" in the inventory section. This allows you to manage the stock of your pre-order items separately from your regular products.
Backordering
You can also set up back ordering on your pre-order products, allowing customers to place an order for a product that is currently out of stock.
Automatic restocking
You can set up automatic restocking for pre-order items so that your inventory is automatically restocked when the product is released.
Stock notifications
You can set up email notifications to inform customers when a pre-order item is back in stock.
Pre-order apps
You can use apps like "Pre-Order Manager" or "Pre-Order Now," available on the Shopify App store, to set up pre-order options on your store.
Fulfillment
You can set up pre-order fulfillment options such as shipping or pickup and also set up pre-order shipping rates.
Pre-order reports
You can also generate pre-order reports to see how many customers have pre-ordered a product, how many units have been pre-ordered, and what the revenue is.
Knowing how to handle pre-order refunds and cancellations is also important to provide customers with uninterrupted service without damaging your brand value.
Strategies for handling pre-order cancellations and refunds:
- Have a clear cancellation and refund policy: Make sure to have a clear cancellation and refund policy in place for pre-order items, and make it easily accessible to customers.
- Be transparent about the refund process: Clearly communicate the refund process to customers, including the time frame for processing refunds and any fees that may be associated with canceling a pre-order.
- Offer flexible refund options: Offer customers multiple refund options, such as store credit or exchange for another product, to make the process as easy as possible.
- Keep good records: Keep accurate records of all pre-order cancellations and refunds to ensure that the process is handled efficiently and fairly.
- Communicate with customers: Keep customers informed about the status of their refunds and any issues that may arise. Respond promptly to customer inquiries and complaints to build trust and customer loyalty.
- Encourage customers to contact customer service: Encourage customers to contact customer service if they have any issues or questions about their pre-order cancellation and refund.
- Have a team ready to handle pre-order cancellations and refunds: Create a dedicated team to handle pre-order cancellations and refunds to ensure that the process is handled smoothly and efficiently.
- Be prepared for a high volume of cancellations during a certain time: Be prepared for a high volume of cancellations during a certain time, such as product launches, delays, or other issues.
Here are the tips by our ecommerce marketing experts to promote pre-order products to maximize the ROI and conversion rate.
Tips for effectively promoting pre-order products and encouraging customer engagement:
- Build anticipation: Build anticipation for the product release by creating a countdown, sharing sneak peeks, or offering early bird discounts for pre-orders.
- Create a dedicated landing page: Create a dedicated landing page for pre-order products that includes detailed product information, images, and a pre-order button.
- Use social media: Use social media to promote pre-order products and create a buzz around the product release. Share images, videos, and updates on product development and release date.
- Use email marketing: Use email marketing to inform customers about pre-order products and offer exclusive discounts or promotions for pre-ordering.
- Use influencer marketing: Partner with influencers or brand ambassadors to promote pre-order products and build credibility for the product.
- Use pre-order bundles: Offer pre-order bundles with other products for a discounted price to increase the perceived value of the pre-order.
- Use pre-order upsells: Use pre-order upsells to increase average order value and encourage customers to pre-order more than one item.
- Host pre-order giveaways and contests: Host pre-order giveaways and contests to increase customer engagement and encourage pre-orders.
- Use retargeting ads: Use retargeting ads to remind customers who have shown interest in the product to pre-order.
- Use customer reviews: Use customer reviews to build trust and credibility for the product.
Conclusion
After reading the complete article, you can set up a pre-order on your Shopify store, apply it effectively, and manage it with no hassle. But still, if you get any problems, contact our Shopify experts. At Ecomheroes, we have a team of Shopify website designers and developers to help Shopify businesses grow.