Conquer the Holiday Rush: How To Use Pre-orders to Supercharge Your Sales

Ellie Ho

November 3, 2024

•

3 min read

Prep your holiday sales with pre-orders

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As the holiday shopping season approaches, managing inventory and preventing cart abandonment becomes a significant challenge for online merchants. Shoppers today have little patience for stockouts—nearly one-third abandon their carts when items are unavailable. In the US alone, 58% of online consumers say out-of-stock issues have blocked their shopping journey in 2022.

Share of online shoppers unable to purchase products due to out-of-stock as of June 2022 by country. (Source: Statista)

That’s why we created the Pre-order feature—a solution that keeps sales flowing, even when stock runs low. With Pre-order, you can promote upcoming products, capture valuable demand insights, and generate revenue without waiting for inventory to arrive.

Let’s explore how Boost’s Pre-order feature works, why it’s a game-changer, and how you can make the most of it for your BFCM campaigns.

What Is Pre-order, and How Does Boost Makes It Magic?

Pre-orders allow customers to reserve products that are not yet available or currently out of stock. This feature serves as a bridge between demand and supply, enabling businesses to maintain revenue streams even when inventory is low.

What sets our Pre-order feature apart is the strategic and flexible placement of the “Pre-order” button. You have complete control over where this crucial call-to-action appears – on individual product pages, within the shopping cart, during the checkout process, and even in post-purchase order confirmation emails. This adaptable approach creates a seamless and intuitive pre-order experience, meeting your customers precisely where they are in their buying journey.

Furthermore, our robust Pre-order campaign setup allows you to customize every detail:

Payment options: Full payment, Partial payment, or No payment in advance.
Discounts: An incentive to encourage pre-orders.
Deposit amounts: Set upfront value in case of partial payment
Estimated delivery dates: As soon as possible, After a specific number of days, or On a specific date

In the General settings of Pre-order, you can adjust the button text and include tailored messaging for delivery notices to keep customers in the loop.

This level of granular control ensures a seamless pre-order experience aligned with your brand, sparking excitement and boosting conversions for your upcoming products.

Why Is Pre-order Your Holiday Heroes?

Pre-orders are of great help, especially during the holiday frenzy.

Benefits of Pre-order For Merchants

Boost Product Launches

Pre-orders create buzz around upcoming products. Offering exclusive deals and flexible delivery options is an excellent way to build excitement and attract early interest among your customers.

Drive Early Revenue

Have you ever thought of generating sales even before products hit the shelves? Pre-orders can make this come true. During the peak seasons, it is a means to stabilize cash flow.

Minimize Inventory Risks

By gauging interest in advance, you can avoid the pitfalls of overstocking or understocking during busy periods, especially during busy seasons.

Lower Cart Abandonment Rates

Offering pre-orders on out-of-stock items keeps customers engaged and encourages them to complete their transactions instead of leaving the store disappointed.

Foster Customer Engagement

Pre-orders not only build excitement but also strengthen customer relationships, creating a sense of loyalty and enhancing brand engagement.

Forecast Demand with Data-driven Insights

In the upcoming update to the Pre-order feature, we’re introducing a robust Analytics dashboard that delivers valuable insights into customer behavior. With a clearer view of demand trends, you’ll be equipped to optimize inventory management and fine-tune your production strategy.

Benefits of Pre-order For Customers

For customers, pre-orders offer peace of mind.

Secure Must-Have Items

Pre-orders let shoppers reserve high-demand products, ensuring they don’t miss out during peak shopping seasons. They know they've secured that coveted gift, eliminating the stress of scrambling for last-minute presents.

Exclusive Early Access Benefits

You can sweeten the pre-order deal by offering special early bird discounts or bundles for pre-orders, making your customers feel like they're getting a special treat.

Effortless Shopping Experience

Pre-orders offer a hassle-free way for customers to lock in desired products, making holiday shopping smoother and more convenient. With a few clicks, they can reserve their desired items and relax, knowing their holiday shopping is sorted.

How To Make the Most of Your Holiday Pre-orders

To ensure your pre-order campaigns are successful this holiday season, we have some tips for you.

Transparent Communication

Clearly outline terms and conditions, including estimated shipping dates and payment policies. Align button text and delivery notices with your brand voice—consider using phrases like “Pre-order Now – Ships by Dec 15” to set clear expectations.

Delivery timelines should also be transparent. Set realistic delivery policies such as “As Soon as Possible” or specific dates to manage customer expectations effectively. This clarity helps build trust and reduces potential frustration.

Optimized Storefront Visibility

Position the pre-order button strategically across product pages, the cart, and checkout pages. This ensures customers encounter it seamlessly throughout their purchase journey.

Strategic Marketing

Advertise your pre-order campaigns on your website, social media platforms, and through email newsletters to reach a wider audience. Consistent messaging across channels reinforces your campaign's visibility. Offering early bird discounts or free shipping on pre-orders can further drive sales.

Flexible Payment Options

Boost’s Pre-order feature offers multiple payment options, including full upfront payments, partial payments, or payments at a later date. Providing this flexibility—like giving your customers the option to pay a portion upfront—helps lower financial barriers, making it easier for them to secure their pre-orders with confidence.

Seamless Checkout Experience

Ensure that the checkout process for pre-orders is smooth and user-friendly. A hassle-free experience will encourage more customers to complete their purchases without hesitation.

Use Cases for Pre-order Campaigns

Now that you're familiar with the ins and outs of our exciting new Pre-order feature, let's explore some creative ways to put it into action. Here are a few scenarios where pre-orders can truly shine.

Limited Edition Product Launch

Ignite holiday excitement by launching limited-edition items through pre-orders, tapping into customers' desire for exclusive, must-have products. For seasonal offerings, pre-orders coupled with enticing early-bird discounts can drive early adoption and boost those all-important holiday sales.

Early Access to Sales For Loyal Customers

Reward your loyal customers with VIP access to holiday sales and promotions through pre-orders. Let them snag those coveted items before anyone else, creating a sense of exclusivity and driving early engagement with your hottest deals. This not only boosts sales but also fosters a deeper connection with your most valued shoppers.

Anticipating Demand

Use pre-orders to gauge customer appetite for new products before diving headfirst into large-scale production. This smart approach minimizes financial risk while providing valuable insights into market demand.

Managing Inventory Shortages

Stockouts cause walkouts. Keep the revenue flowing by offering popular items as pre-orders, ensuring your customers can still snag their favorites even when they're temporarily out of stock. Pre-orders will engage shoppers and strengthen your sales momentum.

Subscription-Based Products

Give your subscribers a head start! Offer pre-orders for upcoming collections or product bundles, allowing them to secure their subscriptions in advance. This generates excitement for future releases and provides your loyal subscribers with a seamless, convenient experience.

Wrapping Up Your Holiday Success

The Pre-order feature of Boost AI Search & Discovery enables merchants to navigate the complexities of holiday shopping effectively. By implementing strategic pre-order campaigns, you can forecast demand accurately, generate revenue even before products ship, and keep your customers happy even in challenging inventory situations.

So, what are you waiting for? Start your pre-order campaign today, and get ready to sleigh the competition!

Frequently Asked Questions About Boost's Pre-order Feature

Why can't I create a Pre-order campaign on Boost’s app dashboard?

The Pre-order feature is available on the Boost TURBO version and the Essential and Professional packages only. Check your app version and pricing plan, and upgrade if needed to use this feature. You'll also need to grant data access permissions for the pre-order feature to function correctly.

How many Pre-order campaigns can I create?

There's no limit to the number of campaigns you can create or run simultaneously.

Can a product or collection be part of two different Pre-order campaigns?

Yes, it can. However, be mindful of potential conflicts between campaign settings.

If you're using the same products or collections across multiple campaigns, double-check each campaign's settings to avoid inconsistencies.

Pay close attention to payment dates, ensuring they are clearly specified to avoid confusion for customers purchasing from different campaigns.

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Ellie Ho

•

Content Marketing Specialist

November 6, 2024

•

3 min read

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Conquer the Holiday Rush: How To Use Pre-orders to Supercharge Your Sales

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