Metafields are a powerful tool for customizing product relationships and recommendations in Rebuy. They allow you to add specific, custom data to your products and set up rules that deliver personalized experiences to your customers. This guide explains how to configure metafields, set up data sources, and utilize them to optimize your product recommendations.
How Metafields Work in Rebuy
Rebuy's current implementation of metafields returns products with matching metafield values. For example, if you configure a metafield like custom.color_name with the value "Red," Rebuy will match and recommend other products that also have custom.color_name = Red.
Note: Rebuy does not yet support pulling products specified directly in an upsell metafield. Enhancements for this functionality are under development.
Steps to Set Up Metafields in Shopify:
Define Your Metafield:
Navigate to Settings → Custom data → Products → Add definition in Shopify.
Define the metafield you want (e.g.,
custom.color_name).
Add the Metafield to Products:
Go to Products in the main menu and select the product you want to configure.
Scroll down to the Metafields section at the bottom of the product page.
Locate the metafield you created, click it, and enter its value (e.g., "Bedroom" for
custom.home.room).
Sync with Rebuy:
Once you’ve applied the metafield to your products, go to Rebuy Admin → Status Page and perform a re-sync to update Rebuy with your changes.
Allow some time for the sync process to complete.
Set Up Data Sources in Rebuy:
Define your data source using the exact metafield namespace and key (e.g.,
custom.color_name).
Setting Up the Data Source in Rebuy
When configuring rules in Rebuy, you’ll use metafields to create product recommendations. Here’s how:
Product Has Metafield:
Use the "Product Has Metafield" field and specify the metafield namespace.key you want to match (e.g.,
custom.color_name).
Products with Matching Metafield Values:
This will return products where the metafield values match.
For example:
Product 1:
custom.home.room = "Bedroom"Product 2:
custom.home.room = "Bedroom"Rebuy will return Product 2 when Product 1 is in focus.
Create Rules:
Example: If Product has
custom.color_name, return products with matchingcustom.color_name.
Real-World Use Cases
1. Matching Colors
Use a metafield like custom.color_name to categorize products by color. For example:
If a customer is viewing a red t-shirt, Rebuy can recommend other products with
custom.color_name = "Red".
2. Pairing Products
Create a metafield like custom.pair_it_with and assign it a shared value for products meant to be paired together.
Example: Both a wine glass and a wine bottle could have
custom.pair_it_with = "Wine Set", allowing them to be recommended together.
Tips for Effective Use
Minimize Rule Complexity: Use metafields to group products efficiently, reducing the need for multiple individual rules.
Strategic Value Assignments: Assign metafield values based on logical groupings like color, category, or complementary use cases.
Best Practices
Sync Regularly: Ensure your metafields and Rebuy are always in sync by performing regular re-syncs through the admin page.
Test and Iterate: Experiment with different metafield setups to find what works best for your product catalog and business goals.
Think Ahead: Plan your metafield strategy to minimize manual updates and maximize scalability.
Common Pitfalls and Solutions
Issue: Products Not Being Recommended as Expected
Solution: Check that the metafield values match across products and ensure your data source in Rebuy is correctly configured with the namespace.key.
Issue: Only One Product Being Recommended
Solution: Use a metafield that lives on all products and categorizes them logically (e.g., custom.color_name). Avoid using unique metafield values that don’t group products effectively.
Conclusion
Metafields are a versatile way to enhance product recommendations and streamline rule management in Rebuy. By configuring them effectively and syncing with Rebuy, you can create dynamic, personalized shopping experiences that delight your customers and drive higher conversions. For further assistance, explore our help center or reach out to the Rebuy support team!