This FAQ article provides detailed answers to common questions about Smart Flows, Rebuy’s no-code visual editor for creating personalized, behavior-driven experiences on your Shopify storefront.
Best Practices for Smart Flows and Campaigns
When to Use a Global Flow
Global Flows are designed to be applied across your entire site, making them great for broad, consistent messaging that you want to show all visitors or specific segments regardless of where they are on your site. Here are some use cases:
Sitewide Promotions:
Global Flows are ideal for announcing large promotions or sitewide discounts. These should be visible across multiple pages of your site to ensure maximum exposure.Example 1: A banner across your site announcing a “Summer Sale – 20% off everything, this week only!” can instantly grab attention and create urgency for visitors browsing product or category pages.
Example 2: Display a message across your site promoting “Free shipping on orders over $50”, ensuring that every customer knows about this offer before they check out, which can drive higher conversion rates.
General Customer Engagement:
Use Global Flows to engage customers with consistent messages, whether it's about your brand, loyalty program, or general updates.Example 1: A pop-up inviting visitors to join the rewards program could appear on key pages (like the homepage or checkout page), encouraging customers to sign up and earn exclusive benefits like points for discounts or gifts.
Example 2: A persistent footer message across all pages could say, “Sign up for our newsletter to receive 10% off your first order.” This consistent reminder can turn first-time visitors into subscribers, driving future sales.
Segmentation for New or Returning Users:
Use Global Flows to tailor messages based on whether a customer is new to your site or a returning visitor. This kind of segmentation helps personalize the experience.Example 1: New visitors could be welcomed with a message like “Welcome! Take 10% off your first order” to entice them to make their first purchase right away.
Example 2: Returning users might see a message like “Welcome back! Check out new arrivals since your last visit,” which reminds them of fresh content or products that are relevant to their previous interactions on your site.
VIP Early Access (Klaviyo):
Use Global Flows to create personalized experiences for your top-tier customers.Example: Pull Klaviyo segments directly into your Smart Flows to show VIPs early access deals when they arrive on the site. For instance, you might greet them with a popup like, “Special Offer for VIPs – Get 20% off your next purchase!”
Example: By showing VIP customers exclusive offers and early access, you're reinforcing their loyalty and encouraging them to make high-value purchases, leading to higher AOV (Average Order Value).
When to Use a Link-Based Flow
Link-Based Flows are triggered when users click a specific link—making them perfect for targeted campaigns or time-sensitive promotions that require precision. Here’s how to effectively use them:
Targeted Promotions:
Link-Based Flows are ideal for campaigns driven by specific marketing channels like email, ads, or social media. They allow you to tailor the experience based on the link the customer clicked.Example 1: A customer clicks on a Google Ads link that leads to a product page for sneakers. Once they land on the page, a flow is triggered showing “Special Deal: Buy 1, Get 50% Off the Second Pair” in a banner or popup. This helps to close the sale by promoting a relevant and time-sensitive offer.
Example 2: If a customer clicks through an Instagram ad about handbags, they land on a product page that promotes a “Exclusive Instagram Offer – Free Wallet with Any Handbag Purchase.” This ensures that the message is relevant to the ad they clicked on, increasing conversion potential.
Time-Sensitive Offers:
Use Link-Based Flows to create urgency for time-sensitive deals, which can be particularly effective for flash sales or countdown promotions.Example 1: You could send an email blast with a link to a 48-hour flash sale landing page. When customers click the link, they’re greeted with a countdown timer pop-up that says, “Hurry, only 24 hours left to save!” This creates urgency and encourages quick action.
Example 2: An SMS campaign with a link to a product page that promotes “Today Only: Free Overnight Shipping” can push customers to complete their purchases before time runs out, capitalizing on the fear of missing out (FOMO).
Personalized Campaigns:
Link-Based Flows are great for personalizing offers based on previous customer behavior or segment-specific deals.Example 1: A VIP customer receives an email with a unique link that, when clicked, shows a personalized message like, “Hey Sarah, enjoy 25% off your next purchase – just for our loyal members!” This makes the offer feel exclusive, driving higher engagement from your top customers.
Example 2: A customer who recently browsed summer dresses gets an email with a link saying, “Your perfect summer dress is waiting! Get 10% off your next order.” When they click the link, they land on a page featuring their recently viewed dresses along with the discount, making the offer feel more personalized and targeted.
Cart Builder + BXGY:
Link-Based Flows can also guide customers through a series of steps to build a larger cart or take advantage of a Buy-X-Get-Y (BXGY) offer.Example: After adding a product to their cart, the flow could show a popup with the message: “Add 1 more item to get a free gift!”. This creates an enticing “magic moment” that encourages customers to increase their order size to earn a gift.
Example: A banner then confirms the gift, saying something like, “You’ve earned a free gift with your purchase—only 1 item left to unlock it!” This builds trust and ensures a smooth, confidence-building shopping experience.
Win-Back Flow (For Returning Visitors):
Link-Based Flows can be used to win back customers who have browsed without purchasing.Example: If a customer browses but doesn’t buy, the next time they return, greet them with a special return incentive, such as an auto-applied discount that directs them to bestsellers or products they viewed previously.
Example: This helps bring second-chance buyers back into the funnel and maximizes the opportunity to convert previous visitors into paying customers.
Final Tip:
Think of Global Flows as your always-on, broad messaging tool for sitewide engagement, ensuring that your key messages are seen by all visitors.
Use Link-Based Flows as precision tools for targeting specific customer journeys, campaigns, or time-sensitive offers, providing a more personalized and impactful experience.
FAQs
What is Smart Flows?
Smart Flows is Rebuy’s no-code visual editor that allows merchants to create personalized and conditional experiences on their Shopify storefronts. It enables merchants to design flows such as pop-ups, cart logic, discounts, and other tailored campaigns without needing developer assistance.
Can I target specific customer segments in Smart Flows?
Yes! You can target customers based on:
Klaviyo Segments: You can sync your Klaviyo segments to apply tailored experiences for specific audiences.
New or Returning Users: Target visitors based on their session history (new visitors vs. returning visitors).
Location: Personalize experiences for customers from specific countries, states, or provinces.
What types of actions can I automate with Smart Flows?
You can automate a variety of actions, including:
Applying Discounts: Automatically apply discounts to qualifying orders.
Adding Items to Cart: Automatically add promotional items or free gifts to the cart.
Showing Pop-Ups and Banners: Display targeted messages, announcements, or special offers.
Redirecting Users: Send users to specific landing pages based on behavior.
Custom CSS/JS: Implement custom styles or JavaScript for advanced behaviors.
How can I track the performance of my flows?
Smart Flows includes detailed analytics to help you track the performance of each flow. You can see metrics like:
Total Clicks
Total Orders
Conversion Rate
Revenue Per Visitor
Average Order Value (AOV)
Daily Insights: Track daily metrics like click counts, visitor counts, and sales performance.
What is the difference between Global Flows and Link-Based Flows?
Global Flows are always active on your site and trigger whenever a user visits. They are ideal for site-wide promotions or persistent offers.
Link-Based Flows are triggered when a user clicks on a specific tracked URL. They are great for targeted campaigns or promotions tied to specific pages or products.
Can I use Smart Flows for seasonal or limited-time offers?
Yes! You can use Specific Date or Date Range conditions to trigger flows only within a certain time frame. This is ideal for seasonal campaigns, flash sales, or limited-time offers.
How does Smart Flows integrate with other tools like Klaviyo?
Smart Flows integrates seamlessly with tools like Klaviyo, allowing you to import and use your customer segments within your flows. You can target specific audiences based on their behavior or engagement with your email campaigns, creating a cohesive and personalized customer experience across platforms.
Is there a way to preview my flows before making them live?
Yes! The Flow Dashboard lets you preview your flows before they go live. You can see how the flow will appear to users and make adjustments as needed to ensure the best experience.
Can I create custom designs for pop-ups and banners?
Yes! You can fully customize the design of pop-ups, banners, and other components using text, images, buttons, and links. Additionally, you can apply custom CSS to further style these elements to fit your brand's look and feel.
Can I use Custom CSS and JavaScript for anything on my site throughout the Smart Flow?
Yes! While these features are integrated with Smart Flows, you’re not limited to just Rebuy or flow-specific elements. You can target any part of your site, allowing for broad customization across all elements in a flow, or even the entire page.
Can I apply custom code to only one component within a flow?
Yes! If you want to target a specific component, like a button or modal, you can use CSS or JavaScript to apply styles or actions just to that element. For example, you can target a specific PopUp or a form field without affecting other components in the flow.
Can I use both Global and Link-Based Flows together?
Yes! You can use both types of flows to create a comprehensive strategy. For example, a Global Flow can apply a site-wide discount, while a Link-Based Flow can trigger a special promotion for a specific product or category when users click a targeted link.
Do you offer templates for Smart Flows?
Yes, we currently offer pre-built templates for Global Flows only. These templates are designed to help you quickly set up high-performing campaigns without the need for coding or complex setup. They follow best practices proven to drive higher conversion rates, AOV, and customer engagement.
What types of templates are available?
The available templates for Global Flows include:
Simple Sitewide Banner
Cart Threshold Discount
Welcome Popup + Sitewide Banner
Storewide Sale
Shipping Unlock
These templates are customizable and easy to implement, giving you a fast-start solution for campaigns during key promo periods.
Can I use templates for other types of Smart Flows?
At this time, templates are only available for Global Flows. We’re always working on expanding our offerings, so stay tuned for future updates on additional template options.