A countdown timer is a tried and tested method of adding urgency and FOMO qualities on an eCommerce website. There are several ways that you can utilize countdown timers on your store; for instance, you can use them to:

  • Detail when the next day shipping cut off time is.
  • Tell customers when the sale is going to start/end.
  • Inform customers of how long they have to wait for a product launch.

The idea is that a countdown timer will encourage the customer to speed up their ordering, put more items into their basket and complete a transaction. Therefore, a good countdown timer will help you increase sales, revenues and profits.

Key Takeaways
1
Countdown timers add urgency and FOMO, encouraging quicker customer purchases.
2
Strategic placement of timers on product pages influences customers’ purchase decisions.
3
Adding a countdown timer to Shopify is straightforward with various apps available.

Adding A Countdown Timer To Shopify Is Easy

Adding a countdown timer to your Shopify store is a relatively easy process. There are numerous apps, both premium (subscription) and free that you can use. It will depend on your needs to which one of the number of Shopify countdown timer apps you should choose.

Here are a few things to consider.

1. The Main Purpose Of The App

Are you looking to get customers to make an order during a sale period? Or do you want them to make an order before a cut off point? There are different apps for each of these. You could use Vitals, which is one of the best apps, and comes with more than 40 other features to help you sell more on your store.

But if you’re looking for an app that will ensure that you have a recurring timer that resets itself automatically (for delivery cut off times for example), then you might need a different app.

2. Your Budget

You also need to be sure that you have the budget for the app. Some are free but they come with limited features and might include third-party advertising or have limits on impressions. Countdown timers aren’t expensive, but you need to make sure that they’re adding value to your brand. Therefore, think about the uptick in order value or revenue against the cost of the app.

You can often use the free trial periods, which range from seven days to 30 days, to find out if a countdown app is working for you.

3. Where You Want It

Countdown apps come with many different ways that they display the timer. It could be placed in a header or announcement bar. Alternatively, it could be situated next to the product. You might also be limited on what pages the countdown timer will display. Some might only display on the homepage, whereas others can display across your website.

Be sure that you know where you want the timer to display and ensure your choice matches that.