Got a great idea for a new product but haven't had the chance to build it yet? Never fear: waitlists are here!
You can build your product behind the scenes while simultaneously gathering interest and engaging potential leads!
Overview
Setting a product to Waitlist lets you start building interest before the product is ready to launch. Instead of keeping it in draft mode, you can publish a waitlist page and begin collecting email addresses while you create your product.
When your product is ready, you can contact the people who joined the waitlist and let them know it’s available.
Here’s what a product waitlist page can look like:
Offering a product waitlist
Here’s how to offer a product waitlist:
From your home feed, click on your site name and select Admin from the dropdown menu.
From the admin dashboard, use the sidebar menu and click:
Products, if you want to set a waitlist for a product (such as an online course, download, coaching session, or bundle).
Events, if you want to set a waitlist for an event.
Click the Edit icon next to the product/event you'd like to set to waitlist.
Once inside the product editor, navigate to the Pricing tab.
Click Edit next to the Offer option.
From the list, choose the Waitlist option and click save.
Next, you will need to publish your product by clicking Publish in the upper-right corner of your product editor.
What happens when someone signs up for a waitlist?
Anyone who joins a product’s waitlist is added to that product’s waitlist subscriber list.
While you’re building the product, you can send email broadcasts or campaigns to people on the waitlist to keep them engaged. Once the product launches, you can email them again to invite them to purchase and include a special offer or coupon if you’d like.
When someone purchases the product, they’ll automatically move from the waitlist to the product’s Customers list. Anyone who doesn’t purchase will remain on the waitlist, allowing you to follow up with them later.
To see which products a contact has joined the waitlist for, open their contact page and select the Waitlist tab. This tab displays all products the contact has waitlisted for.
You can export the waitlist customer list at any time from your Products page. Click the ... menu next to the product, then select Export subscribers.
Embedding a waitlist signup form on another site
Want to collect email addresses for your product waitlist somewhere other than your Podia site? You can do that, too!
From your Products tab, click the three dots to the right of your product name, then click "Embed":
You'll be able to configure the success behavior for your embed waitlist form directly from your Settings.
Note: The provided embed code uses basic HTML. Because every website has different design and styling requirements, Podia Support can’t help customize the code.
If you need to change its appearance or behavior, consider working with a web developer or using an AI tool to help customize it for your site.
FAQs
What product types am I able to create a waitlist for?
What product types am I able to create a waitlist for?
You can create a waitlist for any product type or event. However, this feature isn’t available for plans, which cannot be placed in Waitlist mode.
What is the difference between a product waitlist and a paid product?
What is the difference between a product waitlist and a paid product?
There are a few key differences between a product waitlist and a Published product.
A Published product can be sold, while a waitlist product will allow you to capture email addresses only.
Note: If you're looking to presell your product i.e. start collecting money for it before it's ready, look at How to set a start date for your product.
Can members access the content of waitlisted products?
Can members access the content of waitlisted products?
No. Waitlisted products don't provide access to the product's content.
Their primary function is to help you gather email addresses for potential customers, but these individuals won't be able to view the product's content even if invited.
To allow people to access your product's content, you'll need to switch the offer type to either Free or Paid.
If you prefer to restrict access for the time being, you can set a start date for the product by following these instructions: How to set a start date for your product.
Can I customize the Thank you message that appears when someone signs up for my waitlisted product?
Can I customize the Thank you message that appears when someone signs up for my waitlisted product?
Yes! You can also choose to redirect folks to a thank you page instead! This article goes over the process of setting both of those options up.
My member bought a product previously, and now they can't see it in their account. Is it because I've placed it in Waitlist?
My member bought a product previously, and now they can't see it in their account. Is it because I've placed it in Waitlist?
Yes. Once a product is changed to Waitlist mode, your customers who previously had access will lose access until the product is made available again.
They may report that the product has disappeared from their dashboard or that they no longer have access.