Offering free shipping is one of the best ways to give your Shopify store a serious sales boost. Customers love its convenience, and it can be a real game-changer in helping you stand out from the competition. And the best part? Setting it up on Shopify is pretty darn straightforward.
This guide will walk you through every single step of how to add free shipping on Shopify. Whether you want to offer it on specific products or across your entire catalog, we’ve got you covered. And we’ll even share some expert tips to help you optimize your shipping strategy for maximum impact.
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Why Offer Free Shipping on Shopify?
- Free shipping influences not only first-time purchases but also increases retention rates. Source: SEOLeverage
There’s nothing quite like last-minute expenses at checkout to kill an online sale. A recent study found that 75% of customers report that free delivery is the biggest reason they hit the purchase button in the first place. It just gives them that psychological boost of, “Hey, we’re putting together a sweet deal for them here!”
And do you know what else free shipping does? It makes our shop look nice overall. Customers view such activity as another benefit rather than an overhead cost and attribute a better customer experience directly to such behaviors. That contributes to their credibility and the perceived value of our business.
And how do customers feel when they are truly appreciated like this? They’re far more likely to go out and tell others, too. And that drives powerful organic reach via social proof and plain old word of mouth – which is then fueled by free shipping.
How to add free shipping on Shopify?
How to add free shipping on Shopify?
To set up free shipping over a certain amount on Shopify, follow these step-by-step instructions:
How to Add Free Shipping Over a Certain Amount on Shopify:
Step 1: Log into Your Shopify Account
- Access your Shopify Merchant Dashboard with your login credentials.
- Select Settings on the left-hand side menu.
- Next, click on Shipping & Delivery.
Step 3: Manage Shipping Rates
- Under the General shipping rates section, find the shipping profile where you want to add free shipping.
- Click on Manage next to that shipping profile.
Step 4: Add a Free Shipping Rate
- Click on Add rate to create a new shipping option.
- Enter a name for the rate, such as “Free Shipping”.
- Set the Price field to 0.
Step 5: Set Conditions for Free Shipping
- Click on Add conditions to specify when free shipping applies.
- Choose Based on order price to set a minimum purchase amount for free shipping.
- Enter the minimum price threshold that customers must meet to qualify for free shipping (such as $50).
Step 6: Save Your Changes
- After setting the conditions, click Done. Finally, click Save to apply the changes.
How to Add Free Shipping to a Product on Shopify
Step 1: Log into Your Shopify Account
- Access your Shopify admin dashboard by logging in with your credentials.
Step 2: Create a Custom Shipping Profile
- In the left-hand menu, click on Settings.
- Select Shipping and delivery from the options available.
- Under the Custom shipping rates section, click on Create new profile.
Step 3: Name Your Shipping Profile
- Enter a name for your custom shipping profile that reflects its purpose (e.g., “Free Shipping Products”).
Step 4: Add Products to the Profile
- Use the Products search bar to find and select the products you want to offer free shipping for.
- Add these products to your newly created shipping profile.
Step 5: Set Up Shipping Zones
- Scroll down to the Shipping to section and click on Create shipping zone.
- Name the shipping zone (such as “Domestic Free Shipping”).
- Select the regions or countries where you want this free shipping option to apply.
- Click Done once you’ve selected the regions.
Step 6: Add Free Shipping Rate
- After creating the custom shipping profile, click on the Add rate option.
- Enter a name for this rate (e.g., “Free Shipping”).
- Set the Price field to 0.
Step 7: Save Your Changes
- Click on Done after setting any conditions.
- Finally, click on Save to apply all changes.
Best Practices for Managing Free Shipping
Best Practices for Managing Free Shipping
The above section has provided you with instructions on how to add free shipping to a product on Shopify. However, managing free shipping effectively requires balancing customer satisfaction with your business’s profitability.
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Cost Management
Sales can be increased by offering free delivery, but maintaining a viable firm requires careful cost control. You may either establish a minimum purchase threshold for free delivery or modestly alter product price to attract larger order values rather than bearing the expense yourself.
Additionally, you may make free delivery more sustainable for your company by negotiating lower prices with shipping carriers or looking into cost-effective fulfilment services.
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Marketing Free Shipping Offers
Make sure your clients are aware of free delivery as soon as they enter your business to make it a powerful selling factor. Clear alerts, eye-catching pop-ups, and bold banners may draw attention to the offer and generate enthusiasm. Use social media content and targeted email marketing to interact with your audience outside of your store.
For instance, a personalised email or a well-timed Instagram post might highlight your free delivery, especially during sales or special occasions. Making the offer irresistible and strong enough to motivate quick action is crucial.
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Analyzing Impact
Free shipping works best when it is adjusted based on performance data for your shop. Shopify’s analytics tools may show important information such as average order value, conversion rates, and how frequently consumers reach the free shipping barrier. Your role is to constantly monitor these indicators, ideally on a monthly or biweekly basis, in order to discover patterns and alter your plan.
If you discover that a large proportion of orders fall just below the threshold, you may experiment with gradually reducing it to entice consumers to purchase additional goods. Also, keep a watch on bounce rates at checkout; higher-than-usual rates may indicate that shipping expectations are not being reached.
FAQs
1. How can I set up free shipping for only specific products?
Shopify allows you to set up a shipping profile and give free shipping rates to certain items inside that profile. This way, only those goods will be eligible for free shipment, while the others will follow your usual shipping policies.
2. Can I offer free shipping only to customers within certain locations?
Absolutely, Shopify makes it super easy to set up free shipping rates tailored to where your customers are located. All you have to do is create those handy little shipping zones, and then assign your free delivery rates to specific countries, regions, or even postal codes.
3. How do I promote my free shipping offer on my Shopify store?
Free shipping is a killer sales driver, so you’ll want to highlight that offer everywhere on your Shopify store. Make it shine with eye-catching banners, strategic pop-ups, and clear messaging throughout the shopping experience – from your homepage to checkout. That way, customers will be well aware of the perk and more inclined to complete their purchase.
4. What’s the best way to cover the cost of free shipping?
Increase your product prices slightly or set a minimum order threshold to qualify for free shipping. This ensures that your margins remain healthy while still providing the perk to customers.
Wrapping Up
Now you know how to add free shipping on Shopify to attract more potential customers. Plus, using Shopify’s tools to customize this feature helps strengthen connections with your audience and grow your business effectively.
For more expert tips, step-by-step guides, and Shopify solutions, follow BSS Commerce to stay updated and take your online store to the next level!
