Integrating Try Before You Buy strategies throughout the customer journey

Ecommerce

Ecommerce

Try Before You Buy strategies are transforming how online retailers drive conversions and build customer trust, and no one knows this better than Swanky, a leading Shopify Plus Partner.

In this article, Swanky, known for scaling global retailers with data-driven growth and custom tech stacks, share the key touchpoints they optimise across the customer journey to help brands get the best results from Try with Mirra, from increasing AOV to driving sustainable, long-term growth.


How do e-commerce retailers compete with brick-and-mortar shops? Be it the fit, the flavour, the look or the scent – it’s hard to convey the things that make your product unique over a screen.

Great copywriting and photography only get you so far.

However, with the addition of Try Before You Buy (TBYB) functionality, you move consumer sentiment from, “It’s too risky to make a decision about this purchase without trying it” to “Why not? I can try before I buy.”

This simple shift in customer mindset can dramatically impact your business, increasing conversion rates and driving up average order value (AOV). Try with Mirra provides exactly this functionality, bridging the gap between the convenience of online shopping and the experiential nature of in-store retail.

Why should you consider TBYB strategies? 

In today’s digital retail landscape, consumers are often unsure about purchasing products they can’t physically examine or try on. This is known as Product Fit Uncertainty (PFU) and can lead to hesitation, abandoned carts, and costly returns.

TBYB tools aim to address this apprehension by offering customers the chance to check out a product without making a purchase. The benefits of this are clear:

  • Increased conversion rates: By removing the risk of purchasing unseen products, customers are more likely to complete their purchases.
  • Higher average order values (AOV): Customers tend to select more items, leading to increased revenue per order.
  • Attract new customers: When customers can try products before committing, they feel more confident to try more items.
  • Enhanced customer experience: The ability to try out products in their own environment creates an engaging shopping experience that builds trust and loyalty.
  • Competitive advantage: Offering TBYB differentiates your brand in a crowded marketplace.

Strategic implementation of a TBYB tool

Given all the benefits of a TBYB tool, you access the most value from Try with Mirra by including it in both your marketing and store strategies. Here we’ll look at these two areas and share some strategies for each of them.

Store integration strategies

One of the most effective places to integrate Try with Mirra is within your existing size guide or fit finder sections.

1. Optimise your size guide and fit finder

Customers visiting these areas are already expressing uncertainty about product fit. By placing TBYB messaging alongside size information, you create a natural solution: “Not sure about your size? Try before you buy with Mirra!”

2. Incorporate into product review sections

Product reviews are another strategic location to integrate Try with Mirra messaging. Customers often read reviews to gauge product quality, fit, and appearance – all factors that contribute to purchase uncertainty.

By placing Try with Mirra callouts within or adjacent to your review section, you connect with customers at a critical decision point. Here you could use messaging like: ‘Still unsure after reading reviews? Experience it yourself with Try with Mirra – no upfront payment required.’

This approach is effective because customers reading reviews are actively seeking validation from others’ experiences. Try with Mirra offers a compelling alternative: forming their own opinion through direct experience.

Moreover, you could highlight reviews mentioning fit or quality and then position Try with Mirra as the solution to these common uncertainties.

3. Customise messaging based on product category

Different product categories create different customer concerns. Tailoring messaging to address category-specific uncertainties can significantly increase its effectiveness.

Here are some examples:

  • For apparel and footwear, emphasise fit and comfort: ‘Not sure about sizing? Try these styles at home and only pay for what you love.’
  • For luxury and high-end products, focus on quality and craftsmanship: ‘Experience our premium quality first-hand before committing.’
  • For home goods or furniture, highlight how items could look in the customer’s space: ‘See how it transforms your home before you decide.’

By customising your messaging to address the specific uncertainties associated with your product category, you create more compelling and relevant TBYB touch points throughout the customer journey.

4. Incorporate into customer service (CS) team’s tooling

Your CS team is often the frontline for addressing customer concerns about products. 

Equipping them a TBYB solution can turn potential lost sales into successful conversions.

Train your team to offer Try with Mirra during live chat sessions, email correspondence, and social media interactions when customers express uncertainty about products.

For example, when a customer asks about sizing or material quality, representatives can respond with: “I see your concern about the fit. Have you considered our Try with Mirra option? You can try the item at home before making a purchase.”

This approach turns customer hesitation into an opportunity to showcase your brand’s customer-centric approach while increasing the likelihood of conversion.

5. Incorporate into an abandonment pop-up

Cart abandonment pop-ups offer another opportunity to convert hesitant shoppers before they leave your site.

When a customer shows exit intent or has items in their cart for an extended period, trigger a pop-up with messaging like, ‘Not ready to commit? Try these items at home first with Try with Mirra – no upfront payment required!’

This approach directly addresses the uncertainty that often leads to abandonment, offering an immediate solution that removes the financial risk from the equation.

For high-value items especially, this can be the deciding factor that keeps customers engaged with your brand rather than continuing their search elsewhere.


Marketing activation strategies

1. Incorporate into top-of-funnel advertising

Make Try with Mirra a key selling point in your acquisition marketing. Highlighting the ability to try before buying can significantly reduce friction in the customer journey, especially for new prospects unfamiliar with your brand.

Therefore, try creating dedicated ad campaigns that specifically promote the Try with Mirra experience. These campaigns often see higher click-through rates and return on ad spend compared to standard product ads.

2 . Include Try with Mirra in welcome series emails

Welcome emails have some of the highest open rates in email marketing. Introducing Try with Mirra in your welcome series can immediately set your brand apart from competitors.

Consider creating a dedicated email that explains the Try with Mirra concept and its benefits, perhaps as the second or third email in your welcome sequence. This positions your brand as customer-centric and reduces initial purchase hesitation for new subscribers.

Messaging could include: “Experience our quality before you commit – try our most popular styles at home with no upfront payment.”

3. Leverage cart abandonment recovery

Cart abandonment represents a significant revenue opportunity, with abandonment rates averaging between 70-86% across devices. Try with Mirra offers a compelling solution to address the uncertainty that often causes abandonment.

When customers abandon carts, follow up with messaging like: ‘Still thinking about it? Try it at home with no commitment using Try with Mirra!’

By removing the financial commitment barrier, you can recover sales that would otherwise be lost to indecision.

4. Create community engagement opportunities

Try with Mirra offers unique opportunities to foster community engagement around your products. Encourage customers to share their try-on experiences with friends or on social media with messaging like “Host a home fashion show!” or “Organise a girls’ night catwalk with Try with Mirra!”

This approach turns an individual shopping experience into a social event, potentially reaching new audiences through word-of-mouth and social sharing.


Measure and optimise

As ecommerce trends and customer expectations continuously evolve, it’s important for you to track, test and optimise your use of tech. In the case of TBYB tools, we recommend tracking metrics such as:

  • Conversion rate
  • AOV
  • Customer Lifetime Value (CLV)
  • Return rates
  • CAC

You can also leverage A/B testing to maximise the effectiveness of your Try with Mirra implementation. You can test messaging, different value propositions, and CTA placement throughout the customer journey. The results of this allow you to then adjust these elements in a data-informed manner, helping ensure you’re creating the best customer journey possible. 

Ready to maximise your Try with Mirra implementation?

You might be looking to implement these strategies for your e-commerce brand, but aren’t sure where to start. As a Shopify Platinum Partner, Swanky has helped global retailers optimise e-commerce strategies and tech stacks.

Reach out to their team of experts today to discover how they can help you leverage Try with Mirra to its full potential and drive sustainable growth for your business.