Creating desire is the most important thing in any marriage. So why should it be any different with a customer? A waiting list can do amazing things for your business and its cash flow. It can create a feeling of exclusivity that people will pay for, you can create a higher-touch experience even in simple ways that don’t cost you anything more.

But waiting lists can help create loyalty from customers who are “so in love” with a product you have on Monday, and they can’t be found with a search warrant by the pickup date when it’s time to pay for their overwhelming love of what you offer.

When there is skin in the game, you have far less customers doing the disappearing act.

They also help you be able to make business decisions because you know where your next customers are coming from.

Creating a waiting list for my rabbitry did amazing things for my farm business profits, cash flow, and my sanity. My “product” or rabbits are sold before they are even ready to leave and it puts cash in my pocket ahead of time.

Whether you are creating a quilt, building a presale notification list, raising show cattle, making candles, or collecting interest from potential customers to see if you should create that next product. Waiting lists will add another layer of confidence to your small business.

How A Waiting List Helps Your Business Cashflow

When you create a paid waiting list, you are able to get cash in your pocket to create the product. But this also creates a commitment to pay the final amount. People are far less likely to back out when there is a good amount of money on the line.

A Waiting List Gives Your Product Scarcity

People want to feel like they are getting access to something exclusive. Give them a reason to want to get on the list.

For my rabbits is a personal reach out from me, one at a time, to choose the rabbits they want without having to rush to choose when I put animals for sale to the public. And a lot of the time missing out because someone else beat them to it.

When you create scarcity on something, it keeps people from continually pushing off making a decision and not buying. If they have no reason to buy now, they won’t.

It’s not being sleazy or manipulative to have this in place if it is the truth.– You only have so much time to create a product or work with so many people. If you don’t value your time, your customers won’t either. Use the tools you can to train them how to interact with you.

A Waiting List Creates Predictable Income

It helps you know how much business you have coming down the line and will help you make better business decisions. — You don’t have to wonder (as much) where that next sale is coming from.

When you see the customer base you have built, you can decide if you can expand. Or see which direction to take your business when you have the results right in front of you.

Having Them On Your Waiting List Develops Loyalty

When people know that they are on your waiting list they are far less likely to buy from someone else when they are scrolling Facebook pages or looking in the sales groups.

Even today I have people say, “Oh, will you let me know when something is available?” and sure enough. More often than not, they get impatient and end up buying something else.

In my head I am thinking yeah, that promise smelled as good as last week’s leftovers. But out of respect, I still DM them when something is available, with the website page of everything listed. And that’s the end of it.

When someone has a spot on your list they are more respectful of your time and effort.

A Waiting List Keeps You In Control

It keeps you from having to rely on THEIR memory to call you back. Life gets busy and they forget. But, when you have their contact information the ball is in your court to make the move and reach out when something available.

With a waiting list in place, you will have a much better idea of who is serious about buying and who is not.

Keeps People Excited And Anticipating What Is To Come

To keep from losing people, do an occasional check-in with them.

I have had some people on my waiting list for over a year because they wanted something specific. However, if you get big enough eventually, you will get to the point where people are happy to get anything from you.

If your waiting list involves animals. Send an email when the breedings are done and show the baby preparations. Then again when the babies are born to keep the anticipation going.

Staying top of mind is the name of the game.

If you are making a product, let them know when you have started the project and send a photo so they can see how it is coming along if it is a big project. If you are making a lot of small items like jewelry or candles then use something like your Facebook page or Instagram to keep people updated as a group.

How To Use This Waiting List Information To Increase Profits

The biggest thing to do is pay attention to when you get the most sign-ups. What time of year is it? Is there a holiday close by? When do the sign-ups slow down?

This information helps you see the trends and when should have more products available and when you can slow down.

If you are booked with an extremely long waiting list can you expand your product creation and get more products out? If not are the people on your waiting list following through? Or do you have a lot of people backing out? If your waiting list doesn’t cost anything to get on would charging a fee cause the people who arn’t serious to think twice before signing up? Or would that cause you to lose business altogether?

Business is simply a game of trial and error. You have to test things out to see what works and what doesn’t. If something doesn’t get the result you want change one thing about it and see what results you get.