Add a Pre-Engagement Preference Collection Page to Sign-Up Units

Pre-engagement preference collection allows you to ask shoppers a question and collect their preferences before capturing email or SMS. These preferences can be used downstream for segmentation, campaigns, and journeys—helping you deliver more personalized messaging from the start.

What is Pre-Engagement Preference Collection?

Pre-engagement preference collection adds an interactive page to your sign-up unit where shoppers select preferences (such as style, product categories, or interests) before entering their contact information.

This approach helps:

• Increase engagement by starting with an interactive prompt
• Collect valuable zero-party data
• Power more relevant messaging, journeys, and segmentation

Before You Get Started

Important: When running an A/B test with preference collection, all visual elements must remain identical between the control and test variants.

This includes:

• Background images
• Headlines and copy
• Colors and layout

The only difference between variants should be the presence of preference collection buttons. Changing other elements may invalidate your test results.

How to Create a Preference Collection Sign-Up Unit

Step 1: Clone Your Control Unit

1. Navigate to Sign-up units in your Attentive dashboard.
2. Identify the unit you want to use as your control (we recommend your best-performing live unit).
3. Click Clone to duplicate the unit.
4. Rename the cloned unit using this format:
   Preference Collection – [Device] – [Preference Type] – [Date]
   Example: Preference Collection – Mobile – Style Quiz

Cloning ensures your new unit inherits the same targeting, styling, and settings as your control.

Step 2: Add a Pre-Engagement Page

If your cloned unit doesn’t already include a pre-engagement page:

1. Add a Pre-engagement page to the unit.
2. Ensure this page appears before email or SMS capture.
    

Step 3: Configure Shopper Preferences

1. In the left navigation, select Preference Collection.
2. Click + Add attribute input.
3. Enter an Attribute name (or select an existing attribute with predefined options).
   Examples: Style Preferences, Product Categories, Scent Preferences
4. Set the Input type to Button (this is required).
5. Add preference buttons under Options.
   • Use clear, shopper-friendly labels
   • Best practice: 3–4 buttons (6 max)

Step 4: Customize Your Preference Collection Design

Add and Style Question Text

• Edit the Question or prompt text above the buttons
  Example: “What’s your style preference?”
• Customize font, size, color, and alignment as needed

Style Preference Buttons

You can customize:

• Button background color and opacity
• Border width, color, and radius
• Button text styling

Configure the Dismiss Button

• Toggle the dismiss button on or off
  Customize the text (default: “No, thanks”), font, size, and color
   

Best practice: Keep the dismiss button enabled so shoppers can easily skip the step if they choose.

Step 5: Save and Launch an A/B Test

1. Click Save Changes in the Creative Builder.
2. Create an A/B test with a 50/50 traffic split:
   • Control: Original sign-up unit
   • Test: Preference collection unit
3. Use clear naming conventions for your test and variants.
4. Launch the test.

You can monitor performance in the A/B Tests tab within your Sign-up Units dashboard.

Best Practices for Preference Collection

• Frame prompts as questions, not commands
  (“What categories interest you most?” vs. “Select categories”)
• Highlight the value exchange in headlines
  (“You’ve got 15% off!” or “Your personalized deal awaits!”)
• Maintain consistency across all screens in the flow
• Use incentive-driven CTAs when capturing contact info
  (“Claim 15% Off” instead of “Continue”)
• Design mobile-first, ensuring buttons are easy to tap

What Happens if a Shopper Skips Preference Collection?

If a shopper dismisses the preference collection page, they’ll continue through the rest of the sign-up flow as usual. Preference selection is optional and won’t block sign-ups.