Pre/Post Waiting Room Reservations
"Pre/Post Waiting Room Reservation" is the configuration that provides advanced reservation functionality for managing user flow before and after waiting room experiences, enabling sophisticated reservation systems for complex traffic control scenarios. This guide covers configuration, implementation, and best practices.
Overview
Running flash sales or product launches creates two major challenges: server overload when everyone rushes in simultaneously, and unfair access where bots and automated scripts connect faster than human users, creating an uneven playing field.
Real-world traffic doesn't spike only during the main event. Instead, you see extended periods of elevated activity:
Traffic Pattern:
▲
│ ╭─╮
│ ╱ ╲
│ ╱ ╲
│ ╱ ╲
│ ╱ ╲
│╱ ╲
└─────────────► Time
Before During After
This extended traffic period puts continuous strain on your servers, not just during peak times. What if there was a way to stage the user experience across different phases of your event? Instead of having everyone rush in at once, you could create distinct phases: a pre-event area where users see announcements and countdown timers, the main event with proper queue management, and a post-event space for marketing and lead generation.
This approach would distribute server load while building excitement and providing value to users throughout the entire event lifecycle. Most importantly, it would ensure fair access by randomly assigning queue positions to pre-waiting users, eliminating the advantage that bots and automated scripts have over human users.
The result would be a smoother experience for both you and your users. Your servers would stay stable, users would get fair access through proper queue management, and you could capture additional marketing value from users who arrive early or stay after the main event ends. Most importantly, the random queue assignment would ensure that all users - whether human or bot - have an equal chance of accessing your content, creating a truly fair system.
That's exactly what Pre/Post Waiting Room Reservations provide - a sophisticated system that manages user flow across all phases of your event, ensuring both technical stability and fair access for everyone.
Pre/Post Waiting Room Reservations only work when your segment is in Waiting mode, not in Block mode. Also, Pre-Waiting and Post-Waiting cannot operate independently - they must work together with the main waiting room.
What This Feature Does
Pre/Post Waiting Room Reservations help you manage customer flow during high-traffic events like:
- Limited product sales
- Course registrations
- Event ticket sales
- Any situation where you expect many visitors at once
Instead of just one waiting room, you can create three phases. Here's how users experience each phase:
Pre-Waiting Room
Before Event
No queue numbers
Announcements & countdown
Main Waiting Room
During Event
Queue numbers & wait time
Fair entry system
Post-Waiting Room
After Event
Marketing content
Redirect buttons
Phase 1: Pre-Waiting Room (Before Event)
- When: Before your main event starts
- What users see: Announcements, countdown timers, marketing content
- Queue numbers: None (users don't know their position yet)
- Purpose: Build excitement and distribute initial traffic
- Function: Acts as a blocking room with redirect buttons to guide users to other pages
- Exit: Automatic transition to main waiting room when time expires
Phase 2: Main Waiting Room (During Event)
- When: During your main event
- What users see: Queue numbers, wait times, fair entry system
- Queue numbers: Random assignment (not based on pre-waiting order)
- Purpose: Fair access to your main content/product
- Function: True waiting room that manages queue and grants service access
- Exit: Service entry when queue position is reached
Phase 3: Post-Waiting Room (After Event)
- When: After your main event ends
- What users see: Marketing content, related offers, signup forms
- Queue numbers: None (marketing focus)
- Purpose: Additional sales and lead generation
- Function: Acts as a blocking room with redirect buttons to guide users to alternative content
- Exit: Redirect buttons or automatic end when configured time expires
How It Works
The system automatically manages three different waiting experiences based on when users visit your website. Here's the complete timeline showing when each phase is active:
Segment Deactivation: At any time, you can manually deactivate your segment to completely bypass the waiting room system. This sends users directly to your service, regardless of the current phase.
Why this matters: If you don't want main waiting room to be active before pre-waiting starts or after post-waiting ends, simply deactivate the segment during those periods. Unfortunately, automatic segment scheduling isn't available, so this requires manual control.
8:00 AM 9:00 AM 10:00 AM 11:00 AM 12:00 PM 1:00 PM
| | | | | |
| Main |Pre-Wait |Main-Wait |Post-Wait | Main |
| Wait |(1 hour) |(1 hour) |(1 hour) | Wait |
| | | | | |
└─────────┴─────────┴──────────┴──────────┴─────────┘
↑ ↑ ↑ ↑
Pre-Wait Pre-Wait Post-Wait Post-Wait
Start End Start End
The system automatically manages user flow based on when they visit your website. Users entering before 9:00 AM or after 12:00 PM go directly to the main waiting room, while those arriving during specific periods experience different waiting phases. The key changes happen automatically: Pre-Waiting ends at 10:00 AM, moving users to Main-Waiting where they get queue numbers and wait for their turn to access the service. At 11:00 AM, Main-Waiting switches to Post-Waiting for marketing and lead generation.
Users experience different content in each phase. During Pre-Waiting, they see announcements, countdown timers, and marketing content without queue numbers. Main-Waiting provides queue numbers, wait times, and a fair entry system. Post-Waiting focuses on marketing content, lead generation, and redirect options, again without queue numbers.
How Queue Numbers Work
Understanding how queue numbers are assigned helps you plan your event effectively. When multiple users enter the system, the queue assignment process ensures fairness while managing server load through your Limited Inflow settings.
Pre-Waiting Period (9:00-10:00 AM):
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ User A User B User C User D User E User F │
│ (Early) (Early) (Early) (Early) (Early) (Early) │
│ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ │
│ Pre-Waiting Room (No queue numbers yet) │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
↓
10:00 AM Transition
↓
Main-Waiting Period (10:00-11:00 AM):
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ All users from Pre-Waiting get random queue numbers: │
│ │
│ User A → Queue #47 User C → Queue #12 User E → Queue #89 │
│ User B → Queue #23 User D → Queue #156 User F → Queue #34 │
│ │
│ New users arriving during main period get sequential numbers: │
│ 10:15 AM: User G arrives → Queue #157 (next available) │
│ 10:30 AM: User H arrives → Queue #158 │
│ 10:45 AM: User I arrives → Queue #159 │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
The process works in two stages. During Pre-Waiting, users see announcements and countdown timers but receive no queue numbers yet. When the transition happens at 10:00 AM, all users from Pre-Waiting get random queue numbers (not sequential), ensuring fair access regardless of when they entered Pre-Waiting. New users arriving during Main-Waiting receive the next available number in sequence, maintaining the orderly queue system. The Limited Inflow setting controls how many users can access the service simultaneously once their queue position is reached.
Configuration Process
Step 0: Event Planning & UI/UX Design
Pre/Post Waiting Room Reservations are user experience design elements that shape how customers interact with your brand throughout your event lifecycle. Careful planning is essential because these rooms create lasting impressions and directly impact user satisfaction and conversion rates.
Why Planning Matters:
- User Journey Design: Each waiting room is a touchpoint in your customer's experience journey
- Brand Consistency: Waiting rooms must align with your main site's design and messaging
- Technical Constraints: Settings lock 10 minutes before pre-waiting starts until post-waiting ends
So how do you approach this planning systematically? Let's walk through Nike's Air Jordan launch to see how they planned their complete waiting room experience:
Phase 1: Scenario Planning Nike's team starts by mapping the complete user journey:
- Pre-waiting goal: Build anticipation and provide value while users wait
- Main-waiting goal: Ensure fair access and maintain engagement during the queue
- Post-waiting goal: Convert disappointed users into future customers
They plan content for each phase:
- Pre-waiting content: Countdown timer, sneaker previews, sizing guide, "Browse other Jordan releases" button
- Main-waiting content: Queue position, wait time, "Fair access" messaging, product details
- Post-waiting content: "Join waitlist for restocks", similar products, social media links, newsletter signup
Phase 2: Visual Design Next, Nike ensures brand consistency across all waiting rooms:
- Custom Jordan-themed skins: Match the sneaker's design aesthetic
- Mobile optimization: Test on phones since many sneaker fans shop mobile
- Visual assets: High-quality sneaker images, Jordan logo, countdown timer design
Phase 3: Technical Planning They create a detailed timeline diagram:
- 11:00 AM: Pre-waiting starts with countdown timer
- 12:00 PM: Auto-transition to main waiting with random queue numbers
- 1:00 PM: Auto-transition to post-waiting with marketing content
- 2:00 PM: Post-waiting ends (or continues indefinitely)
Step 1: Access the Settings
- Go to your Basic Control Segment dashboard
- Click the Edit button for your specific segment to open the modification screen
- Look for the "Pre/Post Waiting Room Reservation" section
- Segment must be created first: You can't set up pre/post waiting rooms when creating a new segment
- Must be in segment edit mode: Go to your existing segment's modification screen
- Segment must be active: The feature only works on active segments
- Must be in Waiting mode: Pre/Post waiting rooms only work when your segment is in Waiting mode, not in Block mode
Step 2: Set Up Pre-Waiting Room
When to use: If you want to show content before your main event starts
-
Turn it ON
- Click the radio button to enable Pre-Waiting Room
-
Choose your design
- Select a custom waiting room skin (the look and feel)
- If you haven't created one, the "Pre-Sample" skin will be used automatically
-
Set your schedule
- Start Date: Select the date (YYYY-MM-DD format)
- Start Time: Select the time (HH:MM format) when users should start seeing the pre-waiting room
- End Date: Select the date (YYYY-MM-DD format)
- End Time: Select the time (HH:MM format) when it should automatically switch to the main waiting room
Example: Start on 2024-03-15 at 10:00, End on 2024-03-15 at 11:00 (1 hour before your main event)
- Settings Lock: You cannot modify pre-waiting room settings from 10 minutes before it starts until the post-waiting room ends
- Minimum Gap: You need at least 20 minutes between pre-waiting end and post-waiting start (so the main waiting room has time to work properly)
- Active Segment Required: The feature only works when your segment is active
Step 3: Set Up Post-Waiting Room
When to use: If you want to show marketing content after your main event ends
-
Turn it ON
- Click the radio button to enable Post-Waiting Room
-
Choose your design
- Select a custom waiting room skin
- If you haven't created one, the "Post-Sample" skin will be used automatically
-
Set your schedule
- Start Date: Automatically begins when your main waiting room ends (same date)
- Start Time: Automatically begins when your main waiting room ends
- End Date: Select the date (YYYY-MM-DD format) when it should stop showing
- End Time: Select the time (HH:MM format) when it should stop showing (or choose "Do not end" to run indefinitely)
Example: Start automatically on 2024-03-15 at 12:00, End on 2024-03-15 at 13:00 (1 hour after your main event)
- Settings Lock: You cannot modify post-waiting room settings from 10 minutes before it starts until it ends
- Do not end Option: If you turn off "Do not end" or deactivate the segment, the post-waiting room stops showing
- Active Segment Required: The feature only works when your segment is active
Step 4: Review and Save
- Double-check your timing: Make sure your schedule makes sense
- Verify your content: Ensure all redirect URLs and content are ready
- Save your configuration: Click the save button
- Test it out: Try accessing your website at different times to see the transitions
Final Check Before Going Live
Before your event starts:
- All content is ready and tested
- Redirect URLs are working
- Custom skins are properly configured
- You've tested the complete user journey
Critical: Settings lock 10 minutes before pre-waiting starts, so this is your last chance to make changes!
Best Practices
Configuration Scenarios
Here are the most common ways people use Pre/Post Waiting Rooms, with real examples:
Pre-Waiting + Main Waiting
Use this when you need countdown timers and fair entry for your event. People will show up early, and you want to give them a proper waiting experience instead of having them refresh your page constantly.
Think about Nike dropping a new Air Jordan - fans start visiting hours before the release. Or concert tickets going on sale at noon, with people checking the site from morning. These are situations where anticipation builds up and you need to manage early traffic properly.
Without pre-waiting, early visitors either refresh constantly or leave frustrated. With pre-waiting, they see countdown timers and announcements, then get fair random queue numbers when the event starts.
Main Waiting + Post-Waiting
Use this when your event has a clear end point and you want to capture people who missed it or convert them to other products. After the event ends, there's no reason for people to access your main service page anymore.
Consider a product sale that reached capacity - you can collect emails for restock notifications. Or a course registration that closed - you can promote other courses or waitlist signup. When a flash sale ends, you can show similar products or future deals.
Without post-waiting, people who arrive after your event ends can still access your service page, but there's no meaningful content or purpose for them. With post-waiting, you can turn that traffic into marketing opportunities.
You have two options for how long post-waiting runs: keep it running indefinitely with the "Do not end" option (recommended for ongoing marketing), or set a specific end time when post-waiting should stop and return to normal service access.
Full Experience (All Three Phases)
Use this for major events where you want complete control - from building excitement to capturing additional sales after everything ends.
Black Friday sales with massive traffic, exclusive drops with high demand, or conference registrations with limited seats - these are situations where you need complete user journey control from anticipation building to fair queue management to additional marketing opportunities.
You get the full staged experience: anticipation building → fair queue management → additional marketing opportunities. And just like with Main + Post, you can choose whether to keep post-waiting running indefinitely or set a specific end time.
| Setup | When It's Useful | User Journey |
|---|---|---|
| Pre + Main | High anticipation, early traffic | Pre-event → Queue → Access |
| Main + Post | Want to capture missed opportunities | Queue → Access → Marketing |
| All Three | Major events, maximum control | Anticipation → Queue → Access → Marketing |
Pre-Waiting and Post-Waiting cannot operate independently. They must always work together with the main waiting room. This means:
- ❌ Pre-Waiting Only: Invalid option - requires main waiting room
- ❌ Post-Waiting Only: Invalid option - requires main waiting room
- ✅ Main-Waiting: Valid combination
- ✅ Pre + Main: Valid combination
- ✅ Main + Post: Valid combination
- ✅ Pre + Main + Post: Valid combination
Emergency Control Options
Even after settings lock, you still have control options when things don't go as planned:
If you need to stop the waiting room system completely:
- Deactivate the segment: This immediately bypasses all waiting rooms and sends users directly to your service
- Turn off pre/post waiting rooms: Disable the entire pre-waiting or post-waiting feature while keeping main waiting room active
If you need to update your messaging or content:
- Change content: Update skins, text, and redirect URLs (content changes are always allowed)
- This is useful when you need to communicate changes, delays, or new information to users
What you can't change after lock:
- Timing: Start/end dates and times are locked to prevent confusion
Common scenarios:
- Event delayed: Update content to inform users about the delay
- Technical issues: Deactivate segment to bypass waiting rooms entirely
- Content errors: Fix typos, update links, or change messaging
- Emergency cancellation: Turn off waiting rooms or deactivate segment
Planning Your Event Timeline
For Most Events (Recommended):
- Pre-waiting: Start 30-60 minutes before your main event
- Main-waiting: Your actual event duration
- Post-waiting: 30-60 minutes after (or longer for marketing)
Why this works: Gives you time to build excitement, run your event, then capture additional interest.
Traffic Management Benefits:
- Pre-waiting: Captures early traffic spikes and distributes load
- Main-waiting: Handles peak traffic with controlled queue management
- Post-waiting: Manages lingering traffic and converts it to value
Content and Redirect Strategy
Pre-Waiting Room Content:
- Event announcements: "Sale starts in 30 minutes!"
- Countdown timers: Build excitement with live countdown
- Product previews: Show what's coming up
- Redirect buttons: Browse other products, read FAQs, follow social media, contact support
Post-Waiting Room Content:
- Re-stock notifications: "Get notified when we restock"
- Related products: "Check out these similar items"
- Newsletter signup: "Stay updated on future events"
- Redirect buttons: Alternative products, customer support, future events
Key Strategy: Use redirect buttons strategically to guide users to valuable content while they wait, turning waiting time into engagement opportunities.
Testing Before You Go Live
Essential Tests:
- Timing test: Visit your site at different times to see transitions
- Content test: Make sure all your links and content work
- Mobile test: Check how it looks on phones and tablets
- Queue test: Verify queue numbers appear correctly in main waiting
Pro Tip: Test with a small group first, or use a test segment before your real event.
For advanced configuration options and integration details, refer to the Basic Control Segment Overview and Basic Settings documentation.