Prompting users to register at the beginning of their online shopping experience increases the likelihood of registration and boosts revenue. Research involving over 75,000 users from an ecommerce site found that asking for registration early leads to a 58.1% higher registration rate, a 10.9% increase in purchases, and a 13.2% rise in total revenue over a year. This approach works because shoppers are already engaged in the browsing process, making them more receptive to registering before they start adding items to their cart. While registration at the start enhances revenue, casual shoppers may drop off if prompted too early, reflecting a 12.3% decrease in visitors. The study also emphasized that registration should remain optional, allowing users to shop as guests if they prefer. For brands like Marine Layer, which only ask for email addresses at checkout, there's room for improvement. By inviting users to register before they browse, brands can enhance engagement and better retarget potential customers who abandon their carts. The insights stem from a field experiment published in May 2021 by researchers from universities including the University of Houston and the University of Southern California. The study suggests that ecommerce sites can effectively increase customer registrations and sales by rethinking how and when they ask for user information.