Pin rules for slots

This is for:

Merchandiser

In the Recommendations manager of the Coveo Merchandising Hub (CMH), merchandisers can define pin ranking rules to make specific products appear in specific positions in recommendation slots. However, multiple pin rules with the same target can conflict with one another.

Pin rule for recommendation slots | Coveo

Use case examples

Pin ranking rules can be used to address a variety of use cases. Here are a few examples:

  • Enforce a specific order: Pin products to specific locations in the recommendation slot to enforce a specific order.

  • Pin clearance items: Pin clearance items to the top of a recommendation slot to increase their visibility.

Pin rule conflicts

Pin rules override the content that should otherwise appear at a specific position in a recommendation slot. This includes other pin rules that target the same position, so merchandisers must not create multiple pin rules that target the same position in the same slot.

If there’s a conflict between pins, priority is given to the most recent pin rule.

Example

On March 1, you create a rule that pins the product "Safari Khakis" at position 2 in the recommendation slot on the product detail page (PDP) for Chinos.

On March 10, you create another rule that pins the product "Blue Jeans" at position 2 in the recommendation slot on the product detail page (PDP) for Chinos.

Because both pin rules target the same position in the same recommendation slot, only the most recent rule applies.

When a user views the product detail page (PDP) for Chinos, "Blue Jeans" is pinned at position 2 in the recommendation slot.

Prerequisites

Before you create rules in the Coveo Merchandising Hub (CMH):

Create pin rules

To create pin rules

  1. In the CMH, access the Recommendations manager.

  2. From the navigation tabs, select ranking rules and then click Create ranking rule.

  3. Under This rule will apply to, define the scope of the rule.

    1. Locale: Select the locale that the pin rule applies to. By default, a rule applies to all available locales.

    2. slot: Select the recommendation slot that the pin rule applies to, and then click Done.

      Note

      Currently, ranking rules can only apply to a specific recommendation slot.

  4. Under Choose an action, select Pin.

  5. To pin a product, you can either search for the product or use the preview to select the products to pin.

    • To search for a product:

      1. Under Product ID or name, select the product to pin.

      2. Under Position number, enter the number of the position where the product will appear in the recommendation slot.

      3. (Optional) To pin more than one product, click Pin another product and repeat the previous steps.

    • When using the preview, drag a product and drop it at a position to pin it there. If you selected a slot that requires a seed product to generate recommendations, you must select a seed product to preview the recommendations generated for the selected products.

  6. For a recommendation slot using a seeded strategy, under Choose when to apply, select whether you want the rule to apply in any situation, or only if specific conditions are met.

  7. Click Next: Review and publish.

  8. Review your rule configuration.

    Tip
    Leading practices

    Use the panel on the right to preview how the rule affects the products in the recommendation slot for a given locale.

    If you’re previewing a rule for a recommendation slot using a seeded strategy, you must choose the products for which you want to simulate recommendations to see the effect of the rule.

    The preview is an approximate simulation that won’t cover every scenario encountered in a live environment.

  9. Click Next: Publish.

  10. Under Rule name, enter a meaningful name for your rule.

  11. Under Choose when to publish, select one of the following:

    • To apply the rule immediately, select Publish now.

    • To set a schedule for the rule, select Set a schedule, and then select the time frame in which the rule should apply.

  12. Click Publish now.

The rule now applies or will apply as scheduled.

Modify pin rules

To modify pin rules

  1. In the CMH, access the Recommendations manager.

  2. From the navigation tabs, select ranking rules.

  3. Locate the rule that you want to modify.

  4. Click dots, and then click Modify.

  5. You can modify the rule’s scope (Locale, Audiences, or slot) or its configuration by clicking Edit on the relevant card. These are the same settings covered in the rule creation section.

    Important

    The Audience option is currently in early access. Contact your Customer Success Manager (CSM) to enable this option.

  6. When you’ve finished editing the rule, or to modify its publishing settings, click Next: Publish.

  7. Update the publishing settings, if applicable, and then click Publish now.

The modified rule now applies, or will apply as scheduled.

Delete pin rules

To delete pin rules

  1. In the CMH, access the Recommendations manager.

  2. From the navigation tabs, select ranking rules.

  3. Locate the rule that you want to delete.

  4. Click dots, and then click Delete.

  5. Click Delete again to confirm.

The rule is deleted.