Best ways to upsell product add-ons on Shopify in 2024

Best ways to upsell product add-ons on Shopify in 2024

Increasing the average order value of your Shopify store requires various strategies. A highly recommended method is to upsell product add-ons on Shopify.

While activating product add-ons on your site is simple, encouraging customers to buy them is another thing. Therefore, you need to learn how to upsell effectively on Shopify using these add-ons.

The main purpose of this functionality is to bring more value to buyers and increase your revenue. Make sure you offer them relevant deals that satisfy their needs, even at a higher price.

Let’s get into this article for more details on this robust feature!

1. What is Product Add-ons Upsell on Shopify?

Product add-ons upsell on Shopify, which is a popular sales strategy to increase the average order value and enhance the shopping experience. When customers shop, the system offers upgrades or additional products in different locations, which motivate customers to spend more.

These supplementary items or services can be added to the main product in the cart.

For example, a customer buying a laptop may receive add-ons like additional software, a mouse, or an extended warranty.

VNTR upsells extra straps for their Tundra watch with add-ons section, offering various styles and materials for an additional cost
VNTR upsells extra straps for their Tundra watch with add-ons section, offering various styles and materials for an additional cost

2. Why Upsell With Product Add-ons on Shopify?

What can you gain from operating the upsell product add-ons on Shopify? This functionality can provide advantages for both merchants and their buyers.

2.1 For store owners

Increase average order value (AOV)

Encouraging customers to buy additional products or more expensive versions of the main one can significantly boost revenue.

Also, add-ons can help improve your profit margins. They often have higher margins than the primary products, increasing the overall profitability.

Enhance customer lifetime value (CLV)

Many customers would be fascinated by the valuable add-ons and upgrades. From there, you can enhance their satisfaction, resulting in long-term loyalty and recurring purchases.

Optimal inventory management

If you want to clear out less popular products from the inventory, try upselling them as add-ons. Moreover, encouraging buyers to pay for complementary items can maintain a balanced stock.

2.2 For customers

Better convenience

Customers can easily buy relevant products while viewing a product
Customers can easily buy relevant products while viewing a product

Customers can easily find relevant products and accessories in one place, reducing the manual work of browsing around your whole website. This adds convenience to their shopping experience.

Plus, add-ons and bundles often add better value, giving buyers the feeling that they are getting more than they spend.

Enhanced product experience

The upsell product add-ons on Shopify can provide a complete sales solution that enhances the main item’s functionality and enjoyment. Customers would be more satisfied to personalize their purchases with suitable add-ons.

Financial value

Many add-ons come with a discount when bought with the main product, providing buyers with better overall value.

In addition, upselling to a higher-end product version enables better quality and features for customer experience.

3. Common Methods To Upsell Product Add-ons On Shopify

3.1 With pop-ups

Usually when a customer clicks on a product page, the upsell pop-ups will appear. Sometimes, pop-ups are triggered after they add products to their cart or during the checkout process.

Note that this functionality is designed to encourage quick decisions. Therefore, you should use clear call-to-actions (CTAs) with time limits and attractive visuals to succeed with pop-ups.

3.2 With quick add-ons section

Upsell product add-ons can be displayed in different areas of your website, including product pages upselling, cart pages upselling, and checkout pages upselling. They appear in a list, often in a cart slider above the “add to cart” and “checkout” buttons. 

For example, product page add-ons show complementary items directly on these pages. At checkout, the system presents last-minute offers.

Read more: Create a Shopify Upsell Funnel with a High Conversion Rate.

4. Strategic Locations To Upsell Product Add-ons On Shopify

The good news for store owners is that you can implement upsell product add-ons on Shopify into diverse stages of the customer journey. There are different ways to apply the upsell strategy, from the product pages to the thank you page.

4.1 Product pages

Example: Product add-ons and customization

When a customer views a laptop, the system offers accessories like an external hard drive, a laptop bag, or a sleeve. You can display the add-on options as pop-ups or right below the product description.

4.2 Cart pages

Upselling product add-ons on the cart page
Upselling product add-ons on the cart page

Example: Frequently bought together

A customer adds a camera to the cart. The system suggests buying complementary goods like a carrying case or memory card before they proceed to checkout.

You can highlight the add-ons by displaying them on a sidebar or below the cart summary.

Read more: In-cart Upsell On Shopify: A Detailed Guide to Generate More Sales

4.3 Checkout pages

Example: Last-minute upsell

At the checkout page, a customer is ready to finalize their purchase. With the upsell product add-ons on Shopify at this stage, you should offer small, additional items like a screen protector for a smartwatch. Show these options as an extra step before the final confirmation.

4.4 Thank you pages

Example: Post-purchase deals

After completing the purchase, the buyer is directed to the thank you page.

Now, the system may offer a discount on future purchases. Or recommend goods that complement their recent purchase, like discounted decorative pillows after purchasing a sofa.

Provide a discount code for these products, along with an add-to-cart button on this page.

5. How To Create Product Add-ons For Upselling On Shopify

After learning all you need to know about upselling product add-ons on Shopify, here is our detailed guide to activate this functionality for your Shopify store.

5.1 Selleasy

Selleasy is an effective Shopify upsell and cross-sell app that can help you leverage your e-commerce business on Shopify. This all-in-one solution can increase your AOV by enabling 6 types of upsell offers, with ease of use, smooth Shopify integration, and customizable widgets.

Selleasy is a good choice to upsell with the add-ons section on Shopify
Selleasy is a good choice to upsell with the add-ons section on Shopify

The best part about this software is its free installation. Merchants can examine its operation and decide whether to invest in more advanced subscriptions.

Shopify rating: 4.9/5

Customer support: Documentation, FAQ, email, chat, video chat

Pricing: Free; $8.99 to $16.99 per month

Create product add-ons with Selleasy

Step 1: Visit your Selleasy dashboard > Click Add offer and choose Product add-ons.

Create an upselling add-ons section on Shopify with Selleasy.
Create an upselling add-ons section on Shopify with Selleasy.

Step 2: Name the offer for internal reference. Configure whether this deal is triggered for specific products, product tags, or all products. Then, select the offer items, which will be suggested along with the main product.

Set offer conditions

Step 3: In the Discounts section, you can choose whether to enable a discount for the add-ons. If yes, proceed to the Discount type > Select Percentage or Fixed value (e.g., 10% or $20 off) or Free shipping > Customize the text.

Regarding Other details, add another title for the widget if you wish. Decide on the priority level (1 is the highest) to prioritize this offer over other active discounts for one product.

Set discounts for upselling products.

5.2 BOGOS

BOGOS is another powerful tool for creating upsell product pop-ups. It allows you to display a pop-up confirming the addition and suggesting relevant upsell items after customers add an item to their cart.

Bogos is highly recommended for creating Shopify upsell pop-ups
Bogos is highly recommended for creating Shopify upsell pop-ups

This helps increase average order value by motivating customers to add complementary items or upgrade their purchase with just a few clicks. The app also allows you to customize the pop-up design to suit your store’s branding and appearance.

Shopify rating: 4.9/5

Customer support: Documentation, FAQs, live chat, email, video call

Pricing: $23.99 – $79.99 per month

Create upsell pop-ups with BOGOS

Step 1: Visit your BOGOS dashboard > Click Create offer and choose Create Custom.

Create offer with BOGOS

Step 2: Fill in the offer information, including the offer title, active dates and times, and whether you want to add a card message.
Regarding the combination with other offers, set its priority to the highest level (1).

Edit offer information

Step 3: Click Add main condition > Select from a variety of options for upselling. From specific products to cart quantity conditions or bundle upselling, BOGOS can help its users with many different strategies to increase revenue.

Upsell product add ons Shopify BOGOS Main conditions

Step 4: Set the gift discount type (the upsell products) to Free by choosing 100% for Percentage or 0 (money currency) for Amount.
Choose the number of gifts your customer will receive > Click Publish.

Select relevant products to upsell.

After customers add a main product to their cart, a pop-up of additional items will automatically appear.

6. Best Tips to Upsell Effectively With Add-ons On Shopify

Offer complementary products

Upsell product add ons Shopify product add on example 4
When customers view a watch, you can upsell complementary products like a strap

The most straightforward way is to look through your product catalog to see which items naturally go together. Basically, someone buying a camera should be suggested to grab extra batteries or a memory card.

Configure the settings so the system automatically suggests relevant goods when the main product is added to the cart. You should try third-party apps to automate this process.

Upgrades and enhancements

Another option for using upsell product add-ons on Shopify is offering upgrades or premium versions of the same item.. They should bring more usage value to the buyer but not at an overly high price.

For example, if a customer purchases a basic smartphone, suggest another model with extra accessories or more storage.

Make sure your buyers can customize their purchase with these enhancements, such as premium packaging, engraving, or extended warranties.

Service add-ons

Other than additional products, you can encourage buyers to spend more on high-end services. There are 3 popular services you can offer as add-ons:

  • Extended warranties: Provide options for extended warranty at the point of sale.
  • Subscription services: Offer time-based subscriptions (at more cost-saving prices) for software updates, regular maintenance, or exclusive content.
  • Installation services: Offer professional services to install products that require setup.

Personalize the experience

Giving your customers a personalized experience will enhance their satisfaction and likelihood of making sales. Dig into their purchase history and browsing behavior in your store to recommend customized add-ons.

Consider utilizing AI-based tools to provide personalized upsell suggestions for each recurring customer.

Offer discounts and bundles when purchasing product add-ons

Some customers may not be into manually adding product add-ons to their cart. You can create bundles that combine the main items with complementary products at discounted prices.

For example, people would enjoy buying a laptop with a software package, a mouse, and a carrying case.

One more strategy is offering volume discounts. Customers can receive a discount when they buy multiple units of an item or related products.

Limited-time offers

Did you know that you can trigger upsell product add-ons on Shopify by creating a sense of urgency?

Limited-time deals will help you motivate customers to complete their purchases quickly. A countdown timer on your homepage or product page will highlight the limited availability of a promotion.

Also, consider running flash sales for your add-ons. They can last for a few hours or days to encourage prospective buyers.

Enhance visual appeal

Always use high-quality resources (images and videos) to showcase your add-ons. They will emphasize how the add-ons can complement the main product.

The product descriptions should also be clear and detailed to highlight the add-ons’ benefits. Explain why these additional items are valuable to the main purchase.

One piece of advice to drive more sales is adding user reviews. It builds trust and credibility with reliable reviews and testimonials for the add-ons.

7. Conclusion

Implementing upsell product add-ons on Shopify to your store will bring various benefits for both the merchant and customers. Your business gains financial and loyalty value, and your buyers are pleased with an enhanced experience.

Isn’t that the perfect win-win scenario?

The strategy can be applied in different stages (from the product pages to the thank you page), and we also included effective practices to help you upsell.

If you are eager to try this functionality, use third-party apps to automate the process. They will assist you in setting up the deal with a high customization level.

8. FAQs

What types of products can be used for upsell add-ons?

Some suitable products for upsell add-ons can be:
– Complementary products, such as a pair of earbuds for smartphones
– Upgrades or premium versions of the item
– Service add-ons, such as installation services or extended warranties
– Product bundles or kits to provide a complete solution

How do I track the performance of my upsell product add-ons on Shopify?

Most upsell Shopify apps come with integrated analytics and reporting tools. These tools track and analyze crucial metrics like conversion rates, upsell revenue, and customer engagement with your offers.
From there, you can use the insights to identify problems in your performance and optimize future strategies.

How can I upsell without being pushy?

If you want to avoid being pushy when upselling, keep a couple of notes in mind. Create offers that are relevant and genuinely useful to customers but limit the number of deals presented at once.
Also, make sure you clearly communicate the add-on’s value and price. Finally, your buyers should feel comfortable declining the offer without pressure.

What are the common mistakes to avoid when upselling?

Try not to make the following mistakes when upselling on Shopify:
– Offering irrelevant add-ons: Make sure you provide relevant add-ons to the main product.
– Overloading the customer: Avoid presenting multiple upsell offers at once.
– Ignoring customer data: Use customer behavior insights to tailor the deals.
– Failing to test: Regularly test and adjust your strategy to find the best approach.