Discover 5 simple but potent upselling techniques that'll drive up to 15 percent more revenue on your store.
Oct 27, 2025
Upselling is not about squeezing customers, it is about surfacing the next best choice at the right moment. That is why brands that master upselling techniques grow faster without buying more traffic.
In Shopify, the fastest wins live inside your existing flow, product page to thank you page, plus a smart email follow up. This guide walks you through each stage with practical moves you can launch today.
You will see exactly what to offer, where to place it, and how Upsell.com (formerly ReConvert) makes it painless to implement.
What is upselling?
Upselling is the practice of guiding a shopper to a higher value choice, an upgrade, a bundle, or an add on that improves the outcome. The goal is simple: deliver more value to the customer while lifting average order value and lifetime value.
Cross-selling is the practice of recommending complementary products that pair well with what is already in the cart. It helps customers complete the setup, care for the product, or enhance the first use.
Upselling:upgrade the thing they are buying, larger size, premium finish, extended warranty. To illustrate, here’s one of the most famous upsells in the world:
Cross-selling: add a complimentary item, lens cleaner with glasses, heat protectant with a hair tool, filters with a water bottle. To illustrate, here’s an example in keeping with the McDonald’s theme (don’t get hungry now):
In ecommerce, the mechanics and intent are nearly identical: relevant offer, low friction, clear benefit. That is why merchants often use the terms interchangeably.
For this article, we will use upselling and cross-selling as a single umbrella. When you see the phrase upselling techniques, read it as both upgrade offers and complementary add-ons.
5 of the best upselling techniques we’ve seen
With those definitions under our belts, let’s jump into practical tactics you can use to drive more revenue and profit per order.
We’ve laid out these upselling strategies mirroring your customer’s journey, from product page to post-purchase.
You don’t have to implement them all at once. If one technique makes particular sense for your store, trial it and see what results you get.
Once you’ve got an upsell offer running, test another and see if you can drive even bigger results.
Let’s keep going.
1. Offer upgrades on your product page
The product page is where intent comes into focus, so treat it like prime real estate for relevant add ons and upgrades. Here’s a nice example from MadeIn cookware:
Place it correctly: Keep the offer close to the primary call to action, above the fold if possible, and never let it compete with the add to cart button.
Start with complementary add ons: Think lens cleaner for glasses, heat protectant for hair tools, extra filters for water bottles.
Use short benefit first labels: For example, Protect your hair tool, Extend filter life, Add travel case. Keep prices as no brainer tiers, usually under 25 percent of the product price.
Layer in dynamic recommendations: Rules based recommendations can be rock solid, shown with simple logic like If product equals X, recommend Y and Z. Show 2 to 4 options max, not a carousel that overwhelms.
Highlight upgrade paths: Variants that improve performance or longevity often beat cross sells. Make the better choice obvious with comparison ticks, for example, 2 year warranty, Faster charging, Premium leather. Anchor the standard variant as default, then make the upgrade a single click.
2. Suggest helpful add-ons in your cart drawer
The cart is a perfect place to catch low friction order bumps. Buyers have made a choice, so your job is to remove doubt and add thoughtful value. Keep your cart upsells fast, readable, and free of surprises.
Here’s a solid example from Ratio Coffee and how to implement something similar on your store:
Lead with a single order bump: This is the most relevant accessory or protection plan, shown as a compact checkbox with a short benefit line. Avoid stacking three or four bumps in a column. One clear, low-cost bump often outperforms many.
Show a smart progress bar: If free shipping or a bonus kicks in at a threshold, show the exact amount left. Make the next step concrete, for example, Add $7.50 to unlock free shipping. Offer one item that gets them over the line with a one click add.
Offer a bundle when it feels natural. If someone has shampoo in cart, offer conditioner and a scalp brush as a value set with a small price break. Present it inline, not in a takeover popup. The key is speed, the cart should not feel like a detour.
Respect edit behavior: Customers come here to change quantities or remove items, so never block those actions. Your upsell UI should never hide the update buttons or overwhelm the subtotal.
Mind mobile first: Cart drawers on mobile can get cramped. Collapse long descriptions, keep buttons tall and tappable, and avoid horizontal scrolling. Test on your smallest supported device.
Measure two things above all: Cart to checkout progression rate, and average order value. If progression drops, reduce friction, fewer offers, cleaner layout. If AOV holds flat, test a different order bump or lower the price threshold.
Upsell.com lets you sync product page logic with cart logic, so the same complementary items appear right when buyers expect them, and the offer stays consistent.
3. Serve low-ticket offers at checkout
Checkout is sacred. Your goal is to raise order value without adding friction. Keep any upsell inline, small, and instantly clear. Here’s a solid example from cosmetics brand Duradry:
Offer micro add-ons: that feel like utilities. Gift wrap, premium packaging, rush processing, extended protection, or a small bonus item are perfect here.
Price it right: it should be a quick yes, usually under 10 percent of the order total.
Keep copy brutally short: Use benefit first labels, for example, Add gift wrap, Protect your order for 1 year, Priority handling today. A single subline can add context, for example, Ships 24 hours faster.
Make selection effortless: Use a toggle, a radio option, or a single checkbox. Never use a modal. Do not push the primary pay button down the page.
Match expectations: If you promised free shipping in the cart, do not surprise buyers with paid shipping in checkout. An upsell should never look like a bait and switch. Trust first, revenue second.
Be mindful of compliance: Some regions restrict how certain add ons are presented, for example, pre checked boxes are not allowed in many markets. Stick to opt in only.
Minimize cognitive load: Avoid product galleries or long lists. One simple add on is usually best. If you must include two, show them as stackable options, not competing choices.
Track micro performance: Monitor checkout completion rate, selection rate for the add on, and any change in error frequency. If completion dips, remove the offer or reduce its visual weight.
Checkout surfaces are evolving on Shopify: Where checkout UI extensions are available, keep your component small and native. Where they are not, focus upsells on pre checkout and post purchase, both fully supported in Upselling.com, so you capture value without risking conversion.
4. Post-purchase one-click upsells
This is the highest leverage moment in your entire flow. Payment is approved, intent is at its peak, and the shopper stays in a buying mindset. A one click acceptance adds the item to the same order, no new payment entry required.
Start with a hero offer. Choose a complementary item that matches the purchased product, priced as a no brainer. Think blade refills for razors, extra pods for coffee makers, or a premium strap for a watch. Use a limited time frame that is honest, for example, Available on this order only.
Build a sequence: Plan 1 to 3 offers in a waterfall. If they accept the first, switch the next to a lighter accessory. If they decline, try a smaller item or a refill. Keep the logic customer friendly, not relentless.
Price smart: The sweet spot is often 10 to 30 percent of the original order value. If your hero item is higher, make the value jump obvious, for example, Save 20 today, Bundle and save 18, Free express shipping included.
Personalize with rules: Map offers to product tags, collections, or customer attributes. New customers may see an easy starter add on, repeat customers may see a bulk refill or subscription trial.
Measure accept rate: Incremental revenue per order, and downstream returns. A strong baseline is 8 to 15 percent acceptance on the first offer. Improve with creative testing, product fit, and timing.
Upselling.com is built for this stage. You can design beautiful one click upsell pages, chain offers with clear logic, and track everything from accept rate to AOV lift, all without code
5. Thank you page upsells
The order confirmation page is not a dead end, it is a high trust touchpoint. Customers come here to double check details and track delivery. You can use that attention to create low pressure, high value upsells and engagement loops.
Prioritize instant value blocks: Show a small Recommended for your order section that pulls from the same logic as your product page. Keep it to 2 to 4 items, with one click add to order if your setup allows, or an easy add to cart that preserves order info in the background.
Use milestone driven incentives: Offer a Next order perk that activates when they add a small item now, for example, Add a travel bottle now, get free express shipping next order. Make the math simple and the benefit visible.
Promote subscriptions or refills when the product fits: A starter pack becomes a reorder plan with a friendly trial discount. Use gentle language, Cancel anytime, Reminders included, No fees.
Activate post purchase advocacy: Add a referral card with a unique link and a small incentive. Include social follow buttons and a Save to account prompt for faster checkout next time.
Upselling.com includes a drag and drop thank you page builder, so you can ship these modules fast, personalize them per order, and iterate without developer time.
Use these Upselling Techniques Today to Drive a Bigger AOV
The fastest way to grow AOV is not more traffic, it is smarter moments. Line up your upselling techniques across the journey, product page, cart, checkout, post purchase, and thank you page, so every step offers a helpful next best choice.
Keep offers small, relevant, and perfectly timed. Make acceptance one click. Track acceptance rate, AOV lift, and checkout progression, then keep the winners and retire the noise.
Ready to ship the playbook without a dev queue. Upsell.com lets you launch product page add ons, one click post purchase offers, and high converting thank you widgets in minutes, with rules you can copy across your catalog and clear reporting. Get started today and turn more orders
Upselling Techniques FAQ
What are upselling techniques in eCommerce?
Upselling techniques are structured ways to suggest upgrades or add ons that increase order value while improving the customer experience. They include page level offers, cart bumps, checkout add ons, post purchase one click offers, thank you page modules, and timely emails.
Do upselling techniques hurt conversion rates?
When implemented with relevance and restraint, upselling techniques do not reduce conversion. Keep offers small, contextual, and easy to skip, then track progression rates at each step to confirm.
Where should I start if I am new to upsells?
Begin with one product page add on and one post purchase one click offer. Prove the fit, then extend the same logic to cart and thank you pages before layering email.
How do I choose the right product for an upsell?
Pick complementary items that solve an adjacent problem or enhance first use. Price them as easy yes choices, usually 10 to 30 percent of the order value, and validate with small A and B tests.
What metrics show that upselling is working?
Watch acceptance rate per offer, incremental revenue per order, and any change in progression rates. Your north star is higher AOV without a drop in conversion.
