How to Create Upsell Recommendations on Shopify?

Learn how to create upsell recommendations on Shopify product pages and increase your store’s average order value. 

Upselling is a proven strategy to boost revenue and enhance customer satisfaction in eCommerce. By strategically showcasing complementary or higher-value products on Shopify product pages, you can encourage shoppers to explore more of your offerings and increase their purchase value.

This guide will walk you through the process of creating effective upsell recommendations on your Shopify store.

Let’s get started!

Upsell recommendations are a sales technique where businesses suggest higher-value or upgraded versions of a product a customer is viewing or considering purchasing. These recommendations aim to increase the customer’s order value by encouraging them to choose a premium version, add additional features, or bundle related items.

For example, if a customer is viewing a basic laptop on a Shopify store, an upsell recommendation might suggest a more advanced model with better features or a package with accessories like a laptop bag and an extended warranty. These suggestions are typically displayed on the product page, cart, or checkout page.

By implementing upsell recommendations effectively, Shopify store owners can boost average order value, improve customer satisfaction by offering better options, and drive overall business growth.

Upsell recommendations offer several key benefits that can significantly enhance both the customer experience and a store’s profitability. Here are some of the most impactful advantages:

Increase Revenue

The primary benefit of upsell recommendations is the potential for higher sales. By offering customers more expensive or upgraded versions of products, you can boost your average order value (AOV), leading to higher revenue without needing to attract new customers.

Improved Customer Experience

Upsell recommendations, when done correctly, can provide customers with better alternatives, enhancing their shopping experience. By presenting more suitable or feature-rich options, you help customers make informed decisions and potentially find products that better meet their needs.

Better Product Visibility

Upselling promotes products that customers might not have initially considered, increasing the visibility of other offerings in your store. This can help you highlight related items or new arrivals that could be valuable to your customers.

Personalized Shopping

When upsell recommendations are personalized based on a customer’s browsing behavior, purchase history, or preferences, it creates a more tailored shopping experience. Personalization can increase the likelihood of conversion, as customers feel the recommendations are relevant to their interests.

Enhanced Conversion Rates

Upselling not only increases the value of each transaction but can also improve your store’s overall conversion rate. If customers find value in the recommended products, they are more likely to make an additional purchase or upgrade their selection.

Let’s explain the working of the upsell recommendations with an example:

Imagine a customer browsing a Shopify store and adding a standard pair of running shoes to their cart. As they proceed to the product page, an upsell recommendation appears for a premium version of the same running shoes, offering extra features such as enhanced cushioning and a longer warranty. The upsell is strategically placed under the product description and highlights benefits like better durability and performance.

The customer sees the value in the upgraded shoes, realizing that the additional cost will provide them with a longer-lasting product and improved comfort for their runs. As a result, they decide to opt for the premium shoes instead of the standard ones.

In this scenario, not only has the store increased the customer’s purchase value by upgrading to the more expensive shoes, but the upsell also boosted the conversion rate by persuading the customer to spend more rather than abandoning their cart or purchasing a lower-value item.

This demonstrates how upsell recommendations can not only increase the transaction value but also encourage customers to complete the purchase, leading to a higher conversion rate for the store.

Follow the below steps to create upsell recommendations in Shopify:

Step 1: Install the StoreFrog App

Before you can start creating upsell recommendations, you need to install the StoreFrog app from the Shopify App Store.

1. Go to the Shopify App Store and search for “SF Product Recommendations for Shopify.”
2. Click on the Install button to add the app to your Shopify store.

3. Follow the instructions and grant permission to integrate the app with your Shopify store.

Step 2: Set Up Product Recommendation Types

After you have installed the app, you can begin configuring different types of product recommendations for your store.

1. Open the StoreFrog app from your Shopify dashboard.
2. From the Home page of the app, select Create new recommendation.

Step 3: Choose Upsell Recommendations for Product Page

In this step, choose the Product page to show the recommendations.

Then, select Upsell recommendations from the list of recommendations. This will allow you to suggest higher-value or complementary products to customers based on the product they are viewing.

Step 4: Configure Upsell Recommendations for Shopify

In this step, you have three options for creating upsell recommendations in Shopify:

• More Quantity as Upsell

Offer discounts on purchasing larger quantities of the same product.

• Higher Priced Variant

Encourage customers to consider upgrading to a higher-end version of the product instead of their original choice.

• Custom Products as Upsell

Select custom products to feature as upsell recommendations based on your preferences.

We will choose the Higher Priced Variant to show as upsell recommendations.

Then, choose whether to show the upsell recommendations for all products, specific products, or specific collections.

Step 5: Customize Shopify Upsell Recommendations Widget

• Choose a title and a subtitle for the upsell widget for the product page.
• Add a discount for the upsell product to encourage customers to complete the purchase.

Click on the Customize button to go to the widget customize page of the StoreFrog app.

You can change the display style of the widget, customize the action button, change the font color, background, etc.

After making the necessary changes, click on the Create new recommendation button in the top right corner.

This will add the upsell recommendation widget to your Shopify store.

Here are some best practices for creating effective upsell recommendations on your Shopify store:

Ensure Relevance to the Customer

It’s crucial that upsell recommendations are relevant to the product the customer is already interested in. For example, if a customer is purchasing a laptop, suggesting accessories like a case or a mouse can increase the likelihood of a purchase. Personalizing recommendations based on customer data, such as browsing history and past purchases, can also make the upsell more appealing and relevant to their needs, leading to higher conversion rates.

Offer Value, Not Just Price

When offering upsells, focus on the value they provide rather than just the price. Mention the benefit of upgrading to a superior product, by explaining its features, benefits, longer warranty, etc. Additionally, consider bundling products that complement the original item, offering a special discount for the bundle. This not only increases the perceived value but also makes the upsell more attractive to the customer.

Place Upsell Widgets Strategically

The placement of your upsell recommendations plays a significant role in their success. Ensure that they are visible but not intrusive, placed in sections such as beneath the product description, on the checkout page, or in a “You may also like” section. Regularly testing and optimizing the positioning of these widgets can help determine the most effective locations that drive conversions.

Set Clear Pricing and Discounts

Offering clear pricing and discounts is essential when creating upsell recommendations. Consider offering discounts for larger quantities or bulk purchases, and ensure that these savings are adds value to the shopper.

Use FOMO

Creating urgency can encourage customers to act quickly and buy the upsell products. Use language like “Limited-time offer” or “While supplies last” to create urgency. Additionally, displaying a “Hurry, only X left in stock!” message can trigger FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), motivating customers to complete their purchase sooner.

Don’t Overwhelm the Customer

While it might be tempting to offer numerous upsell options, offering too many choices can overwhelm the customer and reduce the chances of a purchase. It’s best to limit upsell options to 1-3 well-chosen products that truly enhance the customer’s original purchase. Prioritizing products that complement the item they’re considering ensures that the upsell feels relevant and valuable.

Monitor and Analyze Performance

Finally, continuously monitoring the performance of your upsell recommendations is key to optimizing your strategy. Keep track of metrics like conversion rates, click-through rates, and average order value (AOV) to see how well your upsells are performing. Use this data to make informed adjustments to your upsell products, pricing, and placement, improving your strategy over time.

Creating upsell recommendations on your Shopify product pages is a powerful strategy to boost your store’s revenue and enhance the customer experience. By offering customers more valuable or complementary options, you can increase the average order value while helping shoppers find the best products to meet their needs.

Tools like the StoreFrog app make it easy to implement upselling strategies without overwhelming your customers. By following best practices such as personalization, offering value, and strategically placing upsell widgets, you can maximize the effectiveness of your recommendations.

We hope this article has helped you learn about how to create upsell recommendations in Shopify. Stay tuned for more updates.