WooCommerce Upselling: A Guide to Boost Ecommerce Revenue

By Anjali Rastogi 10 min Read

Table of Contents

    Upselling in WooCommerce involves offering customers a higher-end or premium version of the product they are considering or have already added to their cart.

    Unlike cross-selling, which suggests complementary items, upselling focuses on enhancing the main product to provide greater value. For instance, if a customer is buying a laptop, an upsell might be a version with more storage or a faster processor, while a cross-sell might suggest a laptop bag or mouse.

    By encouraging customers to opt for higher-priced versions of products, you can increase the Average Order Value (AOV) and overall sales. This strategy not only boosts revenue but also enhances customer satisfaction by offering better or more suitable options tailored to their needs.

    There are several effective places in the customer journey where you can add upsells, including product pages, where you can showcase premium versions, in the cart, during checkout, and even post-purchase through follow-up emails.

    For example, displaying an upsell option for a premium product when a customer adds an item to their cart can increase sales.

    The WooCommerce Revenue Booster is a user-friendly plugin designed to enhance upselling strategies within your store. This plugin features options like frequently bought-together suggestions and order bumps. Its extensive customization options allow seamless integration with existing WooCommerce setups, ensuring that implementing upselling techniques is both efficient and effective.

    Lets now explore how you can increase your store’s revenue by offering customers superior product options that meet their needs.


    Creating Attractive Upsells Using WooCommerce Revenue Booster

    Upselling is a powerful strategy to increase your WooCommerce store’s revenue, and the WooCommerce Revenue Booster Plugin makes it easy. Here’s a step-by-step guide to setting up upsells with this plugin, drawing from internal Dotstore documentation.

    Step 1: Define “Frequently Bought Together” Items

    Access the Plugin Settings:

    • Navigate to your WordPress dashboard.
    • Go to WooCommerce > Settings > Revenue Booster.

    Select Products for Upsell:

    • In the plugin settings, find the Frequently Bought Together section.
    • Click on Add New to define a new set of frequently bought-together items.

    Choose Related Products:

    • Select the main product you want to upsell.
    • Choose the related products that will appear as frequently bought together.
    • Save your settings to apply these changes.

      Access Discount Settings: Within the Frequently Bought Together section, locate the discount settings.

      Step 2: Set Discounts on Combined Items

      Define Discount Rules:

      • Set the discount percentage or fixed amount that applies when customers purchase the defined products together.
      • Specify any conditions or minimum purchase requirements for the discount to apply.

      Save and Apply Discounts: Save your settings to activate the discounts on combined items.

        Step 3: Set Up Upsells as an Order Bump on the Checkout Page

        Navigate to Order Bump Settings: Go to WooCommerce > Settings > Revenue Booster > Order Bumps.

        Create a New Order Bump:

        • Click on Add New to create a new order bump offer.
        • Select the product you want to offer as an upsell during checkout.

        Customize the Order Bump:

        • Define the offer title, description, and any special pricing or discounts.
        • Configure the display settings to ensure the order bump is prominently displayed on the checkout page.

        Activate the Order Bump: Save your settings to enable the order bump feature.

          Step 4: Add Post-Purchase Upsells

          Access Post-Purchase Settings: Go to WooCommerce > Settings > Revenue Booster > Post-Purchase Upsells.

          Create a New Post-Purchase Offer:

          • Click on Add New to define a new post-purchase upsell.
          • Select the product you want to offer after the initial purchase is completed.

          Customize the Post-Purchase Offer:

          • Set the offer details, including product information, special pricing, and promotional messages.
          • Configure the display settings to show the upsell offer on the order confirmation page or in follow-up emails.

          Activate the Post-Purchase Upsell: Save your settings to enable post-purchase upsells.


          What are the Right Products for Effective Upsells?

          Choosing the right products for upsells will maximize revenue and enhance customer satisfaction.

          Understanding your customers’ journey is the first step in identifying key touch points where upselling can be most effective. By analyzing the different stages of the customer journey, you can pinpoint where customers are most receptive to upsell offers. Key touchpoints include product pages, the shopping cart, checkout, and post-purchase follow-ups.

          Customer data and purchase patterns make it easy to understand which products are likely to be well-received as upsell offers. For instance, if customers frequently purchase a particular accessory along with a main product, this accessory is a strong candidate for upselling. Data analytics can help identify these trends and inform your product selection process.

          When choosing products for upselling, consider the following criteria:

          1. Relevance and Relation:

          The upsell product should be highly relevant and closely related to the item the customer has already added to their cart. For example, suggesting a premium laptop model when the customer is purchasing a standard laptop.

          2. Complementary Products:

          Offer products that complement the customer’s initial purchase, such as accessories or add-ons. For example, a laptop bag or mouse for a laptop purchase.

          3. Higher-Priced or Premium Alternatives:

          Suggest higher-priced versions or premium alternatives to the products in the customer’s cart. This could include a model with more features or an extended warranty.

          4. Customer Data and Purchase History:

          Use customer data and purchase history to suggest products that align with their past behavior. For example, if a customer frequently buys skincare products, suggesting a new serum could be effective.

          Electronics: When a customer buys a laptop, suggest a laptop bag, mouse, or extended warranty.

          Fashion: Recommend matching accessories like shoes, handbags, or jewelry when a customer purchases clothing items.

          Beauty Products: Suggest complementary skincare products like toners, moisturizers, and serums when a customer buys a face cleanser.

          Home Goods: Offer related items like drill bits and safety goggles when a customer purchases a power drill.


          Displaying Upsell Offers for Maximum Impact

          To ensure your upsell offers capture the attention of customers and effectively increase revenue, strategic placement is key. Different locations within your WooCommerce store offer distinct benefits and drawbacks. Here’s a comprehensive guide to displaying upsell offers for maximum impact.

          PlacementDescriptionProsCons
          Product PagesDisplay upsell offers directly on product pages where customers are already interested in making a purchase. Highlight complementary or upgraded products.Relevance: Showcases upgrades or complementary products while the customer is actively considering a purchase.
          Increased Average Order Value: Encourages customers to consider higher-priced alternatives, boosting the order value.
          Distraction: May distract customers from the main product and cause choice overload.
          Perception: Requires careful selection of upsells to avoid seeming pushy or overwhelming.
          Cart PageDisplay upsell offers on the cart page to suggest additional items before checkout.Buying Mindset: Catches customers while they are reviewing their order and in a buying mindset.
          Ease of Addition: Cross-sells can easily be added to the order with one click.
          Incentives: Bundling or volume discounts can incentivize larger purchases.
          Overwhelm: Too many suggestions can be overwhelming and lead to cart abandonment.
          Relevance: Irrelevant recommendations may annoy customers.
          Checkout PageUse order bumps on the checkout page to offer last-minute additions that enhance the primary purchase.Final Opportunity: Presents a final chance to increase order value before the purchase is completed.
          Impulse Purchases: Inexpensive add-ons can lead to impulse buys.
          Focus: Customers are less likely to navigate away during checkout.
          Distractions: Distractions at this critical stage may cause customers to rethink their purchase.
          Complexity: Complicated offers can lead to frustration and abandoned carts.
          Flow Disruption: Must be implemented thoughtfully to avoid disrupting the conversion flow.
          Post-PurchasePresent upsell offers immediately after purchase, encouraging additional buys while the customer is still engaged.No Risk: Customer has already converted, so there is no risk of endangering the initial sale.
          Extended Value: Upsells for related products or services can extend customer lifetime value.
          Personalization: Personalized offers based on purchase history are often well-received.
          Limited Reach: Only reaches customers who completed a purchase, missing some opportunities.
          Quick Exit: Some customers may quickly leave this page without engaging with offers.
          Buyer’s Remorse: Presenting additional costs after purchase may cause buyer’s remorse.

          The Importance of Good Visual Appeal in Upsells

          Focusing on your upsells’ visual appeal can make them more effective and attractive.

          Start by using high-quality images and clear, concise descriptions to make your upsell products enticing. The better the visual presentation, the more likely customers are to consider them.

          Next, use visually appealing graphics and banners to draw attention to upsell products. Well-designed graphics can help the upsell stand out and capture customer interest.

          Ensure that the design and layout of upsell offers match the overall branding of your store. Consistent branding creates a seamless shopping experience, reinforcing trust and recognition.

          Promoting Upsells with Effective Calls to Action

          To further enhance your upsell strategy, use persuasive CTAs such as “Add to Cart,” “Upgrade Now,” or “Limited Offer” to entice customers. A strong call to action encourages immediate response and can significantly boost conversions.

          Emphasize the benefits of the upsell product, such as superior features, better quality, or exclusive discounts. Clearly communicating the advantages helps customers see the value in choosing the upsell option.

          Incorporate scarcity and urgency with phrases like “Only a few left!” or “Limited time offer!” to motivate quick decisions. Creating a sense of urgency can push customers to act swiftly.

          Use social proof by displaying customer reviews or ratings for the upsell products. Positive feedback from other customers builds credibility and trust, making the upsell more appealing.

          Personalizing Upsell Offers

          Utilize customer data to offer personalized upsell recommendations based on browsing history and past purchases. Personalized offers are more relevant and likely to resonate with customers, increasing the chances of conversion.

          Segment customers and tailor upsell offers to different customer groups for higher conversion rates. By understanding customer segments, you can create targeted upsell strategies that better meet the needs of specific groups.

          Importance of Responsive Design

          Finally, ensure that your upsell offers are mobile-friendly and look good on all devices. With many customers shopping on their phones, a mobile-optimized upsell can significantly improve the shopping experience and boost conversions.

          Simplify the upsell process on mobile to reduce friction and encourage conversions. A smooth and straightforward process ensures customers can easily add upsells to their purchase without frustration or confusion.

          Promoting Testing and Iteration

          A/B testing compares two versions of a webpage against each other to determine which one performs better.

          By regularly A/B testing different upsell placements, designs, and call-to-actions (CTAs), businesses can identify what resonates most with their audience and optimize for higher conversion rates.

          For example, an e-commerce site might use A/B testing to decide whether an upsell offer performs better at the checkout page or product page, or to determine which color and wording of a CTA button leads to more clicks and sales.

          Also, analyze key metrics and performance data to refine upsell strategies based on customer behavior and feedback.

          The WooCommerce Revenue Booster Plugin helps streamline upselling efforts by automating the selection and display of upsell products. Key features include:

          • Frequently Bought Together Suggestions: Automatically suggest products that are commonly purchased together.
          • Order Bumps: Display targeted upsell offers on the checkout page.
          • Post-Purchase Offers: Present upsell opportunities after the initial purchase is complete.

          By utilizing these strategies and the WooCommerce Revenue Booster Plugin, you can effectively increase your store’s revenue while providing customers with valuable and relevant product recommendations.


          Upsell with Ease with WooCommerce Revenue Booster

          Strategically placed upsells can significantly boost your Average Order Value (AOV) and enhance the overall customer journey. The WooCommerce Revenue Booster Plugin simplifies the process of adding effective upsells to your store, ensuring you maximize revenue opportunities.

          When planning your upsells, it’s crucial to consider your audience’s wants, needs, and psychological triggers to create compelling offers that resonate with them.

          Ready to take your WooCommerce store to the next level? Get started with the WooCommerce Revenue Booster today and watch your revenue grow. If the plugin hasn’t launched yet, sign up for news and updates to be the first to know when it’s available.

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          Anjali Rastogi

          With over 8 years of experience in content writing and brand management, she currently serves as a Content Writer at Multidots, as well as for its brands, Multicollab and Dotstore. An innovation-focused and creative brand professional, she is passionate about connecting with audiences and customers on both personal and professional levels.

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          Written by Anjali Rastogi

          With over 8 years of experience in content writing and brand management, she currently serves as a Content Writer at Multidots, as well as for its brands, Multicollab and Dotstore. An innovation-focused and creative brand professional, she is passionate about connecting with audiences and customers on both personal and professional levels.