How to Upsell and Cross-Sell for Ecommerce Success

By Mitali Purkait Ghosh on November 28, 2025

If you run an ecommerce store, you’d obviously want it to be successful. You want better sales and revenue. But the usual tactics employed by brick-and-mortar stores won’t work here. You’re going to need something different…

…Like upselling and cross-selling!

Wait, don’t get confused yet! In this blog, we’re discussing the 10 ways you can utilize upselling and cross-selling with the help of a Shopify and WooCommerce development company in Kolkata, India. Keep reading!

What is Cross-Selling and Upselling?

Cross-selling is a basic technique for any thriving ecommerce store. While it’s about selling more, it’s also about selling smarter by offering products that genuinely make your customer’s initial purchase better. When you master the art of cross-sell, you can considerably boost your Average Order Value (AOV). And enhance customer satisfaction while at it!

Therefore, cross-selling improves the shopping experience and turns single interactions into profitable multi-item orders.

On the other hand, upselling performs the same with a noticeable exception. Instead of merely selling smarter, upselling gets a customer to purchase a high-end or expensive product. It offers a better, upgraded model of the item the customer is already interested in.

Best E-Commerce Cross-Selling & Upselling Tips

Cross-Selling at Checkout

This is the ecommerce equivalent of the razor and magazine rack at a physical store. When a customer is already in a purchasing mindset, a simple, relevant suggestion is extremely effective. A WordPress website design agency in India who’s proficient in Shopify and WooCommercemight implement any of the following:

• Use carousels on the final checkout page with headers like ‘Related Products’
• Present complementary items that customers can quickly add to their order with a header like ‘People Also Bought’

In-Cart Cross-Sells

A step-up from checkout suggestions, in-cart cross-selling keeps the recommendation right on the cart page. The complementary products are displayed with a simple ‘Add to Cart’ button. This lets shoppers instantly include them without navigating away.

This strategy is particularly powerful when paired with free shipping thresholds. For instance, if a customer is at $30 and your free shipping begins at $35, recommend a $10 item. Now, the customer is compelled to buy more and hit that threshold. It’s a win-win for customer experience and revenue!

Strategic Bundling

Bundling is the classic way to create irresistible value. Offer several complementary products together at a discounted price to make buying multiple items more enticing.

For instance, an item worth $1000 is bundled with an item worth $600. They create a bundle with both for $1300 (a $300 saving) and promote it on the product page.

Pop-ups and Banners

Shopify and WooCommerce development services in Kolkata, India, would use pop-ups or banners to cross-sell at critical points. These points include adding an item to the cart or clicking the checkout button, where you get the final chance to present related items or offer limited deals.

Confirmation Page Offers

Don’t stop selling after the order is placed! Once the purchase is complete, immediately offer a limited-time deal on a low-cost, impulse-purchase item. The customer’s card details are already saved, which makes it an easy ‘yes’ to an unexpected, convenient deal.

Retargeting with a Twist

Retargeting ads are an excellent way to bring back cart abandoners. However, instead of displaying what they left behind, feature a related product with a discount. This encourages them to return and buy the original item along with the suggested add-on.

Follow-up Cross-Sells via Email/SMS

Leverage your customer data with follow-up marketing. After a customer buys, send a thank you email or text with a discount on complementary products. If they bought a new jacket, send a promotion for matching caps or scarves a few days later.

Peer Pressure and Social Proof

People crave belonging and tend to follow the crowd–this is the bandwagon effect. Use social proof like ‘Trending Now’ or ‘Frequently Bought Together’ to show customers that others are enjoying the product. Studies have shown that many shoppers make reactive purchases out of the Fear of Missing Out!

Averting Loss with Reviews

Most customers are loss-averse, detesting a mistake during purchases or getting a bad product. Nine out of ten Shoppers lean on customer reviews to guide their choices and prevent loss. That’s why prominently featuring strong, relevant reviews builds trust and guides the customer toward the right cross-sell.

Test and Improve Continuously

The best strategy is the one that can be continuously optimized. Use analytics tools to track customer behavior, traffic sources, and conversion rates. WordPress website development agencies in Indiawill conduct A/B testing on everything from product page layouts to pop-up timing and CTAs. Your data will tell you precisely which cross-sells and strategies are working the best.

When you hire a Shopify developer in Kolkata, India, they will systematically apply these strategies. With Digital Concepts, you’ll see your AOV climb and create more helpful and enjoyable shopping experiences for your customers! So, get in touch with us now.

Mitali Purkait Ghosh

Mitali Purkait Ghosh, the Co-Founder of Digital Concepts, brings a wealth of knowledge and innovation to the marketing sphere. Mitali and her dedicated team offer unparalleled expertise in digital marketing and content writing, among other key online strategies.