What is Upsell and Cross-sell in WooCommerce? The Ultimate Guide

Let’s start with a simple question: As a WooCommerce store owner, what’s your ultimate goal? That’s right—boosting SALES! And one of the smartest ways to increase your WooCommerce sales is to cross-sell and upsell your products. 

“Upselling is the art of encouraging customers to purchase a higher-value or premium version of the product they’re already interested in. Cross-selling involves recommending complementary or related products to customers so that they buy more products and increase the total price.”

These strategies can help you a lot to increase order value, improve customer satisfaction, and unlock hidden revenue potential for your store. 

So in this guide, we will discuss the details of upselling and cross-selling, their differences, benefits, and how you can implement them in your WooCommerce store. Let’s go! 

What are WooCommerce Upsell Products? 

WooCommerce upselling is a sales technique where customers are encouraged to purchase a higher-end version of the product(which usually costs more) they are considering. It’s about showing them the benefits of upgrading or choosing a premium product.

So, WooCommerce upsell products means showing better alternatives to the product a customer is viewing or has added to their cart from your store. 

These alternatives typically have enhanced features or higher value, convincing customers to spend more.

Check out these examples to better understand. 

Examples of Upselling WooCommerce Products

• Electronics: A customer viewing a smartphone with 64GB storage is shown a slightly higher-priced version with 128GB storage.

• Subscriptions: A basic membership plan is presented alongside a premium plan offering more features or longer validity.

• Fashion: Customers who see a standard T-shirt should consider a designer edition made with premium fabric.

What are WooCommerce Cross-sell Products?

Cross-selling WooCommerce products involves recommending complementary or related products to customers based on the item they are purchasing. 

These additional products enhance or complement the main product and increase the cart value of your WooCommerce store.

Cross-selling is typically done during the checkout process or on the product page. WooCommerce allows you to suggest related products that the customer might find useful, convenient, or desirable alongside their main purchase.

Examples of Cross-selling

• Technology: A customer buying a laptop is shown a mouse, laptop bag, or an extended warranty.

• Home Decor: A customer purchasing a sofa is recommended matching cushions or a coffee table.

• Groceries: When a customer adds pasta to their cart, suggestions for pasta sauce, parmesan cheese, or olive oil appear.

What Is the Difference Between Upselling and Cross Selling? 7 Key Point

Upselling and cross-selling may seem similar, but they serve distinct purposes in your WooCommerce store. One of the major differences is that upselling is designed to increase the value of one purchase while cross-selling is designed to increase the total number of items a customer purchases.

There are plenty of other differences. Understanding these differences can help you use these strategies more effectively to increase your WooCommerce sales and improve customer satisfaction.

Basis	WooCommerce Upsell	WooCommerce Cross-sell
Nature of Products	Upselling focuses on offering customers a more advanced or premium version of the product they are viewing. These are often the same type but better versions.	Cross-selling involves suggesting products that complement the main item. These are usually different products designed to enhance or complete the customer’s purchase.
Purpose	The goal is to encourage customers to choose a higher-value product, increasing the overall profit from a single purchase.	The aim is to inspire customers to add related or complementary items to their cart, boosting the total order value.
Price Comparison	Upsell products are priced higher than the main product.	Cross-sell products are usually lower in price compared to the main product.
Product Recommendations	Highlights better versions with advanced features.	Suggests items that pair well with the main product.
Sales Strategy	It encourages customers to replace their initial choice with a more expensive or enhanced product.	encourages customers to add more items to their cart, increasing the overall cart value without changing the main product choice.
Impact on Average Order Value	Significantly increases the value of individual items in the cart.	Boosts overall cart value by increasing the number of items purchased.
Implementation Complexity	Requires premium options with clear value benefits.	Needs logical mapping of related or accessory products.

How to Upsell and Cross-Sell in WooCommerce? 

We believe you have got a brief idea about upselling and cross-selling. Now, let’s learn how to set it up. Luckily, WooCommerce makes it easy to upsell and cross-sell your products. Have a look. 

How to Set Up Upsell Products in WooCommerce?

Here are step-by-step processes to set wocommerce upsell.

Step 1. Select your Product

From your WordPress Dashboard, go to Products>> All Products. 

Then select the product in which you want to apply your upsell or cross-sell strategies. 

Step 2. Find the Linked Products Section

You should scroll down and get to the “Product Data” section. There select the tab “Linked Products”. Here, you will find the options to cross-sell and upsell your products in WooCommerce. 

Step 3. Add Upsell Products

 In the “Upsells” field, start typing the name of the products you’d like to suggest as upsells. Select them from the dropdown list and save your changes.

In this case, we’ll select the “Limited Edition VEIISAR Men’s T-Shirt” as our upsell. By recommending a premium version to customers who are interested in the standard t-shirt, we create an opportunity for them to explore a more exclusive and valuable option.

Step 4. Save the Product

After adding your upsell products, make sure to click “Update” to save the changes. That’s all! 

How to Set Up Cross Sell Products in WooCommerce?

Both of the processes are quite similar. So, we believe you will be able to do it pretty easily 

Step 1. Go to the Desired Product Page>>Linked Products Section

As with upsells, go to the product you want to cross-sell. Under the “Product Data” section, select the “Linked Products” tab.

Step 2. Add Cross-sell Products

 In the “Cross-sells” field, begin typing the names of the products you want to display as cross-sells. Choose the relevant products from the dropdown list. 

For example, in this process, we will be selecting a laptop bag as a cross-sell product for one of our premium Laptop Products. 

Step 3. Save the Product

 Once you’ve added your cross-sell suggestions, click “Update” to save your changes. Now whenever the customers order this laptop product, they are going to see the cross-sell product in their cart or checkout page. 

WooCommerce Upsell or Cross-sell: Which One Should You Use?

Deciding between upselling and cross-selling depends on your business goals, product types, and customer behavior. Both strategies are powerful in their own ways, and the best approach often involves a combination of the two. Let’s dive deeper into when and why to use each one: 

When to Use WooCommerce Upselling Strategy?

• Premium Product Range: If your store offers multiple versions of a product with varying quality, features, or specifications, upselling is a perfect fit. It helps you highlight the premium options and convince customers of the added value. Example: A customer browsing for a basic smartwatch might be upsold to a model with advanced health tracking features.
  
• Targeting Customer Aspirations: Upselling appeals to customers who are willing to spend more for better performance, durability, or exclusive features. So, if your target audience values quality over cost, upselling can maximize your revenue.

• Enhancing Profit Margins: Since upselling typically involves higher-priced items, it’s an effective way to increase profit margins on individual purchases. This is especially beneficial for stores offering luxury goods or high-end electronics.

When to Use WooCommerce Cross-selling Strategy?

• Sell Complementary Products: Cross-selling is ideal when your store offers a range of items that work well together. If your store has many complementary products, use cross-selling to encourage customers to buy related products they may not have thought of initially.

• Encouraging Impulse Purchases: Cross-sell items are often lower in cost, making them easier for customers to add to their cart without much hesitation. These small add-ons can significantly boost your overall sales.

• Creating a Complete Experience: Cross-selling can help you ensure customers get everything they need for a specific purpose. For example, a skincare bundle with complementary products creates a holistic experience.

Combining Upselling and Cross-selling Strategies for WooCommerce Products 

For the best results, you don’t have to choose one over the other—combine both strategies strategically. 

Upsell First, Then Cross-sell: Encourage customers to upgrade their primary product, then suggest complementary items to complete the experience. For instance, a customer upgrading to a high-end DSLR camera can then be shown cross-sell options like a camera bag, lens cleaner, or tripod.

Use Different Pages for Each Strategy: Upselling works best on product pages and during checkout, while cross-selling is effective on cart pages or as pop-ups. So, consider using both. 

Why Upselling and Cross-selling Matter in WooCommerce? 5 Key Reasons 

Both techniques can significantly impact your store’s performance. Here’s why:

• Boosts Revenue: Upselling and cross-selling naturally increase your revenue by convincing customers to spend more.

• Improves Customer Satisfaction: When customers find products that better meet their needs or complement their purchases, they’re more likely to have a positive shopping experience.

• Enhances Average Order Value (AOV): Cross-selling and upselling are proven methods for increasing customers’ average spending per order.

• Encourages Product Discovery: These strategies highlight products customers might not have considered, driving awareness and additional sales.

• Builds Loyalty: Offering relevant recommendations shows customers you understand their needs, fostering trust and loyalty.

5 Tips to Optimize Upselling and Cross-selling WooCommerce Products 

Both Upselling and Cross-selling are great strategies for maximizing WooCommerce sales. But hey, if you want to maximize these strategies, consider applying these best practices. 

1. Use Clear Descriptions: No matter whether your strategy is cross-selling or upselling, make the best use of WooCommerce product descriptions to highlight why the product is beneficial for your customers.

2. Keep Pricing Logical: Try to ensure the upsell price difference isn’t too much arduous for your customers. For cross-sells, you should keep the items affordable.

3. Offer Discounts: Create urgency by offering time-limited discounts on recommended items. In order to offer the best possible discounts in your store, you can consider checking our in-depth guide about WooCommerce discounts. 

4. Personalize Recommendations: Use plugins or AI tools to suggest products based on customer behavior.

5. Test Placements: Experiment with upsell and cross-sell placements to see what works best for conversions. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Final Thought

Hopefully, you have a good idea of upselling and cross-selling in WooCommerce. Remember, both of them are powerful tools that can transform your WooCommerce store. 

By using these strategies effectively, you can always increase revenue, improve customer satisfaction, and create a smooth shopping experience. So, use them properly and follow best practices. 

Take the first step today—implement upselling and cross-selling in your WooCommerce store and watch your sales soar!