10 Shopify Cross-Sell Placement Techniques

Want to boost sales on your Shopify store? Here’s how to use cross-selling effectively:

Product page suggestions
Shopping cart add-ons
After-purchase offers
Homepage featured items
Category page cross-sells
Search results cross-selling
Email marketing cross-sells
Pop-up and overlay cross-sells
Product bundles
Account page cross-sells

Cross-selling can increase your average order value by up to 30% and boost overall sales by 10-30%.

Technique	Placement	Benefit
Product page	On individual product pages	Catches customers early
Cart add-ons	In shopping cart	Boosts last-minute additions
After-purchase	Post-checkout	No pressure on customer
Homepage	Featured items section	Reaches all visitors
Category pages	Within product listings	Matches category theme
Search results	Alongside search items	Improves product discovery
Email	In marketing emails	Personalizes offers
Pop-ups	Overlay on site	Grabs attention
Bundles	Product groupings	Increases order value
Account pages	In customer accounts	Uses purchase history

To get started:

Choose relevant products to cross-sell
Pick the right placement for your store
Use clear, appealing visuals
Test different approaches
Track results and adjust

Keep it simple, relevant, and non-intrusive for the best results.

What is Cross-Sell Placement?

Cross-sell placement is about putting product suggestions in the right spots to boost sales. It’s not just about what you recommend, but where you put those recommendations.

Cross-Sell Placement Basics

Cross-selling means suggesting extra products to customers based on what they’re already buying. But placement is about where you show these suggestions. You might put them:

On product pages
In the shopping cart
After a purchase
On the homepage

Each spot has its own pros and cons.

Why Placement Matters

Where you put cross-sell offers can make or break their success. Good placement can:

Catch customers’ eyes at the right time
Make shopping easier
Boost sales without being pushy

For example, Amazon puts "Frequently bought together" items right on the product page. This smart placement has helped them increase sales big time.

Key Things to Consider

When deciding where to put cross-sell offers, think about:

1. Customer journey: Put offers where they make sense in the shopping process.

2. Relevance: Make sure suggested products fit with what the customer is looking at or buying.

3. Timing: Don’t overwhelm customers. Show offers when they’re most likely to say yes.

4. Testing: Try different spots and see what works best for your store.

Here’s a quick look at some placement options:

Placement	Pros	Cons
Product page	Catches customers early	Might distract from main product
Shopping cart	Customer is ready to buy	Could slow down checkout
After purchase	No pressure on customer	Might miss impulse buys
Homepage	Reaches all visitors	Less targeted

1. Product Page Suggestions

Product pages are prime real estate for cross-selling. Here’s how to make the most of them:

Adding Suggestions to Product Pages

To add cross-sell offers on Shopify product pages:

Go to your Shopify admin and click "Customize" in the Themes section
Select "Product pages" from the upper menu
Click "Product recommendations" in the left panel
Check "Dynamic recommendations" and edit the heading
If your theme lacks this option, install a cross-sell app like Selleasy

Tips for Better Results

Show related products that complement the main item
Use clear headings like "You may also like" or "Frequently bought together"
Limit suggestions to 3-5 items to avoid overwhelming customers
Place recommendations after the product description for better visibility

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Irrelevant suggestions
Overloading the page with too many options
Neglecting mobile optimization
Failing to test and adjust based on performance

Do’s	Don’ts
Show complementary products	Display unrelated items
Use clear, concise headings	Overcrowd the page
Limit to 3-5 suggestions	Ignore mobile users
Test and optimize regularly	Set and forget

Effective cross-selling on product pages can boost sales significantly. Kylie Cosmetics uses phrases like "product tip" to showcase related items, while Manscaped combines product suggestions with bundle offers to increase average order value.

2. Shopping Cart Add-Ons

Shopping cart add-ons are a powerful way to boost sales right when customers are ready to buy. Here’s how to use them effectively:

Using the Cart Page Wisely

The cart page is prime real estate for cross-selling. Customers are in buying mode, making them more open to additional purchases. To make the most of this:

Show 3-5 related products that complement items already in the cart
Use clear headings like "You Might Also Like" or "Frequently Bought Together"
Place recommendations where they’re easily visible but don’t distract from the main cart contents

Making Cart Suggestions Appealing

To increase the chances of customers adding more to their cart:

Offer discounts on complementary items
Use high-quality product images
Write clear, concise product descriptions
Add urgency with phrases like "Limited Time Offer"

Do	Don’t
Show related, complementary products	Suggest unrelated or competing items
Offer small discounts (10-15%)	Make offers seem too good to be true
Use clear, attractive product images	Use low-quality or generic images
Keep descriptions short and focused	Overwhelm with long product details

Keeping Checkout Simple

While cross-selling is important, it shouldn’t complicate the buying process:

Use a slide-in cart or pop-up for suggestions instead of cluttering the main cart page
Ensure adding items to the cart is quick and doesn’t require page reloads
Maintain a clear path to checkout, keeping the "Proceed to Checkout" button visible

For example, Vanpackers uses a cart page pop-up to show multiple product recommendations without disrupting the checkout flow. This approach allows them to suggest additional items without overwhelming customers.

"By leveraging in-cart upsells, you’re not only increasing your average order value (AOV) but also providing a curated shopping experience that your customers will appreciate." – ReConvert

To implement cart add-ons in Shopify:

Create a collection for upsell products in your Shopify admin
Use Liquid code to display these products on the cart page
Add JavaScript to handle "Add to Cart" functionality for upsell items

3. After-Purchase Offers

After-purchase offers are a smart way to boost sales right when customers are most likely to buy more. Let’s look at how to set them up and use them well.

Setting Up After-Purchase Cross-Sells

To add after-purchase offers in Shopify:

Pick an app like AfterSell or ReConvert
Set up one-click upsells for quick, easy purchases
Create custom thank you pages with product suggestions
Add order bump upsells to the checkout page (Shopify Plus only)

Different Kinds of Offers

After-purchase offers come in many forms:

Discounted upsells (e.g., 10-20% off related items)
Product bundles (e.g., buy a phone, get a case half-off)
Complementary products (e.g., suggest coffee beans with a coffee maker)

Offer Type	Example	Benefit
Discount	15% off phone case with phone purchase	Quick add-on sale
Bundle	Coffee maker + beans package	Higher order value
Complementary	Suggest mug with coffee maker	Enhances main purchase

When to Show Offers

Timing is key for after-purchase offers:

Post-purchase page: Right after checkout, before the thank you page
Thank you page: After order confirmation
Follow-up emails: In order confirmation or separate upsell emails

"Laumiere Gourmet Fruits saw a 7.01% conversion rate on post-purchase offers, adding 10% to revenue in under 3 months." – ReConvert case study

Tips for success:

Keep offers relevant to the original purchase
Use clear, appealing product images
Write short, punchy descriptions
Add a sense of urgency (e.g., "Limited time offer")

4. Homepage Featured Items

Smart Use of the Homepage

The homepage is prime real estate for cross-selling in your Shopify store. It’s often the first point of contact for customers, making it ideal for showcasing complementary products. By strategically placing cross-sell items here, you can boost average order value and enhance the shopping experience.

Picking the Right Products

Choosing the right products to feature is key:

Best-sellers: Highlight popular items to build trust
New arrivals: Create excitement around fresh products
Complementary items: Show products that work well together
Seasonal offerings: Align with current trends or holidays

Making Sections Look Good

Design your homepage cross-sell sections for maximum impact:

Use high-quality, consistent product images
Keep layouts clean and easy to navigate
Add clear, concise product descriptions
Include visible pricing and "Add to Cart" buttons

Section Type	Purpose	Example
New Arrivals	Showcase latest products	"Just Added" coffee grinder next to bestselling coffee maker
Best-Sellers	Build trust with popular items	Top-rated phone cases displayed with smartphones
Seasonal	Capitalize on timely trends	Winter coats featured during cold months
Complementary	Suggest useful add-ons	Laptop bags shown with laptops

IKEA‘s homepage offers a great example of effective cross-selling. They use shoppable images that display multiple complementary items together. Customers can hover over products to see details, making it easy to understand why certain items pair well.

To implement this on your Shopify store:

Create a collection of featured products
Customize your theme to include a featured product section
Regularly update your selection to keep content fresh

5. Category Page Cross-Sells

Category pages are prime real estate for cross-selling in your Shopify store. By adding relevant product suggestions, you can boost sales and improve the shopping experience.

Adding Cross-Sells to Category Pages

To effectively add cross-sells:

1. Choose complementary products that fit the category theme 2. Place suggestions in a visible but non-intrusive spot 3. Use clear, eye-catching product images 4. Include brief descriptions and prices

Matching Products to Categories

Ensure cross-sell items align with the main category:

For a "Coffee Makers" category, suggest coffee beans, filters, or mugs
In a "Laptops" section, offer laptop bags, mice, or external hard drives

Pro tip: Use data from past purchases to inform your cross-sell choices.

Improving Page Layout

Optimize your category page layout for better cross-selling:

Element	Purpose
Sidebar	Display related items without cluttering main product grid
Bottom of page	Show "Customers also bought" section after main products
Pop-up	Trigger subtle suggestions based on browsing behavior

Remember, the goal is to enhance, not disrupt, the shopping experience.

"When a customer buys a coffee maker, you can recommend coffee beans or mugs." – LogBase, Content Creator

This simple approach can lead to significant results. Cross-selling can increase sales by 30% and profitability by 20% when done right.

Key takeaway: Keep cross-sell offers relevant and subtle. Your category pages should guide customers to make additional purchases without overwhelming them.

6. Search Results Cross-Selling

Search results pages offer a prime opportunity to boost sales through smart cross-selling. Here’s how to make the most of this often-overlooked space:

Adding Cross-Sells to Search Results

To effectively add cross-sells to your search results:

1. Use AI-powered apps like Search Filters Recommendations to show relevant upsells based on search queries

2. Display complementary products alongside main search results

3. Add a "Customers Also Viewed" section at the bottom of the page

Placement	Purpose
Sidebar	Show related items without cluttering main results
Bottom of page	Display "Customers Also Viewed" products
Within results	Integrate complementary items among main results

Making Offers Relevant

Relevance is key for search result cross-sells:

Match recommendations to search intent
Use data from past purchases to inform suggestions
Adjust recommendations based on browsing behavior

For example, if a customer searches for "coffee maker", suggest coffee beans, filters, or mugs alongside the main results.

Technical Setup

To implement cross-sells in search results:

1. Use Shopify’s Search & Discovery app for built-in recommendation features 2. Customize search UI using Shopify’s Search UI Library or REST API 3. Set up merchandising rules to target specific audiences and product segments

"The Shopify Search & Discovery app allows you to add related and complementary products on product detail pages, enhancing your cross-selling efforts." – Shopify Developer Documentation

Key takeaway: By adding relevant cross-sells to search results, you can increase product discoverability and boost sales. Remember to keep suggestions helpful and non-intrusive to maintain a smooth shopping experience.

7. Email Marketing Cross-Sells

Email marketing is a strong tool for cross-selling to your Shopify customers. Let’s look at how to use it well.

Cross-Selling in Emails

To add cross-sells to your emails:

Show items that go well with what the customer bought
Add a "You might also like" section
Include best-sellers related to their interests

For example, Dollar Shave Club sends monthly emails that let customers add extra items to their next box. This reminds them of their order and lets them buy more before shipping.

Personalizing Based on Customer Actions

Use what you know about your customers to make better offers:

Customer Action	Cross-Sell Idea
Bought a phone	Suggest a case or screen protector
Viewed winter coats	Offer matching gloves or scarves
Purchased running shoes	Recommend workout clothes or fitness trackers

Chewy does this well. They look at past orders and send emails guessing when a customer might need to buy again. This acts as both a reminder and a chance to suggest related products.

Checking What Works

To see if your email cross-sells are doing well:

Look at open rates to see if your subject lines work
Check click rates to know if people are interested in your offers
Track how many people buy after clicking

MacPaw, a software company, found success with this approach. After a customer downloaded their clean-up app, they sent an email asking for feedback. In the same email, they offered a 30% discount on other apps. This smart move helped them get customer insights and make more sales at the same time.

8. Pop-Up and Overlay Cross-Sells

Pop-ups and overlays can be powerful tools for cross-selling on Shopify stores when used wisely. Let’s look at how to make them work without annoying your customers.

Creating Good Pop-Ups and Overlays

To make pop-ups that work well:

Keep designs clean and simple
Use clear, direct language
Make sure they’re easy to close
Test different versions to see what works best

For example, Ebuyer, a UK electronics retailer, added a countdown banner to their daily deals page. This small change led to a 16% increase in sales in just 6 weeks.

When to Show Pop-Ups

Timing is key for pop-ups. Here are some good times to show them:

Timing	Why It Works
After 20 seconds	Gives users time to see your site first
When scrolling down	Shows interest in your content
Before leaving the site	Last chance to make an offer

Exit-intent pop-ups, which appear when someone is about to leave your site, can be very effective. They typically convert an extra 2-4% of visitors.

Keeping Users Happy

No one likes annoying pop-ups. Here’s how to keep your customers happy:

Don’t show pop-ups on every page
Limit how often each user sees them (e.g., once every few days)
Make sure they work well on mobile devices
Offer something valuable, not just ads

"We use Wisepops as a real marketing tool, to collect opt-in the easiest way in compliance with our strong brand identity." – Soi Paris, Shopify App Store review

9. Product Bundles as Cross-Sells

Product bundles are a smart way to boost sales and increase your average order value (AOV) on Shopify. Let’s look at how to make them work for your store.

Making Good Product Bundles

To create effective product bundles:

Choose items that go well together
Mix popular products with slower-moving stock
Offer a variety of bundle types to appeal to different customers

For example, REI promotes "Complementary Items" like t-shirts and hoodies alongside men’s pants. This cross-sell bundle approach helps customers find matching items easily.

Pricing Bundles

Pricing is key to making bundles attractive:

Pricing Strategy	Description	Example
Discount	Set bundle price lower than individual items	3 ice cream cones for $4 instead of $1 each
Added Value	Include a free or low-cost item	Camera + free camera case
Tiered Pricing	Offer bigger discounts for larger bundles	10% off 2 items, 15% off 3 items

A wine dealer might offer customers any 3 types of wine for a 15% discount, encouraging larger purchases.

Showing Bundle Value

To make bundles appealing:

Clearly show the savings compared to buying items separately
Use visuals to showcase all items in the bundle
Highlight the convenience of getting everything together

Coconu, an intimacy lubricant brand, saw a 20% increase in AOV after implementing product bundles. They made sure to display the value proposition clearly on their product pages.

"We use bundles as a real marketing tool, to collect opt-in the easiest way in compliance with our strong brand identity." – Soi Paris, Shopify merchant

Remember, bundles can work in various places on your site:

Product pages
Shopping cart
Homepage
Checkout page

10. Cross-Selling on Account Pages

Account pages offer a prime spot for personalized cross-selling. Let’s explore how to use them effectively.

Using Account Pages for Cross-Sells

Transform your account pages into sales tools:

Show product recommendations based on past purchases
Display items from abandoned carts
Highlight new products in categories customers have bought from before

For example, Ocado reminds customers of previously purchased items during checkout, boosting sales and improving user experience.

Using Past Orders for Suggestions

Leverage customer data to make smart suggestions:

Data Source	Cross-Sell Strategy
Order history	Suggest complementary products
Wish lists	Offer similar items
Browsing patterns	Recommend frequently viewed products

Judith & Charles, a high-end fashion label, uses this approach with curated product bundles on their Shopify store. This method increased their average order value and improved customer satisfaction.

Building Customer Loyalty

Use account page cross-sells to keep customers coming back:

Offer exclusive deals on complementary products
Create personalized product bundles
Implement a loyalty program with points for cross-sell purchases

"We use bundles as a real marketing tool, to collect opt-in the easiest way in compliance with our strong brand identity." – Soi Paris, Shopify merchant

Putting Cross-Sell Methods to Work

Now that we’ve covered various cross-sell techniques, let’s look at how to put them into action on your Shopify store.

Helpful Tools and Apps

Shopify offers many apps to help with cross-selling:

App Name	Key Feature	Price
Candy Rack	AI-driven recommendations	$29.99 – $199.99/month
Bold Upsell	Personalized offers	$9.99 – $59.99/month
Frequently Bought Together	Product bundling	$9.99/month
ReConvert Upsell & Cross sell	Post-purchase upsells	$4.99 – $29.99/month

These apps can boost your average order value and make product discovery easier for shoppers.

Testing What Works Best

To find the best cross-sell methods for your store:

Set clear goals (e.g., increase average order value by 15%)
Choose metrics to track (conversion rates, customer feedback)
Run A/B tests on different offers and placements
Analyze results and adjust your strategy

For example, you might test showing cross-sell items on product pages vs. in the shopping cart.

Checking Results

Track these key indicators to gauge your cross-sell success:

Average order value
Conversion rate
Number of returning customers
Customer satisfaction scores

Use Shopify Analytics to monitor these metrics. It offers over 60 ready-made reports to track performance across marketing channels.

"Cross-selling, when based on data analysis, can greatly increase sales by showing customers exactly what they need." – Shopify merchant

Wrap-Up

Quick Review of Methods

We’ve explored 10 effective cross-sell placement techniques for Shopify stores:

Product page suggestions
Shopping cart add-ons
After-purchase offers
Homepage featured items
Category page cross-sells
Search results cross-selling
Email marketing cross-sells
Pop-up and overlay cross-sells
Product bundles as cross-sells
Cross-selling on account pages

Each method offers unique ways to boost sales and improve customer experience.

What’s Next for Cross-Selling

Cross-selling in e-commerce is evolving rapidly. Future trends may include:

AI-driven personalization for more accurate product recommendations
Augmented reality (AR) integration for virtual product try-ons
Voice commerce compatibility for smart speaker shopping

Final Thoughts

Cross-selling is a powerful tool for Shopify store owners. By implementing these techniques, you can:

Increase average order value
Improve customer satisfaction
Boost overall sales

Benefits of Cross-Selling	Impact
Increased AOV	Up to 30%
Customer Satisfaction	Higher retention rates
Sales Growth	Potential 10-30% uplift

Remember to test different approaches and track your results. With the right strategy, cross-selling can transform your Shopify store’s performance.