The Upsell Playbook: How to Boost AOV at Checkout and Beyond

Moving beyond the checkout page is essential to any successful upsell strategy—and it’s one of the often neglected parts of the journey. Most merchants will stop offering additional products or discounts once the customer has completed their purchase, and they miss many opportunities to upsell and increase AOV.

The One Click Upsell (OCU) page is a powerful tool for increasing AOV. This page appears right after a customer’s initial purchase, prompting them to buy additional items or upgrade their purchase. It's an effective time to upsell because the customer is already in a buying mindset.

Here are some tips for upselling on the OCU page:

• Offer relevant, complementary products: Recommend products that complement the customer's purchase or offer an upgraded version of an item.
• Create a sense of urgency: To create a sense of urgency and encourage customers to buy more, consider offering a limited-time discount or special offer for purchasing on the OCU page.
• Keep the process simple: Make sure the OCU page is user-friendly and easy to navigate, with a clear call-to-action for adding additional products to the cart.

Add an order bump option on the OCU page to offer customers a complementary product, potentially at a discounted price. This can be done using the “complementary” recommendation AI algorithm and merchandising rules to recommend products below a certain amount for a special one-time purchase.

Here's how to implement this play:

1. Choose relevant products: Use product tagging and AI to identify complementary products with the customer's purchase. For example, if they buy a face cream, offer a toner or serum as an order bump.
2. Offer a discount: Consider offering the complementary product at a discounted price to incentivize customers to add it to their purchase. This can be done by setting up merchandising rules for dynamic pricing.
3. Keep it simple: Ensure the order bump is easy to understand and add to the cart without adding friction to the checkout process. Also, ensure the add-on product can be easily added to the customer's cart with a single click.
4. Test and track performance: Keep a close eye on how many customers add the order bump to their purchase and its impact on AOV. Make adjustments as needed to optimize this strategy.

On the OCU page, present the customer with complementary products from their initial purchase or best sellers. This boosts average order value and ensures our customers receive even greater satisfaction from their choice.

To effectively implement this upsell strategy:

1. Suggest higher-priced items: Recommend upgrading the customer's initial purchase. For example, if your customer buys a single unit of lipstick, you could offer a more premium version with additional benefits.
2. Highlight the benefits: Communicate the added value of the upgraded product. Give customers a reason to spend more and make that purchase decision immediately. For instance, you could mention that the complementary product has a long-lasting formula or better ingredients.
3. Offer a special discount: Consider offering a special discount for upgrading on the OCU page, making the choice more appealing to customers. For the lip liner promotion, you could make it more appealing by offering 50% off to entice the customer.
4. Make it easy to upgrade: Ensure customers can easily switch to the upgraded product without redoing their entire purchase. Consider offering a one-click option to switch to the higher-priced item.
5. Monitor performance: Track the number of customers who choose to upgrade and the overall impact of this play on AOV. Adjust your offer as needed to optimize this strategy.

The Thank You and Order Status pages are another opportunity to upsell and increase AOV after the customer has completed their purchase.

When upselling on the Thank You and Order Status pages:

• Strike while the iron is hot: Use language that conveys a sense of excitement and urgency to encourage customers to make another purchase.
• Recommend relevant products: Use AI to identify products frequently bought with the customer's initial purchase or offer related products at a discounted price.
• Keep it simple: Make sure the upsell options are easy to add to the cart and don't require much additional effort from the customer.

Like offering complementary products on the OCU page, you can use triggers and tagging to recommend related products on the Thank You and Order Order Status pages. This allows customers to add more items to their cart that they may have missed during their initial purchase.

To effectively implement this cross-sell strategy:

1. Identify complementary items: Use triggers to identify complementary and related products. This can be done using the “Complements” AI algorithm rule. For example, recommend matching shoes or accessories if the customer buys a dress.
2. Highlight the benefits: Through product descriptions, images, and customer reviews, clearly communicate how these products will enhance the customer's initial purchase and add value to their overall experience.
3. Offer a discount: On the thank you page, consider offering a special discount for purchasing related products to entice customers to add more items to their carts. One-time discounts create a sense of urgency and encourage customers to purchase more.
4. Make it easy to add to the cart: Ensure the recommended products can be easily directed to the product detail page with a single click.
5. Track performance: Track the number of customers who choose to cross-sell and its impact on AOV. Adjust as needed to optimize this strategy.

A loyalty program is another way to encourage customers to spend more after checkout. By offering rewards or discounts for future purchases, loyalty programs encourage customers to spend more to earn benefits.

Here's how to implement this upsell strategy:

1. Connect your loyalty program: If you have an existing one, you can use it to incentivize customers to spend more. On the thank you page, offer a special discount or reward if they sign up for your loyalty program.
2. Promote exclusive offers: Use the Thank You or Order Confirmation page to promote exclusive offers or early access to sales for loyalty program members. This encourages customers to sign up and spend more to take advantage of these benefits.
3. Use urgency and scarcity: Phrases like "Limited time offer" or "Join now to start earning rewards" create a sense of urgency and encourage customers to sign up for the loyalty program before completing checkout.
4. Personalize the program: Use data-driven insights to personalize the loyalty program based on the customer's past purchases, preferences, and behaviors.
5. Monitor and track performance: Track the number of customers joining the loyalty program and their impact on AOV. Make adjustments as needed to optimize.

The tracking page is another opportunity to upsell and increase AOV after the customer has completed their purchase.

Here are some tips for upselling on the Order Status or Tracking page:

• Highlight special deals or promotions: Use this page to offer customers exclusive discounts or promotions on related products.
• Offer upgrades or add-ons: Use AI algorithms to recommend upgrades or add-ons that enhance the customer's initial purchase.
• Use social proof: On this page, display reviews and testimonials from satisfied customers who have purchased additional products through upselling.

A strong feeling is attached to your order tracking page. When customers check this page, they usually feel strongly about the product they just purchased—they might be excited or even anxious about its delivery. And while they are still thinking about your products, this presents a wonderful opportunity to provide recommendations for the next purchase.

To effectively implement this upsell strategy:

1. Use data-driven insights: Lean on AI to identify which products will most likely appeal to the customer and offer a special discount or promotion. This can be based on their past purchases, browsing history, and items frequently bought together.
2. Offer limited-time discounts: Use phrases like "Today only!" or "Limited stock available" to create a sense of urgency and encourage customers to make an additional purchase before their order is shipped.
3. Use visuals: Add eye-catching images or videos of the products offered to catch customers' attention and entice them to purchase. For example, if the customer has purchased a dress, show them a pair of shoes to complete the outfit.
4. Monitor performance: Track the number of customers who make an additional purchase on the Order Status or Tracking page and the impact on AOV. Use this data to continuously optimize and improve this upsell strategy.

Like the thank you or order confirmation page, you can use social proof and customer reviews to upsell on the order status or tracking page. This adds credibility and encourages customers to make an additional purchase.

To effectively implement this upsell strategy:

1. Identify complementary items: Recommend complementary or related products with high ratings and positive reviews. This will increase the likelihood of customers adding these products to their carts.
2. Display customer reviews: Showcase positive customer reviews and ratings to create trust and encourage the customer to make an additional purchase. Consider using phrases like "Join the thousands of satisfied customers" or "Highly rated by our customers" to showcase your positive reviews and build trust with potential buyers.
3. Make it easy to add to the cart: Direct customers directly to product detail pages, making it easier for people to complete their purchases with minimal clicks.
4. Track performance: Monitor the number of customers who buy based on social proof and its impact on AOV. Implement an A/B test to measure the impact of social proof on upsell conversions. Adjust as needed to optimize this strategy.

Implementing upselling tactics at different points in the customer journey is key to boosting revenue and AOV while improving customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Use the plays from this playbook at each stage of the customer journey. Continuously test, track, and optimize to find the best strategies for your business. By using data and focusing on personalized recommendations, you can upsell and increase revenue while enhancing customer experience.

So don't limit yourself to just one upselling opportunity—explore all the possibilities throughout the customer journey and see your profits grow.

If you're looking for the most seamless way to implement every play explored in this playbook, try AfterShip Personalization today!