Cross-selling

What is cross-selling?

Cross-selling is a sales strategy where you suggest additional, complementary products to a customer based on what they’re already buying. It helps increase the total order value by offering more value, and more options to the shopper.

What is the difference between upselling and cross-selling?

Here’s a quick comparison of cross-selling vs upselling:

• Cross-selling suggests related products (e.g., “Add a cleaning kit to your lens order”)
• Upselling suggests a higher-end version of the product (e.g., “Upgrade to the Pro camera for $100 more”)

Why is cross-selling important?

Cross-selling improves the shopping experience by anticipating customer needs and offering convenience. For businesses, it increases the average order value (AOV), enhances customer satisfaction, and boosts overall revenue.

What are effective cross-selling strategies?

Here are some top cross-selling strategies:

• Show related products on the cart or product page
• Use “Frequently Bought Together” bundles
• Send personalized post-purchase emails
• Offer discounts on add-ons during checkout
• Use subscription models to cross-sell refill or support items

Example of cross-selling in ecommerce:

A customer buying a shampoo subscription is shown a matching conditioner as a recommended add-on before checkout. That’s cross-selling at work.

Driftcharge Tip

Use automatic payments to simplify your billing process. Driftcharge securely handles recurring payments and ensures your customers stay subscribed without friction.

Ganesh Pawar

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Ganesh Pawar is the founder of Driftcharge, a subscription management app designed to help Shopify merchants streamline and scale their subscription businesses. With a deep focus on solving real-world pain points—like legacy account page support, flexible subscription options, and advanced analytics—Ganesh is passionate about building tools that drive growth and retention.