In one sentence
A cross-sell is offering a shopper a related product that goes with what they're already buying, like filters with a water pitcher, to raise order value and help them get more from their purchase.
Cross-sell examples in ecommerce
- Replacement filters with a water pitcher
- A carrying case with a camera
- Matching pillowcases with a duvet cover
- Wax and a brush with a pair of leather boots
The best cross-sells finish the job. They answer "what else will I need?" before the shopper has to ask.
Cross-sell vs. upsell
Cross-sell
Upsell
What you offer
A related product
A better or bigger version
Example
Filters with the pitcher
The larger pitcher
Order changes by
Adding items
Swapping up
Where to cross-sell in your store
- On the product page, as "pairs well with" or "complete the set"
- In the cart, before checkout
- On the order confirmation page
- In post-purchase emails, timed to when the add-on is needed
Keep it short. One or two relevant picks beat a carousel of twelve. Cross-selling is one of the simplest ways to lift average order value.
Related terms