maximize your revenue per customer ? It’s time to go beyond basic product listings and unlock the power of upselling and cross-selling through related products.
By understanding your customers' buying behavior and strategically showcasing relevant add-ons, you can turn single-product orders into high-value transactions. In this guide, we’ll show you how to integrate Shopify related products seamlessly—and why it’s one of the most powerful ways to grow your business through upsells and improved customer experience.
What Are Related Products on Shopify?
In Shopify, related products are recommendations displayed on product pages, cart pages, or even post-purchase. They can be:
Upsells: Higher-priced or upgraded versions of the item a customer is viewing. Cross-sells: Complementary items that go well with the product (like a phone case with a phone). These Shopify upsell techniques not only increase average order value (AOV) but also guide customers toward discovering more of your store’s offerings.
Why Related Products Matter in Shopify
Incorporating related product recommendations into your Shopify store is one of the most effective ways to boost revenue and enhance customer experience. These simple yet powerful features can have a profound impact on your store's performance. Here's why related products are so important for any Shopify store:
Upsell Potential : Research has shown that both cross-selling and upselling can significantly increase revenue. In fact, studies indicate that implementing related product strategies can lead to revenue increases of up to 35%. By suggesting higher-priced or complementary items at the right time during a customer’s journey, you capitalize on their interest and drive them toward more profitable purchases. Upselling doesn’t just benefit the store owner—it helps customers by offering them products that enhance or upgrade their initial choice. For instance, if someone is purchasing a laptop, offering a protective case or extended warranty can lead to an upsell that benefits both parties. This kind of strategic suggestion drives higher average order value (AOV), which is key to long-term profitability.Improved Product Discovery : One of the most valuable advantages of adding related products to your Shopify store is the ability to guide shoppers toward products they didn’t even know they needed. Customers often come with a specific item in mind but might miss out on complementary or supplementary products that could elevate their purchase. By showcasing cross-sells, you highlight products that enhance the initial purchase, such as a skincare routine kit when someone buys a moisturizer, or a printer when a customer selects paper. The idea is to introduce customers to additional products within your catalog that add value to their shopping experience—driving more sales in the process. This kind of personalized guidance can be crucial in turning a casual browser into a repeat buyer.Better SEO : The SEO benefits of integrating related products into your Shopify store are often underestimated. When customers view and click through related products, they engage with more pages, spend more time on your site, and explore more of your offerings. This behavior signals to search engines like Google that your website is a valuable resource. Additionally, related products increase internal linking, which helps search engines crawl and index more pages on your site. The more pages that are indexed, the better your chances of ranking for relevant keywords. As customers spend more time on your site navigating from one product to another, you naturally improve your chances of appearing in organic search results, which leads to more traffic and higher visibility. This type of SEO optimization can help your store gain traction and attract organic visitors, reducing reliance on paid marketing over time.Data-Driven Insights : Implementing related product features allows you to gather invaluable data about your customers’ buying habits and preferences. By analyzing the performance of your upsells and cross-sells, you gain insights into what customers are actually interested in, which products they often purchase together, and which combinations perform the best. This data can be used to refine your marketing strategies, personalize recommendations, and even optimize your inventory. For example, if certain cross-sell combinations consistently result in purchases, you can prioritize these products in your marketing campaigns, automate discounts, or stock more of them to meet demand. By continuously analyzing and adjusting your strategy based on these insights, you create a data-driven sales strategy that directly addresses customer preferences, increasing the likelihood of conversion and improving your store’s overall success.Low Development Overhead : One of the biggest advantages of implementing related product features in your Shopify store is that it requires minimal development effort—especially when you use the right app. Shopify has many built-in options, but for advanced customization, analytics, and personalized recommendations, third-party apps like Cross Sell & Upsell offer a user-friendly solution. These apps integrate seamlessly with your store and provide sophisticated features like AI-powered recommendations, automated discounts, and customizable display options, all without requiring complex coding or developer support. This means you can roll out a professional upsell strategy quickly and affordably, without tying up your development resources. In turn, your team can focus on other strategic initiatives, such as expanding your product catalog or enhancing customer support.By integrating related products into your Shopify store, you’re not only enhancing your customer experience but also driving measurable improvements in your revenue, SEO, and overall business growth. The combination of upselling and cross-selling is a powerful tool that every Shopify store should leverage to stay competitive and provide an exceptional shopping experience.
How Cross-Selling and Upselling Reduces Cart Abandonment
Did you know online retailers lose $18 billion annually due to cart abandonment? By adding related products and upsells directly to your Shopify cart page, you can:
Keep customers engaged Help them complete their purchase Encourage last-minute additions Stores using Shopify upsell apps with related product features see conversion rates increase dramatically—customers are 4.5 times more likely to complete a purchase when relevant products are suggested.
How to Add Related Products to Your Shopify Store
There are two main ways to display Shopify related products:
Option 1: Use Shopify Theme Features Some Shopify themes include basic related product functionality. Themes like Debut, Brooklyn, Simple, Minimal, and Narrative may allow you to show related items or product recommendations out of the box.
However, these built-in options are often limited in customization and analytics.
Option 2: Use a Shopify Upsell App Like Cross Sell & Upsell For advanced functionality and full control over your upsell and cross-sell strategy, consider using an app like Cross Sell & Upsell.
Key benefits include:
Personalized recommendations Display cross-sells in 8+ strategic Shopify locations (product page, cart page, thank-you page, and more) Analytics to track upsell performance AI-generated product suggestions Automatic discount offers to boost conversions Getting Started with Cross Sell & Upsell on Shopify: A Quick Guide Embarking on your Cross Sell journey on Shopify is a straightforward process:
click here .
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Whether you're looking to upsell premium versions, suggest cross-sell accessories, or just offer smarter product recommendations, Cross Sell & Upsell is your all-in-one solution.
Try it free today and watch your Shopify upsell strategy transform your store’s performance!
