WooCommerce Product Types: Up-Sell vs. Cross-Sell vs. Related Products

The most common question that WooCommerce store owners ask is how to increase sales. This article will help you understand how UpSell, Cross-Sell, and Related Products work in WooCommerce.

Before we get into the details, it’s important to understand why these techniques are used in e-commerce stores. They are all designed to boost sales by getting customers to purchase more items than they originally planned on buying or by persuading them to buy a related item along with their original purchase.

There are three main types of product relations available in WooCommerce, Up-Sell, Cross-Sell, and Related Products. Each type has its own purpose and can be implemented differently depending on what works best for your business goals and strategies. So let’s take a look at each one so you can figure out which technique is correct for you!

WooCommerce Product Types

WooCommerce offers different kinds of products, such as simple products, variable products, and more. However, in this article, we’ll focus on three specific types of WooCommerce products: Up-Sell, Cross-Sell, and Related Products.

Up-Sell Products in WooCommerce

UpSelling is the technique of encouraging customers to increase their purchase cost either by adding additional items or shifting them to buy a more premium version of the item they’re viewing. The Up-Sell products are more expensive and better in terms of quality and functionality.

For Example, if a customer is interested in purchasing a Mobile phone and is viewing one, you can pitch him to buy a more expensive variant of the mobile with more advanced features.

The main purpose of this method is to generate more revenue and let the customers buy higher-end variant products.

Up-sell products are usually found on the single product page under the product description. They typically come under the heading ‘You may also like…’. In Up-Sell, you encourage the client to buy the same type of product, which may be better in quality and higher in price.

WooCommerce Upsell Products
WooCommerce Upsell Products

Cross-Sell Products in WooCommerce

Cross-Sell products are a bit different from the Upsell products.

Cross-selling is the method of inviting the customer to purchase complementary products along with the selected product.

The cross-sell products are generally displayed on the Shopping Cart page underneath the add-to-cart product table (you can customize the placement based on the theme selected).

In this method, you encourage the customers to buy items they did not have in their minds when they visited your site. Cross-Sell items are accessories related to the main product.

For example, If you are selling a mobile, you can cross-sell a mobile protective case, headphones, adapter, etc., or if you are selling a t-shirt, you can add complementary products like a cap and wallets.

WooCommerce Cross Sell Products
WooCommerce Cross Sell Products

Related Products are suggestions for additional items that are similar to the product a customer is looking at. The idea is to encourage customers to buy more things along with what they’re already interested in.

For example, if you’re checking out a blue T-shirt, the Related Products might include other T-shirts in similar shades, styles, or fabrics. It’s all about offering options that are related to what you’re interested in, making your shopping experience more enjoyable.

These suggestions are based on categories and tags that are similar to the main product. You’ll typically see related product recommendations displayed on the same page where you’re viewing the product information.

For more details on Related Products, check out our complete tutorial on How To Display Related Products In WooCommerce.

WooCommerce Related Products
WooCommerce Related Products

Difference in Up-Sell & Cross-Sell Products in WooCommerce

The significant difference between Up-Sell and Cross-Sell product types is:

  • The Up-sell products are of the same type as the main product, but in the case of Cross-sell products, they are different from the main item.
  • In Up-Sell, the suggested product’s price is higher than the viewed product, whereas cross-sell involves products with a lower price than the main product. The product recommendations in up-sell are of better quality and functionality than the main product, but the cross-sell items are meant to accessories the main product.
  • Up-sell products are typically displayed prominently on the product page or during the checkout process, whereas Cross-Sell products may be shown during the checkout process or on the cart page, suggesting additional items that customers might be interested in adding to their purchase.
  • Up-sell suggestions aim to encourage customers to consider a higher-end or upgraded version of the main product, whereas Cross-Sell suggestions aim to encourage customers to add more items to their cart, enhancing their overall shopping experience.

Please check our detailed article on How to edit WooCommerce products directly from frontend?

How To Setup Up-Sell and Cross-Sell in WooCommerce 

  • To start with, navigate to WordPress Admin dashboard -> Product -> All.
  • Browse all the products and then edit the item for which you want to add related products.
  • Under the WooCommerce Product page, scroll down to Meta Boxes and click on the Linked Products section. Here, you will see two options: Up-Sell and Cross-Sell. Enter the name of the products you want to add as related products.
WooCommerce Linked Products
WooCommerce Linked Products

Key Takeaways

Here are the key insights of upselling, cross-selling, and related products, making it easier to understand. It provides valuable information to help you grasp the concepts effectively.

  • Effective upselling and cross-selling require understanding the customer’s needs and preferences to offer relevant recommendations.
  • Upselling, cross-selling, and promoting related products can lead to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty if done appropriately.
  • Up-Sell products prompt customers to consider higher-priced or premium alternatives, contributing to higher revenue generation.
  • Cross-Sell products recommend complementary items, enriching the customer’s purchase and potentially increasing the average order value.
  • Related Products provide additional suggestions akin to the main product, creating a more engaging shopping journey for customers.
  • Consider editing products directly from the frontend to streamline the process and enhance user convenience in managing products.

Conclusion

To sum up, the main difference between up-sell, cross-sell, and related products in WooCommerce is that Up-Sell points out products that are improved versions of the one your customer is viewing, and the other two are there to make customers purchase more products, including the one he came to buy. Another difference is that you can manually enter Up-Sell and Cross-Sell items to your product page, whereas the Related Products are displayed automatically.

Is Cross Selling Profitable?

Yes, Cross-Selling can be profitable. It involves suggesting complementary products to customers, increasing the average order value. By offering related items that enhance the main purchase, businesses can boost sales and revenue.

Is Up Selling Profitable?

Yes, Upselling is profitable. It encourages customers to spend more by buying more expensive or higher-quality versions of products they’re interested in. This strategy increases the average transaction value, leading to higher revenue for your business.

How to add related products in WooCommerce using Categories & Tags?

To add related products using categories and tags in WooCommerce, go to WooCommerce ➝ Settings ➝ Products. Edit the product you want to add related products to. On the right side, you’ll see options to add categories and tags to that product. Choose the categories or tags you want, and those related products will be added.

How many related products can be shown at most?

There’s no limit! You can set up WooCommerce related products for as many items as you like. Plus, there’s no restriction on the number of products that can be linked to each individual item.

How do Up-Sell, Cross-Sell, and Related Products benefit my online WooCommerce store?

These features offer significant advantages.

  • Up-sell prompts customers to consider high versions, potentially boosting revenue.
  • Cross-selling suggests complementary products, enriching the shopping experience and driving sales.
  • Related Products showcase similar items, aiding customers in discovering more options and increasing purchase likelihood.
Why aren’t Up-Sell, Cross-Sell, and related products displayed on my website?

If you’re not seeing these types of products, there might be a few reasons. First, make sure you’ve added them to your main products under the “Linked product” section when you edit products. Then, check if your website theme lets you show Up-Sell and Cross-Sell products. If not, you might have to pick a different theme or customize the current one.

How can I edit WooCommerce products directly from the frontend?

To edit WooCommerce products directly from the frontend, utilize the Frontend Product Editor Plugin. This plugin enables you to edit products directly on the frontend, including from archive pages. Additionally, you can conveniently add upsell and cross-sell products directly from the frontend interface.

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