In the competitive world of e-commerce, one of the best ways to increase your average order value (AOV) and overall conversions is by offering intelligent, data-driven product recommendations. Shopify stores that utilize the Frequently Bought Together app have discovered the power of upselling and cross-selling, often seeing a significant boost in revenue.
This app is designed to recommend complementary products to customers based on their current cart or browsing behaviour Inspired by Amazon’s iconic “frequently bought together” feature, this Shopify app helps store owners increase sales by showing customers items that pair well with the product they are already considering.
In this in-depth blog, we’ll explore how Frequently Bought Together works, how it helps drive conversions, and the key features that make it an essential addition to any Shopify store.
Why Cross-Selling and Upselling Matter in E-commerce
Upselling and cross-selling are two of the most effective sales techniques in e-commerce. When done correctly, these strategies increase both your AOV and your overall conversions without the need for new customer acquisition.
According to research, upselling can increase revenue by 10-30% on average, while cross-selling accounts for 35% of total Amazon sales. These numbers make it clear that suggesting complementary products or higher-value alternatives can be incredibly lucrative for Shopify store owners.
However, these techniques only work when they are timely, relevant, and personalized. This is where the Frequently Bought Together app shines.
How Frequently Bought Together Works to Drive Conversions
Frequently Bought Together uses a data-driven algorithm to automatically recommend products that are often purchased alongside each other. For example, if a customer is looking at a laptop, the app might suggest accessories like a mouse, keyboard, or protective case. These relevant recommendations are designed to improve the shopping experience while increasing your store’s AOV.
Let’s explore the key features and benefits:
1. Data-Driven Recommendations
The app’s most powerful feature is its ability to recommend products based on real purchase data. Frequently Bought Together analyses previous orders and identifies patterns to recommend products that are commonly bought together. These data-driven recommendations provide customers with a seamless shopping experience by anticipating their needs and offering complementary products.
For instance, if a customer adds a camera to their cart, the app might recommend a camera lens, tripod, and memory card—all of which are products that previous customers have bought together. By offering these relevant recommendations, the app increases the likelihood of customers adding more items to their cart, leading to higher conversions.
2. Manual Product Bundling
In addition to its automatic recommendations, Frequently Bought Together also allows Shopify store owners to manually create product bundles. This feature is perfect for promotions or themed product packages, where you can group items at a discounted price.
By offering special product bundles, you can entice customers to purchase more items at once, which directly increases your AOV. You can also create seasonal or limited-time bundles that cater to specific customer segments, making your upselling strategy more targeted and effective.
3. Discount Options to Encourage Larger Purchases
One of the app’s best features is its built-in discount functionality. You can offer a small discount to customers who purchase the entire product bundle, giving them an added incentive to buy more.
Offering a 5-10% discount on the total when a customer buys the entire recommended bundle can be just enough to push them toward a larger purchase. This not only increases your AOV but also builds goodwill with customers by providing them with perceived value.
4. Seamless Integration with Shopify Theme
Frequently Bought Together integrates effortlessly with your Shopify theme, ensuring that product recommendations appear in a visually appealing and non-intrusive manner. The app automatically adapts to your store’s design, making the product recommendation widgets look like a natural part of the shopping experience.
This seamless integration helps maintain a consistent brand experience while offering upsells and cross-sells. Customers won’t feel overwhelmed or distracted, as the app blends into the browsing flow without disrupting their shopping journey.
5. One-Click Add to Cart Functionality
The easier you make it for customers to add products to their cart, the more likely they are to make a purchase. Frequently Bought Together includes one-click add-to-cart functionality, allowing customers to add all recommended products to their cart with a single click.
This feature simplifies the shopping experience and minimizes friction, leading to higher conversion rates. Customers can complete their purchase faster, without having to navigate back and forth between product pages.
6. Personalization and Customization
Frequently Bought Together offers a variety of customization options that allow you to tailor the recommendations to match your store’s branding. You can customize the appearance of the recommendation widget, including colours, fonts, and layout, to ensure it aligns with the overall design of your Shopify store.
You can also control which products are suggested in the recommendation engine, enabling you to highlight specific items or promote products that align with your marketing goals.
7. Mobile-Friendly Experience
With mobile commerce accounting for a significant portion of e-commerce sales, your upselling tools must be optimized for mobile. Frequently Bought Together is fully responsive and mobile-friendly, ensuring that customers shopping on smartphones and tablets enjoy the same fast, seamless experience.
This is important because 79% of smartphone users have made a purchase using their device in the last six months. Mobile optimization ensures that these users are more likely to see and interact with your product recommendations, further boosting conversions.
SEO Strategy to Maximize the Impact of Frequently Bought Together
While Frequently Bought Together offers an immediate boost in AOV and conversions through smart recommendations, pairing it with a solid SEO strategy can help you drive even more traffic and sales.
1. Optimize Product Descriptions for SEO
Ensure that all your product descriptions are optimized for relevant keywords. Use long-tail keywords like “buy camera accessories” or “best laptop bundles for work” to improve your search engine ranking. This will drive more organic traffic to your product pages, where the Frequently Bought Together app can suggest complementary items.
2. Internal Linking for Better Search Visibility
Create internal links between related product pages. For example, in your product description for a smartphone, include links to the best accessories, cases, and chargers. These internal links not only improve SEO but also help customers discover complementary products, increasing the effectiveness of your upselling strategy.
3. Optimize for Mobile SEO
With most e-commerce traffic coming from mobile devices, it’s crucial to optimize your website for mobile search. Google prioritizes mobile-friendly sites in its rankings, so ensuring that your Shopify store is mobile-optimized can lead to higher visibility, more traffic, and better conversions.
4. Implement Schema Markup
Use schema markup to help search engines understand your product data better. Structured data allows Google to display rich snippets, such as product prices, reviews, and availability, which can increase click-through rates. This, combined with the Frequently Bought Together app’s recommendations, can lead to an overall increase in conversions.
Conclusion: Leverage Frequently Bought Together for Better Conversions
The Frequently Bought Together app is a game-changer for Shopify store owners who want to increase conversions and maximize their revenue. By offering personalized, data-driven product recommendations and providing customers with seamless, one-click upsell options, this app can significantly boost your store’s AOV and overall sales.
When paired with a strong SEO strategy, Frequently Bought Together becomes even more powerful, helping you attract more qualified traffic while increasing the value of each customer’s order. Whether you’re new to Shopify or a seasoned store owner, this app is an essential tool for driving conversions and growing your business.