Upselling encourages customers to buy a higher-priced version of their chosen product—a larger size, premium tier, or model with additional features. Unlike cross-selling (adding complementary products), upselling focuses on upgrading the primary purchase.
Effective upselling clearly communicates the value of upgrading. Showing the price per ounce for different sizes, listing additional features of premium tiers, or highlighting cost savings on larger quantities helps customers justify higher-priced options.
The best upsells feel helpful rather than pushy. Subscription services offering "most popular" plan badges, software showing feature comparison tables, and beauty brands calculating cost-per-use for larger sizes are examples of value-adding upselling.