Have you ever noticed how some online stores seem to read your mind when suggesting products?
You’re looking at a camera, and suddenly, they’re showing you the perfect lens, memory card, and camera bag to go with it.
This isn’t magic – it’s a powerful marketing strategy called “frequently bought together” products.
We use a similar approach for selling our Thrive Themes suite. When someone considers buying a single plugin, we show the complete suite next to it.
This way, they can see how much more value they could get for their money. In our experience, this strategy is super effective in driving sales and boosting the average order value (AOV).
So, in this guide, we’ll show you several ways to add frequently bought together products in WooCommerce.
Where Should You Show Frequently Bought Together Products in Your Online Store?
Want to boost your store’s sales? Adding frequently bought together products is a great way to do it. Studies show that product recommendations can bring in up to 31% of your online store’s income.
The best places to show these personalized recommendations are:
- Product Page – When customers are actively researching items, it’s the perfect time to show frequently bought together products and product recommendations that complement their main interest.
- Shopping Cart Page – Customers reviewing their carts are already committed to buying, making them more open to cross-selling suggestions. The bought together model works especially well here.
- Checkout Page– Consider this your last chance to boost the average amount spent per order. This technique is similar to the appealing add-ons displayed close to the registers in brick-and-mortar stores.
- Smart Popups– These can be set to appear at various times while someone is shopping, targeting them based on what they’ve viewed or added to their cart.
Continue reading to discover methods for displaying these suggestions in WooCommerce!
Expert Tip:If you’re unsure about which items to bundle, analyze your previous sales data to identify common pairings.
Another option is to assemble ‘starter kits’ that include a primary item and its necessary add-ons, which makes it easy for new customers to purchase everything at once.
How to Show Frequently Bought Together Products in WooCommerce
WooCommerce provides multiple methods for implementing a frequently bought together approach, and you might be unsure which is optimal.
Here’s a breakdown of what to consider.
The easiest way is to use WooCommerce’s integrated linked product functionality, which doesn’t require any extra expenses or plugins.
For expanded functionality, FunnelKit’s Funnel Builder allows the creation of a tailored checkout experience or a sliding cart featuring appealing ‘frequently bought together’ options.
Alternatively, if you appreciate WooCommerce’s linked product feature but desire enhanced presentation of product suggestions, the free YITH WooCommerce Frequently Bought Together plugin is a viable choice.
Looking to capture attention using strategically timed popups? OptinMonster excels at showcasing relevant product suggestions. It allows you to tailor recommendations based on factors like customer feedback and purchasing patterns.
Are you ready to implement these strategies? We will guide you through each method with detailed instructions. Use the links below to navigate to your preferred approach:
- Method 1: Leverage WooCommerce’s Built-in Linked Products (Free and Easy)
- Method 2: Use FunnelKit Funnel Builder (Custom Carts & Checkouts)
- Method 3: Use YITH WooCommerce Frequently Bought Together (Free + Bundle Pricing)
- Method 4: Use OptinMonster (Product Recommendation Popups)
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
💡 Note: To effectively utilize any of these methods, ensure your WooCommerce store is properly configured. If you require assistance with store setup, refer to our comprehensive guides on launching an online store and our simplified WooCommerce tutorial.
Method 1: Use WooCommerce’s Linked Products Feature (Free + Simple)
Begin by navigating to Products » Add new product within your WordPress admin area to create a new product listing. Alternatively, modify an existing product to configure your frequently bought together suggestions.
If you need help with adding a new product, then just read our WooCommerce made simple guide.
Next, scroll downward until you locate the ‘Product data’ area. From there, select the ‘Linked Products’ tab located on the left side.
This section enables you to establish your product recommendations.
WooCommerce provides two integrated methods for linking products: Upsells and Cross-sells. Understanding the distinction between them is crucial.
Upsells are meant to suggest a better or more expensive version of the product a customer is viewing.
For example, you could upsell a premium camera model on a basic camera’s product page. These appear under the ‘You may also like…’ heading.
Cross-sells are for suggesting complementary items that go with what’s already in the shopping cart.
For instance, if a customer has a camera in their cart, you could cross-sell a memory card. These appear on the cart page under the ‘You may be interested in…’ section.
For both sections, just type in the name of any product you want to suggest and pick from the search results that pop up.
At this stage, you can continue setting up your WooCommerce product. For example, you can:
- Add a product question-and-answer section.
- Create a product image gallery.
- Add product tags, categories, or attributes.
- Embed a product video.
When you’re happy with your WooCommerce frequently bought together setup, just hit ‘Publish’ or ‘Update’ at the top of the page to save everything.
Method 2: Use FunnelKit Funnel Builder (Custom Carts & Checkouts)
FunnelKit is a powerful sales builder that lets you create custom shopping experiences in WooCommerce. We’ve used it many times in our own tutorials, like when showing how to create custom thank-you pages.
We love recommending FunnelKit to our readers because it gives you more control over how and where you show product suggestions. You can read our detailed FunnelKit Funnel Builder review to see why the pro version is our pick for creating high-converting shopping experiences.
FunnelKit offers two effective strategies for displaying product recommendations. One is a dynamic cart that stays visible as customers navigate your store.
When a shopper adds an item, a sliding cart appears, showcasing relevant, handpicked products. It resembles a knowledgeable salesperson offering tailored advice.
The second approach engages customers at the checkout page with order bump offers. This is ideal for presenting last-minute suggestions, much like impulse buys at a physical checkout.
However, this method lets you display products that specifically enhance what the customer has already selected.
You can employ both strategies concurrently or implement just one to boost your WooCommerce sales. Let’s examine each approach individually.
Before we proceed, there are three WordPress plugins you’ll want to install and activate:
- WooCommerce Checkout & Funnel Builder by FunnelKit (free) – This is the base plugin for creating custom sales funnels.
- Sliding WooCommerce Cart by FunnelKit (free) – This plugin provides your store with the sliding cart feature.
- FunnelKit Funnel Builder Pro – The Pro version unlocks advanced capabilities, such as order bumps, which we will leverage to present ‘bought together’ deals.
If you are unsure how to add plugins, see our beginner’s tutorial that explains how to install a WordPress plugin.
After installing and activating these three plugins, navigate to theFunnelKit » Settingspage within your admin dashboard. Then, select the ‘License’ tab located in the left-hand menu.
Now, just insert your license key and click the ‘Activate’ and ‘Save Changes’ button. You can get this information from your account on the FunnelKit website.
Option 1: Display Frequently Bought Together Products in the Sliding Cart
First, go to FunnelKit » Cart and turn on the ‘Enable Cart’ switch.
Next, customize how your sliding cart works. You can adjust where the icon sits, whether to show coupons, or tweak your checkout settings.
Want the full details? Check out our guide on setting up a sliding cart in WooCommerce.
Now, click the ‘Upsells’ tab in your left-hand menu and flip the ‘Enable Cart Upsells’ switch to ‘On.’
You’ll see some new options for arranging your product recommendations. You can take a peek at the preview in the top right to see how each layout looks.
Now, next to ‘Product Recommendation Type,’ just choose whether you want to show cross-sells, upsells, or both.
You can also add a catchy heading at the top and pick the maximum number of products you’d like to display.
At this stage, you can scroll down to find all your store’s products listed under ‘Upsells and Cross-Sells.’
Click on any product and hit either ‘Add Upsell’ or ‘Add Cross Sell’ to set up your recommendations.
💡 Expert Note: Upsells are the fancy versions of what’s already in someone’s shopping cart (think regular coffee vs. premium beans). Meanwhile, cross-sells are related items that go well together (like coffee filters with that coffee).
When you click either button, a window pops up where you can search for and pick the products you want to recommend.
Repeat these steps for each product where you want to display related items.
Click ‘Save’ when finished; your changes are complete.
Visit your WordPress site to view the sliding cart and product recommendations live.
Option 2: Showing ‘Frequently Bought Together’ Items During Checkout
To display related products on the checkout page, navigate toFunnelKit » Store Checkoutthen proceed.
Then, switch to the ‘Store Checkout’ tab and click on the ‘Create Store Checkout’ button.
FunnelKit has several checkout templates. These are customizable using the block editor, Divi, Bricks, and other page builders. Select your editor at the top.
For details on customizing this template, refer to our guide on customizing the WooCommerce checkout page.
After that, click ‘Preview’ on the checkout template you’re interested in.
Most FunnelKit templates include a checkout page, plus upsell and thank you pages to maximize your cross-sell opportunities.
For this tutorial, we will add an order bump to the checkout page and a product offer on the upsell page.
If you like the template’s appearance, click ‘Import This Funnel’.
You will then be prompted to name your checkout process. This helps you track distinct checkout flows if you build multiple recommendation paths.
After naming the checkout, click ‘Done.’
You can now start adding frequently bought together bundles to your checkout process.
To add the frequently bought together bundle to the checkout page, you can click on the ‘Add Order Bump’ button in the ‘Checkout’ section.
Next, assign a name to your order bump.
Consider a clear and simple name, such as ‘Frequently Bought Together Order Bump.’
After naming it, select the ‘Add’ button.
FunnelKit will now show you several design options for your product recommendations.
Select a design that aligns with your eCommerce store’s aesthetic, and then select ‘Import.’
In the product selection popup, add the items you want to display as frequently bought together. You can also include product variants to give customers more choices.
Once completed, select ‘Add.’
In the ‘Design’ tab, you can now customize the text and style of the order bump.
To modify the call-to-action text and product description for the order bump, navigate to the ‘Content’ menu.
By switching to the ‘Style’ menu, you gain the ability to customize the colors, placement, layout, and other visual aspects of the order bump.
Ensure the design is noticeable but harmonizes with the overall look of your online store.
Once you’re happy with the text and style, you can switch to the ‘Products’ section. This is where you can fine-tune your WooCommerce frequently bought together offerings.
You can add multiple products, set discount percentages, and adjust quantities to create irresistible product bundles.
Additionally, enable ‘Add Order Bumps to Cart Items’ to facilitate easy addition of your suggestions to customer purchases.
Next, navigate to the ‘Rules’ tab. This is where the strategy for displaying related products is configured.
Proceed by clicking ‘Add Rules’ to start defining your product relationships.
This section allows you to apply various rules to your product offers, functioning as conditional statements.
As an illustration, if a shopper adds a camera to their cart, a memory card offer can be presented.
Because the focus is on frequently co-purchased items, choose ‘Cart Item(s).’ This will enable the display of tailored product recommendations based on the contents of the customer’s cart.
The subsequent dropdown menu presents several choices.
- Contains exactly – Your recommendations will only be displayed if the customer’s cart includesonly the specific item. This works well for highly focused promotions.
- Contains at least – The recommendations will be displayed as long as the customer has that specific product in their cart, even alongside other products.
Next, in the ‘Products’ field, specify which items are typically bought together with the initial product. You can also adjust the product quantities.
Remember to ‘Save’ your settings to preserve the changes.
Return to the previous screen, scroll down, and find ‘No Products’ under the ‘Upsells’ area. This is where you’ll configure an offer that appears post-checkout.
The plugin redirects to the ‘Products’ tab on the subsequent page.
Simply click the ‘Add Product’ button.
Now, enter the name of the product that will serve as the upsell offer.
You are welcome to include a large number of products.
Once you have finished, simply select ‘Add.’
After that, you can enhance the appeal of your offers.
This involves changing the discount percentage, selecting the discount method, configuring fixed shipping costs, and managing product quantities.
These settings enable the development of compelling deals that are hard for customers to decline.
As you scroll downward, you’ll discover useful settings for avoiding uncomfortable situations. Activating ‘Skip this offer if product(s) exist in parent order’ is advisable to prevent recommending items already being purchased.
Additionally, you have the option to hide offers for previously purchased products, or allow customers to specify their preferred quantities.
To modify the appearance of the offer display, navigate to the ‘Design’ tab.
Here, you will see a button directing you to the block editor or the page builder of your choice. Simply click on the ‘Edit … Template’ button to open it.
Now, feel free to customize the offer page just as you would when editing any page with the editing platform of your choice.
For instance, you might briefly highlight the advantages of accepting the offer, or adjust the call-to-action button text to improve engagement.
The display also features smart tags that automatically replace placeholder text with details such as the customer’s first name and the product’s name. It is best to keep these tags to ensure the message is clear and feels personalized.
If you use the block editor and need some pointers, then you can read our guide on how to use the WordPress block editor (Gutenberg tutorial).
After making adjustments, save, then select ‘Back to Funnel Edit Page.’
Lastly, head to the ‘Settings’ tab for some advanced options.
Configure ‘Dynamic Shipping’ to apply unique shipping fees for each added item.
This is especially useful if your frequently bought products require different shipping.
Turning on the ‘Ask Confirmation’ setting is also a good idea.
This setting introduces a confirmation step when customers accept the offer, helping to prevent accidental additions and ensuring actual interest in the items.
🔍 Are you looking to increase sales and customer happiness? Learn how to auto-apply coupons in WooCommerce so that shoppers can instantly save money on their purchases.
If satisfied, select ‘Save’ and return to the preceding screen.
To activate your customized checkout, select ‘Enable Store Checkout.’
That’s it!
Here’s how your order bump will appear to customers:
After customers fill in their checkout information, they’ll see your carefully crafted offer.
Customers can add the suggested items to the order easily by clicking once, simplifying the process.
Method 3: Use YITH WooCommerce Frequently Bought Together (Free + Bundle Pricing)
This method builds on WooCommerce’s basic linked products tool but adds more engaging features to your product page. Mainly, it can bundle related products into a cohesive package right on the product page.
In contrast to the basic ‘You may also like…’ function from Method 1, this WooCommerce plugin lets shoppers include a complete bundle in their cart with just one click, and it displays the total cost clearly.
Additionally, you have the ability to modify the ‘Frequently Bought Together’ title and the button’s text, ensuring they fit your store’s branding strategy.
The free version provides the essentials for designing appealing product bundles that draw customer interest, while the pro version offers enhanced targeting and display settings to further refine your product suggestions.
If you need assistance with plugin installation, consult our introductory guide on installing WordPress plugins.
After activating the plugin of your choice, navigate toYITH » Frequently Bought Together.
Within the ‘Settings’ area, you are able to customize the look of your suggestions on the product pages.
Adjust the title of the section, modify the display of the overall price, and tailor the add-to-cart button’s text to enhance its appeal.
To emphasize your suggestions, scroll to the bottom of the page to adjust the button colors, aligning them with your store’s visual identity.
Remember to select ‘Save Options’ after completing the process.
Now, either create a new product or edit an existing one in WooCommerce.
Next, scroll to the ‘Product data’ area and specify the products you wish to showcase in the frequently bought together section, using the provided field.
After making your selections, scroll back to the top of the page.
Finally, click ‘Update’ or ‘Publish’ to save your changes.
When you visit your product page, you should now see a frequently bought together box that appears right below the product image.
Like so:
Method 4: Use OptinMonster (Product Recommendation Popups)
Want to show your frequently bought together products in eye-catching popups? OptinMonster makes this easy.
This lead generation and conversion platform includes powerful features like exit intent targeting, which shows your product recommendations just as visitors are about to leave your store.
We use it ourselves on the CanadaCreate site, and we’ve seen great results when creating popups, slide-ins, banners, and more. For more information, check out our in-depth OptinMonster review.
To get started, you’ll need two things: a Pro OptinMonster subscription and the free WordPress plugin to connect your store. The plugin helps OptinMonster communicate with WooCommerce to show personalized recommendations at the perfect moment.
What makes OptinMonster special is its collection of pre-designed popup templates for product bundles. You can easily customize these using their drag-and-drop page builder to create compelling, frequently bought together features.
You can also add product images, descriptions, and even special coupon codes to make your cross-sell offers more tempting.
The real power comes from OptinMonster’s smart targeting rules. You can set up popups to appear when customers have specific products in their cart, making your related products more relevant.
For example, if someone adds a camera to their cart, you can show them a popup with frequently bought together bundles like memory cards or camera bags.
For detailed setup instructions, check out our guide on how to create a WooCommerce popup to increase sales.
🌟Expert Tip: Not confident setting things up yourself? Why not leave it to the professionals?
Our team at CanadaCreate offers Premium WordPress Support Services, available 24/7. We can help with everything from WooCommerce setup to plugin issues at affordable prices for small businesses and website owners.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some questions frequently asked by our readers about selling frequently bought together products in WooCommerce:
What is the difference between upsells and cross-sells?
Upsells are suggestions for a more premium or upgraded version of the product a customer is viewing. For example, offering a pro version of a software plugin.
Cross-sells are complementary items that go well with a product already in the cart. A classic example is suggesting a camera case and memory card when someone buys a new camera.
Can I offer discounts on frequently bought together bundles?
Yes, you can. While WooCommerce’s default feature doesn’t include bundle pricing, plugins like FunnelKit Funnel Builder and the pro version of YITH WooCommerce Frequently Bought Together let you create special discounts for these bundles.
Offering a small discount can make the bundled offer much more attractive to shoppers.
What is the best free way to add frequently bought together products?
The simplest method is using WooCommerce’s built-in ‘Linked Products’ feature, which is completely free. It lets you set up both upsells on the product page and cross-sells on the cart page without any extra plugins.
If you want a more visually appealing free option, the YITH WooCommerce Frequently Bought Together plugin is an excellent choice.
Will adding these recommendations slow down my site?
When implemented correctly, this feature should not have a noticeable impact on your site’s speed. Using well-coded plugins like the ones we’ve recommended is important for performance.
Tools like OptinMonster are also optimized for speed and load their scripts asynchronously, meaning they don’t affect your page’s initial loading time.
We hope this article has helped you learn how to show frequently bought together products in WooCommerce. You may also want to check out our ultimate guide to WooCommerce SEO and our expert picks of the best WooCommerce reporting and analytics plugins.
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