5 Ways to Increase AOV By Optimizing Your Cart
Learn five effective strategies to optimize your shopping cart and increase Average Order Value, from upselling to mobile optimization.
Want to boost your Average Order Value (AOV)? Start by optimizing your shopping cart. Here are 5 actionable strategies to help you get started:
- Upselling & Cross-selling: Suggest premium or complementary products to increase cart value.
- Checkout Streamlining: Simplify the process to reduce drop-offs and complete more sales.
- Trust Signals: Use badges, clear policies, and security icons to reassure customers.
- Mobile Optimization: Ensure a smooth, fast experience for mobile shoppers.
- Purchase Incentives: Add free gifts, discounts, or free shipping progress bars to encourage higher spending.
These tactics focus on creating a user-friendly shopping experience that encourages larger purchases and reduces abandoned carts. Let’s dive into the details of each strategy.
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1. Use Upselling and Cross-Selling to Increase Cart Value
Upselling and cross-selling are great ways to encourage customers to add more to their carts, directly boosting your average order value (AOV).
Upselling and Cross-Selling Strategies
Upselling involves suggesting a higher-end version of a product that offers more features or benefits. For instance, if someone adds a laptop to their cart, you could recommend a version with extra storage - ideal for users handling large files . To keep these suggestions attractive, aim for upgrades that are no more than 30% higher in price than the original product .
Cross-selling focuses on offering related products that complement the main item. Think bundle deals, accessories, or other add-ons that enhance the overall purchase experience. These suggestions not only add value but also naturally increase the AOV.
Tools to Streamline Upselling and Cross-Selling
Tools like CRO Cart Drawer & Cart Upsells make it easy to automate these strategies. With features like AI-driven recommendations and 1-click add-ons, you can ensure a smooth shopping experience. Key functionalities include:
- Smart product suggestions based on customer behavior
- Dynamic progress bars to encourage additional purchases
- A/B testing to refine your offers
- Customizable gift options to sweeten the deal
Keep an eye on performance metrics like conversion rates and AOV to fine-tune your approach .
While these strategies are effective for increasing cart value, don’t forget the importance of a simple and user-friendly checkout process to close the sale.
2. Make Checkout Easier to Reduce Drop-Offs
A smooth checkout process is key to boosting AOV. While upselling and cross-selling can add to the cart total, a hassle-free checkout ensures customers actually complete their purchases. Studies reveal that simplifying the checkout process can increase conversion rates by up to 35% .
Cut Down on Form Fields
Only ask for the basics - name, email, and address. Using tools like Google Autocomplete and dynamic validation can save time and lower the chances of errors. Address validation tools are also a great way to avoid shipping issues and keep things running smoothly.
Use a Single-Page Checkout
A single-page checkout layout makes things easier by displaying all the steps in one place. This setup reduces clicks, automatically saves progress, and keeps customers moving forward. Organize the page with clear sections and a logical flow to make it easy to follow.
Offer Guest Checkout Options
Requiring account creation can turn customers away. Guest checkout is a great alternative and can increase conversions by as much as 35% .
Make guest checkout the default option, but also provide the opportunity to create an account. Highlight perks like:
- Faster future checkouts
- Order tracking
- Exclusive discounts for members
Once your checkout process is optimized, focus on building trust to keep drop-offs to a minimum.
3. Add Trust Signals to Reassure Customers
Websites that include trust signals see a 14% boost in conversion rates . To make the most of them, place trust badges where they’ll have the greatest impact - near payment fields, cart headers, and checkout footers. A clean, simple layout helps these badges stand out and builds customer confidence.
Show Trust Badges and Security Icons
Here’s how to position security elements effectively:
- Display SSL certificates and payment processor logos (like PayPal, Visa, or Mastercard) close to payment fields.
- Add security verification badges (such as Norton or McAfee) in the cart header.
- Include PCI compliance indicators in the checkout footer.
Highlight Refund and Privacy Policies
Did you know 85% of customers trust websites with clear privacy policies ? Make your policies easy to find and understand by:
- Summarizing key points directly in the cart.
- Linking to the full policy documents for those who want more details.
- Using straightforward language to explain terms.
Pro tip: A/B test different trust signal placements and combinations to see what works best for your audience. Keep an eye on metrics like conversion rates and average order value to measure their effectiveness.
Once trust is established, shift your focus to optimizing the mobile cart experience to ensure every potential sale is captured.
4. Improve Cart Experience for Mobile Users
With 70% of online shoppers using mobile devices , having a well-optimized cart is crucial for boosting Average Order Value (AOV). A smooth mobile experience minimizes friction, increases conversions, and encourages higher-value purchases.
Design a Mobile-Friendly Cart
A mobile cart should be easy to navigate, with touch-friendly elements and clear visuals. Here’s what to focus on:
- Large, tappable buttons (at least 44x44 pixels) for easy interaction
- High-quality product images that scale properly on smaller screens
- Simplified product details to avoid overwhelming users
- Easy-to-use quantity adjusters for quick changes
The goal is to make every interaction effortless and error-free, removing any obstacles that might lead to abandoned carts.
Prioritize Speed and Performance
Speed is a game-changer for mobile shopping. According to Google, even a one-second delay in load time can reduce conversions by 7% . To keep your cart fast and responsive:
- Compress images to keep file sizes under 100KB
- Load critical cart elements first, saving extras for later
- Enable browser caching to cut down on server requests
A quick-loading cart ensures customers can review items, adjust quantities, and check out without unnecessary delays.
Keep an eye on metrics like load times and interaction speeds to spot areas that need attention. Once your cart is running smoothly, you can explore adding targeted offers to further increase AOV.
5. Add Incentives to Encourage Bigger Purchases
Adding incentives is a proven way to boost your Average Order Value (AOV). When paired with strategies like upselling and an easy checkout process, they can motivate customers to spend more.
Offer Free Gifts and Discounts
Free gifts and discounts based on cart value are great motivators. Tools like CRO Cart Drawer & Cart Upsells help automate these offers based on what’s in the cart.
- Set up tiered rewards that increase as customers spend more.
- Create product bundles with small discounts to encourage buying multiple items.
- Offer free gifts when customers hit specific spending thresholds.
For example, a fashion retailer saw higher AOV by offering 15% off three-item bundles . Just make sure your incentives increase value without cutting too deeply into profits.
Use a Free Shipping Progress Bar
A free shipping progress bar is another effective way to encourage larger purchases. Shopify data shows that 62% of customers are more likely to return to stores offering free shipping .
Here’s how to make it work:
- Place the progress bar where it’s easy to spot, like in the cart.
- Set a free shipping threshold that’s achievable but encourages higher spending.
- Update the bar in real-time as customers add or remove items.
Test Incentives to See What Works
Testing is key to finding the most effective incentives:
- Compare free gifts versus discounts.
- Experiment with different free shipping thresholds.
- Try out various designs and messaging styles.
- Measure results like conversion rate and AOV to see what’s working.
Regularly review your data and tweak your approach. Smart incentives not only increase AOV but also enhance the shopping experience, making it more likely customers will come back.
Conclusion: Steps to Increase AOV with Cart Changes
Improving your cart experience can directly boost your Average Order Value (AOV). Adding upselling and cross-selling options, simplifying the checkout process, and building customer trust are key moves to encourage larger purchases.
Customer confidence hinges on trust signals, especially during checkout. For mobile users, focus on speed and responsive design, as mobile traffic makes up a large share of e-commerce visits .
Incentives like free shipping or tiered rewards work well. Experiment with offers such as free gifts, discounts, or shipping thresholds to see what appeals most to your audience . Keep in mind, cart optimization is a continuous process - use A/B testing to fine-tune features based on how customers interact with your site.