Guide to Upselling and Cross-Selling in the US

Are you missing out on thousands of dollars in extra revenue from your existing customers? The smartest US businesses know that upselling and cross-selling are the easiest ways to boost profits, deepen customer loyalty, and deliver a better buying experience—without spending a fortune on new customer acquisition.

I’m Riten, founder of Fueler, a platform that helps companies and professionals get hired by showcasing their real work and results. In this guide, I’ll break down the most effective upselling and cross-selling strategies for US businesses in 2025. Just like a strong portfolio on Fueler proves your skills and builds trust, smart upselling and cross-selling show customers you understand their needs and can deliver more value at every step.

What Are Upselling and Cross-Selling?

Upselling means encouraging a customer to buy a more advanced, premium, or upgraded version of what they’re already considering. Cross-selling is suggesting related or complementary products that add value to their main purchase. Both techniques help increase the average order value, improve customer satisfaction, and make every transaction more meaningful for your business and your buyers.

• Upselling: Suggesting a higher-tier product or service, like upgrading from a basic plan to a premium one.
• Cross-selling: Recommending additional items, like offering a phone case when someone buys a smartphone.
• Goal: Grow revenue by increasing the value of each sale.
• Timing: Effective at checkout, in follow-up emails, or during customer support conversations.

What this means for your sales strategy: Mastering upselling and cross-selling means you can grow your revenue and customer loyalty without constantly chasing new leads. It’s about making every sale count and building stronger relationships.

Why Upselling and Cross-Selling Are Essential in 2025

Customer expectations in the US are higher than ever. People want personalized recommendations and a seamless shopping experience. When you upsell or cross-sell the right way, you’re not just selling more you’re helping customers find solutions that truly fit their needs, making them more likely to return and refer others.

• Upselling can increase customer lifetime value by up to 40%.
• Cross-selling can account for 10-30% of total revenue in ecommerce.
• Amazon attributes 35% of its revenue to these strategies.
• These methods build trust and keep customers engaged.

What this means for your sales strategy: If you’re not upselling and cross-selling, you’re leaving money and loyalty on the table. These strategies are a must for any US business looking to grow sustainably.

Top Upselling Strategies

1. Showcase Premium Options and Upgrades

Presenting higher-value or newer products at the right moment can encourage buyers to consider spending a little more for extra benefits. This can be done online with “upgrade” buttons or in-person by discussing advanced features.

• Use comparison charts to highlight benefits of premium versions.
• Display upgrade options during checkout.
• Offer exclusive features or bonuses for higher-tier products.
• Use persuasive copy to explain the added value.

What this means for your sales strategy: Showing customers the value of premium options helps increase your average order value and positions your brand as a provider of top-quality solutions.

2. Offer Limited-Time Upgrades

Creating urgency with time-sensitive offers on upgrades can motivate customers to act quickly. Flash sales or limited-time discounts on higher-tier products work well both online and offline.

• Use countdown timers on your website.
• Send email blasts with special upgrade offers.
• Highlight limited stock or exclusive deals.
• Promote these offers during seasonal sales events.

What this means for your sales strategy: Limited-time offers tap into the fear of missing out, driving faster decisions and boosting your revenue from existing customers.

3. Personalize Upsell Recommendations

Personalization is key in 2025. Use data from past purchases, browsing history, or customer profiles to suggest upgrades that truly fit each buyer’s needs.

• Implement AI-powered recommendation engines.
• Segment your audience for targeted upsell emails.
• Reference previous purchases in your suggestions.
• Use dynamic website content to show relevant upgrades.

What this means for your sales strategy: Personalized upsells feel helpful, not pushy, and lead to higher conversion rates and happier customers.

Top Cross-Selling Strategies

1. Bundle Complementary Products

Bundling related products together at a discounted price makes it easy for customers to see the value in buying more. For example, a laptop, mouse, and carrying case bundle.

• Create bundles based on popular product combinations.
• Offer a “complete the set” option at checkout.
• Highlight savings compared to buying items separately.
• Use visuals to show how products work together.

What this means for your sales strategy: Bundles simplify the buying process and encourage customers to purchase more, increasing your overall sales per transaction.

2. Suggest Add-Ons at Checkout

The checkout page is a prime spot for cross-selling. Suggest small, relevant add-ons that enhance the main purchase, like warranty extensions or accessories.

• Use pop-ups or sidebars to display add-on options.
• Offer discounts for adding items to the cart.
• Keep add-on suggestions relevant and low-cost.
• Show customer reviews for recommended products.

What this means for your sales strategy: Well-timed add-on suggestions boost your average order value and improve customer satisfaction by offering more complete solutions.

3. Use Email and Post-Purchase Follow-Ups

After a sale, follow up with personalized emails suggesting complementary products or services. This keeps your brand top-of-mind and encourages repeat business.

• Send thank-you emails with related product recommendations.
• Offer exclusive discounts on future purchases.
• Share helpful guides or tips featuring your other products.
• Automate follow-ups based on purchase history.

What this means for your sales strategy: Post-purchase cross-selling builds ongoing relationships and increases the lifetime value of each customer.

How to Train Your Team for Upselling and Cross-Selling

Your team needs to understand the value of these strategies and feel confident recommending additional products. Regular training, clear scripts, and incentives can help.

• Provide scripts and role-play scenarios for common situations.
• Reward team members for successful upsells and cross-sells.
• Teach the difference between helpful recommendations and pushy sales.
• Encourage product knowledge and empathy.

What this means for your sales strategy: A well-trained team delivers a better customer experience and drives consistent growth through upselling and cross-selling.

Using Technology to Automate and Scale

Modern sales tools and CRM platforms can help automate upsell and cross-sell suggestions based on customer data. This ensures no opportunity is missed and keeps your approach consistent.

• Use CRM software to track purchase history and preferences.
• Implement AI-driven recommendation engines on your website.
• Set up automated email campaigns for follow-up offers.
• Analyze data to improve your strategies over time.

What this means for your sales strategy: Leveraging technology makes your upselling and cross-selling smarter, faster, and more profitable.

If you want to showcase your best sales strategies and results, Fueler lets you create a portfolio of your upselling and cross-selling campaigns. This proof of skill helps you stand out to employers and clients who want to see real impact before making a hire.

Final Thought

Upselling and cross-selling are not just about making more money—they’re about helping your customers find the best solutions and building long-term loyalty. By mastering these strategies and using the right tools, your US business can unlock new growth and deliver a customer experience that keeps people coming back.

FAQs

1. What is the difference between upselling and cross-selling?

Upselling encourages a customer to buy a higher-end product, while cross-selling suggests related or complementary products.

2. When is the best time to upsell or cross-sell?

During checkout, in follow-up emails, or after a customer has shown interest in a product.

3. How can technology improve upselling and cross-selling?

AI and CRM tools can automate recommendations and personalize offers based on customer data.

4. Why do upselling and cross-selling increase customer loyalty?

They show customers you understand their needs and can offer more value, leading to better experiences and repeat business.

5. How can I prove my upselling and cross-selling skills to employers?

Build a portfolio on Fueler with real examples of your successful campaigns and results.

What is Fueler Portfolio?

Fueler is a career portfolio platform that helps companies find the best talents for their organization based on their proof of work.

You can create your portfolio on Fueler, thousands of freelancers around the world use Fueler to create their professional-looking portfolios and become financially independent. Discover inspiration for your portfolio

Sign up for free on Fueler or get in touch to learn more.