7 ways to increase Shopify AOV without another discount

Discount codes can be a simple and tempting solution that also train buyers to hold off their purchases until the next sale. There are many other creative ways besides an additional percentage off to grow average order value. Check out the on-site moves that these Shopify stores use when they wish to have a fuller basket, not a thinner margin.

1. Recommend a complementary product on the page they are already viewing

If a person is on a specific product page, it means they have already shown interest in that product. A second item that complements that SKU is clearer than a ripple widely quoted "you may also like" grid. Engage the recommendation with the current page or cart contents, which makes it useful rather than random.

If you use Atomato, product recommendations from page and cart activity can surface those add-ons in a NotiSell card inside the storefront notification feed. Shoppers add from the card without leaving the page.

2. Show free-shipping progress before checkout

A progress bar reaching towards free shipping is one of the most straightforward AOV levers. Instead of hiding the threshold in fine print, let customers know how much is left to spend in dollars to achieve free shipping, update this amount with every item they add to the cart, and be upfront about it. You could also list a few items that would help them achieve this goal.

You can run this as a popup on the cart intent, or as a quieter reminder in a NotiFeed notification so returning visitors see the same target when they reopen the bell.

3. Suggest a free gift once a customer has reached a cart minimum

This technique is quite similar to the one of free shipping, but you reward the customer differently. Choose one SKU from the list of gifts that you have a healthy margin for, determine a threshold above the existing average order value (AOV), and announce what gives access to it. Just when the gift is almost within their reach, a reminder is necessary. It is better not to optimize three competing gift options at one shopper's session.

4. Integrate related SKUs in a bundle instead of offering a discount on every single one

The bundles are good at increasing AOV when it is more economical to buy the set than by individually picking things themself. You can set up 2-3 item kits around a hero product (like a routine, outfit, or starter pack) that will then be easier to choose than separate items. Physically, the bundle will be introduced as one single decision made at an affordable bundle price, not as four stacked discounts.

On-site, a short message that names the kit and shows add-to-cart for the set beats a generic "shop more" banner. Should you have trouble finding anything beyond bundles to use, read on-site campaign ideas stores already run.

5. Upsell immediately after add-to-cart, not just on the cart page

Just after add-to-cart, this is the point when the shopper pays the most attention to the site. Offer either an upgrade or an accessory that is related to what they just added just there with a single, clear call of action (CTA). If they choose to skip, the original item will still be in the cart. A second-prompt that requests for their email at the very same moment usually damages both of the aims.

A feed-based upsell stays next to your existing popup stack: the primary offer's popup keeps while the bell uses the follow-up product card. Don't miss out on the example of the hybrid approach in on-site notifications, that is, why stores keep both a popup and a notification feed? Read why stores keep both a popup and a notification feed.

6. Use subscriptions and replenishment only where they fit

For consumables, the subscription plan of a product which can be saved for money in the future not only increases the lifetime values but also has a potential of selling the first order more with a suggested starter related to the product package. It is not necessary to add subscription to every SKU in your catalog. Choose the ones that customers already buy on a repeater basis.

SKIO (and similar apps) is a subscription targeting service. Atomato does not provide a subscription or email promotional service. Follow the plan on your app, while the only on-site message is to display the specific plan on the product or cart when the shopper is already browsing a refill.

7. Measure which messages actually grow the order

The absence of attribution makes all AOV ideas seem equal. Monitor the clicks on product cards and messages and then check the order value in a short period after the click. View-only impressions should not receive revenue credit.

The Atomato Analytics page is designed with click attribution in mind, enabling the retention of basket-size-raising campaigns while halting the ones that merely produce noise. If you want to identify a store-level communication message in practice, check out the Heights case study. The Zibra case study displays a suggestion of add-on bundles that are recommended in the feed instead of a store-wide discount.

What to try this week

Select any two from the seven. Implement them along with the clearly stated limits and one product recommendation rule. Leave the discount calendar as it is for that test window, thus allowing you to see whether the basket has grown because of other reasons besides additional code.

If you want the notification feed, popup, and product cards in one Shopify app, start at Atomato on the App Store or browse atomato.co.