Cross-selling Definition
Cross-selling is the practice of recommending related or complementary products to a customer based on what they are already buying or browsing.
A customer adding a camera to their cart might be shown a memory card, a carrying case, or a spare battery. The recommendation is relevant to the purchase rather than random.
How is it used in ecommerce?
Cross-selling typically appears on product detail pages, in the cart, or in post-purchase emails. The suggestions can be set manually by merchandising teams or generated automatically based on purchase history and browsing behavior.
How does it differ from upselling?
Cross-selling suggests a different, related product. Upselling suggests a better or higher-value version of the same product. In practice, both are often used together.