The main product
Make sure customers understand what is already included in the standard price before presenting additional extras.
Offer useful extras
Add-ons let customers customise or enhance their purchase with optional extras. Depending on your business, that could mean personalisation, upgraded packaging, an accessory, an additional service or another useful addition.
A good add-on improves the purchase. Don't add unnecessary choices simply to increase the order value.Make the difference clear
Optional extras
Explain what each add-on provides and clearly show any additional charge before the customer adds it.
Good uses for add-ons
The most useful add-ons tend to be things that naturally accompany the main purchase:
- Personalisation
- Gift presentation
- Accessories
- Upgraded materials or finishes
- Additional quantities or components
- Optional services
- Extended support or setup
Don't hide essential costs in extras
If something is required for the product to work as reasonably expected, consider including it in the main product rather than making it look like an optional extra.
Customers should be able to understand the real cost of their purchase before they reach checkout.
The best add-ons feel useful rather than unavoidable.
Check the complete order
- Is it obvious what's included as standard?
- Are optional extras genuinely optional?
- Is the additional price clear?
- Are descriptions short and understandable?
- Can you fulfil every combination offered?
- Does the final basket clearly show what the customer selected?
Keep the main purchase straightforward and use add-ons to offer relevant extras when customers actually need them.
Offer optional extras alongside the main product. Add-ons are useful for upgrades, accessories, personalisation or other additions a customer may want without changing the underlying product.
Keep extras relevant and make any additional cost clear.
