Promotions are more than just a short-term sales boost. When done well, they can encourage larger purchases and help increase your average order value (AOV). However, not all promotions are created equal. Here’s how to create offers that lead to bigger baskets without sounding too promotional.
Understand What Drives Spending
Before building your promotion, look at customer behaviour. What products are most often bought together? What’s the average spend per order? When do people spend more?
This insight will help shape offers that are both tempting and practical. For example, if shoppers often buy pet food and toys together, a bundle deal could be the perfect fit.
Use Tiered Discounts to Encourage Bigger Baskets
Tiered promotions give customers a reason to spend more. An example might be:
- Spend £30, get 10% off
- Spend £50, get 15% off
- Spend £75, get 20% off
These deals work because they guide customers to the next spending threshold. It feels like a smart move to get more value, and often they’ll add an extra item just to qualify.
Offer Product Bundles
Bundling related items is a simple yet powerful strategy. Shoppers love convenience, and when you group products together, like a skincare set or a stationery kit, you reduce the decision-making process.
Make sure the total bundle price feels like a deal, even if the discount is modest. The key is to show value while increasing order size.
Free Delivery Thresholds That Make Sense
Free shipping still motivates shoppers. But setting your free delivery threshold just above your current AOV can nudge buyers to add that one extra item. For example, if your average order is £35, offer free shipping at £45.
Use a progress bar on your checkout page to show how close they are to qualifying. It keeps customers engaged and encourages action.
If you’re looking to boost AOV with targeted promotions, this approach is one of the easiest to implement and measure. It’s simple, effective, and doesn’t require a massive overhaul of your pricing strategy.
Time-Limited Add-Ons or Gifts
Urgency can be a strong trigger. Add a free gift with purchases over a certain value, but only for a limited time. This not only increases urgency but also boosts perceived value.
Choose gifts that align with the purchase. For instance, if someone’s buying electronics, a protective case or cleaning kit as a bonus makes sense.
Loyalty Rewards That Scale
If you run a loyalty programme, make it responsive to spend levels. Offer more points or better rewards when a customer places a higher-value order. This keeps high spenders happy while nudging average buyers to stretch their budget.
Cross-Sell at Checkout
Use your checkout page to recommend complementary items. These should be low-cost, relevant, and easy to add with one click. Think phone accessories with a mobile purchase or snacks added to a meal order.
This works especially well when the extra items are useful but not essential, making them an easy ‘yes’ for customers looking to maximise value.
Smart Promotions Drive Better Orders
When you align your promotions with how customers shop, you’re not just increasing sales, you’re raising your average order value in a sustainable way.
Try a mix of strategies, track what works, and refine over time. Clear, value-driven promotions are your best tool to grow profits and customer satisfaction. Start building smarter offers today and watch your AOV climb.
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