9 effective upselling techniques that work

Now that you know upselling is an outstanding way to please your customers and scale your business, you might wonder:

• When is the best time to upsell?
• What products should I recommend to specific customers?
• How can I upsell without overwhelming my customers?

The answer to all 3 questions: tap into your customer data. With the help of the right tools, you can easily track all your customer data, including their past purchasing behaviors, favorite products, and preferences. Using this data, you can set up promotions and recommendations that match your customers’ needs.

For example, at Uber, you have access to Uber Eats Manager. This centralized dashboard helps you optimize your storefront to promote the right products to the right customers at the right times. How? Uber Eats Manager offers robust data—including your store performance, sales numbers, and customer favorites. It also provides access to direct customer feedback if you want to get granular with qualitative information.

But Uber Eats Manager isn’t just a data dashboard. It also offers built-in marketing tools to help you create and personalize your upselling promotions for every individual in your unique customer base.

Customers are more likely to upgrade their order if the option is placed front and center when they’re ordering. For example, in the Uber Eats app, if a customer is ordering a burger from your restaurant, you could include an option to upgrade the burger by adding more cheese, bacon, or sauteed onions. With a small upcharge, the customer gets a deluxe burger—and you get an increased average order value.

Another idea to catch the customer’s eye is through a well-placed, gorgeous image of a premium upgraded item. If a customer is ordering, say, a plain burger and you turn their attention to a picture of a mouthwatering gourmet burger, it gives them a clear pathway to improve their meal (and satisfy their hungry stomachs).

What’s a surefire way to encourage a customer to purchase? Create a race against the clock. Research from Kerry shows that nearly two-thirds (64%) of consumers buy limited-time offers (LTOs) when they might not have otherwise.

You can use this LTO promotion strategy on Uber Eats by creating seasonal item upgrades, exclusive weekend deals, or special limited-time combos. When you create a sense of urgency, it can prompt both a feeling of exclusivity and a fear of missing out.

Consider using phrases in your offers like “only available today,” “limited quantities,” or “deal for the first 100 buyers” to drive that impulse to buy.

A great way to maximize upselling is through product bundling—grouping high-margin items with commonly purchased items in a single offer.

You can easily identify these key items by turning your attention toward your Uber Eats dashboard. There, you’ll find data on what customers order most frequently and which items drive the most sales. Take what you learn and create an irresistible bundle.

If, for example, the most commonly ordered items at your store are pizza, garlic bread, and soda, curate a bundle meal deal where customers can get all 3 items for a slight discount. Customers who may have only wanted to order pizza will see they’re getting a better deal with your “weeknight dinner special” or a “meal upgrade bundle” and may upgrade their order.

Another solid upselling idea? Let customers tailor a delivery experience to their needs. For a small fee, people seeking added flexibility or specific timing may appreciate having additional delivery options available.

With Uber Direct, you can offer on-demand delivery options directly from your own website, app, or phone. Whether you run a restaurant, a retail store, a grocery store, or any other business, Uber Direct lets you offer your customers delivery in under 2 hours, on the same day, or even up to 30 days in advance.

A simple meal can quickly become a memorable feast for your customers with just a few extra steps. That’s the magic of add-ons. Whether it’s a big upgrade like guacamole + salsa + queso or just an additional dipping sauce, these extras add up and have a big impact on your bottom line.

With Uber Eats, you can offer a variety of tempting add-ons. A few dollars for extra cheese, bacon, or even a delicious side like garlic bread can significantly boost the total order value—without feeling like a huge expense to the customer.

Make these options easy to spot by placing them alongside or below your main menu items, or use a prompt at checkout that suggests an additional side or sauce to complement the order.

Strategic pricing is a simple yet powerful way to encourage customers to upgrade their orders. Keeping the price difference between product sizes or versions minimal makes the larger option more attractive.

If, for example, there isn’t a significant price difference between a medium drink and a large one, customers are often more likely to opt for the bigger one. After all, they’re getting more value for a minimal extra cost.

The reason this works is rooted in psychology and the concept of perceived value. Customers feel like they’re getting more for their money. To amplify the effect, you can also use visual cues like side-by-side price comparisons or enticing images to draw attention to the larger size.

The last thing you want to do is offer irrelevant promotions and upgrades to your customers that they don’t care about. If your customers have never added mushrooms to their sandwich, for instance, offering that as an upgrade doesn’t make sense. They may not like mushrooms. The thought of mushrooms may even gross them out—and that’s not what you want when trying to make a sale.

But maybe your customers consistently order food with bacon or always add a side of ranch. When you know this important data, you can create personalized recommendations for your customers.

With the Uber Eats Manager dashboard, you can tap into customer preferences and order history to create tailored offers. This way, they’ll start seeing more suggestions to add bacon or ranch to their order instead of mushrooms.

Have you ever tried navigating a restaurant menu that feels more like a maze than a guide? You scroll or flip endlessly, struggling to find what you want. Even worse, special offers are buried deep in the chaos. It’s frustrating, and by the time you decide what to order, you may have missed out on a great deal.

For customers, a disorganized menu means missed opportunities for upgrades or discounts they’d love. For businesses, it means losing out on potential upsells and higher-ticket orders. A beautiful, well-organized restaurant menu not only enhances the customer experience but also strategically highlights premium options and add-ons.

By using clear categories, attractive images, and logical placements, you can make upgrades and extras easy to find. A thoughtfully designed menu not only improves navigation but also draws attention to high-value items, ultimately boosting sales.

The restaurant, grocery, and retail industries experience natural ebbs and flows throughout the year. Sometimes (like during holidays), you’re overwhelmed with orders. And other times (like after the holiday rush), orders can quiet down considerably.

Slower times are perfect for getting creative with targeted deals that entice customers. For example, Uber Eats has Happy Hour offers that can provide added value during off-peak hours. That appeals to customers looking for special deals and helps maintain steady sales. Additionally, percent-off offers can help encourage customers to consider larger orders, making the most of each visit.