What Is Frequently Bought Together and Why It Matters
Frequently bought together is a simple checkout feature that shows customers items often purchased alongside the product they’re about to buy. If someone adds a phone case to their cart, a frequently bought together section might suggest a screen protector or charging cable. It’s an easy way to increase order value without pushing customers too hard.
The benefit is straightforward: some customers don’t realize what else they need. By showing relevant pairings at checkout, you help them complete their purchase and boost your average order value naturally.
How Frequently Bought Together Works in WooCommerce
Most frequently bought together implementations show related products in a dedicated block at checkout or on the cart page. Customers see a grid of suggested items with a checkbox or quick-add button. They can add one, multiple, or none of the suggestions in a single action.
The key is setting up smart pairings. Not every product pair makes sense. A winter coat and summer shorts aren’t a natural pairing. But a phone case with a screen protector? That’s a no-brainer.
Setting Up Frequently Bought Together Pairs
To get started, identify your best product combinations. Think about what your customers actually buy together, not what you hope they’ll buy.
Once you’ve identified pairs, add them to your WooCommerce store. You can do this manually for high-value products or use a tool to automate the process. The goal is to show genuine, helpful suggestions, not random bundles.
| Product Category | Natural Pairing | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Phone Cases | Screen Protector | Protects the same device |
| Shoes | Shoe Cleaner | Maintains the product |
| Water Bottle | Bottle Stickers | Adds personalization |
| Coffee Maker | Coffee Filters | Essential to use the product |
Step-by-Step Setup Guide
- Choose a Solution: You can set up frequently bought together manually via product relationships, or use a dedicated WooCommerce plugin. ReadyGo Tools offers a free frequently bought together plugin that simplifies the process with a visual editor and one-click add options at checkout.
- Identify Your Pairings: Review your sales data or your own knowledge of your products. What items do customers often need together?
- Add Pairs to the System: If you’re using a plugin, add each pairing via the plugin’s interface. Most tools let you link Product A to Product B and set the display order.
- Preview at Checkout: Test your store’s checkout page. Add a product to the cart and verify the frequently bought together section appears with the correct suggestions.
- Monitor and Adjust: After a few weeks, check if customers are clicking the suggestions. If certain pairings aren’t working, remove them and try others.
One-Click Add at Checkout
The best frequently bought together features let customers add suggested items without leaving the checkout page. Instead of clicking a suggestion, going to the product page, and adding it manually, they can check a box and move forward. This reduces friction and increases the chance they’ll add the item.
FAQ: Frequently Bought Together Setup
Q: Will frequently bought together annoy my customers?
A: Only if the suggestions are irrelevant. Showing genuine, helpful pairings feels like a service, not an upsell.
Q: How many products should I suggest at once?
A: Start with three to five. Too many choices overwhelm customers. Too few and they might not find what they need.
Q: Does this work for digital products?
A: Absolutely. A digital course could suggest complementary templates or guides. A plugin could suggest related plugins.
Q: What if my products don’t have natural pairings?
A: You might not be a good fit for frequently bought together. Some stores like a single-product shop don’t benefit. But if you sell multiple products, there’s usually a logical pairing somewhere.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don’t pair products randomly just to increase sales. Customers notice when suggestions are off-topic, and they’ll ignore the feature entirely. Quality over quantity.
Also, don’t overcomplicate it. The feature works best when it’s simple, visible, and genuinely helpful. Keep the checkout experience fast and clear.