Order bumps and upsells are one of the best ways to increase your bottom line without pressuring the customer.
You can apply both of these strategies to your Kajabi products—just make sure you read this guide to know which one is best to use.
Key Takeaways:
- Order bumps are low-value, complementary products offered at the checkout stage
- Upsells are high-value, exclusive products offered after the initial purchase
- Downsells can be worth displaying when an upsell offer is declined
Kajabi Order Bumps vs. Upsells: What They’re Used For
Although the aim of an order bump and upsell is to make you more money, they each work in different ways.
Order bumps appear directly on the checkout page, just before the customer clicks the purchase completion button. They are low-cost, low-friction products that complement the original purchase.
For the customer, the order bumps should act as a no-brainer add-on that won’t drain their wallet.
For example, an e-book containing additional tips or exercises is a good order bump when the main product is a course.
Upsells are displayed after the initial purchase has completed. They are presented on an entirely new sales page with a new sales message.
As the name suggests, upsells act as an upgrade or extension to the original purchase. Therefore, they are of higher value and seen as “premium.”
A good example of an upsell for a course would be one-to-one coaching or mentorship.
Alternative Option: Use a Downsell
A less common option is to apply a downsell after the customer declines the upsell. In contrast to the upsell, the downsell is of lower value, which may convince the customer to make an extra purchase after all.
For example, a $50, 30-minute coaching call could be a good downsell option if the initial upsell was a $200 video-based coaching package.
Downsells should be used sparingly and only when they make sense. Presenting too many offers to the customer can irritate and appear like a scam, which puts them off from making any future purchases.
Which One Should You Use and When?
The main challenge is determining the most appropriate revenue-boosting tactic.
I recommend looking at what you intend to offer alongside your main product and asking these questions:
| Scenario | Best Option |
|---|---|
| Is the additional product low-value or considered an add-on? | Order Bump |
| Is the additional product a similar or higher price than the original offer? | Upsell |
| Do you prefer a streamlined, low-friction checkout process? | Order Bump |
| Does the additional product require its own sales page to explain the benefits? | Upsell |
| Is your upsell of particular high value? | Downsell |
| Is the goal to increase the average cart value without affecting conversions? | Order Bump |
| Are you trying to recover a sale after the main offer was rejected? | Downsell |
| Is the offer highly time-sensitive or exclusive? | Upsell |
| Does the product solve the same problem in a lighter or simpler way? | Downsell |
4 Key Ingredients of an Effective Kajabi Order Bump
If your order bump features all four of these characteristics, you may just have found the perfect product to use:
- Discounted or Low Price: If a customer has to think about whether or not they can afford the order bump, it’s probably not suitable. The price should feel like a steal and not take any convincing to add it to the purchase.
- Instant Access or Use: Customers should be able to get their hands on the order bump the moment the purchase is complete.
- Relevant to Main Offer: Order bumps must be closely linked to the main offer and help speed up or enhance the outcome.
- Easy Decision: Like I said, order bumps should be no-brainers. They don’t require lengthy sales messaging to describe the benefits or convince someone to buy.
6 Kajabi Product Ideas for Great Order Bumps
| Order Bump | Why It’s a Great Option |
|---|---|
| Mini Course or Extra Lessons | When a full course is the main offer, adding advanced modules, bonus lessons, or a complementary mini course makes an effective order bump. |
| Swipe Files and Templates | Prebuilt items like templates, spreadsheets, graphics, and so on are excellent because they save customers the time and hassle of creating them themselves. |
| Toolkits | Customers want things that will help them reach their goals efficiently. Therefore, items like worksheets, planners, and calculators are desirable. |
| Webinar or Masterclass | Whether live or pre-recorded, video sessions allow customers to gain more value and insight without applying any extra effort. |
| Quick Reference Cheatsheets or Tips | Bullet-pointed information is easy to digest and remember. Cheatsheets often simplify processes and give the impression that you’re giving away secrets. |
| Small-Value Physical Products | Although physical items make good order bumps, they’re not instantly received. Also, Kajabi isn’t really set up for selling physical products, but it can work if you only plan to do it in small volumes. |
4 Key Ingredients of a High-Converting Kajabi Upsell
If these four characteristics resonate with your product, you’ve got yourself a great upsell:
- Premium Price: Upsells should be of higher value yet still attainable in relation to the initial offer. For instance, if your main offer is $200, a reasonable upsell value would be $250 or $300.
- Standalone Value: Upsells should be products in their own right and not require the purchase of the main offer to make sense or work.
- Promise of Faster Results: The point of an upsell is to help the customer reach their goals faster or with less effort than if they had only purchased the original offer.
- Exclusivity: The most effective upsells are limited access, time-sensitive, or VIP. The purchase should feel exclusive and almost like a luxury.
6 Kajabi Product Ideas, Perfect for Upsells
| Upsell | Why It’s a Great Option |
|---|---|
| Live Coaching or Mentorships | Personalized guidance is always seen as high value, especially if it’s one-to-one. This is a perfect enhancement to a course. |
| VIP Community Access | Create areas within your community reserved for VIPs and offering ongoing support plus access to exclusive content and perks. |
| Done-for-You Content | Rather than individual files (that would typically be an order bump), done-for-you content is more comprehensive, such as a customized website template, file bundles, or full design kits. These items should save considerable time and effort. |
| Premium or Exclusive Access | Anything that could be considered an upgrade can be an upsell. For instance, instant access to support, plan upgrades, or direct contact with the product creator is seen as exclusive and builds customer loyalty. |
| Extended Licensing | If your initial product includes personal use only, offering commercial or extended licensing can be a highly profitable upsell for creators and businesses |
| Advanced Course | Those who are keen to learn will be interested in purchasing another full course to help them reach advanced status in a shorter time. |
How to Create an Order Bump in Kajabi (A Quick Guide)
Before you get started, you must have already created your main offer and an offer intended for your order bump within Kajabi.
- Click Sales > Offers and select the offer you want to use as the main purchase.
- Select Edit Checkout > Order Bump.
- Select the offer intended as the order bump.
- Write a short description for the order bump.
- Edit the rest of the checkout page as needed.
- Hit Save.
How to Create an Upsell in Kajabi (A Quick Guide)
First, create an offer that you want to use as the upsell, as well as an offer for the initial purchase.
- Click Sales and select the offer that you want to use as the initial purchase.
- Click Upsells > Get Started and select the upsell offer from the dropdown menu.
- Type the title and description of the upsell, add a video (if you have one), and customize the button text.
- Click Add Upsell to save your changes.
- Change the status of your upsell from Inactive to Active.
How to Create a Downsell in Kajabi
Creating a downsell in Kajabi is only possible once you have applied an upsell to an offer.
After you have done this, you will see an extra option underneath your upsell that allows you to click to add a downsell.
Adding one is the same process as the upsell. You can add a title, description, video, and customize the buy button. Again, make sure you set its status to Active before you start selling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do All Kajabi Plans Support Order Bumps and Upsells?
Yes, all Kajabi plans support order bumps, upsells, and downsells. Simply add them to the checkout page or sales funnel when creating your offers.
Can I Have Order Bumps and Upsells for Physical Products in Kajabi?
Yes, you can use physical products for order bumps and upsells in Kajabi. However, the platform has limited features for selling physical items. Therefore, you must handle inventory and shipping outside the platform.
