16 ways to increase your AOV faster than you last in bed

SUMMARY

Mark, an e-commerce expert, shares 16 practical strategies to rapidly increase Average Order Value through pre- and post-purchase tactics, emphasizing funnels over Shopify for maximum profitability.

STATEMENTS

Average order value maximization falls into two main categories: pre-purchase tactics that encourage more spending before checkout and post-purchase upsells that add value after the initial buy.
Platforms like Funnelish and Checkout Champ offer greater flexibility for post-purchase customization compared to Shopify's limitations.
A better offer involves bundling products with quantity discounts, free gifts, or BOGO deals to make the purchase more appealing and increase initial transaction value.
Simply tweaking the offer structure turned one student's unprofitable campaign into a profitable one without changing ads or landing pages.
Order bumps are additional products offered at checkout via checkboxes, allowing multiple additions to boost AOV without overwhelming the customer.
Limiting order bumps to one can reduce decision fatigue, as too many options may lead customers to select none.
The law of consumption states that more time or money spent engaging with a brand before purchase correlates with higher spending.
High AOV funnels often use long-form Video Sales Letters (VSLs) of at least 30 minutes to build trust and consumption before the offer.
A VSL funnel can generate up to 36 minutes of consumption compared to 5-10 minutes on a standard product detail page (PDP) funnel.
In-cart upsells appear in the cart drawer after adding the main product, but they must be tested to avoid reducing conversion rates.
Offering expedited shipping options can increase AOV, as customers may pay extra for faster delivery even without urgency.
Adding a voluntary tip box at checkout can surprisingly boost sales by up to 10% without any other changes.
Free gifts with purchase (GWP), especially digital products like PDFs, enhance offers at no fulfillment cost and make purchases more irresistible.
Quantity breaks, such as "buy more, save more," encourage larger orders and can be integrated into bundles or BOGO promotions.
Subscriptions don't directly raise AOV but significantly boost lifetime value (LTV) through recurring purchases.
Bundling multiple products creates a higher-value offer that naturally elevates the average transaction size.
Adding digital products to the main offer provides extra perceived value, making it a no-brainer for customers.
Post-purchase upsells, or one-time offers (OTTOs), have the highest AOV impact due to price elasticity right after purchase.
The emotional high post-purchase allows selling higher-priced items, up to 10x the front-end product, without resistance.
Effective OTTO frameworks include "more of the same" for consumables or solving a new problem created by the initial product.
Downsell pages offer discounted versions of the upsell to capture revenue from those who decline the full price.
Booking calls with customer service on the upsell path can generate feedback and additional sales, ideal for brands over $300K/month.
Apps like UpCart enable post-purchase upsells on Shopify, though with less customization than full funnels.
Backend email and SMS automations sent immediately after purchase can add items to the order at a discount before shipping.

IDEAS

Irresistible offers stack value like BOGOs and free gifts to turn single-product buys into multi-item transactions.
Decision fatigue from too many order bumps can paradoxically lower AOV by causing customers to opt for nothing.
Time-based consumption in long VSLs builds deeper trust, enabling higher spending than quick PDP browses.
Post-purchase moments exploit peak emotional trust, allowing 10x price upsells that pre-purchase tactics can't match.
Front-end products should intentionally create follow-up problems, like weight loss leading to maintenance needs, for seamless OTTOs.
Voluntary tips mimic service industry jars, tapping into customer goodwill for effortless revenue gains.
Digital GWPs cost nothing to deliver but amplify perceived value, especially for outcome-focused guides.
Subscriptions shift focus from one-off AOV to recurring LTV, stabilizing cash flow in volatile e-commerce.
Expedited shipping appeals to impulse, where customers pay premiums for speed despite no real need.
VSL length should match objection-handling needs, not arbitrary attention-span limits, as 90-minute successes prove.
Funnels outperform Shopify for post-purchase due to editable OTTO pages, unlocking aggressive AOV strategies.
Downsell chains balance direct-response aggression with brand integrity, preventing customer alienation.
Customer service calls as OTTOs double as feedback loops, feeding AI for ad improvements.
Quantity breaks gamify purchases, psychologically nudging bulk buys through savings illusions.
In-cart upsells risk friction but reward careful testing with seamless add-ons.
Backend automations treat post-checkout as an extension of the order, bundling extras in one shipment.
Price elasticity peaks post-credit card entry, where buyers are most open to high-ticket add-ons.
Long-form content like 30-minute VSLs filter for highly engaged prospects ready for big spends.
OTTO storytelling transmutes purchase excitement into desire for complementary solutions.
Shopify limitations force pre-purchase focus, but funnels enable full AOV optimization.
Emotional deltas in OTTO copy, like fearing weight regain, drive conversions through vivid contrasts.
Beginner funnels delay until $1K/day to avoid complexity overwhelming early scaling.
Static ads iterate faster than videos, suiting quick AOV-testing in Meta campaigns.
Listicles can surprisingly boost jewelry sales by educating on value beyond direct PDPs.

INSIGHTS

Maximizing AOV requires balancing pre-purchase enticements with post-purchase leverage, where emotional peaks enable outsized gains.
Consumption laws reveal that engagement time inversely correlates with purchase hesitation, favoring narrative-driven funnels over skim-and-buy.
Irresistible offers transcend products, becoming holistic value stacks that foster loyalty and repeat business beyond initial AOV lifts.
Price elasticity post-purchase stems from trust investment, allowing premium upsells that pre-purchase skepticism would reject outright.
Front-end designs that seed secondary problems create natural OTTO pathways, turning one sale into a product ecosystem.
Decision overload in upsells erodes conversions, underscoring the power of singular, high-impact prompts over abundance.
Digital add-ons epitomize zero-cost value amplification, bridging tangible goods with intangible expertise for irresistible appeal.
Subscriptions reframe AOV as LTV entry points, providing predictable revenue in ad-dependent e-commerce volatility.
Voluntary extras like tips or expedited shipping exploit subtle psychological gratifications, yielding revenue with minimal friction.
VSL durations should serve story completeness, as engagement curves show committed viewers convert despite length biases.
Funnel superiority in post-purchase customization democratizes high-AOV tactics, outpacing Shopify's rigid structures.
Downsell psychology recovers lost upsell revenue while preserving brand warmth, avoiding aggressive DR pitfalls.
Service integrations like call bookings transform support into sales engines, especially at scale with AI-enhanced insights.
Backend communications extend checkout psychology, capturing impulse adds before fulfillment solidifies finality.
Emotional transmutation in OTTO copy reinforces initial buys while igniting new desires, minimizing remorse risks.
Scaling thresholds for complex tactics like funnels ensure foundational stability, preventing early overextension.
Static creatives enable rapid iteration for AOV validation, countering video production bottlenecks in testing.
Challenging niche assumptions, like listicles for jewelry, uncovers hidden AOV levers through empirical defiance.

QUOTES

"If you want people to spend more money with you, you have to first get them to spend more time with you."
"The more that you can get people to consume before they see your offer, the higher your average order value is going to be."
"This is the highest AOV booster out of any step in the funnel... because of two simple words: price elasticity."
"The main product you're selling is designed to do two things: solve a problem and create a new one."
"There's no maximum length. There's no minimum length... one of the most successful offers of all time... was a VSL that was 90 minutes long."
"You have to execute it properly. And basically, the way to do that is to take that emotional energy... and kind of transmute that into reinforcing that they made the right purchase."
"Scaling fast, ironically, unless you have a really good infrastructure, it creates more headaches than it's actually worth."
"I would not recommend getting a loan ideally unless you can get an interest free loan, which there are ways to do that."

HABITS

Regularly split-test order bumps and upsells to measure AOV contribution without harming conversions.
Delay implementing funnels until reaching at least $1,000 daily revenue for beginners to build stable foundations.
Study direct response history, like Gary Halbert's concepts, to inform long-form content strategies.
Feed customer service call transcripts into AI for ad creative improvements and feedback loops.
Prioritize one high-impact order bump over multiples to combat decision fatigue in checkout flows.
Maintain an 80/20 creative testing ratio on Meta, flipping to 50% new concepts post-updates like Andromeda.
Challenge niche assumptions by testing unconventional tactics, such as listicles for jewelry sales.
Build offers starting with the end in mind, designing products to create sequential upsell opportunities.
Avoid aggressive scaling without cash flow infrastructure, opting for steady growth to prevent pitfalls.
Use backend email/SMS automations immediately post-purchase to extend order windows ethically.

FACTS

One student achieved profitability solely by tweaking their offer structure, without ad or landing page changes.
A 90-minute VSL generated over $150 million in sales for one of direct response's most successful offers.
Post-purchase upsells can achieve price elasticity up to 10x the front-end product price in e-commerce.
Some brands derive 20-30% of revenue from outbound customer service upsells via booked calls.
Voluntary tip boxes have added up to 10% to overall sales for certain e-commerce stores.
Long-form VSL funnels can accumulate 36 minutes of consumption versus 5-10 minutes on standard PDP flows.
Eight OTTO pages in a post-purchase sequence were observed in a well-known e-commerce brand's funnel.
Static images comprise 80-90% of creative material in some high-performing Meta ad accounts.

REFERENCES

Brand Builders Academy (BBA) mentorship program.
Elite Mastermind event in Miami with Alex, focused on 7-figure e-com scaling and AI ads.
GetHookd 14-day free trial for e-commerce tools.
Run More Ads email list and Telegram group.
Funnelish platform for customizable funnels.
Checkout Champ for post-purchase functionality.
Shopify as a base e-commerce platform, with noted limitations.
UpCart app for Shopify post-purchase upsells.
Alex Hormozi's concept of irresistible offers.
Gary Halbert's copywriting principles on consumption curves.
VSL (Video Sales Letter) funnels, including 90-minute examples from direct response history.
GLP-1 products like semaglutide (Ozempic) as weight loss examples.
Ron Shah, CEO of Abbie, for payment and financing operations advice.
Andromeda update on Facebook ads.
Nick Shackleford's static ad hook testing method.
Direct mail adaptations of VSLs in historical direct response.

HOW TO APPLY

Craft a better offer by stacking BOGO deals, quantity discounts, and free gifts around your core product to encourage multi-item carts from the start.
Implement one targeted order bump at checkout with a compelling checkbox description highlighting unique benefits to subtly increase spend without fatigue.
Extend pre-purchase engagement by building a 30-minute VSL that addresses objections and builds trust, forcing full consumption before revealing the offer.
Add in-cart upsells in the drawer post-add-to-cart, testing lower-priced complements to the main product to avoid conversion drops.
Introduce tiered shipping options including expedited choices at checkout, positioning them as premium perks to capture impulse upgrades.
Place a voluntary tip jar on the checkout page, framing it as support for the business to leverage goodwill for unexpected revenue.
Bundle digital products like outcome guides as GWPs with physical items, ensuring zero fulfillment costs while boosting perceived value.
Set up quantity breaks on product pages, such as "buy two, get 20% off," to incentivize bulk purchases and elevate initial order sizes.
Integrate subscriptions at checkout for recurring deliveries, emphasizing convenience and LTV benefits to convert one-time buyers.

ONE-SENTENCE TAKEAWAY

Elevate e-commerce success by stacking irresistible pre-purchase offers and exploiting post-purchase trust for rapid AOV gains.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Prioritize funnels over Shopify for advanced post-purchase customization to unlock higher AOV potential.
Test single order bumps rigorously, measuring contribution to avoid decision fatigue pitfalls.
Design front-end products to solve one issue while creating another, priming OTTO sequences naturally.
Use long-form VSLs for high-consumption funnels when copywriting skills support objection handling.
Offer expedited shipping tiers to tap into customer impulses for speed, boosting margins ethically.
Incorporate digital GWPs like PDFs to amplify offers at no cost, enhancing irresistibility.
Structure OTTOs around price elasticity, aiming for 10x front-end values with emotional storytelling.
Follow downsells with discounted alternatives to recover upsell declines without brand damage.
Automate backend emails/SMS for post-purchase add-ons, framing them as last-chance deals.
Delay funnel implementation until $1K daily revenue for beginners to focus on core scaling.
Flip Meta creative testing to 50% bold new concepts post-Andromeda for better performance.
Challenge niche tactics like PDPs for jewelry by testing listicles for educational AOV lifts.
Train customer service for upsell calls at $300K+ monthly, integrating AI for ad insights.
Avoid rapid scaling without cash flow safeguards, consulting experts like Ron Shah for stability.
Transmute post-purchase emotions in OTTO copy to reinforce buys and introduce complements seamlessly.
Use static ads heavily for quick iterations, especially in direct-offer formats for AOV validation.

MEMO

In the fast-paced world of e-commerce, where ad costs climb and margins shrink, Mark, a seasoned scaling expert, cuts through the noise with a blueprint for boosting average order value (AOV)—the lifeblood of profitability. During a lively online session, he outlined 16 tactics, blending pre-purchase enticements with post-purchase wizardry, emphasizing that true gains often lie beyond the initial cart. Drawing from direct response roots, Mark argues that AOV isn't just about selling more; it's about crafting experiences that make customers eager to spend.

Pre-purchase strategies form the foundation, starting with "better offers" that transform solitary products into value-laden bundles. BOGOs, quantity breaks, and free gifts with purchase (GWP)—ideally digital PDFs costing nothing to deliver—create irresistible pulls. Mark recounts a student who flipped unprofitability to profit simply by sweetening their deal, underscoring how these tweaks amplify transactions without ad overhauls. Yet, he warns against overload: order bumps at checkout shine when limited to one, sidestepping decision fatigue that could crater conversions. The law of consumption ties it together—more time invested, via long-form video sales letters (VSLs) clocking 30-plus minutes, builds trust and primes bigger spends, outpacing skimpy product pages by triple the engagement.

Post-purchase upsells emerge as the heavy hitters, exploiting the emotional zenith right after credit card submission. Termed one-time offers (OTTOs), these pages leverage "price elasticity," allowing 10x front-end prices—think $500 add-ons to a $50 base—because buyers are primed for more value. Mark's frameworks shine here: "more of the same" for consumables like supplements, or solving "new problems" created by the initial buy, such as weight maintenance after loss via GLP-1s. Downsells follow declinations with discounts, while backend emails extend the order window, bundling extras pre-shipment. For Shopify loyalists, apps like UpCart approximate this, though funnels like Funnelish offer unmatched flexibility.

Subscriptions sneak in as AOV adjuncts, prioritizing lifetime value through recurrences that stabilize volatile ad spends. Mark stresses balance: aggressive OTTO chains (up to eight in some brands) risk brand erosion, so pair direct response intensity with relational warmth. At scale—say, $300K monthly—customer service calls on upsell paths yield 20-30% revenue, doubling as AI-fueled feedback goldmines. Voluntary twists like tip jars or expedited shipping add effortless lifts, with stories of 10% sales surges from mere checkboxes.

Q&A revelations peel back layers: Beginners should hit $1K daily before funnels to avoid overwhelm, while Meta advertisers post-Andromeda thrive on bold static creatives over tweaks. Mark challenges assumptions—listicles can electrify jewelry sales despite PDP dominance—urging empirical defiance. He cautions against rapid scaling sans cash flow armor, invoking experts like Ron Shah for financing savvy.

Ultimately, Mark's ethos: AOV mastery demands starting with the endgame, designing ecosystems where each purchase seeds the next. In an attention-fractured era, his 90-minute VSL triumphs remind us length serves story, not spans. For e-commerce warriors, these 16 ways aren't gimmicks; they're levers for sustainable empires, turning one-off carts into enduring revenue streams.

This isn't theory—it's battle-tested, from Miami masterminds to global Telegram chats. As Mark signs off, the call to action echoes: Test relentlessly, consume wisely, and watch AOV—and lives—transform.