# Setting up the Checkout Upsell

Suggest products at checkout with an optional progress bar — push AOV with cart value, item count, or free shipping thresholds

May 7, 2026

## The Checkout Upsell
The Checkout Upsell suggests products to shoppers at checkout, usually with a progress bar that nudges them to spend more (e.g. "Spend $20 more to get free shipping!"). Use it to drive AOV, push specific products, or hit a free shipping threshold.

## Step 1: Create a new Checkout Upsell
Go to **Convert > Extensions** in the left sidebar. Click the purple **Add Extension** button in the top-right and select **Upsell** from the dropdown.

## Step 2: Fill in the general settings
- **Internal Name** — for your reference (e.g. "Free Shipping Upsell"). Customers don't see it.
- **Component Placement** — pick **Standalone** (its own block) or **Inside Shipping Method** (embedded in a specific shipping option).

## Step 3: Choose your threshold type
Under **Minimum Threshold Type**:
- **Cart Value** — progress based on cart total (e.g. spend $100 to unlock free shipping).
- **Item Count** — progress based on number of items in cart (e.g. add 2 items to unlock a gift). Turn on **Only count items added via this upsell** if you only want items added through the widget to count.
- **No Threshold** — no progress bar. Shows products under a heading like "You might also like."

## Step 4: Set up your goals (Cart Value or Item Count only)
Click the **Goals** tab. This is where you tell the upsell what shoppers are working toward.

**Appearance** — how the bar displays with multiple goals:
- **Sequential** — one bar at a time, switching after each goal is reached.
- **Inline** — all goals shown as small segments side by side.
- **Single Bar** — one bar with icons for each goal. Toggle **Show Previous Goals As Pills** to display badges for goals already unlocked.

**Setting up a goal:**
1. Click **\+ Add Threshold** inside Goal 1.
2. Pick the **country**. For the US, click the checkbox twice to select all 62 states and territories.
3. Enter the **threshold amount** (e.g. 100 for $100, 2 for 2 items) and pick the **currency**.
4. Choose an **Offer Type** — Free Shipping, Coupon, or Product.
5. Edit **Display Text When Goal Is Not Met** — what the bar says while shoppers work toward it. Keep **{amount-left}** in the text so it updates dynamically (e.g. "Spend {amount-left} more, get Free Shipping!").
6. Edit **Display Text When Goal Is Met** — shown once the goal is reached (e.g. "You might also like").

For multiple goals, click **\+ Add Goal**. Each goal must have a higher threshold than the one before it.

## Step 5: Choose which products to show
Click the **Product Selection** tab.

**Audience targeting:**
- **Any Products** — show the same products to every shopper. Right for most setups.
- **Smart Selection** — show different products to different shoppers based on cart contents, customer order history, or cart value. Add multiple rule groups, each with its own product set.

**Selection method:**
- **Automatic** — Shopify's Search & Discovery app picks products based on shopper behavior.
- **Manual** — hand-pick products. Click **Add products** and search by name or SKU. Only active (published) products can be added.
- **Smart** — products are pulled dynamically by rule (same product tag, same collection, same SKU prefix).

**Important toggles:**
- **In-Stock Products Only** — on by default. Keep it on so you don't surface unavailable items.
- **Hide Products Already In Cart** — on by default. Keeps the upsell relevant.
- **Max items to display** — around 10 is a good default.
- **If no items available** — set to **Hide Section** so the upsell disappears cleanly when nothing matches.

**Display style:**
- **Carousel** — horizontal scrollable row of product cards.
- **List** — vertical list.
- **Compact** — one product at a time, minimal.
- **Don't Display** — only the progress bar, no products.

## Step 6: Add a countdown timer (optional)
Click the **Timer** tab and toggle **Enable Countdown Timer** on.
- **Timer Duration** — e.g. 5 minutes.
- **Time Format** — Digital (01:30) or Compact (1m 30s).
- **Placement** — **Inline Bar** (message banner below the progress bar — edit the text in Messages, include **{countdown}**), **Badge** (small countdown near the threshold bar), or **In Goal Message** (timer appears inside the goal text — add **{countdown}** directly into your goal message on the Goals tab).
- **Expiration** — **Show Expired Message** (keeps the upsell visible) or **Hide Upsell** (removes it).

## Step 7: Set display conditions (optional)
Click the **Display Conditions** tab. To restrict the upsell to specific shoppers, products, or cart scenarios, click **\+ Add Rule Group** and set your conditions. Leave it empty to show to everyone.

## Step 8: Save and connect to Shopify
Click **Save** in the top-right. Go back to the **Settings** tab — at the top you'll see the **Token for Shopify** section. Click the clipboard icon to copy your token.

In Shopify:
1. Go to **Settings > Checkout** and click into the checkout you want to use.
2. Click **Add block** and place the **PDQ Upsell** block where you want it in the checkout flow.
3. With the block selected, paste your token into the **Upsell Token** field.
4. Click **Save** in Shopify.

Use **Preview In Shopify** from inside PDQ to see exactly how it'll look before customers do.

## Tips
- For multi-goal Single Bar, sort thresholds tightest-to-widest. Shoppers respond to "almost there" — the first goal should feel reachable.
- The **{amount-left}** placeholder is non-negotiable in the not-met message. Without it, the bar's a static line, not a motivator.
- For Smart Selection, build the rule groups around real shopper segments you've already validated (e.g. cart value bands you've seen convert).
- "Don't Display" for product style is a real option. Sometimes the progress bar alone — with no clutter — converts highest.
- Make sure you have a delivery method that's only available above a certain cart size, otherwise the widget can't suggest products to push shoppers above the threshold.

Happy upselling! 🙂 Reach out to [support@prettydamnquick.com](mailto:support@prettydamnquick.com) if you need help.