7 business rules that will increase your average order value

In the competitive world of e-commerce, driving traffic is only half the battle. The real key to boosting revenue lies in maximising the value of each purchase. This is where average order value comes into play: the metric that measures how much, on average, each customer spends in your online shop.

Today, thanks to AI-powered internal search engines, you have a unique opportunity to directly influence that purchasing behaviour. In this EcommFinder blog post, we share 7 business rules that can help you increase your average order value in a strategic and sustainable way.

1. Make the most of the search engine’s automatic ranking

All products add value to your business, and our internal search engine sorts results based on key criteria such as relevance, including top sellers and most-searched products.

The key lies in understanding how this automatic ranking works and optimising other elements such as titles, descriptions or popularity to indirectly influence the visibility of your most strategic products.

2. Offer complementary products

One of the most effective ways to increase the average order value is to intelligently suggest related products. For example, if a customer buys a laptop, offering them a sleeve, a mouse or even insurance is a natural opportunity to increase the order value.

The key is that these recommendations should be relevant and context-specific, not generic or random. The more closely they align with the user’s purchase intent, the more useful they will be and the greater the likelihood that the customer will add additional products to their basket.

In this regard, the search engine plays a key role. When a customer clicks on a search result, you can capitalise on that moment of high intent by subsequently displaying related products under sections such as ‘you may also like’ or ‘complete your purchase’. In this way, not only is the discovery of new products facilitated, but the possibilities for purchase are also expanded, directly increasing the average spend.

3. Create packs or bundles with perceived value

Grouping products into bundles with a small discount can significantly increase the average order value. The customer perceives that they are saving money, even though they are actually spending more.

For example, a “starter” or “premium” pack helps guide the decision and simplifies the purchase. The key is to clearly communicate the benefit: more value for a slightly higher price.

If you’re an EcommFinder customer, you can apply our “Boosting” feature to these types of products, propelling the product to the top of your customers’ search results.

4. Set free delivery thresholds

The classic: “Free delivery on orders over €X”. This technique works because it encourages customers to add extra items to reach that minimum. The trick is to set the threshold slightly above the current average spend.

This encourages customers to spend a little more without them perceiving it as too much of an effort. It’s a simple but very powerful strategy.

5. Improve your internal search engine (a key factor often overlooked)

Your search engine can be a revenue-boosting machine or a constant drain on sales. When a user searches, they have a strong intention to buy, so any improvement here has a direct impact on the average order value. With EcommFinder, and its AI that predicts customer search behaviour, you’ll be able to anticipate their needs before any search engine else.

A good search engine not only helps users find products, but also inspires additional purchases.

6. Use social proof and a sense of urgency

Purchasing decisions aren’t purely rational. Factors such as the following can influence user behaviour:

• “Best seller”
• “Only a few left”
• “Other customers also bought…”

This not only boosts conversion rates but can also increase the average order value by highlighting more comprehensive or popular products. The perception of scarcity or popularity builds trust and creates a sense of urgency – two key factors for increasing sales.

7. Simplify the shopping experience

The more friction there is, the less likely the customer is to add additional products. A smooth checkout process encourages impulse purchases. Ensuring your search function shows what customers are looking for is essential for a seamless shopping experience.

Some key points:

• A visible and easy-to-edit basket
• A quick checkout process
• Clear payment options
• Transparent information

Furthermore, including recommendations within the basket or during checkout can increase the average order value without disrupting the experience.

Conclusion

Increasing the average spend isn’t a matter of luck, but of strategy. By applying these rules, you can maximise the value of each customer without needing to invest more in customer acquisition. Remember: it’s not just about selling more products, but about offering more value in every interaction. From an optimised search function to well-designed bundles, every detail counts.

Start by implementing one or two of these rules, measure the results and optimise. You’ll see how, little by little, your business grows more efficiently and profitably. Contact us if you want to start increasing your average basket value through your search engine.