Shopify Buy X Get Y 101: The Secret to Bigger Orders
by Hannah
Oct 31st, 2024
13 mins read
Did you know that 91% of Americans check for discounts before making a purchase online? This statistic underscores the power of promotions in driving sales and increasing customer satisfaction.
Shopify Buy X Get Y is a tried-and-true discount strategy that has been used for decades to increase average order values (AOV) and boost overall sales by offering customers a bonus item or discount when they purchase a certain quantity of a product
Key benefits you'll discover in this comprehensive guide:
- Step-by-step instructions for setting up Buy X Get Y offers (both basic and advanced)
- Strategic combinations with other discount types to maximize impact
- Top-rated apps that automate and enhance your promotions
- Expert tips to avoid common pitfalls and optimize results
By the end of this guide, you'll have all the tools and knowledge needed to create effective Buy X Get Y promotions that drive sales and grow your Shopify business
Let’s get it straight!
1. What is a Shopify Buy X Get Y promotion
A Shopify Buy X Get Y promotion is a sales tactic that encourages customers to purchase more by offering them a bonus item or discount when they buy a specific quantity of a product. For example, you could offer a "Buy 2 Get 1 Free" deal or a "Buy 3 Get 20% Off" discount.
Buy X Get Y is a powerful sales tactic to increase the AOV
Here are some common use cases for Shopify Buy X Get Y promotions:
To increase average order value (AOV): By offering a bonus item or discount, you can encourage customers to add more products to their cart, increasing their total purchase amount.
To clear out excess inventory: If you have a surplus of a particular product, you can use a Buy X Get Y promotion to entice customers to buy more and help you reduce your stock levels.
To promote new products: Offer a Buy X Get Y deal on a new product to generate interest and encourage customers to try it out.
To reward loyal customers: Use Buy X Get Y promotions as a way to show appreciation to your repeat customers and encourage them to continue shopping at your store.
To boost sales during specific times of the year: Create seasonal Buy X Get Y promotions to drive sales during holidays or other peak shopping periods (e.g: Black Friday Cyber Monday).
The free gift as the Buy X Get Y offer
There are two main types of Shopify Buy X Get Y promotions:
Quantity-Based: Customers must purchase a specific quantity of a product to trigger the discount. For example, "Buy 2 T-shirts, Get 1 Free."
Spend-Based: Customers must spend a certain amount to unlock the discount. For instance, "Spend $50, Get 20% Off Your Order."
Depending on your choices, the "Y" in Buy X Get Y can represent various offers:
Free Product: A classic "Buy One, Get One Free" deal.
Discounted Item: A significant discount on the second or subsequent item.
Cheapest Item: The least expensive item in the cart becomes free.
Ready to turn your sales strategy up a notch? In the next section, we'll walk you through the process of creating irresistible Buy X Get Y promotions that will have your customers lining up. Let's get started!
2. A detailed guide to create Buy X Get Y Shopify promotions
To create a Buy X Get Y promotion on your Shopify store, you have two main options: using Shopify's native discount feature or leveraging a third-party app.
Shopify’s native discount is ideal for businesses with basic requirements and a straightforward promotional strategy. However, it's important to note that Shopify's native discount feature may have limitations, especially for complex promotions. It might not offer the same level of customization, advanced features, or integration capabilities as third-party apps.
In these cases, third-party apps provide more flexibility and advanced features. These apps often provide a wider range of functions, for example, tailoring product tags, excluding products, setting display conditions, scheduling promotions, etc. In other words, it allows you to create more complex and targeted campaigns.
Now, we'll delve deeper into both methods, guiding you through the steps and considerations for each.
2.1. Using Shopify native discount
Shopify's built-in discount feature offers a simple and straightforward way to create Buy X Get Y free Shopify promotions. By following a few steps, you can set up a discount that encourages customers to purchase more.
Key benefits of using Shopify's native discount feature are:
Ease of use: The process is intuitive and requires minimal technical knowledge.
No additional costs: There's no need to invest in a third-party app.
Integration with Shopify: The feature is seamlessly integrated into your Shopify store.
Now, let us walk you through the steps of creating a Shopify Buy X Get Y discount using Shopify's native discount features.
Access your Shopify Admin: Go to your admin panel.
Navigate to "Discounts": Click on Discounts in the left sidebar.
Create discount: Click on Create discount and select Buy X Get Y from the discount type menu.
Choose method: Decide whether you want to create a discount code or an automatic discount.
For a discount code, customers will need to enter the code at checkout.
For an automatic discount, it will apply automatically when the conditions are met.
Configure customer buys:
Minimum quantity: Specify the minimum number of items the customer must purchase.
Minimum purchase amount: Set the minimum spending requirement.
Product or collection: Choose specific products or collections that qualify.
Configure customer gets:
Quantity: Determine the quantity of discounted or free items.
Product or collection: Select the products or collections that will be discounted.
Discounted value: Set a percentage, or amount off, or offer the items for free.
Set limits: Optionally, limit the maximum number of uses per order or overall.
Define customer eligibility: Specify who can use the discount, everyone, specific segments, or individuals (Only available for discount code method)
Set active dates: Choose the start and end dates for the promotion.
Save discount: Click "Save discount".
Notice:
Inventory: Ensure sufficient inventory for Shopify Buy X Get Y free products to avoid sold-out situations.
Time zone: The discount's start and end times are based on your store's time zone.
Compatibility: Shopify Buy X Get Y not working with subscriptions.
POS integration: For retail locations, automatic discounts can be offered on POS Pro systems.
By following these steps and considering the additional factors, you can effectively
2.2. Using a Buy X Get Y Shopify app
If your business requires more sophisticated Buy X Get Y promotions, a third-party app might be the better option.
When using a third-party app, you can enjoy:
Customization: You can tailor promotions to your specific needs, including tiered discounts, product exclusions, and customer targeting.
Advanced features: Access features like automatic rule creation, A/B testing, and detailed analytics.
While third-party apps offer greater flexibility, they may come with additional costs and require a learning curve. It's essential to evaluate the features and pricing of different apps to find the best fit for your business.
There are various apps available to create Buy X Get Y promotions, which we'll delve into later. In this section, to illustrate how to set up such a promotion, let's use the Qikify app as an example. Here's a step-by-step guide:
Access the "Manage promotion" tab in menu > select Buy X Get Y promotion
Provide a clear and compelling title and subtitle.
Set up and customize your offer:
- Offer position: Choose to show offers at your product pages (when click on "Add to cart" button) or Checkout page (Shopify Plus only) - Trigger settings: Choose how to trigger the offer (all products, collections, product tags, or specific products).
- Customer gets: Select the products or collections that will be discounted.
- Discount settings: Select either a percentage or fixed amount discount.
- Combinations: Choose the combination with other discounts (Product discounts, Order discounts, Shipping discounts)
- Max discount uses: Set a limit on the total number of times the discount can be used.
- Advanced settings: Customize your Shopify Buy X Get Y offers.
- Active dates: Set the start and end dates for the offer.
Save settings
For a basic Buy X Get Y promotion, these settings are generally sufficient. However, if you're seeking more advanced features or want to explore alternative apps, we'll delve into those options in the upcoming section. We'll provide recommendations for popular apps and offer detailed guidelines on how to configure them for various Buy X Get Y scenarios.
3. Combination of Shopify Buy X Get Y discounts with other promotions: helpful suggestions
Often, Shopify merchants struggle with the complexities of managing multiple discount campaigns. Coordinating different promotions, such as Buy X Get Y, percentage-off, and free shipping, can lead to conflicts and unexpected outcomes. By strategically combining these discounts, you can optimize your sales strategy and drive significant growth.
In this section, we'll explore the benefits of combining Buy X Get Y promotions with other discount types. We'll provide practical tips to help you create irresistible offers that boost conversions and increase customer satisfaction.
3.1. How to combine Buy X Get Y with other discounts?
By combining it with other discounts, you can create even more compelling offers and drive even higher conversions. Here are the primary discount types you can combine with Buy X Get Y discount Shopify offers:
Product discount: Applied to individual products or collections, ideal for promoting specific items.
Order discount: Applied to the total purchase value, regardless of products.
Shipping discount: Applied to the shipping cost of the order.
An example of buy X get Y from the papershoot store.
For example, you can take a look at some popular examples of these combinations:
Buy 2 Get 1 Free + Free Shipping: Offer a "Buy 2 Get 1 Free" deal on a popular product line and provide free shipping for all orders over a certain amount. This creates a sense of urgency and encourages customers to purchase more to qualify for free shipping.
Spend $50, Get 10% Off (for hats) + Buy 2 Get 1 Free (for jeans) on Sale Items: Combine a site-wide discount with a Buy 2 Get 1 Free offer on different items. This can help clear out inventory and attract customers looking for deals.
However, there are some limitations to be aware of:
Multiple discounts on the same product: If a product is eligible for multiple automatic discounts (e.g., a product-specific discount, a site-wide discount, and a Buy X Get Y offer), only the highest discount will be applied.
The limited number of Shopify discounts: Shopify imposes a limitation of 25 on the number of active discounts and discount codes that can be applied to orders at any given time.
Shopify Buy X Get Y discount not working: If a customer applies a discount code to a product that is part of a Buy X Get Y offer, the Buy X Get Y offer may be overridden or modified.
3.2. Advanced strategies for enhancing Buy X Get Y promotions on Shopify
Beyond the basic settings mentioned earlier, Shopify merchants can leverage advanced targeting and validation features to create more sophisticated Buy X Get Y promotions.
Apply other sales tactics to increase the conversion rate for Buy X Get Y offer.
They include:
Implement on checkout page (Exclusive for Shopify Plus):
By implementing Buy X Get Y discounts on the checkout page, you can capture customers who are already committed to making a purchase and incentivize them to add more items to their cart.
Limit the number of offered products buyers can purchase:
You can set limits on the quantity of offered products that buyers can purchase to ensure adequate inventory levels and prevent excessive discounts.
Allow buyers to edit quantity of offered items:
It’s recommended to provide customers with the flexibility to edit the quantity of offered items to suit their needs and preferences.
Display conditions clearly:
You should clearly display the conditions for the Buy X Get Y discount, including the required quantity of products, eligible products, and any applicable exclusions. By providing transparent information, you can build trust with your customers and reduce confusion.
Limit the number of times this discount can be used:
Your campaign should set limits on the number of times a customer can use a specific Buy X Get Y discount. It will help prevent customers from abusing the discount and ensure that it is used fairly.
Schedule Buy X Get Y discounts:
To create a sense of urgency and excitement, you can schedule Buy X Get Y discounts for specific time periods or during special events, for example, Shopify Black Friday Cyber Monday, or Christmas.
Target specific customer segments:
It is a great idea to use advanced targeting features to target specific customer segments with tailored Buy X Get Y discounts based on their demographics, purchase history, or other criteria. By delivering personalized offers, you can increase the relevance and engagement of your promotions.
By implementing these advanced targeting and validation features, you can create more sophisticated and effective Buy X Get Y promotions that drive sales and enhance the customer experience.
To set up these advanced features, you'll often need to use Shopify third-party apps. In the next part, we'll introduce you to some popular options that can help you implement these features and enhance your Buy X Get Y promotions. Let’s check it out!
4. Top-rated apps to create Buy X Get Y promotions on Shopify
Shopify offers a vast ecosystem of third-party apps that can help you create and manage Buy X Get Y promotions. Here are some of the top-rated options:
- Automatically add free gifts to the cart - Target specific customers for free gifts - Schedule offers for specific time periods - Trigger free gifts based on cart value or products
5. Top tips and common mistakes to watch out for with Shopify Buy X Get Y promotions
Shopify Buy X Get Y promotions are a powerful way to boost sales and enhance customer satisfaction. By offering incentives for purchasing multiple items, you not only increase order sizes but also build customer loyalty.
To get the most out of these promotions, it's important to follow best practices and steer clear of common mistakes to avoid your Buy X Get Y Shopify not working effectively as it should.
5.1. Avoid overly complex rules
To avoid confusing customers, you should keep the rules of their Buy X Get Y promotions simple and clear. You should avoid using overly complex rules with multiple conditions. Instead, it is a good idea to use clear and concise language that is easy to understand.
5.2. Clear communication
Effective communication is crucial in ensuring that customers understand the terms and conditions of a Buy X Get Y promotion.
It is essential to highlight the benefits of the promotion to customers, such as the savings they can expect to achieve. And don’t forget to provide clear instructions on how to take advantage of the promotion and use multiple channels, such as your website, social media, and in-store advertising, to promote it.
5.3. Strategic pairing
Strategic pairing is another important factor in the success of Buy X Get Y promotions.
By analyzing customer purchasing behavior, you can identify products that are frequently bought together or complement each other. This knowledge allows you to create limited-time deals that encourage customers to purchase multiple items.
To optimize your strategy, you should consider using A/B testing. Don’t hesitate to experiment with different product pairings, discount structures, and messaging to determine the most effective combinations. By analyzing the results, you can make data-driven decisions to improve the performance of your Shopify Buy X Get Y promotions.
5.4. Combination with other promotions
As mentioned above, to maximize the effectiveness of Shopify Buy X Get Y promotions, you can also consider combining them with other promotions.
This could involve allowing customers to stack Buy X Get Y promotions with other discounts or offers, cross-promoting the promotion across different channels, or offering tiered discounts for purchasing multiple items.
Combine other discounts in Shopify
5.5. Avoid discount stacking
Finally, yes, you can combine Shopify Buy X Get Y with other promotions, but it's important to avoid excessive discount stacking.
You should establish clear guidelines for the number of Buy X Get Y promotions or other discounts that customers can combine. It is recommended to use exclusions to limit the number of products or categories that can participate in promotions. And keep track of sales data to identify any instances of excessive discount stacking and adjust your promotion strategy accordingly.
By following these tips, you will have a roadmap to create Buy X Get Y promotions that not only boost sales but also leave customers feeling valued and satisfied.
6. Wrapping up: key takeaways for effective Buy X Get Y strategies
In summary, Shopify Buy X Get Y promotions are a powerful tool for increasing average order value (AOV) and driving sales. These promotions are particularly useful during peak sales seasons or when launching new products, as they can incentivize customers to purchase more. By strategically selecting products, setting clear conditions, and targeting the right audience, you can create effective promotions that take your store into a new height!
Key takeaways from this article include:
Understanding the different types of Shopify Buy X Get Y promotions and their use cases.
Mastering the steps to create Buy X Get Y promotions using both Shopify's native tools and third-party apps.
Exploring advanced settings to customize your promotions and target specific customers.
Leveraging recommended apps to streamline the promotion creation process.
Avoiding common pitfalls to ensure the success of your Buy X Get Y promotions.
Don't wait any longer! Start creating your own Buy X Get Y promotions today and watch your sales soar. Try Qikify, a powerful app that can help you easily create and manage these promotions.
With the right strategy and tools, you can turn Buy X Get Y promotions into a game-changer for your Shopify business.
7. Common questions about Shopify Buy X Get Y discounts
1. How to add buy more save more on Shopify?
To add a Buy More Save More discount on Shopify, you can set it up as a Buy X Get Y discount. Here’s how to do it:
From your Shopify admin, go to Discounts.
Click Create discount.
Select Buy X Get Y from the discount type menu.
Choose whether you want to create a Discount code or an Automatic discount.
In the Customer buys section, set the minimum quantity of items or minimum purchase amount required.
Choose the qualifying products or collections.
In the Customer gets section, specify the quantity of items that the customer will receive as a discount and select the discounted products or collections.
Set the discounted value (e.g., free item, percentage off).
Click Save discount to apply it
2. What is an automatic discount?
An automatic discount is a type of discount that applies automatically at checkout without the need for customers to enter a discount code. You can create different types of automatic discounts, including:
Amount off: This can be a fixed amount or a percentage off the total order or specific products.
Free shipping: Automatically applies free shipping to eligible orders.
Buy X Get Y: Customers can receive a discount when they purchase a specified quantity of items.
3. How to create a BOGO on Shopify?
To create a Buy One Get One (BOGO) discount on Shopify, you can set it up as either a discount code or an automatic discount. Here’s how to do it:
From your Shopify admin, go to Discounts.
Click Create discount.
Select Buy X Get Y from the discount type menu.
Under Method, choose Discount code or Automatic discount
Enter a name for the discount code (e.g., buyonegetonefree).
In the Customer buys section, set the minimum quantity of items or minimum purchase amount required.
Choose the qualifying products or collections.
In the Customer gets section, specify the quantity of items that the customer will receive as a discount and select the discounted products or collections.
Set the discounted value (e.g., free item, percentage off).
Click Save discount to apply it
4. How does buy 1 get 1 work?
A Buy One Get One (BOGO) discount works by allowing customers to receive a free product or a discount on a product when they purchase a specified quantity of items.
Customers need to add all applicable products to their cart to receive the discount. The discounted or free products are not added automatically; customers must meet the purchase criteria to qualify for the discount.
If you are offering free products, ensure you have enough inventory. If the inventory of the free product runs out, it will display as sold out, and customers won't be able to take advantage of the discount.
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hannah
eCommerce Specialist
With over 5 years of experience under her belt, Hannah is an eCommerce writer who crafts content specifically for a website that deals with online sales. She simplifies technical details to assist entrepreneurs in utilizing the platform and launching their online ventures.
