5 upsell email examples that drive revenue [+ subject lines]

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Upsell emails are an effective way to increase revenue. However, crafting the perfect message can feel like balancing a tightrope of persuasion and relevance to avoid overwhelming your audience. This is where the best upsell email examples come in. 

An excellent upsell email template can inspire your next campaign. However, knowing how to write an upsell email that engages and entices customers is something every business owner should learn.

These emails are great for boosting sales. Today, we’ll cover the best upsell emails and their subject line you can use, as well as the best practices for writing impactful upsell emails.

Let’s get started so you can get those sales numbers rising quickly. 

We’ll cover:

• What is an upsell email?
• Why upsell emails work
• Upsell email examples
• 25 successful upsell email subject lines
• Best practices for crafting upsell emails
• Wrap up

What is an upsell email?

An upsell email is sent to customers to convince them to upgrade their current purchase to higher-value products. The aim is to increase sales and order value by promoting complementary products, higher-tier options, or premium features.

You can customize upsell email content, product offerings, frequency, timing, and design to better align with your brand strategy or goals.

The best upsell email examples utilize personalized recommendations with irresistible incentives, making it crucial in maximizing revenue and retaining customers.

Why upsell emails work

Targeting the psychological triggers that drive customer behavior is at the core of upsell email strategies. These emails usually leverage the desire of customers to own premium products by showcasing how upgrades or add-ons improve the overall customer experience. 

A key area that upsell emails take advantage of is FOMO (fear of missing out). People tend to develop a sense of urgency when they hear about limited-time offers or exclusive discounts. 

What’s more, incorporating social proof in your upsell emails evokes the thought that other people could benefit from such products. This motivates your target audience to act quickly, boosting conversion rates.

Personalization also plays a big role in the success of upsell emails. You can use data on customer preferences and previous purchases to tailor product recommendations to match their interests. 

Personalized upsell emails yield a higher likelihood of purchase and conversions as they play on what the customer is already interested in. 

Upsell email examples

Knowing how to frame your upsell emails can make a huge difference. Here are some upsell email examples you can use as references:

1. Offer a product upgrade

Offering your customers a product upgrade entices them to get more even when what they already have works. 

Apple’s introduction of the new MacBook Pro is one of the best upsell email examples in this regard. The headline, “More power. More performance. More pro.” is catchy enough to make someone want to know more and what they are missing out on.

The email then notifies customers about an Apple GiveBack of up to $1,000 if they trade in an eligible Mac they already own, which acts as an attractive incentive.

This Apple upsell email is also one of the most effective upsell email examples for selling new products:

2. Feature your best-sellers

Featuring your best-seller products and services conveys a strong message to your targeted customers. If everyone else is getting them, why don’t you? 

This convinces customers to purchase your products or services for themselves. After all, if everyone else is getting it, then it must be excellent.

The upsell email example by ForFolk, a dietary supplement company, uses the line “Meet this month’s best-seller” to trigger curiosity. Adding “Check out what everyone’s talking about these days” is a subtle social proof, showing awareness around the brand: 

3. Remind customers to stock up

Highlighting a limited-stock item is another strategy you can employ. This creates a sense of urgency among customers, encouraging them to stock up on their favorite products before they’re gone. 

A back-in-stock email works the same way when sent out to repeat customers. 

When it comes to limited-stock upsell email examples, a simple “Hey, remember that bottle of perfume you loved last time? It’s running out!” could do the trick.

This is the strategy used by Riven. Displaying “LIMITED STOCKS!” in bold and colorful font grabs attention and creates a sense of urgency, immediately motivating the customer to act quickly and purchase. Adding “Buy four or six bottles so you don’t run out” provides further incentive for your customers to stock up:

4. Present seasonal offers

Leverage the power of timely relevance by incorporating seasonal offers into your upsell emails. Aligning your promotions with holidays, special events, or seasonal trends not only creates urgency but also taps into your customers’ current needs and desires.

For example, creating a holiday newsletter that taps into the excitement of the season gives them more reason to buy in a period when people are more likely to spend money.

You don’t have to use very strong words. Just using language that matches the excitement of the holiday will do the trick.

In the example below, P.F. Candle Co. dared to use an expletive. It’s not only a bold move but also speaks directly to its core customer base. Also, adding the CTA, “SHOP FALL FAVORITES,” instantly tells the customer that the listed products are popular among others: 

5. Use limited-time offers

This strikes at the very heart of customer FOMO. It leverages the powerful psychological trigger of urgency and the fear that customers may miss out on a good product for a lower price. 

To maximize the impact of your upsell emails, use compelling flash sale subject lines. Such headlines increase open rates, effectively boosting conversions as well. 

Hallertau, a Bavarian brewery, pulled off one of the best limited-offer upsell email examples. The brand launched a 24-hour sale and even added a timer to remind customers how much time left they had to act. 

What’s more, the “Shop Now” call to action stands out from the rest of the email, making it easy for customers to locate it and make a purchase: 

25 successful upsell email subject lines

Finding the right subject line to entice email opens is important but not always easy. If you’re not feeling up to the task, using tools like Omnisend subject line generator can help you craft a good headline.

Here are some upsell email subject lines to maximize your email’s impact:

Subject lines for product upgrades

Here are some catchy upsell email subject lines for convincing customers to upgrade their current product or subscription:

• “Upgrade Your Purchase for Added Benefits 💳”
• “Enjoy More Features When You Upgrade To Premium Version”
• “More Benefits. More Value. One Simple Upgrade🔥”
• “Upgrade Today And Experience Enhanced Performance”
• “Special Offer: Upgrade Today and Save!”

Subject lines for featuring best-sellers

To feature your best-seller products or services, consider these upsell email subject line options:

• “Our Best-Sellers You Don’t Want to Miss!💁🏼”
• “Top-Rated Products Specially Selected for You”
• “Customers Love These: We Are Sure You Will Too🛍️”
• “Don’t Miss Our Most Loved Products”
• “Shop Our Best-Sellers That’s Been Creating Buzz”

Subject lines for product stock-ups

Here are some upsell email subject lines that encourage your customers to stock up on their favorite products: 

• “Running Low on Your Favorites? Stock Up Before They Get Out Of Stock 💰”
• “It’s Time to Reorder Your Essentials”
• “Don’t Miss Out! Stock up on These Popular Items”
• “Refill Your Cart With Your Most Loved Products🛒”
• “Get It With A Click: Stock Up With a Quick Reorder”

Subject lines for seasonal offers

For seasonal offers, try using these upsell email subject lines:

• “Get Ready for Halloween With These Spooky Offers!🎃”
• “Upgrade for the Perfect (Season) Experience”
• “Exclusive Thanksgiving Upgrades Just for You😎”
• “Seasonal Favorites You Should Have Right Now”
• “Celebrate Christmas With These Sparkly Picks🎄”

Subject lines for limited offers

These limited-offer upsell email subject lines can help improve sales:

• “Blink and You’ll Miss It: Upgrade and Save Now!🤑”
• “Hurry! This Exclusive Deal Ends Soon”
• “Limited Time Deals: Special Discount on Your Upgrade”
• “Don’t Miss Out: Limited-Time Premium Offer”
• “Today Only: Save Big on Our Top Upgrade💯”

Best practices for crafting upsell emails

The line between upselling products and services and blatant exaggeration is very blurry. To ensure you don’t lose yourself at the wrong end of the pool, here are the best practices to adhere to:

1. Highlight the value

Highlighting the value of the upgrades goes beyond using catchy words. Instead, show customers how purchasing the upgrade will benefit them. Focus on tangible benefits, such as increased efficiency, access to exclusive features, cost savings over time, or an elevated user experience.

2. Personalize your message

Customers are more receptive when they feel special and not just another name on a mailing list. Use their actual name and reference their past purchases to recommend complementary goods.

Try something like, “Hello (Name), we’ve just stocked the new headphones for your PS5 at great discounts!”

3. Include a strong CTA

Never underestimate the power of a strong call to action. Don’t just tell them about a new upgrade and its benefits — finish it off by inspiring action. 

Use a CTA that’s impossible to ignore. Something urgent like “Claim your 40% Discount Available Only Today!” might work. 

4. Test and optimize

Before sending out your upsell email, test it. Based on the results, you can make the necessary changes. Go for A/B testing that lets you experiment with different lines, CTAs, images, and the time of sending.

Wrap up

The best upsell email examples can do more for your brand than other, more expensive, marketing efforts. However, to succeed in this strategy, you need to be able to balance the proper way to write upsell emails, use the appropriate subject lines, and align everything to your customers’ preferences. 

The upsell email examples we’ve outlined in this post are guides meant to point you in the right direction. So, play around with each to see what magic you can cook up.