The upsell contributes to profit margin dramatically because you are offering to a customer who is already planning to buy something from you, so there is no additional marketing or overhead expense.

Upselling does not have to be pushy, it’s all about finding out how to provide a better solution for your customer once you understand their needs.  Give them more of what they want in a way to provide excellent service.

You can make the upgrade/upsell before the transaction is complete or after. If you have shopped at amazon you have noticed that they offer you an upsell with every transaction by showing you the books that other people bought when buying the book you are about to purchase.

Think about your business and the products you have that can be offered as an upsell in addition to the original purchase.

It can be a larger quantity for a discount “family sized”. Higher quality, more advanced, bigger engine, more power, more sophisticated, additional coaching, … anything that compliments the original item they intended to purchase can be bundled and offered.

If you don’t know what your customers would like … ask them, conduct a survey, try a few things and let them vote with their wallet.

One example that comes to my mind is Turbox Tax.  I just did my taxes and they offer four or five versions, starting with the free version all the way up to the super deluxe audit proof version.  I choose the mid-grade version and I appreciate the choices they offer.

I could go on and on about this, but I think you are getting the picture.  I know this works because all big successful businesses are all doing it.  Think about all of your products and help your customers get more of what they want by offering a bonus upsell, a volume discount, a loyalty repeat business discount, a bundled discount, discount for longer subscription, …

Have fun, provide a good service, and your customers will love you for it!