Did you know nearly half of online shoppers buy things they didn’t plan to?
49% of consumers say they’ve purchased a product they didn’t intend to after receiving a personalized recommendation.
That’s the power of showing people exactly what they want, sometimes before they even know they want it.
Personalized product recommendations don’t just improve the shopping experience—they drive sales and keep customers coming back.
Big brands like Amazon and Netflix have mastered this, but here’s the good news: businesses of any size can use similar strategies to see great results.
In this blog, I’ll share eight incredible product recommendation examples and how you can use them to engage your customers and grow your business.
So, let’s go!
What Are Product Recommendations?
Product recommendations are basically personalized suggestions that help you show customers exactly what they’re looking for based on data like browsing habits, purchase history, or preferences that match similar shoppers.
For example, if a customer buys a smartphone, you might recommend a compatible phone case or a screen protector.
These recommendations save time for your customers by pointing them directly to products they’re most likely to buy.
Personalization taps into a simple truth: people love feeling understood.
When you show recommendations that fit their interests, it’s more than just a suggestion—it’s a reason to shop with you again.
Now that you know what product recommendations are, let’s talk about why they’re so important for your business.
Why Are Product Recommendations Essential for Customer Engagement?
When you shop online, the options can be overwhelming. Product recommendations cut through the noise by showing your customers exactly what they need—or didn’t know they needed.
Here’s how product recommendations directly impact your store:
- Make shopping easier: When you suggest products that match your customer’s needs, they don’t have to waste time hunting for them. In fact, 91% of shoppers say they prefer brands that personalize their shopping experience.
- Help with decision-making: Too many choices can overwhelm shoppers. By showing them relevant suggestions—like alternatives to out-of-stock items—you’re guiding them to a quick, confident decision.
- Increase order value: Recommendations like “Frequently Bought Together” or “Customers Also Bought” naturally encourage people to add more to their cart.
- Strengthen Customer Loyalty: When your recommendations feel personalized, customers notice. It shows you understand their preferences, which helps build trust and keeps them coming back.
- Keep customers coming back: Personalized suggestions—whether through follow-ups or on your site—can increase repeat purchases by 44%, according to Invesp.
Now that you understand how product recommendations can boost your customer engagement, it’s time to get practical.
8 Incredible Product Recommendation Examples to Try in 2025
Let’s look at some proven examples you can start using in your store.
1. Frequently Bought Together – Amazon
Amazon’s “Frequently Bought Together” feature suggests complementary items, like pairing a camera with a memory card or a laptop with a protective case.
Why This Works:
By showing complementary products, it makes it easier for your customers to add more items to their carts. The result? Higher sales and more items per order.
Implementation Tips:
You can do this in your store too. When someone adds a product, suggest items that naturally go with it—like offering a phone case when a customer buys a smartphone. Tools and plugins can automate this process for you, so you don’t have to do it manually.
2. Top Rated Products – Walmart
Walmart features “Top Rated” products, particularly in categories like beauty or clothing, where customer ratings and reviews can be a deciding factor for a purchase.
Why This Works:
Customers trust the opinions of others. When you feature top-rated products, it builds trust and helps people feel more confident in their purchasing decisions.
Implementation Tips:
You can feature your best-rated products on your homepage or product pages.
Make it easy for customers to find these popular items by using a “Top Rated” section or filter. Keep it updated to highlight the most recent high reviews.
3. Out of Stock Product Alternatives – Best Buy
Best Buy does this well by suggesting alternatives when a product you want is unavailable. If an item goes out of stock, they display similar products that match in style or price.
Why This Works:
This approach ensures that customers can still find something they like, preventing them from bouncing off your site. By offering alternatives, you increase the likelihood of a purchase, even when the original product isn’t available.
Implementation Tips:
When an item is out of stock, it automatically shows alternative products that are similar in features or price.
For example, if a customer is browsing a red dress that’s out of stock, you could display other red dresses or similar styles in different colors or sizes.
Alternatively, sites like Amazon show “similar items” or “customers also viewed” options when a product is unavailable. Implementing this on your site can keep customers engaged and help you retain sales.
4. Best Selling Products From The Store – ETSY
ETSY does this effectively by featuring its best-selling products prominently on its site. By making these products easy to find, they guide customers toward popular items that have already been vetted by others.
Why This Works:
People often trust the “wisdom of the crowd.” When you showcase top-selling products, you reassure customers that others have found them valuable, increasing their confidence in making a purchase.
Implementation Tips:
Create a dedicated section for best-selling products on your homepage or within your product categories.
For example, you could have a “Top Picks” section that shows your store’s best-sellers. Another option is to add a “Trending Now” section. This makes it easy for customers to find products they can trust and boosts the chance of a sale.
5. The New Arrivals On The Store- ASOS
ASOS does a great job in its product recommendation system by featuring its “Latest Arrivals” in the fashion space. This section highlights the latest products, encouraging customers to check out what’s new and trendy.
Why This Works:
New arrivals keep your store dynamic and exciting. Customers are more likely to return to see what’s new, and it gives them a reason to keep browsing your site regularly.
Implementation Tips:
Make sure to highlight new arrivals on your homepage or in category pages to grab attention.
For example, Shopify stores often have a “New Arrivals” banner or section at the top of their homepage to showcase the latest products.
You could also implement a similar layout where new products are grouped together in a visible, easily accessible part of your website. This keeps your store fresh and entices customers to check out new inventory regularly.
6. Popular Products That Are On Sale- Target
Target is a pro at this. They showcase popular products on sale, creating a sense of urgency that pushes customers to make faster decisions.
Why This Works:
When you combine discounts with products that people already love, you make it hard for customers to resist. They feel like they’re getting a great deal, which encourages immediate purchases.
Implementation Tips:
Showcase a dedicated section that highlights popular products currently on sale.
For example, during Christmas sales, you could feature discounted items like festive decorations, gift sets, and winter apparel under a “Top Deals” banner on your homepage.
7. Personalized Recommendations Based on Browsing History – Netflix
Netflix can be the best example of this since it recommends shows based on your past viewing habits. It’s all about making suggestions that feel like they were picked just for you.
Why This Works:
Personalized recommendations work because they align with what your customers have already shown interest in. By suggesting products tied to their browsing or purchase history, you eliminate guesswork for the customer and make their shopping experience smoother.
Implementation Tips:
Use tools that analyze browsing history to display personalized recommendations.
For instance, if a customer has been looking at sneakers, show them similar styles or related accessories like socks or shoe cleaners.
This approach not only increases engagement but also drives more sales by giving customers exactly what they’re looking for.
8. Product Suggestion on Checkout Pages – Petco
Petco offers related pet care items at checkout. For instance, if you’re purchasing a bag of dog food, they might suggest chew toys, treats, or dog food topper as last-minute add-ons.
Why This Works:
When customers are about to complete their purchase, relevant suggestions feel useful and encourage additional purchases, increasing your average order value (AOV).
Implementation Tips:
On your checkout page, suggest items that complement the products in the cart.
For example, if someone is buying running shoes, you could recommend a pair of socks or an anti-blister spray.
These small but practical add-ons can make the shopping experience more convenient and profitable for you
How to Implement Product Recommendations with Product Recommendation for WooCommerce
If you’re ready to boost sales and improve customer experience, Product Recommendation for WooCommerce makes it simple to put these 8 strategies into action.
And the best part is this tool is completely free to use. With its powerful features, you can easily showcase the right products to the right customers, right when they need them.
Here’s how it helps you:
Conclusion
So, it’s clear that driving more sales and keeping your customers engaged comes down to implementing smart product recommendation strategies.
Whether you’re highlighting top-rated products, suggesting alternatives for out-of-stock items, or personalizing recommendations based on browsing history, these approaches make your store more dynamic and customer-friendly.
Ready to take the next step? Product Recommendation for WooCommerce makes it easy to implement all these strategies effortlessly.
Start using it today to enhance your store and increase your sales.
FAQs
1. What are the best Product Recommendation Examples for online stores?
The best examples include personalized recommendations, top-sellers, discounted items, new arrivals, and alternatives for out-of-stock products.
2. How do Product Recommendation Examples help increase sales?
They guide customers toward relevant items, improve engagement, and encourage higher order values with tailored suggestions.
3. What tools can implement Product Recommendation Examples effectively?
Tools like Product Recommendation for WooCommerce make it easy to set up strategies like best-sellers and personalized suggestions.
4. Are Product Recommendation Examples suitable for small businesses?
Yes, they work for all store sizes by boosting customer experience and driving conversions with minimal setup.
5. Which Product Recommendation Examples work best for holiday sales?
Highlight discounted popular items, new arrivals, and gift bundles tailored to the holiday shopping season.