CartSell Documentation

Getting Started

CartSell is a powerful Shopify popup upsell app designed to help you recover abandoned carts and increase your average order value (AOV) through intelligent, AI-powered product recommendations. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to get the most out of CartSell.

What is CartSell?

CartSell turns your abandoned carts into sales by displaying intelligent popup offers at strategic moments during the customer journey. Our AI analyzes customer behavior to recommend the perfect products at the perfect time.

Installation Guide

Installing CartSell is quick and straightforward. Follow these steps to get up and running:

Step-by-Step Installation

1. Visit the Shopify App Store: Search for "CartSell" or visit the direct app listing.
2. Click "Add app": You'll be redirected to authorize the app with your Shopify store.
3. Grant Permissions: CartSell needs access to your products, orders, and customer data to provide intelligent recommendations.
4. Complete Setup: The app will automatically install and you'll be redirected to the CartSell dashboard.
5. Activate Your First Popup: Use our quick-start template to launch your first popup in under 60 seconds.

Popup Setup

CartSell allows you to create multiple popup types to target different customer segments and shopping behaviors.

Popup Types

1Exit-Intent Popups

Trigger popups when customers show signs of leaving your store without purchasing. Perfect for last-minute conversions.

• Best for: High-value carts, first-time visitors, mobile shoppers
• Typical conversion rate: 8-12%
• Use case: Offer discounts, free shipping, or bundle deals

2Add-to-Cart Popups

Display complementary product suggestions immediately after a customer adds an item to their cart.

• Best for: Cross-selling, frequently bought together items
• Typical conversion rate: 15-20%
• Use case: Suggest accessories, warranties, or related products

3Time-Based Popups

Show popups after a customer has spent a specific amount of time on your site.

• Best for: Engagement offers, newsletter signups, special promotions
• Typical conversion rate: 5-8%
• Use case: First-purchase discounts, limited-time offers

4Cart Value Popups

Trigger offers based on the total value of items in the customer's cart.

• Best for: Encouraging larger purchases, free shipping thresholds
• Typical conversion rate: 10-15%
• Use case: "Add $X more for free shipping" offers

Creating Your First Popup

1. Navigate to Popups in the CartSell dashboard
2. Click Create New Popup
3. Choose a popup template or start from scratch
4. Configure your trigger rules (when to show the popup)
5. Customize the design to match your brand
6. Set up product recommendations (AI-powered or manual)
7. Preview your popup on desktop and mobile
8. Activate the popup

Customization

CartSell provides extensive customization options to ensure your popups match your brand and convert effectively.

Design Customization

• Colors: Customize background, text, button, and accent colors
• Fonts: Match your store's typography or choose from our library
• Layout: Choose from multiple popup layouts (centered, corner, fullscreen)
• Images: Upload custom images or use product images
• Animations: Select entry and exit animations
• Mobile Optimization: Separate mobile and desktop designs

Content Customization

• Headlines: Craft compelling headlines that grab attention
• Body Text: Explain your offer clearly and persuasively
• Call-to-Action: Customize button text and placement
• Discount Codes: Automatically generate or use existing codes
• Countdown Timers: Add urgency with countdown elements

Trigger Rules

Trigger rules determine when and where your popups appear. Proper trigger configuration is key to maximizing conversions without annoying customers.

Available Triggers

Behavioral Triggers

• Exit Intent: When mouse moves toward browser close button
• Add to Cart: Immediately after adding product to cart
• Scroll Depth: After scrolling X% down the page
• Time on Page: After spending X seconds on site
• Page Views: After viewing X number of pages

Conditional Triggers

• Cart Value: When cart total reaches specific amount
• Product Category: Based on products in cart
• Customer Type: New vs. returning customers
• Geographic Location: Country or region-specific
• Device Type: Desktop, mobile, or tablet
• Traffic Source: Based on referral source

Frequency Controls

Prevent popup fatigue by controlling how often visitors see your popups:

• Once per session: Show popup only once during browsing session
• Once per day: Limit to one impression per 24 hours
• Once per week: Show once every 7 days
• Custom interval: Set your own frequency rules
• Never show again: Respect dismissals permanently

AI Recommendations

CartSell's AI engine analyzes customer behavior to recommend the most relevant products automatically.

How AI Recommendations Work

1. Data Collection: AI analyzes browsing history, cart contents, and purchase patterns
2. Pattern Recognition: Machine learning identifies product relationships and preferences
3. Real-Time Selection: AI selects optimal products for each individual customer
4. Continuous Learning: System improves over time based on conversion data

Recommendation Types

• Frequently Bought Together: Products often purchased in combination
• Similar Products: Alternatives based on browsing behavior
• Complementary Items: Accessories and add-ons
• Trending Products: Popular items in your store
• Personalized Picks: Based on individual customer history

Analytics & Reporting

Track your popup performance with comprehensive analytics and make data-driven decisions.

Key Metrics

• Impressions: Number of times popups were displayed
• Conversion Rate: Percentage of impressions that resulted in action
• Revenue Generated: Total sales attributed to popups
• Average Order Value: AOV of popup-influenced orders
• Click-Through Rate: Percentage of users who clicked popup CTAs
• Dismissal Rate: How often popups are closed without action

Analytics Dashboard

Access your analytics through the CartSell dashboard:

• Real-time performance monitoring
• Popup comparison tools
• Date range filtering
• Export data to CSV
• Visual charts and graphs
• Mobile analytics breakdown

Best Practices

Maximize your results with these proven strategies from top-performing CartSell merchants.

Design Best Practices

• Keep it Simple: Use clear, concise messaging - avoid clutter
• Match Your Brand: Maintain consistent colors, fonts, and tone
• Mobile-First: Design for mobile devices first, then adapt for desktop
• Clear CTAs: Use action-oriented button text like "Claim My Discount"
• High-Quality Images: Use professional product photos
• Readable Text: Ensure sufficient contrast and font size

Timing & Triggers

• Don't Overwhelm: Limit to 1-2 active popups per visitor session
• Wait for Engagement: Let users browse for 15-30 seconds before first popup
• Respect Dismissals: Don't show the same popup multiple times
• Test Timing: A/B test different trigger timing for optimal results

Offer Strategy

• Start with 10%: 10% discount is the sweet spot for most stores
• Free Shipping Threshold: "Add $X more for free shipping" works great
• Bundle Deals: "Buy together and save" offers increase AOV
• Limited Quantity: "Only 3 left in stock" creates urgency
• Time-Limited: Countdown timers boost conversion rates

A/B Testing

• Test different discount percentages (5%, 10%, 15%)
• Try various headline approaches
• Compare popup layouts and designs
• Test different trigger timings
• Experiment with offer types

Troubleshooting

Common issues and their solutions:

Popup Not Displaying

• Check Popup Status: Ensure popup is active in dashboard
• Verify Triggers: Confirm trigger conditions are met
• Clear Cache: Clear browser cache and cookies
• Check Frequency Settings: You may have already seen the popup
• Theme Compatibility: Ensure your theme is compatible

Popup Displaying Incorrectly

• Browser Compatibility: Test in different browsers
• Mobile Issues: Check mobile-specific settings
• CSS Conflicts: Contact support for theme-specific fixes
• Image Sizes: Ensure images are optimized and correct dimensions

Analytics Not Tracking

• Wait 24 Hours: Analytics may take time to populate
• Check Date Range: Ensure correct date range selected
• Verify Installation: Confirm app is properly installed
• Ad Blockers: Some ad blockers may interfere with tracking

Advanced Features

Unlock even more power with CartSell's advanced capabilities designed for experienced merchants.

A/B Testing & Optimization

Test different popup variations to find what works best for your audience:

• Split Testing: Create multiple versions of your popup and automatically split traffic
• Automatic Winner Selection: System automatically promotes best-performing variant
• Multi-variate Testing: Test multiple elements simultaneously (headline, image, offer)
• Statistical Significance: Built-in analytics ensure reliable test results

Advanced Segmentation

Target specific customer groups with precision:

• Customer Tags: Target based on Shopify customer tags and segments
• Purchase History: Show different offers to first-time vs. repeat customers
• Cart Contents: Trigger specific popups based on products in cart
• Lifetime Value: Segment by customer lifetime value (CLV)
• Weather Targeting: Show seasonal offers based on local weather

Integration with Other Apps

CartSell works seamlessly with your favorite Shopify apps:

• Email Marketing: Klaviyo, Mailchimp, Omnisend integration
• Reviews Apps: Judge.me, Yotpo, Loox compatibility
• Loyalty Programs: Smile.io, LoyaltyLion integration
• Subscription Apps: Recharge, Bold Subscriptions support
• Inventory Management: Sync with stock levels for urgency messaging

Theme Integration

CartSell automatically integrates with all Shopify themes using App Embed technology. No manual code installation required!

• Compatible with: All Shopify 2.0 themes and most legacy themes
• No code required: Seamless installation through Shopify admin
• Page speed optimized: Lightweight code that doesn't slow down your store
• Mobile responsive: Automatically adapts to all screen sizes

Custom CSS Styling

For brands with specific design requirements, use custom CSS to perfectly match your store's aesthetic:

• Access custom CSS editor in popup settings
• Override default styles with your brand guidelines
• Preview changes in real-time
• Save custom templates for reuse