How to set up BOGO on Shopify (The 2025 Guide)
|
Merchants can implement a BOGO promotion, simple or complex, in Shopify via two main channels: by leveraging Shopify's built-in "Buy X Get Y" discount feature for straightforward offers or by adding a specific Shopify BOGO app for the more advanced, automated promotions. It really is just a matter of how complex the offer and customer experience ought to be. |
Introduction:
Buy One, Get One. It sounds so simple, doesn't it? But that little offer contains a lot of value. In my experience, I have seen it save struggling product launches, eliminate thousands of units of stagnant inventory over a weekend, and repeatedly increase a store’s Average Order Value (AOV) by twenty to thirty percent.
But here’s the thing: setting up a truly effective BOGO campaign is more than just flipping a switch in your Shopify admin. It’s an art and a science. You're here because you want to know how to set up BOGO on Shopify, but I'm going to do you one better. By the end of this guide—and I mean this sincerely—you will be a BOGO grandmaster.
Why does your Shopify store need a BOGO Strategy?
|
BOGO promotions tap into powerful psychology: people love getting something “free,” fear missing out, and feel more loyal when they’re gifted. BOGO increases perceived value, boosts AOV, clears inventory without hurting your brand, and helps launch new products with low risk. Compared to discounts, it drives stronger emotional response and better strategic outcomes for your Shopify store. |
The Irresistible Psychology Behind BOGO Promotions
BOGO works because it taps deep into buyer psychology. The word "free" instantly boosts perceived value, making a deal feel like a win - not just a discount. Add urgency (FOMO), a sense of generosity (reciprocity), and reduced guilt from spending, and you’ve got a promotion that drives action and builds lasting loyalty.
1. The "Power of Free" & Perceived Value

“...People will wait in line for absurdly long times to get something for free. Free is one of the most powerful ways to trigger behavior….”
_ Predictably Irrational - Dan Ariely_
Think about it:
- Offer A: "Buy one chocolate bar, get a second one for 50% off." (Total cost for two $2 bars = $3)
- Offer B: "All chocolate bars are 25% off." (Total cost for two $2 bars = $3)
The cost is the same, but Offer A feels better. Why? Getting something “FREE” creates a stronger perceived value than saving 50%. Your customer can think, "I'm getting a whole chocolate bar for FREE!"- not just a discount.
BOGO transforms a standard purchase into a victory, a smart find, a win.
2. Greed and the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)
The urgency of “limited-time offers” boosts sales significantly.

Often, a customer might think, “I don’t know if I need two right now, but this offer is too good to miss.” This fear of regret is a strong factor for unconfident buyers. From a strong motivational standpoint, most people would prefer to risk buying now and having surplus product, instead of facing the chance of a good offer disappearing in the future.
3. The Principle of Reciprocity
This trigger is unnoticeable, but very effective. The principle of reciprocity emphasizes the psychological need to reciprocate a gesture when someone is kind to us.

In a BOGO deal, giving a “free” item feels like a gift - prompting customers to return the favor. They feel better about the purchase, are more likely to come back, leave a review, or share the deal. It’s not just a sale - it builds goodwill and loyalty.
4. Reduced "Pain of Paying"

The slight "pain of paying" that comes with spending money is triggered by each purchase. By concentrating on the benefit, BOGO deals lessen this suffering. The free item dulls financial caution by activating reward centers in the brain. More justification for the purchase makes it simpler to click "Complete Purchase."
Core Business Goals Achieved with BOGO
|
BOGO promotions don’t just drive clicks—they solve real business problems. They help clear old inventory without hurting your brand, increase average order value by nudging customers to buy more, and de-risk product launches with zero-pressure trials. Best of all, they’re a great way to reward loyal customers and keep them coming back. |
Understanding the psychology is great, but how does this translate into tangible results for your business? A smart BOGO strategy can be a silver bullet for several common eCommerce challenges.
1. The Ultimate Inventory Clearance Tactic
Dead stock ties up capital and clutters your warehouse. Instead of slashing prices and hurting your brand, use BOGO to clear it smartly..
A BOGO deal is the most elegant way to solve this.
Instead of a desperate-looking "70% Off" clearance sale that can devalue your brand, you can frame it as an exciting, high-value offer.
- Scenario: You have 500 units of a winter-themed scented candle, and it's now April.
- The BOGO Solution: Run a "Buy any of our new Spring Collection candles, get a Winter Wonderland candle FREE!" campaign.
Result: Clears old stock while boosting full-price sales—without devaluing your brand.
2. The Easiest Way to Increase Average Order Value (AOV)
In an article named 10+ Strategies to Increase the Average Order Value (AOV) for Shopify Stores, the Average Order Value is one of the most critical metrics for any eCommerce store.

Increasing it means you're making more money from the same number of customers, which directly boosts your profitability. BOGO is a natural AOV booster.
Let’s say a customer comes to your store intending to buy $30 t-shirt.
- Without BOGO: They buy one shirt. Your AOV is $30.
- With BOGO: The customer sees an offer: "Buy one t-shirt, get the second one at 50% off." They decided to add a second shirt to the cart. Their gross total now stands at $45.
So, the very order's value just got a 50% uplift! The key here is the incentive, making the customer buy more than they originally intended. In their psyche, they transition from "I need one" to "I can get two for a great price." A primary way to improve AOV is with a BOGO discount.
3. A Low-Risk Method for Introducing New Products
I think launching a new product is always a gamble. Will customers like it? Will they be willing to pay for it? A BOGO deal can significantly de-risk your new product launch.
-
Scenario: You're launching a new, untested flavor of protein powder.

- The BOGO Solution: "Buy a tub of our bestselling Chocolate protein powder, get a FREE sample-size tub of our new Strawberry Cheesecake flavor!"
Result: Customers try it risk-free; you get feedback and buzz—without relying on unproven appeal.
4. A Powerful Way to Reward Loyal Customers
Your existing customers are your goldmine. They're cheaper to market to and tend to spend more than new customers. Using BOGO as a reward mechanism can supercharge that loyalty.
You can create customer-segment-specific BOGO deals:
- Email your VIP customers a unique code: "As a thank you for being a top customer, here's an exclusive BOGO offer just for you!"
- Create an offer for customers who have spent over a certain amount in your store.
This makes them feel liked, seen, & prized. It's not just a broad ad; it's a warm thank you. This builds their bond to your brand. It makes them come back time after time.
Quick Comparison: BOGO vs. Percentage Discounts
To really drive the point home, let's compare BOGO with a standard percentage-off discount head-to-head. While both have their place, understanding their distinct impacts is crucial for effective strategic promotion planning.
|
Feature |
BOGO (Buy One, Get One Free) |
Standard Discount (e.g., 50% Off) |
|
Perceived Value |
Extremely High. The word "FREE" triggers a powerful, positive emotional response. The customer focuses on the item they are gaining, not the money they are saving. |
Moderate to High. Customers understand the value, but it's a logical calculation, not an emotional win. It can sometimes feel less exciting or novel. |
|
Impact on AOV |
Directly Increases AOV. The structure inherently requires customers to add more items to their cart to unlock the deal, pushing the total order value up. |
Can Decrease AOV. If a customer intends to buy two items, a site-wide discount simply lowers the total revenue from that sale without encouraging an additional purchase. |
|
Inventory Impact |
Excellent for Moving Specific SKUs. Perfect for clearing overstocked items, end-of-life products, or slow-moving variants by pairing them with bestsellers. |
General and Unfocused. A site-wide discount moves all products, including your bestsellers, at a lower margin. It doesn't help you target specific inventory problems. |
|
Brand Perception |
It can be perceived as a high-value, exciting event. It feels like a generous gift from the brand. |
It can sometimes lead to brand dilution if used too frequently. Customers may start waiting for sales, devaluing your full-priced offerings. |
|
Ideal Use Case |
Increasing cart size, clearing specific stock, launching new products, and creating exciting marketing campaigns. |
Driving overall traffic, rewarding all customers during a major holiday, or when a simple, easy-to-understand offer is needed. |
As you can see, while a simple discount has its purpose, BOGO is a far more strategic and psychologically potent tool for achieving specific business objectives.
What are common types of BOGO Deals?
|
Six common types of BOGO deals:
|
Picking the best BOGO for your goal is key. It boosts profit & hits your target. Let's lay out the top types I've tried with my folks year after year.
1. Buy One, Get One Free (BOGOF): The Classic Powerhouse

This is the one everyone knows and loves.
Customer adds two qualifying items to the cart, and the price of one is automatically deducted at checkout.
When a customer adds two items, one is automatically free- simple and irresistible. It’s perfect for driving traffic, clearing low-cost stock, and attracting new buyers.
My Pro Tip: Be careful with your margins! BOGOF is essentially a 50% discount on a pair of items. Make sure your numbers work before launching. Always calculate your break-even point first.
Nowadays, you can seek various Shopify free gift tools to create a sale-gravitating BOGOF section.
2. Buy One, Get One at a Discount (e.g., BOGO 50% Off)
This is the more sustainable and often more profitable cousin of the classic BOGOF. Instead of getting the second item free, the customer gets it at a significant discount, like 25%, 40%, or 50% off.

-
Best for: Higher-cost products, longer promos, or when full BOGOF is too costly.
-
My Pro Tip: Test different discount percentages! Sometimes a BOGO 40% off can perform nearly as well as a BOGO 50% off, but that extra 10% goes straight to your bottom line. Don't just default to 50%.
3. Buy X, Get Y (BXGY): The Scalable AOV Booster
This is where BOGO becomes incredibly flexible. Instead of a simple 1-for-1 deal, you can create tiered offers like "Buy 2, Get 1 Free," "Buy 3, Get 1 at 50% Off," or even "Buy 4, Get 2 Free."

- How it Works: The customer must purchase a specific quantity of items (X) to receive another quantity of items (Y) for free or at a discount.
- Best For: Everyday items like coffee, socks, or crafts—anything people buy in multiples.
- My Pro Tip: Clarity is king. "Buy 2, Get 1 Free" is instantly understandable. But "Buy 7, Get 3 at 43% off" is confusing and will kill your conversion rate.
4. BOGO with a Minimum Purchase Threshold
This BOGO unlocks after the cart hits a set value (e.g., “Spend $100, get a free gift”). It motivates shoppers to add more to reach the goal.
- Best For: Lifting AOV, clearing giftable items, or running “free gift with purchase” promos.
- My Pro Tip: Set the threshold strategically. The ideal threshold should be about 15-20% higher than your current average order value. If your AOV is $80, setting the threshold at $100 is a perfect target to nudge customers to spend a little more.
5. Conditional BOGO (Targeted & Exclusive)
This isn't about the type of deal but who can get it. A conditional BOGO is restricted to a specific customer segment.
- How it Works: The deal is just for some. You need to be a "VIP," be on a list, or buy a lot from us.
- Psychological Hook: It's all about being "one of the few" & being seen. It lets the buyer feel big & key, which makes them stick with us. It is not an open sale; it is a gift just for them.
-
Best For:
- Customer Retention & Loyalty: The ultimate way to say "thank you" to your best customers.
- Re-engagement Campaigns: Target customers who haven't purchased in a while with an exclusive BOGO to win them back.
- Preventing Discount Abuse: By restricting the offer, you ensure it's not being shared widely on coupon sites, protecting its exclusivity and your margins.
- My Pro Tip: Use Shopify's customer segmentation or your email marketing platform to create these targeted lists. The messaging should always emphasize the exclusivity: "An Exclusive Offer, Just For You."
6. Value Discount BOGO (Fixed Dollar Amount Off)
This is a less common but sometimes useful variation where the customer gets a fixed dollar amount off the second item instead of a percentage. For example, "Buy one pair of jeans, get a second pair for $20 off."
- Best For: Collections with mixed prices or when you want a bold, easy-to-see offer.
- My Pro Tip: This works best when the fixed discount represents a substantial saving on the lowest-priced item in the eligible collection. A "$20 off" deal on a 25-item is amazing. A 25-item is amazing. 20 off" deal on a $150 item is less impressive. Context matters.
How to Set Up BOGO with Shopify's Native Discounts?
|
Shopify’s built-in discount tool lets you create basic BOGO deals—no app needed. Just head to Discounts in your admin, click Create Discount, and choose Buy X Get Y |
Alright, let's get our hands dirty. The good news is that Shopify has a built-in discount feature that allows you to create basic BOGO deals without needing any apps. This is the perfect starting point for most merchants.
Imagine we run a coffee store called "Rose's Roasts," and we want to run a classic "Buy one bag of our House Blend coffee, get a second bag free" promotion.
Step 1: Navigate to the Discounts Section
1- From your Shopify Admin dashboard, look at the left-hand navigation menu.

2- Click on Discounts. This is your command center for all promotions.
Step 2: Create a New Discount
1- In the top right corner of the Discounts page, you'll see a green button that says Create discount. Click it.

You'll be presented with several discount types. For a BOGO deal, you want to select Buy X get Y. This is Shopify’s language for BOGO-style offers.

Step 3: Configure the "Customer Buys" Condition
This is the "Buy X" part of the equation. You're telling Shopify what the customer must have in their cart to qualify for the deal.
1- Minimum quantity of items: Since our offer is "Buy One," we'll set this to 1.
2- Any items from: Here, you specify which product(s) the customer must buy. Click Browse. A window comes up, allowing you to choose from Specific products or Specific collections.

- For our example, we'll choose Specific products and then search for and select our "House Blend" coffee. Click Add.
- Self-Correction/Nuance: If your offer was "Buy any bag of our Dark Roasts collection," you would choose Specific collections here instead. This is how you control the scope of your offer.
Step 4: Configure the "Customer Gets" Reward
This is the "Get Y" part- the reward! You're telling Shopify what the customer receives for free (or at a discount).

- The customer must also add the item(s) to their cart to get the discount. This is a CRUCIAL checkbox. In most cases, you'll want to leave this checked. It means the customer has to physically add the second "free" bag of coffee to their cart for the discount to apply. If you uncheck it, the discount won't work. This is a common point of confusion and a major limitation of the native tool, which we'll discuss later.
- Quantity: Here, we'll set this to 1 because the offer is "Get One Free."
- Any items from: Again, click Browse and select the product the customer gets for free. In our case, it's the same "House Blend" coffee.
- At a discount: This is where you set the reward. You have three options:
- Percentage: For a BOGO 50% off deal, you'd enter 50 here.
- Free: For our classic BOGOF, we select this option.
-
Amount off each: For a fixed-value discount.
We'll select Free.
Step 5: Set Maximum Uses (Optional but Recommended)
Under the "Customer gets" section, you'll see a checkbox for Set a maximum number of uses per order. If you want the offer to be strictly "Buy 1, Get 1," you should check this box and set the number to 1.
- Why is this important? If you don't check this, a customer could add 4 bags to their cart and get 2 of them for free. If you want a "Buy 2, Get 2" offer, that's great! But if you only intended to give away one, this setting is your safeguard.
Step 6: Define Customer Eligibility
Who can use this discount? You have granular control here.
- All customers: The default and most common setting.
- Specific customer segments, where you can create those exclusive, conditional BOGO deals we talked about. You can pick folks by what they bought, where they live, if they get your emails, & more.
- Specific customers: You can even target individuals by searching for their names or emails.
For our public sale, we'll leave it for all customers.
Step 7: Define Usage Limits
This section controls the overall constraints of your discount.
- Limit number of times this discount can be used in total: Useful for flash sales, e.g., "The first 100 customers get this deal!"
- Limit to one use per customer: A very important setting. This prevents the same customer from coming back and repeatedly using the BOGO deal across multiple orders. I almost always recommend checking this box to protect the offer's value.
Step 8: Set the Active Dates

Never, ever run an open-ended BOGO. Urgency is your best friend.
- Set a Start date and start time.
- Crucially, set an End date and End time. This creates the FOMO that drives action. A 3-day weekend sale is a classic for a reason.
Step 9: Save and Promote!
- Review everything on the Summary panel on the right. It gives you a plain-English overview of the deal you've created. Make sure it matches your intention.
- Click Save discount.
Congratulations! You've just created a native BOGO discount on Shopify. Now, the discount is live, but it won't apply itself magically. The customer needs to know about it and add both items to their cart. This is where your marketing comes in.
How to Set Up BOGO with Shopify Apps?
|
Shopify’s native discount tool works for basic BOGO, but it lacks flexibility- no tiered offers, no upsell messages, and no "cheapest item free" logic. That’s where BOGO apps shine. Top BOGO Shopify Apps for 2025:
|
While the native tool is a great starting point, I need to be honest with you about its limitations. I've seen countless merchants get frustrated by these, so it's better to know them up front.
- No Tiered or Scalable Offers: The native tool cannot handle dynamic BXGY offers like "Buy 2, Get 1 Free... Buy 4, Get 2 Free... Buy 6, Get 3 Free" in a single rule. You would have to create separate, complex discount codes, which is a nightmare to manage and communicate.
- Discount Stacking Issues: By default, Shopify only allows one discount code per order. If a customer has a BOGO deal in their cart, they can't also use their 10% off welcome coupon. This can lead to frustration at checkout. While Shopify is rolling out more flexible stacking options, it's often complex to configure and doesn't cover all scenarios.
- Lack of Merchandising & UI: The native tool creates the logic for the discount, but it doesn't help you sell it. There are no built-in banners, progress bars ("You're $10 away from a free gift!"), or in-cart upsell messages. You're left to your own devices to communicate the offer visually.
- Complexity with "Cheapest Item Free": Setting up a "Buy any two t-shirts, get the cheapest one free" is possible, but can be clunky. The logic is less intuitive than what a dedicated app can provide.
These limitations are precisely why a healthy ecosystem of BOGO and upsell apps exists on the Shopify App Store. When you find yourself wanting to do more than the native tool allows, it's time to level up.
A Curated List of Top-Tier BOGO Apps for 2025
The Shopify App Store is vast, and it can be overwhelming. As part of my job at EcomRise, I live and breathe this stuff. Here are a few of the most reputable and powerful BOGO apps that I consistently see delivering results for merchants.
1- EcomRise Upsell & Bundle:

Okay, a bit of self-promotion here, but I genuinely believe in our product. We designed EcomRise not just for BOGO, but as a full-suite AOV optimization tool. It handles complex BOGO, BXGY, tiered discounts, and free gifts with purchase, all with automatic cart addition and beautiful, customizable in-cart messaging. It's built to be an all-in-one solution for boosting your store's revenue per visitor.
2- BOGO+ by WizzCommerce (aka Discos Smart BOGO Cart Upsell):

This is a very popular and well-regarded app that specializes in BOGO and volume discounts. It’s known for its clean interface and ability to handle tiered offers that scale automatically (e.g., Buy 2 Get 1, Buy 4 Get 2). It's a strong contender if you're looking for a dedicated BOGO specialist.
3- Bundle, Product & Upsell Kit:

This app is more of a jack-of-all-trades, offering bundling, BOGO, and volume discounts. If you're looking to implement several types of promotions, it can be a good value.
How to Choose the Right BOGO App for Your Store
|
The key criteria for choosing an app are:
|
So, how do you pick from the list? Don't just go by star ratings. Here’s the checklist I give to my clients:
1- Core Feature Check: Does the app do exactly what you need?
- BOGO / BXGY: Can it handle the specific types of deals you want to run?
- Automatic Cart Addition: Does it automatically add the free/discounted item?
- Tiered/Volume Discounts: Can it handle scalable "Buy More, Save More" offers?
- Free Gift with Purchase: Can you set up offers based on cart value (e.g., "Spend $100, get a free gift")?
2- User Interface & Ease of Use: Log into a demo store or start a free trial.
- Is the app's dashboard intuitive?
- Can you figure out how to create a campaign without pulling your hair out?
A powerful app is useless if it's too complicated to use.
3- Customization & Branding: There is a question you need to answer:
- Can you customize the look and feel of the front-end widgets (banners, popups, in-cart messages) to match your store's branding?
You don't want a generic-looking widget that cheapens your site's aesthetic.
4- Performance & Site Speed: The fastest and easiest method is reading recent reviews ,and paying close attention to any mentions of the app slowing down the store.

Image source: Hextom: Upsell Sales Boost
A good app should be built with performance in mind and load asynchronously so it doesn't impact your Core Web Vitals.
5- Support Quality: Things can go wrong. How good is their support? Look for apps that offer live chat or fast email support. Check the reviews for comments on how helpful and responsive the support team is.

Image source: EcomRise: Upsell & Bundles
This is a lifesaver when you're in the middle of a big sale.
6- Pricing & Value: Look at the pricing tiers - the last factor in this section.
- Do they make sense for your store's size and order volume?
Some apps ask for a flat monthly fee, while others take a percentage of the revenue they generate. Calculate what makes the most financial sense for you. An app that costs $29/month but increases your AOV by 15% is paying for itself many times over.
Investing in the right app is investing in a smoother customer experience and a higher AOV. It's the point where you stop just offering deals and start engineering profitability.
Tips to promote BOGO on a Shopify store effectively
|
The key tactics for promoting a BOGO deal effectively are:
|
Over my career, I've seen merchants launch a BOGO deal, send one email, and then wonder why it flopped. You need a multi-channel promotion strategy to build hype and drive urgency. Here are the tried-and-true tactics I use to turn a BOGO deal into a can't-miss event.
1. Create a Dedicated BOGO Landing Page
Don't just send traffic to your homepage or a generic collection page. Create a dedicated landing page that serves as the central hub for your BOGO event. This page has one job: to explain the offer clearly and get people to start shopping.
Essential elements of a high-converting BOGO landing page:
Source: EcomRise BOGO deal in landing page built by EComposer
- First, of course, a BOGO deal
- A Killer Headline: Something like "Our Biggest BOGO Sale of the Year is Here!" or "Buy One, Get One Free on All Your Favorites."
- Clear Explanation: A simple, concise explanation of how the deal works. Use icons and short text, e.g., "1. Add two qualifying items to your cart. 2. The discount applies automatically. 3. Enjoy!"
- Showcase the Products: Display all the eligible products in a clean, attractive grid. If it's a "Buy X, Get Y" deal, show both the "X" and "Y" products.
- Urgency & Scarcity: This is non-negotiable. Add a prominent countdown timer. "Sale Ends In: 2 Days, 11 Hours, 45 Minutes." If stock is limited, add messaging like "Limited quantities available!"
- Social Proof: Include customer testimonials or reviews for the products on sale. "See why everyone loves our House Blend coffee!"
- A Clear Call-to-Action (CTA): Big, bold buttons that say "Shop The BOGO Sale Now" or "Claim My Free Item."
This landing page becomes the single destination you link to from all your other marketing channels, creating a cohesive and focused customer journey. So what are you waiting for?
Learn how to create high-converting landing pages now
2. Use Announcement Bars and Eye-Catching Banners
Your BOGO offer should be the first thing a visitor sees, no matter what page they land on.
I would suggest you build up a promotive announcement bar and/ or BOGO hero banner for your homepage. Here are pro tips:
- Announcement Bar (Hello Bar): Use your theme's built-in announcement bar at the very top of your site. Make it a contrasting color and have it link directly to your BOGO landing page. The text should be short and punchy: "BOGO FREE Sitewide! Click Here to Shop the Sale." I would love to attach the detailed guide on How to show the Announcement Bar on Shopify store here.
- Homepage Hero Banner: Your main homepage banner should be 100% dedicated to the BOGO sale during the promotion. Use high-quality imagery, a strong headline, and a clear CTA button. This is your most valuable real estate; use it wisely.
3. Leverage Social Media and Online Communities
Your social channels are perfect for building hype before the sale and driving traffic during it. I would recommend a brief on BOGO deal promotion plan on Social media below:
- Teaser Campaign (2-3 days before): Post "Something big is coming..." or "Get ready... Our biggest sale of the season drops on Friday." This builds anticipation.
-
Launch Day Blitz: On the day the sale starts, post across all your platforms (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X). Use a mix of formats:
- Instagram/Facebook Stories: Use the countdown sticker. Create polls ("Which product are you hoping to snag in our BOGO sale?").
- Reels/TikToks: Create short, fun videos showcasing the products. A video of you packing a BOGO order can be surprisingly effective.
- Carousel Posts: Show multiple products that are part of the deal.
- Run Paid Ads: Create a targeted ad campaign on Facebook and Instagram, driving traffic directly to your BOGO landing page. You can target past website visitors, people who have engaged with your page, or lookalike audiences.
- Online Communities: If you're active in relevant Facebook Groups or on Reddit, share the deal (if the group's rules permit it). Frame it as a special offer for the community, not just a spammy link.
4. Use Popups to Highlight BOGO Offers (Sparingly!)
Pop-ups can be effective, but use them with caution to avoid being annoying.
-
Exit-Intent Popups: When a user supposes to leave your site, trigger a pop-up that reminds them of the BOGO offer. "Wait! Don't Miss Out on Our Buy One, Get One Free Event!" This can be a powerful way to recapture potentially lost sales.
-
On-Arrival Popups: You can use a pop-up when a visitor first arrives, but I recommend making it easy to close and only showing it once per user.
5. Run a Strategic Email Marketing Campaign
I always say with my team: “Your email list- your most valuable asset”.
To promote your BOGO deal efficiently, a well-planned email sequence is essential. I can suggest a brief scenario:
- Email 1: The Teaser (2 days before): Subject Line: "Something special is coming..." Hint at a big sale without revealing the details.
- Email 2: The Launch (Sale Day, Morning): Subject Line: "It's Here! Our BOGO FREE Sale is LIVE!" Announce the sale, explain the offer clearly, and have a huge CTA button that links to the landing page.
- Email 3: The Reminder / Social Proof (Day 2): Subject Line: "Here's What You're Missing..." Highlight best-selling BOGO pairs, include a customer testimonial, and remind them that the sale is ongoing.
- Email 4: The "Last Chance" (Final Day, 6 hours before end): Subject Line: "ENDING TONIGHT: BOGO FREE Sale!" This is your urgency email. Use phrases like "Final hours," "Don't miss out," and "Last chance." This email almost always has the highest conversion rate of the sequence.
When being a Shopify merchant, you have a chance to approach the best email marketing platforms. Integrating them into your shop, promoting your BOGO deal to loyal customer segments now is just a breeze.
6. Collaborate with Influencers
Leverage the trust that influencers have with their audience. That’s what Metro Detroit and lots of brands worldwide do to promote their BOGO deal.

Especially, there is a rocketing growth in Shoppertainment (combining Shopper and Entertainment), your brand can go viral fast when collaborating with KOL, and KOC.
So what do you need to do?
- Give them the BOGO deal along with your products.
- Ask them to create content: Have them do an unboxing or a "how I use it" video featuring the products. Their authentic endorsement is far more powerful than a standard ad.
- Run a Takeover: Let an influencer take over your Instagram Stories for a day to promote the sale.
7. Bundle Complementary Products in Your Messaging
Even if your BOGO is on a single product, you can use your marketing to suggest pairings. This is a subtle way to increase AOV with BOGO.

For Example: If you're running a "Buy one shampoo, get one free" deal, your marketing can say, "The perfect time to stock up on our best-selling shampoo! Pairs perfectly with our Argan Oil Conditioner." You're planting the seed for them to buy the non-discounted conditioner as well.
8. Create Urgency with Limited-Time Offers (The Golden Rule)
I've mentioned this throughout, but it deserves its own point because it is the single most important promotional tactic. Your BOGO deal must have a clear and credible end date.
A perpetual BOGO offer isn't an "offer" at all; it's just your new price. The magic happens when customers feel they might lose the opportunity. Use countdown timers on your site, in your emails, and in your social posts. This psychological pressure is what converts "I'll think about it" into "I need to buy this now."
By combining a fantastic offer with a robust, multi-channel promotional strategy, you create an unstoppable force that drives traffic, creates excitement, and, most importantly, generates sales.
That’s a wrap: Your Shopify BOGO Masterclass is Complete.
And there we have it. We've journeyed from the deep-seated psychology that makes BOGO so irresistible, all the way to the nitty-gritty of promotion and execution. If you've made it this far, you now know more about crafting a successful BOGO strategy than 95% of merchants out there.
Here, we built our EcomRise Upsell & Bundle app for merchants just like you—ambitious store owners who see the potential and want the best tools to achieve it.
The next time you're thinking about running a sale, don't just default to a boring "20% Off" banner. Think strategically. Think psychologically. Think BOGO. Now go make some sales. You've got this.




