For musician entrepreneurs learning the Encore Client System, your focus isn’t just on crafting stellar music or teaching compelling lessons—it’s about mastering the business of your art.
One of the most impactful ways to scale your earnings is by maximizing your Average Order Value (AOV). Think of AOV as your concert encore—a strategic opportunity to wow your audience and leave them wanting (and paying for) more.
Here’s how to fine-tune your strategy with upsells, cross-sells, bundling, time-sensitive discounts, and order bumps—all perfectly in sync with the Encore Client System.
Offer Upsells and Cross-Sells: Your First Encore
Imagine you’ve just sold an online course teaching students how to compose jazz solos. That’s fantastic, but why stop there? Immediately after the sale, present an upsell like a premium video series where you demonstrate iconic solos on your Hammond B3. Or, offer a cross-sell—perhaps a workbook of jazz licks and riffs transcribed for practice.
Here’s why it works: The buyer has already said “yes” once, so they’re primed to say it again. You’re not starting from scratch; you’re building on momentum. To execute this effectively, your upsell or cross-sell must complement the initial offer, making it a natural and irresistible next step.
For example, if you’ve sold a beginner’s guide to songwriting, upsell a private consultation to critique a student’s first song, or offer a cross-sell of “50 Lyric Writing Prompts for Every Genre.” The key is to create a seamless progression where each offer builds value.
Incorporate Bundling Options: More Value, More Commitment
Think about your favorite festival pass—it’s always more tempting than single tickets because it bundles value. Use the same psychology in your offers. If you’re selling a video course on producing tracks in Logic Pro, bundle it with downloadable templates, drum samples, and a PDF checklist for mixing.
Bundling not only raises the perceived value but also simplifies the buying decision. Customers see the offer as a complete solution rather than individual pieces they need to assemble themselves. And the best part? It increases your AOV without additional sales effort.
To bundle effectively, consider grouping items that naturally work together. For example, a “Singer-Songwriter Starter Pack” might include vocal training exercises, a chord progression cheat sheet, and a beginner’s guide to lyric structure. With one purchase, your audience feels they’re getting everything they need—and more.
Introduce Limited-Time Discounts on Upsells: Strike While the Iron’s Hot
Scarcity and urgency aren’t just buzzwords but powerful tools for increasing AOV. Imagine this: someone purchases your “Compose Like Mozart” course, and right after checkout, you offer a limited-time discount for your “Baroque Counterpoint Masterclass.” A countdown timer ticks away on the screen, creating a subtle pressure to act fast.
This tactic works because humans naturally fear missing out. When you add a deadline or limited availability, the decision becomes less about hesitation and more about seizing the opportunity.
Here’s what to do: Make the upsell a perfect next step (like offering a live Q&A session on the course material) and use language emphasizing exclusivity. Phrases like “Today Only” or “Limited to the First 50 Buyers” can nudge even hesitant buyers to click.
Add Order Bumps: The Small But Mighty Upgrade
Sometimes, the simplest strategies make the biggest impact. An order bump is a small additional offer presented on the checkout page, often with a single checkbox to add it. For musician entrepreneurs, this could be a set of digital practice logs for students purchasing your music lessons or a collection of sheet music arrangements for buyers of your songwriting guide.
Why does this work? It’s low commitment and high relevance. The customer doesn’t have to leave the checkout page, and the offer enhances what they’re already buying. Plus, the small price point (think $5–$20) feels like a no-brainer addition.
For instance, if someone is buying your “Complete Guide to Synth Sound Design,” an order bump could be a preset pack for popular synths like Moog or Prophet. The key is to keep it low-cost, high-reward, and directly related to the main offer.
Putting It All Together: The Encore Client Symphony
By combining these techniques, you’re not just selling products—you’re creating a cohesive journey that mirrors a perfectly orchestrated performance. Here’s how it plays out in real-time:
- A budding songwriter buys your guide to writing radio-ready hooks.
- At checkout, they see an order bump: a $9.99 chord progression template.
- Post-purchase, they’re offered a discounted upsell: a live workshop on melodic contour for just $47 (usually $97).
- In their email inbox, they find a bundle deal—your songwriting guide plus a vocal recording checklist and lyric prompt library—offered at a 25% discount for 24 hours.
Each step reinforces their initial “yes” while elevating their experience with products and services tailored to their needs.
Final Notes: Crafting Your Encore
Remember, increasing your AOV isn’t about being pushy—it’s about serving your audience at the highest level. When done right, upsells, cross-sells, bundling, discounts, and order bumps don’t feel like sales tactics; they feel like opportunities. Your audience gets more value, you increase your revenue, and everyone walks away from the encore applauding.
So, take these strategies, tune them to your business, and start raising your AOV today. Because in the Encore Client System, every sale is just the opening act for something bigger.
