Cross-sell (agency)

Selling a client an additional, different service beyond what they currently buy — as distinct from upselling, which expands the current service.

Example

A client retained for SEO content is cross-sold a separate paid media management engagement, priced and contracted as a new line item alongside the existing retainer.

Why it matters for agencies

Distinguishing a cross-sell from scope creep matters operationally: a cross-sell should always go through a new proposal and contract, not get folded into the existing SOW. Agencies that blur this line often end up delivering a second service's worth of work under the first service's price.