Two Approaches to the Same Goal
When you set up a rule in SmartSellio, you choose between two approaches: let the algorithm decide what to show (Smart Recommendations), or define the logic yourself (manual rules). Both work well — it just depends on what you're trying to do and how much control you want over the output.
What Are Smart Recommendations?
Smart Recommendations use an automated scoring system to analyse your store's product data and surface the most relevant suggestions for each customer. You don't pair products manually — the algorithm evaluates product relationships and catalogue structure to decide what to show.
This works best when:
- Your catalogue is large and hand-pairing every product isn't practical
- You want recommendations to update automatically as your products change
- You're just getting started and want something live immediately without spending hours on configuration
What Are Manual Rules?
Manual rules give you precise control. You choose a trigger — a specific product, a collection, or a tag — and then define exactly what to recommend in response. SmartSellio supports nine manual trigger combinations, covering product-to-product, product-to-collection, product-to-tag, collection-based, and tag-based variations.
This works best when:
- You have curated pairings you know convert well from experience
- You're running a seasonal promotion and want to push specific products
- You're launching a new item and want it surfaced alongside your top sellers
- Smart Recommendations don't reflect the specific context of your store
Smart vs Manual: A Quick Comparison
| Factor | Smart Recommendations | Manual Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Setup time | Minutes | Varies with catalogue size |
| Control | Low — algorithm decides | High — you decide exactly |
| Scales automatically | Yes | No — rules need updating as products change |
| Best suited for | Large catalogues, new stores | Specific pairings, active promotions |
Using Both Together
The strongest recommendation strategy isn't Smart or Manual — it's both, layered. Set Smart Recommendations as your default baseline, covering the entire catalogue without manual effort. Then add specific manual rules on top for your hero products, new launches, and seasonal offers.
When both a Smart rule and a manual rule could apply, manual rules take priority — so your curated pairings always display exactly as intended, while Smart fills in everything else.
Which One Should You Pick?
There's no wrong choice between these approaches. The real mistake is not using product recommendations at all. Install SmartSellio and start with Smart Recommendations to get something live immediately — then build manual rules as you learn what your customers respond to. Your 14-day free trial gives you enough time to test both approaches and see the difference in your revenue data.