Popups.
The word alone is enough to make most people feel a little bit irritated. And it won’t surprise you to learn that most coaches I talk to are skeptical about using popups for marketing on their websites.
But here’s the thing: sites that use popups consistently outperform those that don’t.
So, if you’re not using popups, you could be missing out on potential leads.
What are some examples of website pop-ups?
Popups do exactly what the name suggests, they pop up over your content with some kind of promotional offer you think the visitor will find irresistible. And they usually include a call to action (CTA) to encourage the reader to give you their information in exchange for a free resource.
Oh, and yes, there are different types of popups too, including:
1. Overlay popups
These popups appear in the screen’s center and cover the rest of the page in a dark overlay.
2. Slide-in popups
Slide-in popups typically slide in from the right of the screen, leaving the rest of the web page clickable.
3. Welcome mat popups
Welcome mat popups drop down from the top of the screen, giving the reader information about a discount or prompting them to either purchase or download something.
And those are just three popup examples.
If you’d like to learn more about popup types, check out the Optinmonster article, 37 types of Popups to Use on Your Website.
How to use popups without being annoying
When using popups on your website, there’s a fine line between irritating and intriguing your visitors. So, with that in mind, I’m going to show the best way to use popups without them being annoying:
1. Offer relevant content
Make your popup offer appealing to your target audience by giving them something they’ll find super-useful. And to persuade the visitor to do what you want them to, the button on your popup should be written in the first person and include action words, like “Send me the free guide!”
If you’re offering a specific freebie on a specific piece of content (like a checklist that goes along with a particular podcast episode), that’s even better.
If you do all of this and someone is still driven away by your popup, you can be confident they weren’t your ideal client anyway.
2. Get the timing right
Experiment with the time your popup appears on your page. It could be after a visitor has been on your site for 10-seconds, after they’ve scrolled to a certain point on the page, or when they move their mouse to leave.
If you’re not sure which is best, test them all to see which one gets the most clicks.
3. Use humor in Yes/No popups
If you go down the Yes/No button route, use humor in your popup language, like this fantastic example by Optinmonster:
Yes/No popups rarely have an X in the top corner, which can really annoy your readers. So, if they have to click No, adding humor will reduce their irritation. In some cases, showing your personality with humor can persuade somebody to click yes.
However, make sure the humor and language you use fit your brand and audience.
4. Make popups match your website and branding
When your popup matches your website and branding, it adds an extra layer of familiarity to your message, makes it feel less spammy, and converts better, too.
5. Make sure the popup looks good on mobile devices
This is REALLY important.
A popup that looks great on a laptop won’t work as well on a cell phone. To fix this, test and optimize the popup to adapt to the width of a mobile screen.
One of the downsides to popups is that they don’t automatically adapt, but you can and should make them mobile responsive if you’re using a good page builder.
Don’t make this mistake
Never add a popup to your site unless what you’re offering is super-valuable to your audience. When popups are done right, they have the power to increase leads and sales.
But adding something your visitors don’t want or need will make potential clients click away in irritation.
Looking for design inspiration for your website popups?
If you’d like to create a popup for your website that’s on-brand and not spammy, but you’re not sure how to design it so it looks good, I have a resource for you.
I suggest you read this article where I share my favorite places to look for website design inspiration.
A good-looking popup is more likely to convert, and that article will help you find solid design inspiration as you design your popup.
I hope this helps,
Jennie
