Cashing In With Pop-Ups
It’s the original digital device that everyone loves to hate. The dreaded pop-up. Chances are pretty good that, unless you’ve got a blocker, most sites you’ve visited use one. Like it or not, pop-ups work, which is why you’ll find most well known marketers using them.
When it comes to pop-ups, there is not only a variety to choose from, but there’s also several ways to use them. To use them effectively, it’s important to know what you want to use it to accomplish and which kind is best suited to achieve that purpose.
The most common pop-up is the pop-up box that appears offering a free gift in return for subscribing to the site’s newsletter. Usually you’re asked to include your first name and e-mail address. A variation on this is the “stealth pop-up.” It looks like the gray dialogue box on your computer, and when you click “OK”, it automatically sends a subscription request from your default e-mail client on your behalf.
A less-annoying version of the standard pop-up is the pop-under. It works just like the pop-up except this kind appears at the bottom of the browser without blocking your view of the site. This could be also be used as a sign-up box, but is often used to draw you to more information about a specific product or service.
One of the more recent versions of the pop-up is the “slider.” As its name implies, this kind doesn’t “pop-up”; instead it appears to slide across the screen. These are also very effective for getting new subscribers. Some marketers use them to offer a discount or up sell.
Many marketers have begun using a timed pop-up. They are created in such a way that you are given a specific time period in which to click on the box before the countdown ends. These are often used to offer a discount on the product or service being offered.
Of course, a discussion on pop-ups would not be complete without mentioning the exit pop-up. As its name implies, it appears when you leave the site. More recently these have been used as “ask boxes,” with an audio clip asking you to input why you are leaving the site without signing up or purchasing a product. These are also used to get sign-ups for a free report or e-course with information related the site’s product or service.
