Pop-Ups and User Experience
When I search for a topic on the internet, I usually open a minimum of five pages that appear on the first page of Google in different tabs of my browser under a specific search term. I go to the second page sometimes (but very rarely) when I find the web pages thrown up on page 1 irrelevant to my query. I decide this “relevance” by looking at the titles and the little snippets shown there. Now, let’s say I have opened six pages in different tabs. The next thing that I do is open the pages one by one and skim the content in them. And maybe from the six web pages that I have opened, I’ll narrow down to two. The whole thing will take me five minutes max.
As a user, I have always disliked being greeted with too many pop-ups when I land on a website for the first time. Worst is when I sometimes cannot close these pop-ups to continue my browsing on the page because the close button is missing! Some people even have the audacity to put highly irritating lines like “No, I do not want the free SEO handbook and I’m happy with my ignorance” to close the pop-up. Or something like “No, I’m a loser and I would continue working for my boss”. Now, that’s being a prick, no? Some pop-ups even cover the entire page and interferes with my reading which is annoying to say the least. A delayed pop-up is bearable but only if it is relevant to my query for which I had landed on the site. I need to get myself familiarised with the website to assimilate these pop-ups. Once the website is familiar to me and when I like the content there, I’m no more irritated by these pop-ups even if they occur at different intervals.
Pop-up ads are necessary for a business blog and are important for increasing the number of subscribers and sign-ups. It is a fact that pop-ups do spur conversions. But how does one tread this fine line between being unbearably annoying and largely agreeable? I can think of some good practices like:
- Make the pop-ups unobtrusive. Avoid the missing-close-button pop-up type or humiliating lines (examples as mentioned before) as the close button. I like pop-ups that hover over the main content as a transparent overlay that are easy to close.
- Employ a delayed pop-up. However, this is still dicey since your ad needs to be relevant to your content.
- Avoid confusing buy-ins. Why tell people “Sign Up Now” when you do not explain properly what they will get when they sign up?
- Make the pop-up unique. Make your pop-up different from the run-of-the-mill ones that you find everywhere.
Please add your comments below with some pop-up best practices. By doing so, you will be helping me create my next blog post on the pros and cons of pop-ups on web pages as a content strategy :)
Recent Comments
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Some networks will not accept you if you have pop-ups, pop-unders or pop-overs. Something to consider too.
I've heard something like that too. I don't know how true it is but they say Google has zero tolerance for pop-ups on mobile devices.
Pop ups annoy me. Period.
I usually click away from a site that presents me with a pop up within seconds of visiting. You're asking me for something or offering me something and I don't even know if I like you yet? No chance.
I don't use these yet but since they work, if I do, I will set them up in such a way that the person has a chance to determine if they connect with me and my writing first. I only want people on my email list that do. I'll also ensure the pop up is as unobtrusive as possible.
~Mark :)
I created pop-up for one of my websites but when I went to view the website myself it was annoying to me so I deleted most of them and only kept one.
Tried and true
Elaine
Hey, pop ups are very annoying when over done. I have received offers that have included 3 to four! After the second one, I just leave the site as quickly as possible!
To pop up or not to pop up, that's the question :) If we have to employ pop-ups, we need to be cautious of how we put them on our site.
There is no doubt that pop ups work. I think you have made the main points of what makes for a great pop up in your post above. Sorry I cannot add any other info for your post.
With Grace and Gratitude
Karen
You don't need to be sorry, Karen. Let me see if I can elaborate on the points with examples or screenshots. Cheers!
This is a great post. Thank you.
You mentioned a valid point that a pop-up should be constructed in a way it does not jeopardize visitors experience on your site. More so, if the pop up is irrelevant to the page you are visiting.
If people get annoyed and leave the site immediately, it's damaging to the site as bounce rate would be high.
I hate pop-ups. :)
:)
Joe
Well said Sukumar, I guess pop-ups are a part of the industry they work so are not going anywhere anytime soon. So true what you say as content creators we need to be mindful of how we go about it. the thing is that if asked many have a similar dislike when it comes to pop-ups, it is just when we jump the fence and become promoters and sellers we forget those subtleties and crash on regardless. thank you for sharing this food for thought post, a timely reminder.
No, pop-ups are not going anywhere, anytime soon. Some people swear by these pop-ups and believe that they are one of the best things out there. But from the user's point of view, they are mostly annoying when done excessively. The only thing it does is interrupt site experience. Whether they are effective or plain irritating, I guess we'll know when we "test" the waters ourselves. Roll out the pop-up and see how they affect the page visits and other metrics in Google Analytics.
That is a really good point Sukumar, we all need to be continually, monitoring our performance and tweaking where necessary, even if we are low tech we are plying our trade in a high tech world, and at times our audience can be unforgiving, as we are now seeing user experience is what we prosper.by.
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Popup should be minimalistic and use it well 2 is enough.