People don't like pop-ups. We have all been to websites where we are immediately hit with a "Sign Up!" box, a "Chat with us!" widget, and a "Cookies" banner before we even see the logo. It makes the user experience messy and annoying. Pop-ups are still one of the best ways to get email leads, even though they can be annoying. The goal is not to get rid of them, but to make them smarter, nicer, and useful. The SaaS Hub supports a "User-First" approach to pop-up design that strikes a balance between aggressive list growth and a pleasant shopping experience.
Timing is the most important thing. It's usually a bad idea to show a pop-up as soon as someone lands on your site (this is called a "entry pop-up"). Why would the visitor give you their email if they don't know who you are? Instead, use a time-delay trigger (like show after 15 seconds) or a scroll-percentage trigger (like show after they scroll down 50% of the page). This makes sure that you only bother people who are somewhat interested. "Exit-Intent" technology is even better. This keeps an eye on the mouse on the desktop. When the cursor moves toward the "X" to close the tab, the pop-up says, "Wait! Before you go, take 10% off." This is a last-ditch effort that catches leads who were about to leave anyway, making it very effective.
The world of pop-ups has changed because of gamification. "Spin-to-Win" wheels are very popular because they play on the psychology of gambling and winning. Instead of a boring "Sign up for updates," the user gets to spin a wheel for a chance to win "Free Shipping," "20% Off," or a "Free Gift." These wheels often have conversion rates that are three to four times higher than regular forms. But if they aren't designed well, they can look "cheap." A spinning wheel might make your brand look less expensive if it's a luxury brand. It fits perfectly if your brand is fun and aimed at Gen Z. The SaaS Hub has a list of apps that let you change these wheels to fit the look of your brand.
Being mobile-friendly is a must. Google punishes mobile sites that use "intrusive interstitials," which are pop-ups that cover the whole screen and are hard to close. On mobile, your pop-up should either be a "teaser" at the bottom of the screen that the user taps to open, or it should be easy to close. If a user can't find the "X" button because it's not on the screen, they will leave your site right away. Don't just look at the desktop preview mode; always test your pop-ups on a real phone.
Even in pop-ups, content is king. "Join our newsletter" isn't a very good offer. "Get 10% Off Your First Order" is a better offer. "Join the VIP Club for Early Access to Drops" is a great way for brands with popular products to get more customers. The deal has to be worth the user's privacy (their email). You should also try out pop-ups that happen in more than one step. Step 1 asks for a "micro-commitment," which could be as simple as "Do you like saving money? Yes/No." Step 2 asks for the email after they click Yes. This psychological trick of putting your foot in the door makes more people finish.
Lastly, honor the "No." If a user closes your pop-up, don't show it to them again for at least a week. You can usually set limits on how often apps can run. The quickest way to get a user to switch to a competitor is to bug them on every page load. Use the targeting options in apps from The SaaS Hub to make sure you send the right message to the right person at the right time. A pop-up that comes at the right time feels like a helpful offer, but one that comes at the wrong time feels like spam.