How to Use Popups the Right Way – 8 Unique Uses

Popups have many uses beyond collecting email addresses. Below, we’re covering how to use popups in unique ways to keep shoppers engaged, help them find what they need, and stay on your site longer.

How to Use Popups to Segment Your List

The depreciation of the third-party cookie has made the need to collect first-party data greater than ever. 

First party data allows you to truly know your customers, so you can personalize the emails you send them.

Often times the key to collecting more data is simply asking for it. Asking for too much information up front though can decrease the amount of people who fill out your form.

Use progressive forms to first collect their email address (the most important piece).

On the next form, ask what they’re interested in learning more about. Are they interested in all product categories on your website, or just a few? The only way you’ll know is if you ask them. The large majority of people who provide their email address will complete the next form. 

Tip – use a popup software that still gives you the email address of the 30% of people who don’t complete the second form. Sleeknote offers this.

How to Use Popups to Collect More Phone Numbers

SMS is where it’s at. Don’t get us wrong, email is still powerful, but the 98% open rates of SMS messages can’t be beat.  

Getting those phone numbers can be tricky, though. 

Again, you can use progressive forms to capture phone numbers. First the easy ask, the email. On the next form, entice them to give you their phone number by offering a ton of value. A giveaway, exclusive SMS list sales, an even bigger coupon code. Show them value, and they’ll usually provide their digits. 

How to Use Popups as Post Purchase surveys to Gather Feedback (AKA first-party data)

Marketers thrive on customer feedback. You can try to get it by emailing surveys or phone calls, but often the response rates are low. 

Why not ask for feedback when people are on your site as a natural extension of the checkout process?

After a customer completes their purchase, a popup asking a few question about their experience will have a high completion rate. 

Tip keep the questions short and easy to answer, think radio buttons not form fills. People are excited about their purchase at this point, but likely not willing to fill out a long form. 

How to Use Popups to Reduce Cart Abandonment

You probably have shopping cart abandonment flows in place, but a well-timed exit intent popup on the checkout page can allow you to capture those sales before they leave your website. 

Offer a bigger discount, a free product, free shipping, etc. You can even create a little FOMO by having a popup tell the purchaser if the item is low in stock. 

How to Use Popups to Increase Revenue

Popups can be used to upsell buyers and increase order value.

If you offer free shipping dependent upon the shopper reaching an order amount threshold, you can trigger a popup displaying how much more they need to spend to reach the free shipping threshold along with a few products they may be interested in. 

Another option is triggering a popup displaying products often bought together. Or remind shoppers they need another product to use the item they are purchasing. As an example, a store sells lashes and the glue is sold separately. They have a “Don’t forget the glue” popup.

 A supplement store we shop at has as supply chain issues popup. It tells shoppers the product they are buying has been frequently unavailable and encourages them to stock up now while the product is in stock. 

How to Use Popups as a Guide for Returning Shoppers

Most popup software will recognize a returning visitor. This is useful, so you don’t ask someone already subscribed to your list to do so again. Instead of not showing returning visitors a popup at all, have a popup specifically for them. The popup could display your most popular products or new arrivals. If they have yet to make a purchase, you can remind them to use the discount code they received when they initially subscribed to your list.

How to Use Popups as Product Quizzes – help shoppers find the right product.

We’re big fans of product quizzes. Why? First-party data. Not only do quizzes help your website visitors find the right products for them, they provide you with loads of data on your customers.

Online shopping can be rough. You’re not always sure what the best option is for you. Quizzes can help you convert visitors to buyers and if not give you the data you need to personalize the marketing they receive from your brand, nurturing them towards a later conversion. 

Whether you’re selling running shoes, lashes, supplements, or anything else where there are  more than one option, a popup quiz can lead to happier customers and more of them. 

Use Popups to Offer Help

If you had a retail location, you would ask shoppers if they needed help or had questions you could answer. Use a pop-up to do the same. If you don’t have the staff to manage a live chat feature, a popup with a contact form or links to frequently asked questions can help with conversions. The information they need to make a purchase should be readily available to your website visitors. 

How to Use Popups for More Than Lead Capture

Popups can and should be used for more than capturing email addresses, although that’s a good start!

With popups you can engage with website visitors, collect first party data, increase sales, and guide visitors to a purchase.

For more information on collecting first-party data on your website visitors, check out the following posts:

The Ultimate Guide to First Party Data

First Party Data Collection for Small Businesses