7 Effective Popups You Need for Monetizing Ecommerce Websites in 2024

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Monetizing your online store can feel like an uphill battle, especially when you’re driving traffic but struggling to convert visitors into paying customers.

You’ve invested time and money into growing your website, yet the sales just aren’t where you want them to be. If you’re searching for a way to capitalize on the traffic already landing on your site, website popups can be a game-changer.

In this article, we’ll explore seven powerful popup strategies designed to help ecommerce stores like yours with effective traffic monetization and turning casual browsers into loyal buyers.

Let’s jump in!

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Why use popups in your online store?

A popup is a form of online marketing that pops up with a secondary message based on the behavior of the visitors, e.g. when a visitor clicks on a particular page of your website, or when there is exit intent or a set time of visitor inactivity. 

Unfortunately, popups have gotten a bad rep. We’ve all seen those annoying popups that appear immediately without any personalization and make us go for the back button. These are the popups you want to avoid because they scare away the visitor. 

A well-placed and useful popup will speak to your visitors in a meaningful way. They can help you generate revenue through traffic monetization, addressing cart abandonment, and growing your valuable email newsletter subscription list. 

That’s a win for everyone, but it takes some skill to do it like a pro.

How to use popups the right way?

There’s a proper and an improper way to use ecommerce popups in order to monetize web traffic. 

Dos:

Well-timed: A well-timed popup, using predictive customer behavior will be the ace up your sleeve. We suggest waiting at least 10 seconds before displaying a popup to a new visitor.

Keep your popup on-brand: There’s nothing worse than a popup that feels out of place with your business brand. Think imagery, language, and even color palate. 

It’s all about the language: Empathize and emphasize your understanding of their challenges and your support—walk with them as a partner, not as a business trying to make a buck.

Images always work: You have less than 6 seconds to capture a client’s attention. Images can evoke emotions and deliver a message quicker than it takes to read a one-liner message.

Don’ts:

Entry popups: While there are always exceptions, entry popups are usually annoying. They can irritate a new visitor who is just learning about your business. They don’t want to form a commitment when they don’t even know who you are yet. 

Irrelevant popups: If you have a visitor who wants to learn more about your products, don’t offer an immediate sales popup. Offer them good info in exchange for a newsletter subscription or display a quiz that helps them find the right product for their problems. That way, you can earn their trust while simultaneously building your brand authority.  

Multiple popups in one session: Having multiple popups in one session can feel intrusive, and will deter visitors from hiring your services or purchasing your products. 

7 effective popups every ecommerce store needs to monetize traffic

So, what popups will be highly effective in ecommerce traffic monetization? Here are our top 7 effective popup monetization methods.

1. Offer a discount in exchange for newsletter subscriptions

A newsletter is an effective marketing tool that keeps your clientele informed and your brand relevant. Not only that, but newsletters encourage visitors to return to your site. 

A well-placed and visually appealing popup that offers discounts on a first purchase in exchange for an email address is a great way to encourage visitors to sign up for your email list. 

You can also offer free ebooks in exchange for signing up for your email list. A lot of visitors are looking for valuable information, and ebooks are perfect for that purpose. 

And hey, who doesn’t want free stuff?

Displaying this type of popup on exit intent for new visitors who haven’t subscribed yet, is an effective way to prevent site abandonment and reduce bounce rate

Timing is also important; it’s best to wait at least 10 seconds before popup activation. 

Displaying a teaser is also a great way to spark interest and encourage your visitors to sign up for your newsletter. Displaying the teaser either right before the popup or right after the popup is closed—increases visitor action.

Pop-up with teaser

2. Promote seasonal offers

Seasonal sales are popular because they not only invite past customers back to your business but also serve to introduce yourself to new prospects. 

Many retailers see a spike in sales during end-of-year holidays, sometimes even making up a large percentage of their annual revenue. That’s something to take advantage of.

Seasonal offers can also mirror other offers, such as new customer discounts, free downloads, and exclusive member access.  

An effective seasonal popup will work for returning visitors and should have a timed trigger of approximately 10 seconds and on exit intent. Before then, it might deter your visitors and increase the bounce rate.

3. Display free shipping conditions to increase the average order value

People are shopping online now more than ever, with over $861 billion spent online in 2019 in the US alone. And online shopping means shipping costs.

Ecommerce entrepreneurs can absorb the cost of shipping at a certain threshold, which is savings that can be passed directly to their customers. While still increasing business revenue.

Not only that, free shipping presents a sense of urgency for the customers. And there’s no better way to show this than through sticky bars.

Displaying this sticky bar to visitors who have already shown interest in items or added something to their cart, will help them make the final decision to purchase.

It’s also a vetted method for increasing the average order value.

4. Highlight trending products for abandoning visitors

With fast-paced commerce influenced by social media, entrepreneurs are always looking for ways to improve their products and services, or add new ones. 

Popups are a great addition to a marketing campaign that highlights trending products and services. 

The timing of this popup can work in your favor. Activating it upon visitor exit intent when visitors are on your product page will keep their interest.

5. Prevent cart abandonment by offering time-limited deals

Cart abandonment is when visitors place items in their cart, then leave the cart without purchasing. This is one of the biggest challenges for every ecommerce store.

A popup offering a one-time discount or free shipping when visitors who have at least one product in the cart show signs of exit intent, nudges visitors to finish the purchase.

6. Remind returning customers where they left off

Your customers are busy, and they’re bombarded with so much information and text that keeping it all in their minds is a challenge.

That’s where a popup can help. Displaying a popup to remind your returning visitors where they left off is like a bookmark in a really long book. It also says to your customers, “we remember you!”, and everyone likes that feeling. It’s like a personal shopping experience.

7. Promote a post-purchase discount in exchange for feedback

There is no better expert on your customer experience than your customers. Their opinion is valuable and can be an invaluable resource for your continual growth. 

A feedback popup is one tool you can use to improve your business. But it’s important to recognize both successful and unsuccessful customer experiences.

If a visitor doesn’t end up purchasing, offering a simple popup that asks for their quick feedback can help you improve your customer shopping experience. 

Remember, both positive and negative feedback is useful. You need to know what you are doing right just as much as when you’re missing the mark.

What are other ways to monetize your website?

While popups are an effective tool for monetizing your website, they’re just one piece of the puzzle.

To fully capitalize on your website’s potential, consider these additional strategies to boost revenue:

  1. Affiliate marketing: Partner with brands that complement your offerings and earn a commission for every sale made through your referral. By adding affiliate links or dedicated landing pages, you can generate passive income without creating new products.
  2. Promote products: Suggest relevant products to potential customers during their shopping experience. Upselling encourages customers to buy a higher-end product, while cross-selling promotes complementary items, increasing your average order value and maximizing revenue per customer.
  3. Subscription services: Create recurring revenue by offering subscription-based products or services. Whether it’s monthly access to exclusive content, replenishable items, or a VIP program with special perks, subscriptions can provide steady income and foster customer loyalty.
  4. Sponsored content & ads: If you have a high-traffic website, consider selling advertising space or publishing sponsored content. Brands are always looking for display advertising platforms with engaged audiences to promote their products. This can be a lucrative revenue stream, especially for content-heavy sites.

Wrapping up

Creating the perfect, individualized shopping experience is key to building a business with brand authority and loyalty to withstand the vastly changing ecommerce market. But to monetize traffic, you don’t need to start from scratch. 

OptiMonk has a vast library of popup templates, so you can get back to doing what you love to do: helping your customers and watching your business grow. 

Want to find out more about what OptiMonk can do for your business? Create a free account today. 

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