What is Exit-Intent Technology & How to Use It to Stop Visitors from Leaving

Now that we’ve seen some great exit popup examples, let’s talk strategy. 

Here are nine best practices to ensure your exit-intent popups capture attention, enhance lead generation, and convert.

1. Optimize your design

The design of your exit popups is the first thing visitors notice, so it needs to be spot on. A well-designed popup should be visually appealing, reflecting your website’s overall aesthetic while standing out enough to entice visitors.

Consistency with your brand’s color scheme and fonts helps maintain a cohesive look, while a clear, uncluttered layout makes the popup easy to understand at a glance.

Don’t forget about mobile users—ensure your popups are optimized for smaller screens, with touch-friendly buttons and readable text to provide a seamless experience across all mobile devices.

2. Keep it relevant

Relevance is key when it comes to exit-intent popups. Understanding your target audience and tailoring offers based on their behavior can make all the difference.

For example, if a user has been browsing a specific category or product, your popup should reflect that interest with a related offer. This might be a discount on the items they were viewing or a similar product recommendation.

By aligning the content of your popup with what the visitor cares about, you increase the likelihood that they’ll engage rather than close the window.

3. Choose the right images

Images can significantly enhance the effectiveness of your popup, but only if they’re chosen wisely. The right image will complement your message, guiding the visitor’s attention toward the offer without overpowering the text.

For instance, a high-quality image of the product or service you’re promoting can do the trick. On the other hand, using images that are too busy or unrelated to your offer can distract from your message and reduce the overall impact of the popup.

4. Make your headline stand out

The headline is the hook that draws visitors in, so it needs to both grab attention and inform. A great headline clearly communicates the value of your offer in just a few words, making it immediately clear what the visitor stands to gain.

Use strong, action-oriented language and power words like “exclusive,” “limited-time,” or “free” to create urgency and compel action. Remember, the headline is your chance to make a first impression—make it count.

5. Enhance your description

While the headline grabs attention, the description seals the deal. This is where you provide a bit more detail about your offer, but it’s important to keep it concise and to the point.

Your description should quickly and clearly explain the benefits of your offer, reinforcing the message from your headline. Use simple, direct language that’s easy to understand, avoiding any jargon or unnecessary fluff.

The goal is to make it as easy as possible for the visitor to see the value and take action.

6. Deliver an inspiring call-to-action

The call-to-action (CTA) is the final step in your popup’s flow, so it needs to be compelling and clear in order to convert visitors into paying customers. Your CTA should be directly tied to your value proposition, with language that encourages users to take action.

Use a strong action verb to start the CTA, such as “Get,” “Claim,” or “Unlock,” and make sure the button itself stands out visually.

A contrasting color for the CTA button can make it more noticeable, increasing the chances that visitors will click and engage with your offer.

7. Make your offer irresistible

An irresistible offer is what will ultimately convert a visitor into a customer. Whether you’re offering a discount, a free trial, or exclusive access to content, it must be of genuine interest to your audience.

Creating a sense of urgency using language like “limited-time only” or “while supplies last,” can further enhance the appeal, prompting visitors to act quickly to avoid missing out. The more valuable and limited the offer appears, the harder it will be for visitors to ignore.

8. Target the right visitors

Not all website visitors are the same, and your popups should reflect that. By customizing your exit-intent popups based on user behavior, demographics, or traffic source, you can deliver more relevant messages that resonate with specific audience segments.

For example, you might want to exclude visitors who have already subscribed to your newsletter from seeing a signup offer, or show different popups to users who came from social media versus those who found you through search engines.

Targeting ensures that each visitor sees the offer most likely to appeal to them, increasing your chances of conversion.

9. Run an A/B test

A/B testing is essential for refining your exit-intent strategy. You can see which elements perform best by creating different versions of your popups—varying the design, headline, CTA, or offer. Testing helps you understand what works best with your audience, allowing you to optimize your popups for better results.

Over time, these insights will guide you toward a winning formula that consistently drives conversions.