How to Make a Pop-up on Squarespace: A Step-by-Step Guide

You might be thinking, “Aren’t promotional pop-ups annoying? Why would I want to use them on my Squarespace website?” That’s a fair question.

While pop-ups can be intrusive when overused or poorly executed, they’re also one of the most effective ways of engaging visitors—when done right.

Showing pop-ups on the first page a visitor lands on can enhance the user experience and boost engagement.

Businesses that strategically use pop-ups often see higher engagement rates and, most importantly, more conversions. Here’s what pop-ups can do:

1. Increase email subscriptions

Looking to boost your email marketing efforts on your Squarespace website? Pop-ups are a powerful tool for this.

By offering something of value—like a free guide, a discount code, or exclusive content—and configuring your newsletter sign up form properly, you can encourage visitors to subscribe to your email list.

When you offer a lead magnet in exchange for the visitor’s email address, they’re far more likely to sign up. As a result, you can build a robust email list that fuels your marketing efforts and boosts future sales.

2. Drive sales

Promotional pop-ups can be highly effective for driving sales, especially when you use limited-time offers or flash sales.

Imagine a visitor is browsing your online store, and a pop-up appears offering 20% off their first purchase. That kind of immediate, time-sensitive offer can nudge them toward completing their order. 

Pop-ups like these can also promote specific products, helping boost visibility and sales for items that might otherwise get overlooked.

3. Boost engagement

Do you have a new blog post or an upcoming event that you want to promote? Pop-ups can be a great way to grab your audience’s attention and let them know about it.

Instead of simply hoping your visitors will stumble across your latest content or announcement, you can deliver the message directly to them with a well-timed pop-up.

Whether it’s a new blog post, a webinar, or a special event, pop-ups ensure your message gets seen, not buried in the noise of the internet.

4. Reduce cart abandonment

One of the most common challenges for ecommerce sites is cart abandonment—when visitors add items to their cart but leave before completing the purchase.

Pop-ups can help combat this by triggering an exit-intent message when a user is about to leave the site.

Offer a last-minute discount or free shipping, and you might just convince them to finish the transaction. It’s a subtle, non-intrusive way to give them that extra nudge, reducing cart abandonment and increasing conversions.