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- How to Create Popup Ads That Drive Conversions
How to Create Popup Ads That Drive Conversions
-
Barbara Bartucz
- Conversion
- 6 min read
Table of Contents
Popup ads have a reputation for being intrusive and annoying, yet when used strategically, they can be one of the most effective tools for capturing attention and driving conversions.
If you’re struggling with high bounce rates, low sign-up numbers, or underwhelming sales, the right pop-up ad can make all the difference.
But here’s the challenge: how do you create pop-up ads that engage rather than irritate your audience?
In this article, we’ll break down how to design and implement pop-up ads that capture attention and boost conversions.
Let’s get started!
What is a pop-up ad?
A pop-up ad is a type of online advertisement that appears on top of a website, temporarily disrupting the user’s browsing experience.
It typically takes the form of a small window (sometimes referred to as a pop-up window) or overlay that prompts users to take a specific action, like subscribing to a newsletter, making a purchase, or filling out a form.
Unlike traditional static ads, pop-up ads are designed to grab attention immediately. They’re often triggered by user behavior like scrolling, clicking, or exit intent (when a user shows signs of leaving a site).
When used thoughtfully, pop-up ads can be a powerful tool for boosting engagement and conversions without annoying your visitors.
Why do pop-ups matter for conversion rates?
You’ve worked hard to drive traffic to your website, but what happens when visitors land on your page and leave without engaging?
That’s where pop-ups shine.
Popups are designed to grab visitors’ attention before they exit and get them to stay, sign up, or even buy. When used strategically, they can significantly boost your conversion rate by turning casual visitors into engaged leads or paying customers.
But here’s the key: relevance and timing.
Popups need to be aligned with what the user is doing to make them feel like a natural part of the experience. A well-crafted popup won’t just keep visitors on your site longer—it will also lead to higher conversions.
How to create pop-up ads: a step-by-step guide
Many websites use pop-up ads to capture leads, increase sales, and improve user engagement, but creating a pop-up that really converts requires a strategic approach.
If you’re ready to design a high-performing pop-up, follow this step-by-step guide.
If you don’t already have an account, start by signing up at OptiMonk. Once you’re signed in, you’ll be taken to your dashboard, where you can begin creating your first popup campaign.
Step 1: Select a popup template
No need to start from scratch! OptiMonk offers over 300 templates to choose from, so you can easily find something that fits your brand and campaign goals.
Browse through our library and pick a template that matches your style. Don’t worry, you’ll be able to customize it later to make it your own.
Step 2: Customize your popup
Once you’ve picked a pop-up template, it’s time to customize it. OptiMonk’s drag-and-drop editor makes this easy. You can change the text, swap out images, tweak fonts, and adjust colors to fit your brand.
This step is crucial for making your pop-up blend seamlessly with your site while ensuring the message is clear and compelling.
Step 3: Set your targeting and triggers
Here’s where OptiMonk really stands out. It offers advanced targeting options to control when and where your popup appears.
You can trigger popup ads based on user behavior—like exit intent, time spent on a page, or how far they’ve scrolled.
Personalization is the name of the game. Want to target cart abandoners? No problem.
Want to show different popup ads to first-time visitors versus returning customers? You can do that, too.
These tailored experiences drive better results.
Step 4: Launch your campaign
Once you’ve fine-tuned everything, it’s time to go live. With one click, your popup will start appearing on your site, ready to engage visitors and drive conversions.
7 tips for creating effective popup ads
Now that you’ve got the basics down, let’s make sure your popup doesn’t just look good but also performs well.
Here are seven tips to help you create pop-ups that convert.
1. Use urgency or scarcity
Nothing nudges a customer quite like a limited-time offer. Creating a sense of urgency (e.g., “Only 2 hours left!”) or scarcity (e.g., “Only 5 items in stock!”) can push visitors to act faster.
Take Vegetology’s “September Special” limited-time offer. It helped boost their conversions by adding pressure to the deal, showing visitors that it would only be available for a short period of time.
Adding a countdown timer can ramp up the sense of urgency even more.
Check out this example from The Turmeric Co.: they used a countdown timer in their popups, which significantly increased engagement.
When people see the seconds ticking down, they feel the pressure to act immediately, which can dramatically improve conversion rates.
2. Offer incentives
Everyone loves a good deal. Offering discounts, free shipping, or exclusive content in exchange for action is a surefire way to get more clicks.
Nexus Sports Nutrition saw an 11.78% conversion rate by using mystery discounts.
Make sure your offer is relevant to your audience—this can make all the difference.
3. Test different formats and offers
Not all audiences are created equal, and what works with one group might flop with another. That’s where A/B testing comes in.
By experimenting with different popup formats, headlines, messaging, and offers, you can pinpoint exactly what drives conversions for your specific audience.
Take this example from BootCuffsSocks: they ran an A/B test comparing two offers—$4.25 store credit versus 10% off the entire purchase.
After 40 days of testing, they found that the 10% discount outperformed the store credit by 15%.
This type of insight is invaluable because it shows how a small change can make a big impact on your conversion rate.
4. Optimize for mobile
Did you know that over half of all web traffic comes from mobile devices? If your popup doesn’t look great on a smartphone, you’re missing out on a huge chunk of your audience.
Make sure your popup ads are responsive and easy to interact with on smaller screens.
For example, Sassy Scents saw significant improvements in engagement after ensuring their pop-ups were mobile-friendly, helping them capture leads from customers on the go.
5. Keep it simple
With popups, simplicity is key. Visitors don’t want to be bombarded with too much information or too many choices.
The best popups are straightforward, with one clear message and a single call-to-action.
Take Pixie Wing as an example—they keep it simple with a straightforward message: “You’ve just unlocked an exclusive discount.”
The easier it is for users to grasp the offer, the more likely they are to engage, leading to higher conversion rates.
6. Use contrast effectively
Design plays a crucial role in your pop-up’s success, especially when it comes to highlighting the call-to-action (CTA).
Using contrasting colors for the CTA button ensures it stands out against the rest of the pop-up design.
For example, Perennial Pastures uses strong contrast on their CTA button to draw the eye immediately.
It’s a subtle design choice that can have a major impact on conversions.
7. Align popups with your brand aesthetic
Your popup should seamlessly blend with your website’s look and feel.
When the fonts, colors, and style align with your brand, the popup feels like a natural part of the experience rather than an interruption.
Cherieswood does this beautifully, aligning their pop-up design with the site’s overall aesthetic for a cohesive and branded experience.
Wrapping up
When executed properly, popups can be a game-changer for boosting conversions. It’s all about delivering the right message at the right time and providing real value to your visitors.
By following the steps and applying the strategies outlined here, you’ll be ready to create pop-ups that capture attention and drive meaningful results.
And don’t forget—popups don’t have to be intrusive. With the right approach, they can actually enhance the user experience.
Ready to launch high-converting pop-up ads? Create your free OptiMonk account today and start building your own custom popup campaigns for free!
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Written by
Barbara Bartucz
Barbara is a Content Marketer at OptiMonk. She takes pride in creating different forms of content, whether it’s an article, a video, or an e-book.
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