Most marketers rely on popups to collect emails, and we’re all for it. But if that’s all you’re using popups for, chances are you’re leaving money on the table.
When done right, popups can drive sales directly and funnel visitors to your checkout.
In this guide, we’ll go over 19 discount popup examples, why they’re effective, and ways to roll out similar promotions on your site.
Let’s dive right in.
19 sales promotion examples to inspire your next popup
Popup overlays can be a highly effective way of calling attention to your discounts and special offers. But there’s no one-size-fits-all tactic to promote your special discount with a popup—the approach you take will depend on your store and your goals.
Below, we’ve broken down a variety of offers and promos you can use to level up your own discount popup strategy.
Free shipping popups
A staggering two-thirds of consumers look up free shipping thresholds on websites before adding items to their carts. Including free shipping as part of your discount popups is a smart move not only for grabbing visitors’ attention but also for increasing order value.
Let’s take a look at some examples below.
1. SwissWatchExpo.com
What this popup does well:
- The countdown timer creates a sense of urgency, pushing visitors to act now rather than later.
- It has a simple but effective color scheme. The black and white contrast makes the popup design striking and easy to read.
- The “GET MY $100 OFF” call-to-action button is powerful.
- The customized “No thanks…” opt-out makes website visitors think twice before skipping this deal.
What could be optimized or A/B tested:
- They could test the value and type of discount ($100 off + free shipping—vs. just the $100 off or just the free shipping).
- They could consider alternatives to the unique selling proposition.
2. ProspectorKnives.com
What this popup does well:
- Again, a countdown timer is a fantastic way to generate urgency and action.
- Simplicity. The popup manages to present multiple offers (free shipping and a discount) without overwhelming visitors.
- It has a great message to reduce cart abandonment and prevent skeptical shoppers from bouncing.
What could be optimized or A/B tested:
- The offer needs an A/B test to calculate the ideal value for the deal.
- The countdown timer details could pop a bit more with larger text or a contrasting color scheme.
- The same goes for the call-to-action button. A contrasting color could make it stand out more.
3. Oka.com
What this popup does well:
- The offer is based on order value. It appeals to customers who are looking for that free shipping threshold.
- The popup presents a personalized experience by appearing to customers from specific countries via geotargeting.
- It has an upfront, honest message about their email list opt-in (“…You can unsubscribe at any time”).
- The CTA button contrasts well with the popup copy.
What could be optimized or A/B tested:
- They could improve readability by changing the background image.
- The popup would be more striking if they used a simpler layout.
If you’d like to promote free shipping on your discount popup, get started with one of these templates:
Discount code and coupon code popups
92% of shoppers in the US scout for coupons before making purchases. Offering discounts and coupons is a proven method for driving sales. That’s why they’re perfect for your popups.
Let’s check out some examples below.
4. Jonquil.com.au
What this popup does well:
- It’s a tasteful fullscreen message. It’s on point with their brand and site design.
- It works to get email subscribers while simultaneously encouraging website visitors to convert.
- It has welcoming copy (“join the . . . family”) and unique CTA text.
What could be optimized or A/B tested:
- There are several different fonts being used on the popup, which could be visually overwhelming for visitors. It’s worth A/B testing whether using the same font from the CTA for the title works better.
- The form could also be A/B tested (a single field vs. the two fields). Although some visitors are happy to fill out more fields in pursuit of a deal, others may bounce. You won’t know until you test for yourself!
5. ProspectorKnives.com
What this popup does well:
- It simultaneously builds the subscriber list and encourages future orders with a discount code.
- The selling proposition is crystal clear.
- Great use of color in both the CTA and the percentage discount (20%) in the offer.
What could be optimized or A/B tested:
- Extending the signup form with a name field to allow for personalization.
- The background image is too busy and could take the visitor’s attention off the offer. Consider how intense the image is and whether it might overwhelm your visitors.
6. Zooji.com
What this popup does well:
- It has a unique, colorful design (perhaps the most stylish of our discount popup examples).
- The image naturally leads the eye toward the offer itself.
- It captures the brand’s tone and voice.
What could be optimized or A/B tested:
- The button could be larger or contrast more with the background color.
- Additional features such as countdown timers could help decrease cart abandonment.
7. CharmsToTreasure.com
What this popup does well:
- It’s a two-step popup: the signup form appears once visitors have already shown interest by clicking “YES.”
- It effectively uses a question in the title, which is more engaging than a simple statement.
- Excellent color choices to highlight the offer and CTA.
- The subtle arrow adds style and draws visitors’ eyes to the CTA button.
What could be optimized or A/B tested:
- A sticky bar could appear after someone fills out the form to remind them about the offer.
- “10% OFF” could be as bold as the “YES” text.
8. MyKinin.com
What this popup does well:
- Great design: stylish font and color choices.
- It makes a straightforward offer to new customers (hint: your popup discount doesn’t have to be rocket science).
- The offer is large and grabs attention.
- With a single field to fill out, it doesn’t require much effort on the part of the visitor.
What could be optimized or A/B tested:
- A name field could be added to allow for personalization.
- The type of discount could be A/B tested: a flat dollar amount compared to a percentage discount.
9. CellPhoneCenter.com
What this popup does well:
- Bright, complimentary color choices (including the red arrow which draws eyes down to the CTA).
- The CTA button text creates a subtle sense of urgency.
- Great use of “power words” throughout the copy (Today, Save, Easy, Now).
What could be optimized or A/B tested:
- All of the popup text could be uppercase for the sake of consistency and grabbing visitors’ attention.
- A variant without a background picture could drive more attention to the special offer.
10. PurePetFood.co.uk
What this popup does well:
- It has a brilliant, playful design.
- It does double-duty of building the email subscriber list while encouraging shoppers to buy.
- Unique offer: this popup allows visitors to order a trial product with a discount, which can lead to future orders.
What could be optimized or A/B tested:
- The “20% OFF” text and the “TRIAL” button could be more vivid.
- It’s not clear how to use the code: “Should I use the coupon code at checkout or not?”
- The coupon code is displayed before signing up. This could ultimately hurt the conversion rate and performance of the popup if visitors are redeeming the code without opting in.
11. Natural-Fertility-Info.com
What this popup does well:
- It looks modern and clean.
- The CTA button stands out and has a clear message.
- The simplicity of the single-field opt-in is great for collecting email addresses.
What could be optimized or A/B tested:
- The call-to-action button and text could pop more: brighter colors and a bolder typeface would be a good starting point.
- Consider adding a “Name” field to allow for personalization.
- The first line of text could be uppercase for consistency.
12. Pond5.com
What this popup does well:
- Bright, modern design with great colors and fonts.
- The company logo fits nicely in the design.
- The CTA button is clear and bold.
What could be optimized or A/B tested:
- The button text could be stylized with a custom call-to-action phrase instead of “SUBSCRIBE NOW.”
- The popup could work well as a fullscreen message.
- Removing the background picture could draw more attention to the offer.
If you want to offer discounts and coupons, here are a few templates that can get you started:
Limited-time discounts
Popup promotions centered around urgency and scarcity are popular for a reason! They encourage immediate action and make your offer feel like it’s too good to miss.
Coupled with the right offer and creative elements, these are among the best popups for sales promotion.
13. MMAWarehouse.com
What this popup does well:
- Striking design that matches the website’s branding.
- The countdown timer creates urgency.
- Excellent color choice for the CTA button. The pop of red makes visitors want to click it.
What could be optimized or A/B tested:
- The coupon code should only be visible after the customer has clicked on the button (to accurately measure conversions).
- They could A/B test a slightly different background color to make their offer stand out more.
14. SoggyDoggyDoormat.com
What this popup does well:
- Ensures that visitors only see the best offers in the store.
- Their limited-time offer creates FOMO.
- Simple, clean design (the light and dark contrast makes it easy to read).
What could be optimized or A/B tested:
- The CTA button color could stand out more.
- The text could hint at the benefits or specifics of the offers to increase curiosity and clicks.
15. TapestryGirls.com
What this popup does well:
- The bright color scheme forces visitors to pay attention to the offer.
- Their bold offer is easy to understand.
- The countdown timer nudges visitors to act ASAP.
What could be optimized or A/B tested:
- The opt-out text could be more legible.
Check out how Tapestry Girls saw a 50% increase in conversions with OptiMonk.
If you want to use limited-time discount popups, these templates might be perfect for you:
Seasonal campaigns & Black Friday popups
It’s no secret that holiday ecommerce is booming as consumers flock to Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and other seasonal sales. Holidays represent an ideal time to run sales promotion popups, and they represent a massive opportunity to boost sales for any ecommerce site.
Check out these seasonal discount popups below.
16. EasyologyPets.com
What this popup does well:
- It’s a spin-the-wheel popup with a seasonal look. Popups like these, which incorporate games of chance, can be irresistible.
- It provides multiple promotions for everyone’s needs (and prevents customers from combining them).
- It’s playful and fun, and doesn’t feel like a traditional promo.
What could be optimized or A/B tested:
- The color of the CTA button could be A/B tested.
- They could experiment with the size and positioning of the copy.
- The company logo at the top of the popup is hard to see against the dark background color. They could try alternative background colors or place the logo differently so it’s more visible.
17. Beddingstock.com
What this popup does well:
- The Black Friday/Cyber Monday promotion makes the popup time sensitive.
- The CTA stands out wonderfully by using a contrasting color.
- The copy highlights the importance and value of the deal (“BIGGEST SALE OF THE YEAR”).
What could be optimized or A/B tested:
- They could try a multi-step popup with a code reveal.
Check out these seasonal sales promotion popups and create your own in just a few minutes:
Product recommendation popups
Product recommendations account for approximately 33% of ecommerce sales, which means using product recommendation popups can be a really smart move!
You can customize your “suggested item” popups based on your visitor’s browsing behavior, or you can promote your best-selling products.
Let’s check out some product recommendation popups below.
18. Photopaperdirect.com
What this popup does well:
- Intelligent product recommendations are an excellent personalization technique.
- It offers three relevant products to the customer, creating a sense of choice without triggering analysis paralysis.
- The attention-grabbing header text hooks more visitors.
What could be optimized or A/B tested:
- The headline’s color should contrast more to stand out from the background.
- They could A/B test the value of the discount to maximize engagement—for example, does 25% or 50% off versus a flat dollar amount of $10 or $15 off perform better?
19. TinyBeastDesigns.com
What this popup does well:
- It uses a vibrant, on-brand color scheme.
- It recommends a specific product, making the popup seem more personal.
- The tone is clear, welcoming, and helpful.
What could be optimized or A/B tested:
- The product thumbnail could be larger and clearer. They could experiment with popup and image sizing.
- They could make the X button easier to find with a circle around it or a more noticeable color.
Read more about how Tiny Beast Designs collected 2,200+ sign-ups for their new store using OptiMonk.
Try these product recommendation popup templates:
6 bonus tips for displaying discount popups (without annoying your visitors)
To wrap things up, let’s review some of our popup design best practices and the things you’ll want to keep in mind before you roll out discount popups for your online store.
1. Trigger popups based on visitor behavior
Think about the user experience when it comes to presenting your discount codes. Rather than triggering your popup immediately as soon as someone lands on your site, give new visitors some time to breathe and browse.
You don’t want to interrupt those critical first seconds or scare anyone away, right?
This speaks to the importance of behaviorally triggered popups, which are shown based on pre-set criteria that you choose.
For example, you can choose to trigger popups based on how long someone spends on your site or how far they scrolled down on a page. You can even trigger your discount popup to appear when someone is about to leave your site.
This ensures that your popups are seen by the right prospects at the right time, improving the chances they’ll convert.
2. Personalize your popup message
When it comes to discount popups, relevancy is extremely important. You can’t target top-of-funnel visitors who are just browsing a blog with discount codes that expire in 15 minutes.
Make sure to present your discount code to online shoppers who are ready to make a purchase and just need a final nudge.
Another way to make your popups more relevant is by personalizing the messaging, as it works brilliantly. This can be done based on many factors, like interest:
You can also personalize your sales promotion popup based on traffic source:
3. Use gamification to make your discount popups feel less “salesy”
Simply put, we’re a big fan of gamified popups here at OptiMonk (see example #16 above).
Why? Gamified popups don’t feel like sales messages. They’re a playful way to engage with visitors while also encouraging them to make a purchase.
If nothing else, gamified popups are fun and out of the ordinary. This is a stark contrast to all the brands that don’t put much thought into their promotions.
4. Keep your popup design and copy as simple as possible
A common thread among many of the best popups is that they’re not too complicated. Remember, your popups should be easy to understand at a glance.
That means:
- Use simple language and separate your message into brief, punchy statements instead of sentences or paragraphs.
- Remove unnecessary images or anything that could distract visitors.
- Create a clear CTA button that grabs attention.
- Add a noticeable X button so your shopper can leave the popup when they want to without getting frustrated.
5. Avoid overwhelming visitors with too many form fields
We get it: you want to collect as much information on your leads and prospects as possible. But asking for too much can hurt your chances of winning a customer.
Consider this: most people are shopping on their mobile devices. They don’t have as much time (or as comfortable a keyboard) as when they’re browsing on their computers at home.
There’s a reason why most discount popups simply ask for names and email addresses: fewer form fields are easier on your visitors and more likely to result in opt-ins.
6. Make sure your popup design matches your brand and website
Any sales popup on your site needs to match the branding on your site. This includes your logo, color scheme, terminology, and brand voice.
Popups should feel like a seamless part of your website, not an in-your-face interruption.
Thankfully, putting together stylish, branded popups can be a cinch thanks to tools like OptiMonk.
You can adapt your discount popups based on your unique branding and messaging in no time. Start by browsing our Template Library with hundreds of templates to choose from, then customize to match your brand!
Wrapping up
Popup promotions are a powerful way for ecommerce brands to drive sales and build brand loyalty.
Hopefully, the discount popup examples in this article have inspired you to create your own so you can start scoring more sales!
If you haven’t already, make sure to try out the many popup customization features offered by OptiMonk. It’s easy to use and integrates easily into your ecommerce site. You’d be surprised at just how quickly you can get your next sales promotion campaign up and running. Create a free account today and follow the examples above!
