I’ve recently published a blog on landing pages, but I’ve had a lot of thoughts about pop ups, which is kinda a landing page, but also not, so I thought I’d pop a few paragraphs together that may or may not help you if you’re using a pop up to build your email list.

What is a pop-up?

A pop-up in a small landing page that appears (or pops up 👀) on your website. Usually asking for an email address. They can be set to take up half of the web browser, or a box or even a mini header/footer type format.

What to ask for in your pop up

If you’re a service provider building your email list, go with the bare minimum when building your pop up. The only thing you absolutely need is an email address. So just ask for this.

What to include in your pop up

Like with all landing pages be super clear on what the benefit of joining your email community is and set the expectation. Eg, ‘dropping into your inbox weekly with top tips about email newsletters and free resources’

If you’re sharing a freebie or offering a discount code, make it really clear on your pop up (don’t forget to add an automation in the back end to automatically send the lead magnet).

Timing

Your website or your esp has options which allow you to choose when your pop up appears and how often.

Please please please ensure your pop up isn’t set to appear immediately when a visitor lands on your home page. Let them have a moment to read your home page and perhaps browse to your about me page.

This will increase your sign up rate and decrease your visitor frustration rate.

Design

Pop-ups don’t need to be super fancy—quite the opposite. A plain box with bold lettering on your website can be really effective.

Make sure that the close down button (x) is easy to locate and visible on the background you chose. Don’t hide the little x thinking it’ll increase your sign-ups. You want a community of subscribers who have chosen to be there and want to hear from you. Having a bunch of subscribers who have signed up under duress means low open rates and a rubbish sender reputation (meaning your emails are more likely to go to junk).

Remember that the purpose of the pop-up is to encourage visitors to your website, whilst they are browsing your site, to also join your email community.

Other sign up opportunities

While I’m on the subject of website-based sign-ups, it’s also a great idea to have a sign-up box in the footer of your website and also as an option on your checkout page.

*Example of a website footer based sign up box*

If you have a checkout on your site, include the option to opt in for marketing comms. To be GDPR compliant you must ask for permission from your customers to share future marketing messages (not sales related emails, these are ok).

You can also pop a link in your business email signature, so those you are communicating with on a business level can also join your email community.

If you’d like support getting started with email newsletters, please drop me a line, I’d love to help you with this powerful marketing channel.

EMAIL ME

Barbara