4 Tips for Using Pop-Ups to Grow Your List

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The dreaded email pop-up! You’ve all seen them, and many of you probably can’t stand them. But studies show that, when used correctly, pop-ups can increase subscribers by up to 50%. Still not convinced? Here’s how to incorporate pop ups effectively and unobtrusively:

1. Slim and Simple: overpowering pop ups that take up the entire screen and contain deceiving ads and claims will only serve to frustrate the reader. Keep it simple and well designed to gain more subscribers, and include a “no thanks” button to give the reader that feeling of control.

1. Timing: to give the reader a chance to get on the site before being bombarded with ads, it’s recommended to delay the pop ups by about 20 seconds after the user enters the page. That way, the visitor will feel less invaded and more open to signing up.

1. Frequency: readers who’ve already clicked the “X” button won’t be happy to see the pop ups each time they enter the page. Use a cookie on your site to track who’s already seen the offers so that they only show up for new visitors.

1. Worth The Interruption: readers will get fed up with pointless spam on the site, so make sure the pop-ups are worthwhile. Try using surveys or user tests to optimize the content you show; the less invasive and more relevant the pop ups are, the better.