Can Pop-Up Ads Help With User Experience? Yes & Here’s How

Pop-up ads are making a noteworthy comeback, and it’s evident that reputable and well-known sites are increasingly incorporating them into their user interfaces. Contrary to their past reputation for causing viruses and annoyance, well-executed pop-ups can now enhance the user experience. This resurgence in strategy holds the potential to significantly boost conversions for businesses. According to a study, the most effective pop-ups have been shown to drive conversions from an average of 9.28% of viewers. Even for the average pop-up that doesn’t fall into the elite category, it still has the potential to convert 3.09% of viewers. While 3% may seem modest, it translates to a notable increase in conversions that might otherwise have been missed. Embracing this comeback, understanding the evolving landscape of pop-up ads, and incorporating them into your user experience (UX) design could be a game-changer for your business. For more valuable insights on digital marketing, consider subscribing to Revenue Weekly, where you’ll receive actionable tips like these via email twice a month.

What are modern pop-up ads?

Pop-up ads are promotional messages that show up on your screen. In the past, they used to open new windows, but nowadays, they often appear within the same window, blending with the website’s content. Many pop-ups now only cover part of the screen, reducing the disruption to your browsing experience.

Many reputable websites incorporate pop-ups into their web design strategy to:

Provide their visitors with helpful information

Answer possible user questions

Drive visitors to a high-value landing page

Types of pop-up ads

Not convinced of the pop-up’s reputable comeback?

Spend a few minutes surfing the web, and you’ll likely come across many pop-up ads on your favourite websites.

The types of pop-up ads you might have found on those sites include:

Entrance pop-ups

When implementing pop-up ads on your website, it’s essential to be mindful of their timing and presentation. Entrance pop-ups, appearing right when visitors open a page, can add value if used judiciously. However, it’s crucial to consider the user experience, as your audience arrives on your site with a specific purpose. Carefully select when and how you deploy entrance pop-ups to avoid hindering their navigation and ensure a positive interaction with your content.

Event-triggered pop-ups

A more targeted type of pop-up is the event-triggered pop-up. You can set specific user behaviour parameters that, when met, launch your pop-up ads. For example, you could have a pop-up appear based on a user’s time on the page or whether they’re a returning visitor.

Exit-intent pop-ups

Ever noticed those friendly reminders that pop up just as you’re about to leave a webpage? Well, meet exit-intent pop-ups! These clever little messages appear just when it seems like you’re wrapping up your visit. They’re like the virtual equivalent of a wave goodbye, offering one last chance to catch your attention before you click away.

Click-triggered pop-ups

Many sites will deploy pop-up ads when a user clicks on a link. With these pop-ups, you can call out your intended action with a link — such as signing up for a newsletter or finding more information on another page — and leverage a pop-up instead of sending the user to a new page to complete that action.

Each of these types of pop-up ads can appear in the centre of the user’s screen and obscure the rest of the page until they exit the pop-up, or they might only appear in the bottom or corner of the page and not intrude on the user’s view of the page. The latter type is also called a pop-in.

You can leverage each type according to your business strategy if done well — yes, even centre-screen pop-ups can aid the user experience!

How are pop-up ads effective?

Now you know all about the types of pop-up ads you can use, but how are pop-up ads effective? Pop-up ads can drive conversions and aid the user experience by:

Facilitating site navigation

Anticipating user needs

Pointing users toward customer support

Providing valuable content or offers

Streamlining the page experience

Keep in mind that despite employing best practices, certain users may still find pop-ups frustrating. It’s essential to recognize that not every tactic will resonate equally with everyone in your audience. Therefore, it’s crucial to test your pop-up ads during the design phase to gauge their impact on your audience.

By prioritizing the needs of your audience, numerous websites experience positive outcomes when strategically implementing pop-up ads. Still sceptical? Explore these examples of effectively executed website pop-ups!

Websites with pop-up ads done right

Discover websites that masterfully integrate pop-ups for a seamless user experience! When utilized effectively, pop-ups can enhance your browsing journey. Explore these standout examples of websites that skillfully implement pop-up ads, striking the perfect balance between helpfulness and unobtrusiveness. Delve into a curated list of platforms where pop-ups are seamlessly integrated, elevating your overall website interaction.

1. Fabletics entrance pop-up ad

When I landed on the Fabletics home page, I encountered a thoughtfully designed entrance pop-up that caught my attention. This serves as a prime example of user experience (UX)-focused pop-ups by intuitively address my needs and streamline site navigation. Fabletics demonstrates a keen understanding that the majority of visitors come to shop. Consequently, this strategically crafted pop-up efficiently guides users to the most pertinent shopping pages, enhancing their overall browsing experience. This highlights the seamless integration of models alongside pop-ups, showcasing a user-friendly approach to web design that aligns with both human and SEO-friendly principles.

2. Moleskine add-to-bag pop-up

Many sites use pop-ups after a user has added something to their cart. These pop-ups aid the user experience by:

Confirming that they’ve successfully added the product to their cart

Reminding them of everything they’ve added to their cart so far

Providing an updated total cost of the items in their cart

Allowing them to quickly navigate to the checkout page if they’re ready to purchase

Leveraging this pop-up ad can also boost conversions because it encourages users to head to checkout if they’re ready.

3. Mint Dentistry chatbot pop-in

Companies leverage chatbots to promptly address user inquiries, enhancing the overall user experience. Accompanied by a subtle pop-up message at the bottom of the screen, these chatbots seamlessly engage users without obstructing their view of the webpage. This unintrusive notification effectively draws attention to the available chatbot, ensuring users are aware of the valuable assistance it provides in answering queries. Mint Dentistry strategically employs this approach, displaying the pop-in immediately upon a user’s site visit. This proactive approach is well-suited for a site where visitors often seek answers or wish to schedule appointments, streamlining navigation for common user intents.

4. Hootsuite bonus content pop-up

This example showcases a subtle form of pop-in ads, appearing only after I’ve scrolled through most of the posts. It’s non-intrusive yet provides additional relevant content that might capture my interest. The pop-in emerges as I approach the end of the post, suggesting that I likely value the content, and the ad serves as a win-win: I receive valuable supplementary content, and Hootsuite maintains visitor engagement by directing them to an email sign-up for a guide. Notably, Hootsuite tailors the pop-in content based on the post’s topic, offering the most pertinent resource rather than a generic catch-all approach.

5. Shopify free trial click-triggered pop-up

Shopify invites users to explore its platform with a risk-free trial. When users express interest by clicking the button, a convenient pop-up appears, streamlining the sign-up process. This approach not only maintains a clean and clutter-free page for a smoother user experience but also ensures seamless information input without the need for loading a separate page. Try out the free trial today to unlock the full potential of Shopify for your business.

How you can leverage pop-up ads on your website

As you can see from the user-friendly website pop-up examples listed above, pop-up ads can boost the user experience when leveraged appropriately. To help you create effective pop-up ads, follow these three steps:

1. Consider the user’s journey

Understanding the purpose of your site visitor’s presence is crucial. Why are they here, and what actions will they take next? Anticipating their needs post-visit or after specific interactions on your site is key. Effective pop-ups excel by delivering pertinent information that resonates with the user’s current situation. By aligning with their interests and providing relevant content, these pop-ups meet users where they are, enhancing their overall experience on your site.

2. Determine what valuable information your pop-up can provide

Understanding the user’s intent and position in their exploration is crucial for delivering a seamless experience. Take Fabletics, for instance—they wisely anticipated that newcomers would prefer a swift product browse. To cater to this, they strategically placed quick navigation buttons, streamlining the process. Similarly, Hootsuite demonstrated insight by recognizing that individuals who reached the end of a blog post might crave additional insights. Their solution? A well-timed pop-up offering supplementary information, demonstrating a user-centric approach.

3. Decide whether a true-to-form pop-up or pop-in suits your purposes

Once you’ve established your pop-up’s purpose, decide which type of pop-up will serve your purpose best.

If you’re providing supplemental information users may or may not need, a pop-in might work best. The pop-in will draw their attention, so they know the information is there if they need it, but it will not disrupt their experience.

Meanwhile, many click- or event-triggered pop-ups can perform well as true-to-form pop-up ads across the user’s screen. Why? By nature, these pop-ups are more targeted to a user’s specific needs, meaning the information will more likely be relevant to them at a given time.

Design your website to drive more conversions

Enhancing your website’s user experience and boosting conversions can be achieved through well-designed pop-ups. To optimize your site effectively, prioritizing conversion rate optimization (CRO) is crucial. Unsure where to start? Turn to Tap For Tech, a comprehensive digital marketing agency specializing in web design and CRO. Our success is evident in the 7.8 million leads and $3 billion in revenue generated for our clients through data-driven strategies. Entrusting us with your website optimization allows you more time for customer interactions and business management. Keen to discover how we can elevate your website for increased conversions? Reach out to us at +91 6306470701 or connect online to talk to a strategist today!