To Exit Pop-up or Not to Exit Pop-up That is the Question?

53 replies
Hi All

Here's what I'm thinking as a Newbie just starting out in Internet Marketing...

I've got my own Wordpress blog up at mark-bull.com on how I'm starting out and inviting fellow newbies to follow my progress and for their input to progress further,

  1. So I have my site.
  2. I have a few links to affiliate products etc which I'm building and tweaking.
  3. I've put an optin box in my sidebar.
Now what I've done is add an exit pop-up pointing to another affiliate site to try to capture more optins,

I've visited my site then exited onto the pop-up I thought it was a good idea myself but judging what others have side they're just annoying,

Do they work?

What does anyone think?

Happy New Year & Best Regards

Mark
#exit #popup #question
  • Profile picture of the author WillR
    I just visited your site.

    1. I'm not a big fan of those exit pops that come up when you go to close the page and have the two options you have to choose from 'Ok' or 'Cancel'. I much prefer a single popup that displays such as the one found here: Action PopUp. I find them much less obtrusive to the end users than the one your are using now.

    2. You have begun a blog so people can follow your journey as you get started out in Internet Marketing. Then in the exit popup you are offering to show people how to turn $1 into 100's/1000's of dollars a day - this is inconsistent with the whole theme of your blog.

    3. The page you are sending people to from the exit pop appears very tacky and I personally would not be sending my users to it. You would be much better off using the exit pop to try and capture your visitors email address like you are in the sidebar. Just restate the same offer you have in the sidebar and try and get them on your list. You might also try only asking for their email address and not their name. This will increase optins also - I don't find the name field that important these days.
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      The only answer is "test".

      But test properly and meaningfully ... there's no point in measuring the number of positive responses to the pop-up without also measuring (and this is the much more difficult and much more time-consuming part) the proportion of visitors who would otherwise have returned to your site in future but don't, once they've seen the pop-up. This number is usually a lot larger than many people allow for.
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    • Profile picture of the author sylviad
      Originally Posted by WillR View Post

      ...3. The page you are sending people to from the exit pop appears very tacky and I personally would not be sending my users to it. You would be much better off using the exit pop to try and capture your visitors email address like you are in the sidebar. Just restate the same offer you have in the sidebar and try and get them on your list. You might also try only asking for their email address and not their name. This will increase optins also - I don't find the name field that important these days.
      WillR,
      The importance in getting a first name is so you can address the subscriber by name. This makes your follow-up AR messages more personal. What are you going to use as a salutation if you don't have a name?

      'Hey!' 'Hey, Dude' 'Fellow Marketer', or some other generic title?

      People like to think they are special - (well, maybe not THAT kind of special ). They certainly will feel more important to you if you know their name and address them by it. Don't forget that the whole point of getting names is so you can 'build a relationship' with your subscribers so they come to trust you and... buy from you. Without a name it will be less of a relationship.

      As far as pop-ups go, I think the more people use them, the more visitors will find them irritating. Imagine going from site to site and getting an exit popup on half of them.

      Just this morning, I landed on a site with not one, but FOUR exit popups - those ones that ask if you're sure you want to close the page. All the same type of popup. Not sure what the site owner was thinking, but most likely he has extra code on his site and doesn't realize this is happening.

      What made it worse was that I was going through another site with a ton of links, clicking many of them. I landed on this guy's sites or pages (he had several) about 8 times. Which meant, before I could close the windows, I had to CANCEL 32 popup windows.

      Sylvia
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      • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
        Banned
        Originally Posted by sylviad View Post

        The importance in getting a first name is so you can address the subscriber by name.
        Yes, indeed ... but is that an advantage in your business, Sylvia? Have you actually tested it, or is that just how you yourself feel about it?

        I ask because I have tested it, and I actually found the opposite.

        I normally don't include the prospect's first name in every message, now, even when I have their first names and therefore have that facility available. I believe it works to my advantage. And I believe (but can't prove) that that's because a fair proportion of people know perfectly well that you're doing it only through the automated opt-in in which they supplied it, because you want to try to appear to be on first-name terms with them for marketing purposes; in short, I think some people think it makes you sound like an insurance salesmen, and in some recipients' minds it immediately labels your emails "Marketing", which I prefer to avoid.

        It's actually quite difficult to test, unless you manage to do so at the very start of what's going to become a rapidly growing and substantial list, with adequate numbers for split-testing to be statistically significant. And even then not so easy.

        One thing is more or less certain: more people opt in, if you ask for "email only" rather than first name too, so you build a bigger list to start with (as well as not running the risk of sounding to some like an insurance salesman!).

        Just my perspective.
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        • Profile picture of the author sylviad
          Hi Alexa,

          To be honest, no, I have not tested it. My statement is based on what seems to be a common belief from what I keep seeing in products and here on the forum. It's also what I learned in my Public Relations/Corporate Communications course. And it is also partially a personal thing.

          If I receive an email that is not addressed to me, I don't even read it. I consider it spam, whether it is or isn't. Unless I happen to notice who sent it, I won't look.

          This is a learned response, because when I read it all, the email that did not include my name was 99% of the time spam and plain junk mail. And that still seems to be the trend today.

          Perhaps entering names or not is related to the niche. I can see how the general public might be reluctant to give away such info, but I'd certainly expect fellow marketers not to be shy about it.

          Sylvia
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          • Profile picture of the author WillR
            Originally Posted by sylviad View Post

            To be honest, no, I have not tested it. My statement is based on what seems to be a common belief from what I keep seeing in products and here on the forum.
            And this is why I would put you in the category of most other Internet Marketers out there who just take what they hear and run with it. Until you have tested one way versus another, then you have nothing to preach about.

            I know exactly what most people THINK getting a first name does. I'm not stupid. But that was years ago. Times have changed and it's nowhere near as effective as it used to be. You are much better off dropping the name field from your signup forms and increasing your optin rate.

            Originally Posted by sylviad View Post

            WillR,
            The importance in getting a first name is so you can address the subscriber by name. This makes your follow-up AR messages more personal. What are you going to use as a salutation if you don't have a name?
            You will find that, as Alexa stated, personalization like this can actually kill response rates. Much of todays spam now uses this personalization technique and as a result people are much more unlikely to open emails that have their first name in the subject line.

            Overuse has killed this technique - it's not the first time this has happened.

            You mentioned this makes your follow up messages more personal? Tell me, when was the last time you got an email from a friend or family member that said "Hey Sylvia, check out this video...". Do you honestly think that an email subject like that sounds more personal than something as simple as "You gotta check this out...".

            I may be wrong but none of my close friends ever use my first name in their subject lines and hardly ever address me by my first name in the opening to an email. If they do they will usually use a nickname rather than my proper first name. This is way more personal than people calling me Will...
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            • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
              Originally Posted by sylviad View Post

              WillR,
              The importance in getting a first name is so you can address the subscriber by name. This makes your follow-up AR messages more personal. What are you going to use as a salutation if you don't have a name?

              'Hey!' 'Hey, Dude' 'Fellow Marketer', or some other generic title?

              People like to think they are special - (well, maybe not THAT kind of special ). They certainly will feel more important to you if you know their name and address them by it. Don't forget that the whole point of getting names is so you can 'build a relationship' with your subscribers so they come to trust you and... buy from you. Without a name it will be less of a relationship.

              Sylvia
              There's a marketer that others have referred to as a gooroo that addresses his subscribers as ... 'Subscriber'.

              I couldn't tell you what he does inside those emails, as I haven't opened one in months.When I used to open them, he might as well have addressed me as 'Dear Car Payment'.

              On the other hand, some people don't know the meaning of the word 'moderation'...they think it means deleting their forum posts unfairly. These are the ones who use your name more often than your garden variety telemarketer.

              <parody>

              Hi, Sylvia...

              I was talking to my buddy, Joe Marketer, and he mentioned that he had a new product. Sylvia, when he told me what it would do, I told myself "self, Sylvia needs to hear this." And I told my friend he had to give my friend Sylvia a special discount.

              Sylvia, it took awhile to twist his arm. Good thing I saved those pictures from that last after-seminar party.

              Sylvia, you have to click this link.

              If you don't click and buy, Sylvia, I'll think you're mad at me or don't like me anymore. You don't want to make me cry, Sylvia, do you?

              Well, Sylvia, bye for now. Here's the link again...

              </parody>
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              • Profile picture of the author halmo
                How about making the name field optional, and actually stating the word "Optional" right there? I recently signed up to a newsletter that provided this kind of sign-up form, and it made me feel that the person respected my preferences (and me) -- that's why he gave me an option.

                Not everybody likes other (personally not known) people calling them by first name, and trying to make it sound like they have been buddies forever.

                I have also encountered sign up forms that actually require the person to enter at least 2, or 3, or 4 characters into the name field. What if someone has a shorter name? What if someone wants to give only an initial. I then entered "----" into the field. But, then, I normally don't sign up if a form tries to force me to do anything.

                I know, my opinion doesn't necessarily reflect what "most" customers think -- but, then, I am a customer too. And, I know there are other people who enter some random characters if they are forced to fill out a name field.

                So, how would John's sample e-mail look like?
                John, I hope you forgive me for using your letter.

                Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post


                <parody>

                Hi, ----...

                I was talking to my buddy, Joe Marketer, and he mentioned that he had a new product. ----, when he told me what it would do, I told myself "self, ---- needs to hear this." And I told my friend he had to give my friend ---- a special discount.

                ----, it took awhile to twist his arm. Good thing I saved those pictures from that last after-seminar party.

                ----, you have to click this link.

                If you don't click and buy, ----, I'll think you're mad at me or don't like me anymore. You don't want to make me cry, ----, do you?

                Well, ----, bye for now. Here's the link again...

                </parody>
                So, my point is: does forcing people to do something really have good results? Why not give them an option -- then, both kinds of subscribers sign up (with name or without name). That's win/win.

                Just my two cents.
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                • Profile picture of the author WillR
                  Originally Posted by halmo View Post

                  How about making the name field optional, and actually stating the word "Optional" right there?
                  If you've ever used an auto-responder then you will know that having fields as optional will only cause problems when you come to use personalization fields in your emails. If you go to insert the name field into your email yet some people never submitted their name, then it won't work very well.

                  Originally Posted by halmo View Post

                  Not everybody likes other (personally not known) people calling them by first name, and trying to make it sound like they have been buddies forever.
                  I definitely agree with this point. 'Forced' personalization does not necessarily make for great relationship building - contrary to what most Internet Marketers seem to think. If I don't know you then don't pretend to know me and that we are great buddies - we're not. It's like a sleazy guy hitting on you in a bar.
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                  • Profile picture of the author halmo
                    Originally Posted by WillR View Post

                    If you've ever used an auto-responder then you will know that having fields as optional will only cause problems when you come to use personalization fields in your emails. If you go to insert the name field into your email yet some people never submitted their name, then it won't work very well.
                    Well, I have to say i haven't tried to use an optional field (only seen it done by a few others), and I guess haven't had enough experience to come to that conclusion, so thanks for the info. I still wonder how those marketers who use this method handle that empty field issue. At least one of them is a very reputable person. Maybe he has a solution that's not so obvious?

                    Originally Posted by WillR View Post


                    I definitely agree with this point. 'Forced' personalization does not necessarily make for great relationship building - contrary to what most Internet Marketers seem to think. If I don't know you then don't pretend to know me and that we are great buddies - we're not. It's like a sleazy guy hitting on you in a bar.
                    I like your comparison about the sleazy guy. It has actually happened to me (but not in a bar).
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                    • Profile picture of the author Mark-Bull
                      If I was going to use an exit pop-up my reason would be to get the language correct. Example: if a visitor is on your sales page and does not buy the product or service that you are offering, then ask them why?

                      To me, it would make sense to ask them on their way out!

                      It would be easy to design a little box that does not require them to give their name and email address, but comment on why they didn't opt-in or place an order with you.

                      You'll will be surprised at the language you'll receive. So, take the language and insert it into the sales page and talk to them in their own words.

                      What surprise me about the concept was how open they were about their reasons. When they don't have to give you any information about themselves the words just flow out.

                      I have been working with some clients on this and have not tested on my own Blogs and website yet, but I'm going to when I get a chance.

                      So far the clients that I have been working with are very pleased with the results and it gives us language we would have never thought of before.
                      James Clark

                      This is a VERY VERY good idea that I've actually been thinking about using myself so its great to read that someone else is on my wave length,

                      The reason I haven't done anything with the idea is that I simply dont know how to implement it,

                      Thanks & Best Regards

                      Mark
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  • Profile picture of the author Mark-Bull
    Thanks Willr

    Its great to see fellow internet marketers helping each other like this,

    I agree that the exit pop is a bit intrusive but did not know of another way to capture the visitors if they left without subscribing, so thanks for the link I'll be paying it a visit...Is it a paid product or free,

    I think your right about the sales copy on the oto page I should mention that I'm currently using the system myself and not come across as an expert when I'm clearly not,

    Or as you say just concentrate on building my list with a popup optin form,

    There is a steep learning curve to make with plugging everything in and finding the process that you feel comfortable with and to make it work,


    Thanks Again & Best Regards

    Mark
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  • Profile picture of the author Sarah Russell
    Personally, I *hate* exit pop-ups. I don't care if they work, and I don't care if I'm losing potential subscribers because I don't use them on my sites - something about them rings so scammy to me.

    Honestly, I think it's a way better idea to create awesome content that's going to make your visitor want to come back - not to try and make a quick buck off the ones them while they're leaving.
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    • Profile picture of the author WillR
      Originally Posted by Sarah Russell View Post

      Personally, I *hate* exit pop-ups. I don't care if they work, and I don't care if I'm losing potential subscribers because I don't use them on my sites - something about them rings so scammy to me.

      Honestly, I think it's a way better idea to create awesome content that's going to make your visitor want to come back - not to try and make a quick buck off the ones them while they're leaving.
      I don't think there is anything wrong with asking your visitors before they leave whether or not they would like to subscribe to your blog updates. If the content you are providing on the blog is valuable then you owe it to the visitors to get them on your list - and many will take you up on the offer if they feel your content is of value to them.

      And to those that do not optin and leave your blog thinking it is 'scammy'. So what? These people are never going to come back to your blog anyway so what have you REALLY lost - nothing!
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      • Profile picture of the author Mark-Bull
        Thanks for all your advice and help again,

        Think I've got more tweaking to do as I've just realised that the exit pop I'm using actually ANNOYS THE A** off me as well,

        I've been doing some research into a less in your face approach that suits my style and found this site optincrusher.com which look unobtrusive and does fit in with what I'm trying to achieve, Also its FREE,

        Also I'm in the process of changing the give aways that suit more to the starter newbie than what I'm offering,

        Cheers Again

        Best Regards

        Mark
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      • Profile picture of the author Sarah Russell
        Originally Posted by WillR View Post

        I don't think there is anything wrong with asking your visitors before they leave whether or not they would like to subscribe to your blog updates. If the content you are providing on the blog is valuable then you owe it to the visitors to get them on your list - and many will take you up on the offer if they feel your content is of value to them.

        And to those that do not optin and leave your blog thinking it is 'scammy'. So what? These people are never going to come back to your blog anyway so what have you REALLY lost - nothing!
        Looking back, I probably should have been clearer in my original post. What I hate are the specific style of exit pop-ups Mark was using. You make some good points, and I agree with you, as long as the pop-up is executed well. For me, the simple "Wait, don't go!" text box reads as spammy, so it's not something I use.
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  • Profile picture of the author lovemyth
    As Alexa above mentioned, "Test".. That is the only way for you to decide whether or not you should do it. Just like anything in life, people love things or hate things, you can't please everyone. However, if have visitors come to your site and never come back- what did you gain? Now, same visitors come to your blog, and as they exit they receive a message to learn more about what you do- and say 10% of them opt in. What did you gain?

    For me, I started testing a pop up with aweber light-box, and my subscriber list started growing like crazy! It out performs the in-line subscriber form. If you feel the pop up will be annoying, it might be- but if you feel it will encourage your visitors to learn more and they will benefit from what you offer, they will.
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      Exactly so.

      The fact that they're known to annoy a proportion of visitors and prevent their future return to the site isn't in itself relevant to the outcome, unless there are so many of those (as there certainly can be, according to some people's testing) as to earn less money overall. Only long-term testing of income derived per de novo visitor can determine whether it's beneficial.
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      • Profile picture of the author Devid Farah
        A far better and more user friendly e.g. less in your face option, is to have a pop under sitting below your blog.

        For whatever reason pop under seem to be better perceived than a pop over upon closure.

        Indeed it annoys most people that they are immediately offered the affiliate product for $10 less than they would have paid on the original page, often resulting in no sale at all as a result.
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        • Profile picture of the author Barry Unruh
          Originally Posted by Devid Farah View Post

          A far better and more user friendly e.g. less in your face option, is to have a pop under sitting below your blog.

          For whatever reason pop under seem to be better perceived than a pop over upon closure.

          Indeed it annoys most people that they are immediately offered the affiliate product for $10 less than they would have paid on the original page, often resulting in no sale at all as a result.

          Really? In your own testing or in statistics you can point us to?

          I find pop-unders amazingly more annoying than an exit pop-up. If you try to hide something from me I assume only one thing, you are trying to trick me. If you put it in front of me, you might annoy me, but I feel you are trying to inform me.

          Now, if you have some solid testing to back this up, I would love to hear about it.
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          • Profile picture of the author Mark-Bull
            Really? In your own testing or in statistics you can point us to?

            I find pop-unders amazingly more annoying than an exit pop-up. If you try to hide something from me I assume only one thing, you are trying to trick me. If you put it in front of me, you might annoy me, but I feel you are trying to inform me.

            Now, if you have some solid testing to back this up, I would love to hear about it.
            Barry Unruh

            Sorry to sound confused but as a new starter in the internet marketing niche I find its a minefield getting it "RIGHT" I know everyone has their own view of what works or not,

            Im looking for the least intrusive and fluid form of marketing so in your opinion what do you suggest a newbie do?

            Best Regards

            Mark
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            • Profile picture of the author Barry Unruh
              Originally Posted by Mark-Bull View Post

              Barry Unruh

              Sorry to sound confused but as a new starter in the internet marketing niche I find its a minefield getting it "RIGHT" I know everyone has their own view of what works or not,

              Im looking for the least intrusive and fluid form of marketing so in your opinion what do you suggest a newbie do?

              Best Regards

              Mark
              Actually there is only one thing you can do. Test it.

              You can find split testing scripts or work with Google Website Optimizer.

              Setup a test with pop-ups, one without, one with pop-unders, and you are finally started.

              Then you need to test different versions of pop-ups, different text in the messages, different text on your site, different text for your promotional efforts, etc.

              As you start testing a multitude of options (one at a time), you will start learning what works in your niche, with your style, and be able to make better predictions for yourself.

              I am really not saying pop-unders do not work, I'm really asking if there is facts to back up the assertion. My experience would say NO. My tests, which ran only on one promotion, for a very short time, told me it did not work for me. (Of course it could be tainted by the fact I do not like them.)
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          • Profile picture of the author WillR
            Originally Posted by Barry Unruh View Post

            I find pop-unders amazingly more annoying than an exit pop-up. If you try to hide something from me I assume only one thing, you are trying to trick me.
            I agree. Nothing is more 'spammy' to me than a pop-under. If you were going to go with anything then this would definitely be my last resort.

            Originally Posted by FivestarHB View Post

            None of the big credible high PR brand name sites have exit pops.
            That's because a lot of these big credible high PR brand name sites don't know the first thing about Internet Marketing. I'd assume a lot of them employ the same PR firms they use for their offline marketing to also take control of their online marketing efforts. Big mistake. They are two very different things and need to be approached very differently - and it shows.
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          • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
            Originally Posted by Sarah Russell View Post

            Personally, I *hate* exit pop-ups. I don't care if they work, and I don't care if I'm losing potential subscribers because I don't use them on my sites - something about them rings so scammy to me.

            Honestly, I think it's a way better idea to create awesome content that's going to make your visitor want to come back - not to try and make a quick buck off the ones them while they're leaving.
            Sarah, I'm willing to bet a dollar to a doughnut that you formed that opinion (exit pops are scammy) after experiencing a scammy exit pop, or a number of them.

            I don't like poorly executed exit pops any more than I like boring sales letters, bad video in a variety of permutations, badly executed anything.

            I do believe there is a way to use an exit pop that's both effective and non-abrasive. Using one to draw attention to an already visible opt-in offer seems like one of those ways, if done properly.

            FWIW, I keep seeing people say "so-and-so uses this, so it must work" and I have to laugh. Often so-and-so falls into one of two categories:

            1) Fanatical tester
            2) Unquestioning copycat

            Grabbing a tactic, headline, phrase, graphic, whatever, from the fanatical tester presents the risk that you are copying an unsuccessful test. Once, after copying something I was sure would work because of where I got it, failed miserably and contacted the person I "modeled" to tell them their tactic didn't work for me. I asked what I did wrong. They replied that I hadn't done anything wrong; the tactic didn't work for them either. I'd simply copied a failed test.

            Relying on unquestioning copycats for results is equally dangerous. Not only because they risk ending up in the same boat I did above, but because many time the copycat has no clue why a successful tactic works. So they miss the nuances and end up with something that simply offends people. Yet, they keep doing it because all those gooroos can't be wrong.

            It's like my grandfather used to say, give a kid a hammer and suddenly everything looks like a nail...
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            • Profile picture of the author Sarah Russell
              Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

              Sarah, I'm willing to bet a dollar to a doughnut that you formed that opinion (exit pops are scammy) after experiencing a scammy exit pop, or a number of them.

              I don't like poorly executed exit pops any more than I like boring sales letters, bad video in a variety of permutations, badly executed anything.

              I do believe there is a way to use an exit pop that's both effective and non-abrasive. Using one to draw attention to an already visible opt-in offer seems like one of those ways, if done properly.

              FWIW, I keep seeing people say "so-and-so uses this, so it must work" and I have to laugh. Often so-and-so falls into one of two categories:

              1) Fanatical tester
              2) Unquestioning copycat

              Grabbing a tactic, headline, phrase, graphic, whatever, from the fanatical tester presents the risk that you are copying an unsuccessful test. Once, after copying something I was sure would work because of where I got it, failed miserably and contacted the person I "modeled" to tell them their tactic didn't work for me. I asked what I did wrong. They replied that I hadn't done anything wrong; the tactic didn't work for them either. I'd simply copied a failed test.

              Relying on unquestioning copycats for results is equally dangerous. Not only because they risk ending up in the same boat I did above, but because many time the copycat has no clue why a successful tactic works. So they miss the nuances and end up with something that simply offends people. Yet, they keep doing it because all those gooroos can't be wrong.

              It's like my grandfather used to say, give a kid a hammer and suddenly everything looks like a nail...
              This is an excellent point, and you're right - I have seen exit pop-ups that are well-executed, but in my experience, they're farrrrrrrr out-numbered by the type that Mark had on his site originally (the simple text box with the basic text and "Click Cancel to stay on the page" option). That's the specific type that rubs me the wrong way (and that I automatically click away from), and I'd bet I'm not the only one who feels that way.

              As has been mentioned in this thread several times - really, the only way to know if it works is to test. I could be totally off-base, and that type of exit pop-up could convert very well, but my personal gut feeling is that they read as scammy, so I don't use them.
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          • Profile picture of the author Devid Farah
            Originally Posted by Barry Unruh View Post


            Really? In your own testing or in statistics you can point us to?

            I find pop-unders amazingly more annoying than an exit pop-up. If you try to hide something from me I assume only one thing, you are trying to trick me. If you put it in front of me, you might annoy me, but I feel you are trying to inform me.

            Now, if you have some solid testing to back this up, I would love to hear about it.
            Hey Barry,

            In my own testing,not statistics.

            At the end of the day with a pop under, whilst they can be annoying the are far less so than pop ups.

            Hence every major web browser having a pop up blocker.

            With a pop under no one forces you to click on it! With these "Pop up on exits" you are forced to make a click one way or the other.

            Personally I think most of us would be pretty annoyed if the following scenario occurred - You get two emails, you open one, follow the link, like the product and buy it, then you open the second email, follow the link (easy to do it twice if it's an aweber link!), realise it's the same page and then try and go to another page - then the exit pop up appears, you click cancel and are then presented with the same offer for $10 less.

            Now who do you think was doing the hiding?

            A pop under or an exit pop up?
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            • Profile picture of the author James Clark
              Look, there is no secret to this stuff! Either you stand in front of the traffic or you stand behind it. Which ever one works the best for your business.

              How did we get on the subject of the fact that pop-ups are annoying?

              So what if they are annoying. I don't care if they annoy people! Remember, if they have not put any money in your pocket what difference does it make.

              Surfers are looking for Value, period. If you have to annoy them to get their attention, so be it. As long as you know what you are talking about keep doing it. Keep in mind, you have to write good copy at every step.

              The question is this. Is the pop-up annoying them are is it the words in the pop-up? Based on my experience, the words are the most important thing.

              Sorry "Web Designers" and "Graphics Designers" (no disrespect intended)

              We all have to go through the same process whether it takes 5 months to learn or 5 years.
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        • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
          Banned
          Originally Posted by Mark-Bull View Post

          Any Thoughs on what's best?
          Only on what's best for my sites, which may not apply to you, which is why everyone has to do their own methodical, accurate testing over statistically significant numbers of visitors.

          For me, it's best to put my nothing on my sites which will alienate some people and prevent them from returning. (And I'm mindful of our resident Warrior Brian Kindsvater's legal thoughts on pop-ups as well, though that's a lesser issue for me, admittedly, not living in America or having my sites hosted there, and being subject to different legal considerations from many).

          I get many opting in on their second/third visits to the site, and I take great care not to lose those because they eventually provide a serious chunk of my income.

          Originally Posted by Devid Farah View Post

          Indeed it annoys most people that they are immediately offered the affiliate product for $10 less than they would have paid on the original page, often resulting in no sale at all as a result.
          Exactly the point that so many miss, in my opinion.

          When you show people a $10 discount on exit, you do two things:-

          (i) Make some of them feel that your initial offer was ripping them off if "this is the price you're really asking for it";

          (ii) Ensure that nobody will return and pay the full price, which of course some/many otherwise would, and do. It's extraordinary how some people just completely ignore this very real part of the cost.

          Exit discount pop-ups (unless realistically split-tested and proven, though Skepchick here strongly suspects they very rarely are!) are absolutely loopy: they more or less rest on the assumption that once someone's leaving the page anyway, they're not going to come back and buy later, which I know both from my own statistics/analysis and from common sense to be utter nonsense.
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      • Profile picture of the author theemperor
        Are you suggesting that people might dislike the fact that their window doesn't close when they click the "X", as it usually does with 99% of other apps and sites, but instead it pops up another window, the exact opposite of what said user wanted to achieve? How could anyone possibly find that annoying? I don't get it!

        </sarcasm>

        The spirit of those pop-ups (and the reason browsers still support them) is for programs like GMAIL where it can warn you to save before you exit. The browser companies (Microsoft, Firefox, Google, Apple) should de-support the exit pop-up feature, bar one instance where it has the fixed message "Are you sure you want to close this window. Any unsaved data will be lost". I think that would be a good step forward.
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        • Profile picture of the author Mark-Bull
          Now I can see why Internet Marketing is so hit or miss as with everything there is SO MANY variables, I Think I'm going to settle on and test a Light box pop up that shows up after say 10 seconds? HELP Whoever says making money from scratch online is easy???

          Best Regards

          Mark
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          • Profile picture of the author James Clark
            Well, my final thought. I love this business. Nothing is like waking up in the morning with a page full of notifications from Paypal about how much money you make the night before.

            Stop thinking of yourself as a Internet Marketer. Try thinking of yourself as one of the best "Tester" out there.

            test, test, test, and keep on testing.

            I hope the next time we hear from you is based on your own test results.
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          • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
            Originally Posted by Mark-Bull View Post

            Now I can see why Internet Marketing is so hit or miss as with everything there is SO MANY variables, I Think I'm going to settle on and test a Light box pop up that shows up after say 10 seconds? HELP Whoever says making money from scratch online is easy???

            Best Regards

            Mark
            Mark, the people who say that are generally the ones that think 'simple' and 'easy' are the same thing...
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  • Profile picture of the author auradev
    I have found that exit pop up do work well but just like anything else, if you are giving them a crappy offer, of course no one is going to want it or be interested.

    I like to use them to highlight something important in a different way. Like put a good video in there or something that re-enforces your message.

    Also, the action popup style is the one to use. Don't block the users navigation or steal focus, that like physically grabbing a customer as he walks out of your store. Totally inappropriate.
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  • Profile picture of the author Brukhar
    Exit popups are only as good as the product you're offering. But I think many people test clicking the x on a site just to see if there's a better final offer lol
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  • Profile picture of the author FivestarHB
    I have always wondered if somewhere in the bowels of the thousand-element algorithm of the big G is a "Decrease ranking for site with exit pop-up" element. Don't have anything to base this on, just a nervous paranoia. None of the big credible high PR brand name sites have exit pops. Although come to think of it, some of the newspaper PPV ads have some pretty intrusive rollover ads etc.
    Anyway, some of my sites have them, some don't. I have no measureable evidence to prove my theory.
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    • Profile picture of the author Mark-Bull
      Hi Warriors

      Well I've taken everything on-board and got rid of the ANNOYING exit pop,

      I've put my affiliate process on the optin script so now going to look at the either optin crusher or use a Lightbox pop-up that shows up after about 10 seconds to capture a few more optins,

      Any Thoughs on what's best?

      Best Regards

      Mark
      mark-bull.com
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  • Profile picture of the author Mark-Bull
    Pop ups are pretty much dead.
    Cheers for that, Can I please ask why you think this?

    Mark
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    • Profile picture of the author Mark-Bull
      Im looking for the least intrusive and fluid form of marketing so in your opinion what do you suggest a newbie do?

      Best Regards

      Mark
      I'm I asking for the Holy Grail of Internet Marketing asking this question, I really didnt mean to sound pushy, Sorry

      Best Regards

      Mark
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      • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
        Originally Posted by Mark-Bull View Post

        I'm I asking for the Holy Grail of Internet Marketing asking this question, I really didnt mean to sound pushy, Sorry

        Best Regards

        Mark
        Mark, the Catch-22 is that you are asking the question to people who can't give you a definitive answer.

        The only truly definitive answer will come from people voting with their credit cards...
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        • Profile picture of the author James Clark
          If I was going to use an exit pop-up my reason would be to get the language correct. Example: if a visitor is on your sales page and does not buy the product or service that you are offering, then ask them why?

          To me, it would make sense to ask them on their way out!

          It would be easy to design a little box that does not require them to give their name and email address, but comment on why they didn't opt-in or place an order with you.

          You'll will be surprised at the language you'll receive. So, take the language and insert it into the sales page and talk to them in their own words.

          What surprise me about the concept was how open they were about their reasons. When they don't have to give you any information about themselves the words just flow out.

          I have been working with some clients on this and have not tested on my own Blogs and website yet, but I'm going to when I get a chance.

          So far the clients that I have been working with are very pleased with the results and it gives us language we would have never thought of before.
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  • Profile picture of the author copylicious
    Exit pop ups are known to increase conversions by about 30%. Its def worth giving them a try.
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  • Exit pop ups work, one of our sites can attribute 40% of its sales to an exit pop up.

    They are only annoying if you are going from site to site and they all have an exit pop up, but remember that if you are offering a discount for example your visitor will love your pop up.

    Another thing is that you need to place them appropriately, remmeber they are targeting your exit traffic, the traffic you will never see again so don't worry about those comments advising you not use them, you're in business to make money.
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Internet_Corporation View Post

      Exit pop ups work, one of our sites can attribute 40% of its sales to an exit pop up.
      That's good, unless you're losing another 60% of potential sales, including all the people who would have returned and paid the full price, of course.

      Originally Posted by Internet_Corporation View Post

      They are only annoying if you are going from site to site and they all have an exit pop up
      I assure you that many people find them annoying under circumstances other than that, too. Including some of my customers, many of whom have expressly told me so.

      Originally Posted by Internet_Corporation View Post

      remember that if you are offering a discount for example your visitor will love your pop up.
      Unless he feels "The original offer was ripping me off, then, if this is the price he's really willing to sell it for".

      And remember, too, that once you've shown someone an exit discount, you've said goodbye, once and for all, to any possibility of them ever returning and paying the full price. You need to work out the cost of that.

      It's easy to assume, because a significant proportion of your sales come through an exit pop-up, that you're profiting from it. It's only an assumption. They might be mostly people who would have paid the full price next time. If you don't test in a way that allows for that (which isn't easy), you don't really learn what you need to know.

      Appearances, in this regard, can be very deceptive.
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  • Profile picture of the author PhoebeSmellyCat
    Hate those things. They scream, "no, mommy, don't go!!!"

    What I never understood about pop ups is this:

    Why is it "Okay" to leave and "Cancel" to stay?

    I'm so used to clicking "okay' as default for almost everything, even if I did want to stay, I still click "okay" by habit.
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  • Profile picture of the author jwardz
    I now have the perspective of buying from affiliates and now becoming one myself. I truly hate exit popups. If I had wanted to buy the program in the first place I would have. I just want to get on with my business. I found it insulting that the affiliate did not think I knew my own mind. I was on one site that actually had three exit popups, one right after the other and I could not wait until I got out of the page. I felt like I was being spammed. By the third popup I just clicked out of the Internet totally. I get this affiliate's emails still but won't open it for fear I will continually get popups (I just have not gotten around to unsubscribing).
    Now from an affiliate's point of view if it is a proven strategy, I may consider it. But does anyone really know what percentage of buyers reconsider because of a popup? Does anyone know of a study that has been done?
    Joan
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    • Profile picture of the author PhoebeSmellyCat
      Originally Posted by jwardz View Post

      Now from an affiliate's point of view if it is a proven strategy, I may consider it. But does anyone really know what percentage of buyers reconsider because of a popup? Does anyone know of a study that has been done?
      Joan
      Not sure about an affiliate's POV but from a consumer's side, I now try to exit every sale page just to see if I can get something for an extra $10 off.

      :rolleyes:
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    • Profile picture of the author WillR
      Originally Posted by jwardz View Post

      I truly hate exit popups.
      Originally Posted by PhoebeSmellyCat View Post

      Hate those things.
      You guys still aren't getting it. In marketing it does NOT matter what YOU think. The only thing that matters is what your customers think and what gives results.

      As I've said over and over again, you are probably seeing a ton of these things because of the industry you are in. The everyday person is not being exposed to things like this very often - and so they remain effective.

      Sure, as with any marketing technique there is a good way and a bad way to implement popups. But when used correctly they can definitely boost response rates.
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      • Profile picture of the author PhoebeSmellyCat
        Originally Posted by WillR View Post

        You guys still aren't getting it. In marketing it does NOT matter what YOU think. The only thing that matters is what your customers think and what gives results.
        Yes, I know what you meant.

        I am saying this from a customer's point of view. When I'm looking for info or products and a website grabs you by the ankles and won't let go, I want to just bash it over the head and get the hell out.

        Maybe it's just me, but it just seems like if a website is that desperate, the product must be crap.

        Edited to add:
        It's not just the IM market that uses this annoying tactic. I have come across it when shopping for physical items and non IM info.
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  • Profile picture of the author brandon2664
    I am very interested in trying it. I'm just scared it will add a negative or cheesy feel. If I do it I'm going to give a 10% off coupon before people leave my site. I will be able to track how effective it is with the coupon code. The only problem is that I don't want to piss off customers that paid in full.
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    • Profile picture of the author WillR
      Originally Posted by brandon2664 View Post

      I am very interested in trying it. I'm just scared it will add a negative or cheesy feel. If I do it I'm going to give a 10% off coupon before people leave my site. I will be able to track how effective it is with the coupon code. The only problem is that I don't want to piss off customers that paid in full.
      Rather than offer a 10% off coupon to people about to leave, why not offer them something of value like a free video or a short report in return for their email address. I'm thinking it would be a lot more effective than the 10% off coupon.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mark-Bull
    I've put my affiliate process on the optin script so now going to look at the either optin crusher or use a Lightbox pop-up that shows up after about 10 seconds to capture a few more optins,
    I agree that the misuse of the exit pop is damn frustrating, I've stumbled on many now I'm doing some research into them, So Any views on using the above methods?

    Best Regards

    Mark
    www.mark-bull.com
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    • Profile picture of the author Mark-Bull
      Sorry to hassle you all but please could someone help with the above when you get a chance...

      Cheers

      Mark
      www.Mark-Bull.com
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