Pop-Ups

Do Pop-Ups (at your own site) work in getting newsletter subscribers (or for other reasons) ?

Or,

Do you think that they annoy people and will prevent them from coming back to your site ?

A big question, I know, but, I have heard both opinions in the past. Anyone have any good or bad stories here, or available facts on the subject ?

Thank you.

Ken Black
http://golfrevelations.com

Hi,

I'm too pressed for time to write a complete message but here's some facts:

* Google's the lead SE and sets (and will continue to set) the pattern for others...

* Google's new Toolbar seems to contain an exit console killer:

From the documentation:

"The onUnload JavaScript event is most often used to open pop-up windows as you leave a page, which can be an annoyance. The following feature will clear the onUnload event after loading each page."

* The Pro version of a lead software firewall also takes it onto itself to kill popups (that's what I heard, I haven't verified it, so I didn't write the name of the software).

* Google and the Firewall maker no doubt have good intention. The Road To H*LL Is Paved With Good Intentions.

* I'm personally not relying on exit consoles for my bread 'N' butter. Instead I'm moving to two kinds of "inline popups" (not sure what they should be called) that can't be defeated by anti-commerce measures.

* The best way to look at the popup issue is as it relates to the "hard sell"--if a webmaster makes more money using the hard sell than the soft sell, then use the hard sell techniques like popups. Webmasters: do your buyers visit your site multiple times before buying? If so, sell as hard as you can without discouraging future visits.

Just my opinions, feedback is welcomed and requested,

- Boyd

Ken,

They are working great for me on several of my websites. I will stop using them when they stop working.

Do a test. If you results are anything like most peoples you'll be sorry you didn't use them sooner.

Of course the more compelling the "offer" in the pop up the better the results.

Ron Ruiz
The Business Fastlane


101+ True (and Often Unusual) Stories of Who Is Making Money and How They Are Doing It!

I have been irritated with pop ups since I first laid eyes on them. When I go to a site I have a specific purpose. If I want to sign up for a newsletter, I will do so via a link or fill out a simple form.

Then again I am not as patient as some web surfers. I know what I want and I go get it and kick aside any obstacles (pop ups). Other visitors who are more patient will probably stop to read the pop up. If a site has too many of them, I more than likely will not return.

As mentioned before - test it out. If it works for you keep it up. If not, well at least you tried.

Dennis Anglin


Learn how to create a Killer Mini Site that sells like crazy!

pop-under script....

That's where the new window appears underneath your browser window, so you can't see it immediately. But it will become visible when the person closes the window....

I find them less annoying than pop-ups, personally. Are they still effective? You'll have to test and see....

I've linked below to a free pop-under script, in case you want to try it out....

- Dien Rice


Javascript pop-under generator....

> If I want to sign
> up for a newsletter, I will do so via a link
> or fill out a simple form.

Many, if not all, of the pop ups are for things NOT linked to in the normal way.

If I don't know it's there, how can I sign up for it? (for pop ups that appear when I leave) Why not let me know the thing is available BEFORE letting me know as I'm going out the door?

And as for pop ups that appear as soon as you enter... I kill 'em before they have a chance to load.

Now here's an interesting thought... if pop ups work so well, WHY do they appear on web sites with endlessly scrolling pages of sales copy, in most cases?

I mean, the site basically has two pages - a long sales page and a very short pop up page. If pop ups works so well, shouldn't that be an indication the sales page may do better if it were shorter?

Online, my time is pressed and text on a screen is harder to read than text on paper. I prefer shorter sales copy. If I am interested I'll buy. If not, no amount of copy will change my mind because I won't/don't read it.

Quick Survey:

How many people read the entire sales letter when it is one of those really really long ones?

Or do you read the initial bits and then scroll to the bottom looking for an order link and/or price?

How many people read the entire sales letter when it is short?

I kill pop ups as soon as I am aware they are starting. So what? I'm probably NOT your target market, so what I do shouldn't be used as a guide in deciding whether you will have pop ups or not.

Michael Ross.

I would have to concur with you on the l-o-n-g sales copy. Even in the trade journals I cannot recount a single time I ever read one of those entire full page ads.

As in selling face-to-face, you need to know WHEN to ask for the order. You cannot simply keep talking and talking, selling and selling. I know. I've done it! I've seen those *glassy eyes* glazing over on my prospect and suddenly find myself where I cannot extricate myself! So I have to continue on... Talk about being awkward!

Same holds true in online sales copy. Time is of the essence. It isn't as if you're sitting in your recliner thumbing through an article or magazine at your leisure. You're in a hurry and impatient if a page takes too long to load! Whiz-bang!!! You're OUTTA THERE!

My sales copy is naturally succinct. Long enough to get the point across, yet short enough not to bore the masses. According to my stats, I'm still getting close to a 1:3 sign up ratio without the use of pop-ups. Personally, I can live with that.

My upcoming site will not start with a pop-up since I am desiring data based upon the text itself. After a baseline is established I will test different items, one being pop-ups.

Consider me an advocate of the shorter, more concise copy rather than the l-o-n-g tiring version. Of course I am a fan of bullets in the long copy! Keeps me from having to read your "Killer Copy"!!!

Success and Regards... Mike


Sales Copy That 's J - u - s - t Right!!!

I most definitely am more interested if the copy is short and to the point. I have been to some sites where the product is interesting enough, but the copy was s-o-o-o-o long I got bored of reading and left.

I also agree with you that a lot of sites that have the long copy seem to have pop ups. Interesting.

Dennis Anglin

Michael - I can't think of one instance where I have read a really long sales letter from start to finish in one sitting; I much prefer the shorter pitch!

We sell gifts and jewellery in our little shop .... sometimes people need to be pitched! other times you have to step back and allow them to buy; without any interference. Breaking their concentration with loads of waffle definitely can lose sales.

The trouble with the net is you can't see someone's face and gauge their interest. It's going to be impossible to find the one solution which fits all. I find that if I am really interested in a product, I quite often go back and read the information a couple of times before I make up my mind to buy.

Margaret

Ken --

Sorry that I can't give you stats on this but here's our take.

When a website is working well, we'd be scared out of our heads to add pop-ups ... why annoy people who are already buying?

On the other hand, I wouldn't hesitate to experiment with them on a site that was a dead dog ... in the hopes of breathing some life into it.

Personally, I cross off sites with pop-ups -- no more visits from me (unless they have something that absolutely nobody else has ... and that is very rare!)

-- Phil


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