Stop Using Pop-Ups

Imagine you’re walking down the street, heading to your favorite coffee shop. Suddenly, someone jumps in front of you, blocking your path, and starts pitching a product. You didn’t ask for it, and now you’re irritated because your flow was disrupted. That’s exactly what popups do to users on a website.

Popups might offer short-term benefits like increased signups, but the cost is high. From a UX perspective, they’re the digital equivalent of being stopped in your tracks, intrusive and disrespectful. These tactics can make users feel frustrated or even manipulated, which is why they’re often considered a dark pattern in UX. Dark patterns are design choices that prioritize short-term gains over user experience, and popups are one of the most common offenders.

Sure, some marketers argue that popups boost conversion rates. But ask yourself: is a small bump in signups worth alienating a significant portion of your audience? For every person who signs up, there are many others who leave your site in frustration.

There are better ways to drive engagement without annoying your users. Embedded forms, for example, allow users to sign up on their own terms, without feeling interrupted. Content upgrades are another tactic, offering something valuable in exchange for an email, but only when the user is ready.

Ultimately, it’s about respect. Respect your users’ time, attention, and their choice to engage with your content. That’ll build trust, which in the long run is worth much more than a temporary spike in leads.

Helpful Tip
Consider A/B testing different lead generation techniques, such as embedded forms and exit-intent offers, to see which ones provide the best balance between conversion and user experience.

Boost your leads without the frustration of popups.