What is a popup and why should you consider using one on your site?
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2024 3:41 am
If you've spent any time on the internet (and most people in the world have), you've probably seen a Popup block. Popups are popular because, well, they're very effective for website owners and can be very useful for website visitors. But what is a Popup, why do websites use Popups, what are the keys to using a Popup effectively, and is it a "popup" or a "pop-up" (or something else?!?!?)?
Well, at Hello Bar we are one of the first providers of popup windows, and therefore we know a thing or two about popups. So, you have come to the right place to learn all about popup windows and why you should consider using them (or, if you are already using them, how to use them more effectively).
Ready, set...let's grow. Here's what we'll cover:
What is a pop-up window?
Why do websites use pop-ups and why should you?
What can pop-up windows be used for?
Is this a pop-up or a pop-up window or something else?
What are the different pop-up formats?
How to add a popup to your website?
Is it possible to target pop-ups to a specific audience?
What are the pros and cons of pop-ups?
What are the best practices for creating effective pop-ups?
What is a pop-up window?
We'll talk about what a "Popup" is later, but first, let's define what a Popup is. A Popup is a small web page that sits on top of another web page.
This pop-up window can contain a variety of content and can be used to encourage different behaviors from website visitors. Pop-ups are called pop-ups because a very common way for these small web pages to appear is to "float" on the screen over content.
However, this is not the only way popups appear. Popups can appear next to content, on top of content, above content, below content, etc. In fact, the Hello Bar got its name because its original “Popup” was a simple ad bar at the top of a website. It was an incredibly effective way for website owners to provide updates and offers to website visitors, and the name became synonymous with this type of “Popup” at the top of a web page.
Other companies have since copied the Hello Bar because of its effectiveness. These small web pages on top of web pages can, if done correctly, be very effective in creating actions and behaviors in website visitors that benefit both the website owner and the website visitor.
Hello Bar got its name because it was originally a notice board at the top of a web page. Here's an early version that can be seen on Tim Ferriss' blog.
Screenshot of a website using an early version of Hello Bar
Hello Bar got its name because it was originally an ad bar at the top of whatsapp canada number a web page. Here's an early version that can be seen on Tim Ferriss' blog.
Why do websites use pop-ups and why should you?
Websites spend a lot of time and energy trying to get people to their website. But the reality is that only 1 in 100 people will ever take action on a website. There is a huge industry of agencies, freelancers, and experts who can help websites earn more traffic. And that’s great. Traffic is key if you want to grow your business. But what you do with your traffic is also important. Hello Bar co-founder Neil Patel puts it this way:
Neil Patel shares his thoughts on converting traffic into buyers
To grow an online business, you need to figure out how to attract traffic and then figure out how to convert that traffic into action. Pop-ups are one of the most effective ways to do this. They are usually fairly easy to add to a website, and they allow the marketer to test different messages, content, and links to encourage the desired actions of their users.
Without popups, website owners have to figure out how to manage these actions on a web page, and often they have to ask a web developer to help them do this. But with popups, a website owner can test specific messages and find a balance between creating action from visitors and providing value to those users.
So, whether you get traffic organically or through paid means, popups can be a great way to convert much of that traffic into leads, sales, email subscribers, and more.
Well, at Hello Bar we are one of the first providers of popup windows, and therefore we know a thing or two about popups. So, you have come to the right place to learn all about popup windows and why you should consider using them (or, if you are already using them, how to use them more effectively).
Ready, set...let's grow. Here's what we'll cover:
What is a pop-up window?
Why do websites use pop-ups and why should you?
What can pop-up windows be used for?
Is this a pop-up or a pop-up window or something else?
What are the different pop-up formats?
How to add a popup to your website?
Is it possible to target pop-ups to a specific audience?
What are the pros and cons of pop-ups?
What are the best practices for creating effective pop-ups?
What is a pop-up window?
We'll talk about what a "Popup" is later, but first, let's define what a Popup is. A Popup is a small web page that sits on top of another web page.
This pop-up window can contain a variety of content and can be used to encourage different behaviors from website visitors. Pop-ups are called pop-ups because a very common way for these small web pages to appear is to "float" on the screen over content.
However, this is not the only way popups appear. Popups can appear next to content, on top of content, above content, below content, etc. In fact, the Hello Bar got its name because its original “Popup” was a simple ad bar at the top of a website. It was an incredibly effective way for website owners to provide updates and offers to website visitors, and the name became synonymous with this type of “Popup” at the top of a web page.
Other companies have since copied the Hello Bar because of its effectiveness. These small web pages on top of web pages can, if done correctly, be very effective in creating actions and behaviors in website visitors that benefit both the website owner and the website visitor.
Hello Bar got its name because it was originally a notice board at the top of a web page. Here's an early version that can be seen on Tim Ferriss' blog.
Screenshot of a website using an early version of Hello Bar
Hello Bar got its name because it was originally an ad bar at the top of whatsapp canada number a web page. Here's an early version that can be seen on Tim Ferriss' blog.
Why do websites use pop-ups and why should you?
Websites spend a lot of time and energy trying to get people to their website. But the reality is that only 1 in 100 people will ever take action on a website. There is a huge industry of agencies, freelancers, and experts who can help websites earn more traffic. And that’s great. Traffic is key if you want to grow your business. But what you do with your traffic is also important. Hello Bar co-founder Neil Patel puts it this way:
Neil Patel shares his thoughts on converting traffic into buyers
To grow an online business, you need to figure out how to attract traffic and then figure out how to convert that traffic into action. Pop-ups are one of the most effective ways to do this. They are usually fairly easy to add to a website, and they allow the marketer to test different messages, content, and links to encourage the desired actions of their users.
Without popups, website owners have to figure out how to manage these actions on a web page, and often they have to ask a web developer to help them do this. But with popups, a website owner can test specific messages and find a balance between creating action from visitors and providing value to those users.
So, whether you get traffic organically or through paid means, popups can be a great way to convert much of that traffic into leads, sales, email subscribers, and more.