We’ve all experienced it—landing on a website and being met with a popup before the page even finishes loading.
It’s jarring.
It interrupts what you were trying to do.
It feels more like a roadblock than a helpful tool.
So it’s no surprise that many business owners go back and forth about whether to add popups to their website. Will it annoy potential customers? Make the business seem pushy? Hurt their reputation?
The hesitation makes sense. We hear this all the time—smart business owners who want to grow leads, but don’t want to risk looking desperate or spammy. And honestly, they’re right to be cautious.
But popups are not inherently bad. They’re just often used… badly.
When they’re done with intention, popups can guide visitors, build trust, and even boost conversions.
The key is knowing when to use them—and how to do it right.
The best popups feel like a natural next step, not a disruption. When they’re well-timed and offer real value, they can actually improve the user experience.
Take cart abandonment popups, for example.
They appear when someone’s about to leave without checking out, offering a reminder—or a small incentive—to complete their purchase. These popups convert at an average rate of 17.12%.
One great example? Porcobrado, an Italian street food vendor, uses playful copy (“the pig feels lonely”), bold visuals, and a clear CTA to bring their popup to life. It feels branded and intentional, not intrusive, and that’s exactly what makes it work.
Or consider offering a free resource like an ebook or checklist. These popups average a 7.49% conversion rate, and when it’s tied to the page content, it feels helpful, not spammy.
OptiMonk uses this strategy well with a full-page popup offering a free ebook. The design is bold and hard to ignore, but the offer makes it feel worth the interruption. It’s a strong example of how value can balance visibility, and why free resources are still one of the best ways to build your list.
Even a quick feedback popup can go a long way. Visitors often welcome the chance to share their thoughts, especially when the ask is short, simple, and respectful of their time.
These popups convert at 12.62% on average, and they do more than just gather data. They show that your business values input, pays attention, and is committed to improving the experience. That’s the kind of consistency that builds trust.
Bottom line? Popups that are:
…are far more likely to help than hurt.
On the flip side, popups that show up too soon, block content, or feel like a hard sell tend to do more harm than good.
They create friction, increase bounce rates, and chip away at trust. If they’re intrusive on mobile, Google may penalize your website in search results, which makes the situation even worse.
Here’s where popups usually go wrong:
Even formats with high conversion potential—like countdown timers or gamified “spin the wheel” popups—can fall flat if they feel out of place.
The problem isn’t just that a bad popup is annoying—it’s that it undermines trust. If your website experience feels sloppy or outdated, visitors won’t stick around long enough to find out how great your product or service actually is.
Just because a popup works for someone else doesn’t mean it fits your business. Relevance and brand alignment matter more than trendiness.
There’s no universal yes or no. A better question is:
Do you have a reason to use them—and a plan to use them well?
In our experience, the highest-performing popups feel like a continuation of the page, not a sudden interruption.
One of the most common mistakes we see? Adding a popup that feels like a completely different conversation. That disconnect is what makes people click away before they’ve even read the message.
Popups work best when:
The best popups don’t just demand attention.
They guide people toward the next step—whether that’s downloading a resource, completing a purchase, or offering feedback.
So if you’re going to use popups, make them worth the click.
Keep them helpful, well-timed, and part of a larger strategy that actually supports your business goals.
I’m not sure if popups belong on your website, or how to use them without turning people off.
Ok, you keep hearing that your website is the front door of your business but you just don’t see it. Most of your business comes from referrals and your website is just there. This limits you at only being able to reach the people you can yourself. On top of the fact that when the people you meet see your site, it gives an impression of what it will be like working with you.
You should be confident that your site is up to date, searchable on Google and tells the story as well as you do.
The problem is that your nephew doesn’t have enough experience, you have to manage the freelancer and you don’t want to pay for an expensive site redesign.
The truth is you’re tired of having a website that breaks and is not generating business.
Maintaining your website should be easy. Now it can be. Reach out to learn more about how our team can help you today!
