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Pop-up best practices

Pop-ups are an effective way to collect new subscribers - if done right. Let’s take a look at a few best practices.

Updated over 2 months ago

Pop-up types

There are two types of popups, we recommend to use for WhatsApp subscriber collection.

Welcome pop-up

Creates an engaging first impression

High visibility

Gives conversion booster (WhatsApp discount) before visitor starts browsing

Can be timed to appear at the moment opportune moment

Can be easily set up with charles. See Newsletter popup

Exit intent pop-up

Doesn’t distract from initial browsing

Uses last chance to pursue visitors to stay

Draws attention as users is actively engaging with the site

Designing your pop-up

There are 2 main goals to keep in mind when designing your pop-up:

  1. Attractiveness

    • Communicate the immediate reward for signing up (e.g. discount) and/or the long-term value subscribers get through your WhatsApp channel (e.g. exclusive offers, best deals)

  2. Make clear what happens

    • People aren’t always used to WhatsApp sign-ups. Manage their expectations by telling them how it works (e.g. “click the button to open WhatsApp”)

💪 Pro tips:

Title

  • Must catch the attention of your web visitors

  • Mention the biggest benefit to subscribing to your WhatsApp channel (discounts, special drops, etc.)

Image

  • Should showcase your products

  • Give some “social proof” (e.g. pictures of happy customers) or highlight the reward for signing up

Call-to-Action (CTA) button

  • Should redirect to WhatsApp via WA.ME link

  • State a compelling reason to do so

Description

  • Clearly ****explain the value of signing up

  • Process is also outlined clearly

Recommended A/B tests

You should only test one component at a time

You can test different popups against each other over time. Or show different versions to parts of your website traffic (not possible with charles. Your third-party pop-up provider needs to offer this feature)

Signup reward

Offer users different rewards for signup and see what they respond best to.

Possibilities include:

  • Different amount of discounts

  • Free shipping

  • Raffle to win free product

  • Premium access to sales events

  • No reward

CTA button text

Without changing the signup reward, test different text on your call-to-action button.

Possibilities include:

  • “Subscribe”, “sign-up”, “join”

  • “Save now”, “get your discount”, “save 10% now”

  • “Sign-up via WhatsApp”, “go to WhatsApp for your reward”

Image

See how focusing on different elements of the image changes conversion.

Possibilities include:

  • Focus on product

  • Focus on the reward users get for signing up

  • Focus on happy customers

  • Try combining the ideas above (e.g. product + reward)

Description text

The text on a pop-up can be used to give additional information.

Possibilities include:

  • Focus on the value of your WhatsApp channel

  • Focus on the reward for signup

  • Focus on the mechanics of signing up

Harmonize WhatsApp and email subscriber collection

Most brands already have an email newsletter pop-up in place so, when planning your WhatsApp pop-up, you may be thinking “what about my emails?”

No worries, here are 3 strategies for how brands successfully answer this question.

WhatsApp on mobile, email on desktop

An email newsletter signups requires users to type their email and confirm the subscription in through an email sent to their inbox.

On mobile devices, people do not like to type or actively switch applications. Data from some of our brands show that WhatsApp signups are perceived as more seamless and lead to more conversions when offered for mobile users.

The opposite can be observed for desktop users. As opening WhatsApp on desktop requires users to have the app and needs more clicks. Email signups are easier and more effective.

Set your WhatsApp pop-up to only show on mobile and your email pop-up to only show on desktop

Offer both 😉

Giving users what they want is key to a brands success!

2-step signup

One after the other!

Most third-party providers allow the creation of pop-ups with several steps of giving information.

Use this feature to first ask for email, then for the WhatsApp signup from your customers.

See how to do it with Klaviyo: Collect subscribers with Klaviyo Forms

Inspiration

Want to see how our clients do it? Check out Popup inspiration 🤩

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