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- How to Make Your Pop-Ups Convert Like Crazy
How to Make Your Pop-Ups Convert Like Crazy
Crys A.
March 26, 2025
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In today’s newsletter
Pop-ups work... if you don’t mess them up
Pricing Psychology: why charging more can earn you more 💰
Prevent coupon abuse, protect your profits
143 A/B testing ideas for Shopify stores
Done-for-you social media
Latest News: AI translates retail jargon into shopper-friendly content
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Pop-ups work... if you don’t mess them up
You know, one of the things I tell brands is when they ask me about why their pop-up opt-in rates are low, I tell them, “Pop-ups aren’t the problem. Annoying pop-ups are.” And most brands are out here throwing them up all over the place like it’s still 2010. And some of them are absolutely chaotic and cluttered. Fastest way to lose a potential customer.
Here’s how to do them right:
Don't shove them in people’s faces. Nobody wants to see a pop-up the second they land on your site. Let them chill for a bit. Show the pop-up when they’ve actually scrolled through your page or if they’re about to leave. Or bring it up AT LEAST after 6-7s. Timing’s everything.
Make the offer worth their time. First time visitor? Hit them with a discount or something valuable. Returning customer? Show them bundles, subscriptions, or special offers. Make it feel like it was made for them.
Keep it stupid simple. No one’s here to read an essay. Clear headline, good offer, clean design. That’s it. Anything more, and you’re just complicating it.
If you’d like to collects not just emails, but also phone numbers, DO NOT ask for them both in the same pop-up. That’s too much ask for from someone that’s barely heard of you (new visitors).
Here’s the thing: some people would have likely shared their email with you, but seeing that you were asking for email + number, that was too much for them. But, you can definitely take that risk AFTER you’ve collected their emails, just like you see below. It’s like a tiny funnel, and the offer is actually very appealing too. I mean, if I can upgrade my discount to 15% instead of the 10%, I’d be very inclined to do so.
Here’s a really good example:
Test, test, test. The pop-up you love doesn’t matter. The one that converts does. Test the headline, the offer, the timing, all of it. And keep testing.
Mobile matters. If your pop-up sucks on mobile, it just sucks, period. Please optimise it for mobile, and keep it simple.
Easy to exit. MAKE SURE that if people want to exit the pop-up, they can easily do so by clicking the X icon, or it should ideally close even if they click outside.
CTA. After they’ve shared the email and the phone, or if you just collect the emails, what happens next? Give them a call-to-action button, and ask them to “Keep Shopping”, or test something more creative. Just tell them what to do next before you lose them on the pop-up itself.
Look, I get it. Pop-ups can natively feel a bit annoying, but they do work if you get it right.
Alright folks, that’s it for today!
-Ibrahim
Pricing Psychology: why charging more can earn you more 💰
This is actually a known fact in psychology, that is, cheapest does not always mean that it will convert better than the expensive offer, even if everything else, the product, the LPs, is all the same.
Ash breaks down this thread quite well on X.
Prevent coupon abuse, protect your profits
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143 A/B testing ideas for Shopify stores
If you’re on the lookout for fresh ideas to optimize your Shopify store, you need to check out this fantastic blog post by ConvertCart. It’s packed with over 100 A/B testing ideas that you can immediately test for your store. It’s simple and actionable.
Here are a few tests that particularly caught our eye:
1. Hero section layout and messaging
The hero header is often the first point of contact for customers, especially first-time visitors.
A: Make the messaging about a bundle
B: Make the messaging about a back-in-stock bestseller
Whereas Shopify brand Blume prefers to work with the former…
…another Shopify brand Beardbrand frequently tests out back-in-stock arrivals in their hero section:
2. Featured collections placement & content
To see real Shopify A/B testing success, you’ve got to test how well highlighting product collections on the homepage is working—these collections could potentially include bestsellers, gift sets, seasonal drops or even dynamically picked trending items.
A: Feature descriptive labels for the collections
B: Feature emotional labels for the collections
Whereas Shopify brand Colourpop sticks to descriptive labels like “trending on social” and “shop X collection”...
Pura Vida Bracelets, which is yet another Shopify business, chooses to name their collections in a way that elicits an emotional & connected response:
3. Navigation menu structure
Without effective product discovery, there are no conversions. And that means your Shopify A/B testing for the discovery stage needs to lay more focus on what happens within the primary menu.
A: Display a simple 1 layer menu
B: Display a mega menu
Shopify brand Allbirds sticks to the first variant as a practice, and helps shoppers discover products through other means like highlighting the current bestsellers right under the first fold…
…whereas Shopify brand Chubbies maintains a simple two-layer mega menu across each of its major categories, making the most of the structure by showcasing quick links on the side:
Testing isn’t just a checkbox—it’s the engine for growth. Every test you run offers invaluable insights into your audience’s behavior, helping you refine your approach and drive conversions.
Remember, test one element at a time so you know exactly what’s moving the needle.
Founders, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and experiment. Dive into these tests, apply them to your store, and let data guide your growth strategy. Happy testing!
The link below has over a 100 ideas for you to test for your brand.
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📰 In the news
AI is transforming retail by converting complex product information and technical jargon into simple, engaging, and shopper-friendly content. This improves product discovery, reduces confusion, and enhances the customer experience. For eCommerce and DTC brands, using AI to simplify product descriptions can boost conversions, reduce cart abandonment, and build stronger customer trust.
TikTok is launching Smart Plus, an in-stream eCommerce service that automates customer service, manages orders, and processes returns for sellers. The platform aims to streamline eCommerce operations, allowing merchants to focus on scaling their business. DTC brands selling on TikTok can leverage Smart Plus to improve customer satisfaction, reduce operational workload, and drive higher conversions.
Have any questions that you need help with?
Ask here - look out for Friday’s issue where Ibrahim will answer them.