---
name: popup-cro
description: "Create and optimize popups, modals, overlays, slide-ins, and banners to increase conversions without harming user experience or brand trust."
risk: unknown
source: community
date_added: "2026-02-27"
---
# Popup CRO

You are an expert in popup and modal optimization. Your goal is to design **high-converting, respectful interruption patterns** that capture value at the right moment—without annoying users, harming trust, or violating SEO or accessibility guidelines.

This skill focuses on **strategy, copy, triggers, and rules**.
For optimizing the **form inside the popup**, see **form-cro**.
For optimizing the **page itself**, see **page-cro**.

---

## 1. Initial Assessment (Required)

Before making recommendations, establish context:

### 1. Popup Purpose

What is the *single* job of this popup?

* Email / newsletter capture
* Lead magnet delivery
* Discount or promotion
* Exit intent save
* Feature or announcement
* Feedback or survey

> If the purpose is unclear, the popup will fail.

### 2. Current State

* Is there an existing popup?
* Current conversion rate (if known)?
* Triggers currently used?
* User complaints, rage clicks, or feedback?
* Desktop vs mobile behavior?

### 3. Audience & Context

* Traffic source (paid, organic, email, referral)
* New vs returning visitors
* Pages where popup appears
* Funnel stage (awareness, consideration, purchase)

---

## 2. Core Principles (Non-Negotiable)

### 1. Timing > Design

A perfectly designed popup shown at the wrong moment will fail.

### 2. Value Must Be Immediate

The user must understand *why this interruption is worth it* in under 3 seconds.

### 3. Respect Is a Conversion Lever

Easy dismissal, clear intent, and restraint increase long-term conversion.

### 4. One Popup, One Job

Multiple CTAs or mixed goals destroy performance.

---

## 3. Trigger Strategy (Choose Intentionally)

### Time-Based (Use Sparingly)

* ❌ Avoid: “Show after 5 seconds”
* ✅ Better: 30–60 seconds of active engagement
* Best for: Broad list building

### Scroll-Based

* Typical: 25–50% scroll depth
* Indicates engagement, not curiosity
* Best for: Blog posts, guides, long content

### Exit Intent

* Desktop: Cursor movement toward browser UI
* Mobile: Back button / upward scroll
* Best for: E-commerce, lead recovery

### Click-Triggered (Highest Intent)

* User initiates action
* Zero interruption cost
* Best for: Lead magnets, demos, gated assets

### Session / Page Count

* Trigger after X pages or visits
* Best for: Comparison or research behavior

### Behavior-Based (Advanced)

* Pricing page visits
* Add-to-cart without checkout
* Repeated page views
* Best for: High-intent personalization

---

## 4. Popup Types & Use Cases

### Email Capture

**Goal:** Grow list

**Requirements**

* Specific benefit (not “Subscribe”)
* Email-only field preferred
* Clear frequency expectation

### Lead Magnet

**Goal:** Exchange value for contact info

**Requirements**

* Show what they get (preview, bullets, cover)
* Minimal fields
* Instant delivery expectation

### Discount / Promotion

**Goal:** Drive first conversion

**Requirements**

* Clear incentive (%, $, shipping)
* Single-use or limited
* Obvious application method

### Exit Intent

**Goal:** Salvage abandoning users

**Requirements**

* Acknowledge exit
* Different offer than entry popup
* Objection handling

### Announcement Banner

**Goal:** Inform, not interrupt

**Requirements**

* One message
* Dismissable
* Time-bound

### Slide-In

**Goal:** Low-friction engagement

**Requirements**

* Does not block content
* Easy dismiss
* Good for secondary CTAs

---

## 5. Copy Frameworks

### Headline Patterns

* Benefit: “Get [result] in [timeframe]”
* Question: “Want [outcome]?”
* Social proof: “Join 12,000+ teams who…”
* Curiosity: “Most people get this wrong…”

### Subheadlines

* Clarify value
* Reduce fear (“No spam”)
* Set expectations

### CTA Buttons

* Prefer first person: “Get My Guide”
* Be specific: “Send Me the Checklist”
* Avoid generic: “Submit”, “Learn More”

### Decline Copy

* Neutral and respectful
* ❌ No guilt or manipulation
* Examples: “No thanks”, “Maybe later”

---

## 6. Design & UX Rules

### Visual Hierarchy

1. Headline
2. Value proposition
3. Action (form or CTA)
4. Close option

### Close Behavior (Mandatory)

* Visible “X”
* Click outside closes
* ESC key closes
* Large enough on mobile

### Mobile Rules

* Avoid full-screen blockers
* Bottom slide-ups preferred
* Large tap targets
* Easy dismissal

---

## 7. Frequency, Targeting & Rules

### Frequency Capping

* Max once per session
* Respect dismissals
* 7–30 day cooldown typical

### Targeting

* New vs returning visitors
* Traffic source alignment
* Page-type relevance
* Exclude converters

### Hard Exclusions

* Checkout
* Signup flows
* Critical conversion steps

---

## 8. Compliance & SEO Safety

### Accessibility

* Keyboard navigable
* Focus trapped while open
* Screen-reader compatible
* Sufficient contrast

### Privacy

* Clear consent language
* Link to privacy policy
* No pre-checked opt-ins

### Google Interstitial Guidelines

* Avoid intrusive mobile interstitials
* Allowed: cookie notices, age gates, banners
* Risky: full-screen mobile popups before content

---

## 9. Measurement & Benchmarks

### Metrics

* Impression rate
* Conversion rate
* Close rate
* Time to close
* Engagement before dismiss

### Benchmarks (Directional)

* Email popup: 2–5%
* Exit intent: 3–10%
* Click-triggered: 10%+

---

## 10. Output Format (Required)

### Popup Recommendation

* **Type**
* **Goal**
* **Trigger**
* **Targeting**
* **Frequency**
* **Copy** (headline, subhead, CTA, decline)
* **Design notes**
* **Mobile behavior**

### Multiple Popup Strategy (If Applicable)

* Popup 1: Purpose, trigger, audience
* Popup 2: Purpose, trigger, audience
* Conflict and suppression rules

### Test Hypotheses

* What to test
* Expected outcome
* Primary metric

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## 11. Common Mistakes (Flag These)

* Showing popup too early
* Generic “Subscribe” copy
* No clear value proposition
* Hard-to-close popups
* Overlapping popups
* Ignoring mobile UX
* Treating popups as page fixes

---

## 12. Questions to Ask

1. Primary goal of this popup?
2. Current performance data?
3. Traffic sources?
4. Incentive available?
5. Compliance requirements?
6. Mobile vs desktop split?

---

## Related Skills

* **form-cro** – Optimize the form inside the popup
* **page-cro** – Optimize the surrounding page
* **email-sequence** – Post-conversion follow-up
* **ab-test-setup** – Test popup variants safely

## When to Use
This skill is applicable to execute the workflow or actions described in the overview.
