Pop-ups have a bit of a bad reputation. When overused or poorly designed, they can frustrate users and drive them away. But here’s the catch: pop-ups work — and they work incredibly well. Studies show that well-designed pop-ups can increase email sign-ups by up to 50% and boost conversion rates by as much as 9.28%

At TodayMade, we understand that the key to effective pop-ups lies in their design. A pop-up that’s aesthetically pleasing, strategically placed, and perfectly timed can enhance user experience and drive meaningful engagement. 

This article dives into the world of pop-ups, showcasing best pop up examples from various industries while sharing actionable design tips to make them more effective. Ready to transform your website’s engagement? Let’s get started!

Why pop-up design matters

The success of a pop-up lies in its ability to guide users without disrupting their journey. Striking this balance requires more than just aesthetic appeal — it demands strategic thinking. From timing to placement, every element of a pop-up influences its impact.

Let’s dive into how thoughtful design and strategic implementation transform pop-ups from potential irritants into powerful tools for driving engagement and conversions.

• Pop-ups influence user user behavior

Beyond grabbing attention, pop-ups strategically encourage users to perform specific actions, such as subscribing to newsletters, completing purchases, or downloading resources. For instance, a case study by OptiMonk revealed that implementing exit-intent pop-ups led to a 62% increase in subscription rates for a Hungarian marketing company, Marketing 112.

• The balancing act: Engagement vs. disruption

Design plays a crucial role in determining whether a pop-up enhances or hinders user experience. Poorly timed or irrelevant pop-ups can feel intrusive and damage a website’s credibility. The key lies in striking a balance:

– Timing: Ensure pop-ups appear at appropriate moments, such as after users have engaged with content or when they're about to exit the page. For example, Sleeknote's research indicates that mobile pop-ups shown after a 6-second delay have higher conversion rates than those displayed immediately.

– Relevance: Customize pop-ups to align with user intent, making them feel like helpful suggestions rather than interruptions. A study by Sumo found that the average conversion rate for all pop-ups is about 3.09%, but this rate can increase significantly with targeted and relevant messaging.

• Pop-up design elevates user experience

At TodayMade, we've observed that thoughtful pop-up design can significantly enhance user experience. Features such as clean layouts, intuitive navigation, and compelling calls-to-action (CTAs) ensure pop-ups integrate seamlessly into the website. For example, Lilach Bullock achieved a 57% conversion rate with a simple, text-only pop-up that aligned with her site's design and messaging.

So, a well-designed pop-up not only respects the user's journey but also enhances it, acting as a bridge between their needs and your goals. How do we know if it’s well-designed? Let’s explore effective pop-up design examples together.

Pop-up categories and examples

Pop-ups come in many forms, each tailored to specific user behaviors and goals. Below, we explore six popular types of pop-ups, complete with real-world examples and actionable design tips to make the most of them.

1. Welcome pop-ups

These are the friendly greetings of the digital world, appearing when users first land on a website. They’re perfect for offering a warm introduction, discounts, or special deals to new visitors.

Tips for effective welcome pop-ups:

• Time them to appear within 5–10 seconds of a user landing on the page.
• Keep the message short and visually appealing.
• Include a clear and enticing CTA.

Here are several welcome website pop-up examples:

Bookshop – discount for next order

This website popup offers first-time visitors a 5% discount on their next order. It’s an excellent example of how a small incentive can encourage purchases. Especially for new users exploring the platform for the first time, it will be a pretty warm, welcoming message.

Madewell – sign up for a newsletter

Madewell shows a great pop-up message example. The wording is designed to draw attention, making it clear why users should subscribe and what they stand to gain.

Tentree – choose your location

Tentree uses a location-based pop-up to enhance user experience. By asking visitors to confirm their region instantly, the brand avoids wasting time for users in areas where shipping isn’t available.

Pandora – pushing to log in

Pandora’s log-in pop up window example encourages users to sign up or log in before continuing. It highlights benefits like quicker checkout and exclusive offers, demonstrating value for both the user and the business.

2. Exit-intent pop-ups

These pop-ups are triggered when a user is about to leave the site, aiming to retain their attention with compelling offers or reminders.

Tips for effective exit-intent pop-ups:

• Use a bold, eye-catching headline to grab attention instantly.
• Create a sense of urgency with limited-time offers or countdown timers.
• Ensure the pop-up design aligns with your website’s branding.

The Product Manager – invitation to live Q&A

This exit-intent pop-up invites users to join a live Q&A session. It’s an effective way to re-engage users who are about to leave, providing them with valuable interaction opportunities.

Picreel – showing value

Another example of an exit-intent pop-up, Picreel uses bold text to communicate the value users might miss out on by leaving the site. The design immediately captures attention and emphasizes value.

HidrateSpark – offering discount

HidrateSpark pairs a discount offer with a real user testimonial, effectively combining monetary value with social proof. This strategy can persuade hesitant users to reconsider leaving the website.

3. Lead generation pop-ups

Designed to grow your email list or gather valuable customer information, these pop-ups often offer incentives like free downloadable resources or exclusive access.

Tips for effective lead generation pop-ups:

• Ensure your website visitors can instantly understand what you offer and its value.
• Use social proof (e.g., “Join 20,000+ subscribers”) to build trust.
• Ensure forms are short and easy to complete.

Eleken – offering free eBook

Designed by TodayMade, Eleken’s scroll-triggered pop-up promotes a free eBook relevant to the blog content. It’s visually appealing, clearly communicates the value, and blends seamlessly with the site’s design.

ConvertFlow – offering free guide

ConvertFlow offers a lead-generation pop-up with a free guide. The design is visually striking, and the minimal input required (just an email address) makes it an appealing and effective approach. 

The large pop-up ensures visibility, while the smaller version provides a less intrusive option.

Incu – joining the community

Incu goes beyond simple email collection by also gathering names and shopping preferences (menswear or womenswear). This additional data enables highly personalized email campaigns. The pop-up effectively lists the benefits of joining the community, such as exclusive offers and updates, providing compelling reasons for users to subscribe.

4. Sale and promotion pop-ups

These are used to showcase flash sales, special promotions, or exclusive deals.

Tips for effective sale pop-ups:

• Incorporate countdown timers for time-sensitive deals.
• Use vibrant visuals to draw attention.
• Ensure the pop-up is mobile-friendly for users on the go.

So, let’s take a look at some pop up ads examples.

Elfsight – promoting Black Friday sale

Elfsight’s small, unintrusive pop-up effectively informs users about their Black Friday sale. The design is compact yet attention-grabbing, ensuring users don’t miss the ongoing seasonal offer without cluttering the website.

By the way, we’ve got plenty of last-minute Black Friday marketing ideas gathered in one place. 

SwissWatchExpo – limited personal discount

This pop-up leverages urgency and exclusivity by including a countdown timer and messaging like “it’s yours.” The combination motivates users to act quickly, making it an excellent example of how time-sensitive discounts can drive sales.

Senja – promoting a webinar

Senja uses a pop-up to inform visitors about an upcoming webinar. This approach ensures maximum visibility and boosts attendance by quickly engaging users and presenting the event details at a glance.

5. Survey and feedback pop-ups

These pop-ups gather user feedback to improve services or products, typically in a non-intrusive manner.

Tips for effective survey pop-ups:

• Keep the survey short, with no more than 2–3 questions.
• Position the pop-up at the end of the user’s journey.
• Offer incentives like discounts for completing the survey.

Chanty – blog survey

Chanty’s minimalistic survey pop-up is simple yet effective. It gathers valuable insights from website visitors without disrupting their browsing experience, proving that less can indeed be more.

Kiss My Keto – personal information in exchange for a discount

Kiss My Keto’s colorful and engaging design captures attention. Offering a discount in exchange for completing a quick survey is a clever strategy to collect valuable customer information while incentivizing immediate purchases.

Google Meet – NPS survey

Google Meet’s pop-up appears right after a meeting ends, ensuring the perfect timing for gathering user feedback. This NPS (Net Promoter Score) survey is a classic yet essential tool for measuring customer satisfaction.

Refiner – learning readers’ intent

Refiner’s survey pops up while users are reading relevant blog content, enabling precise targeting. It’s a great way to gain insights into user behavior and preferences while keeping the interaction natural.

6. Interactive/gamified pop-ups

These pop-ups add an element of fun by gamifying the user experience, such as spin-the-wheel or quizzes.

Tips for effective gamified pop-ups:

• Incorporate playful elements like animations or sound effects.
• Ensure the rewards are appealing and clearly communicated.
• Use gamified pop-ups sparingly to maintain novelty.

Press – spin a wheel game

Press uses gamification to engage visitors with its “Spin to Win” pop-up. This interactive design not only entertains but also encourages email collection by offering discounts and freebies, increasing the likelihood of user participation.

Scratch card pop-up

Gamification is a powerful tool to engage users, and this scratch card pop-up is a prime example. Visitors are invited to “try their luck” by scratching to reveal a special offer. Putting such pop-ups on websites — along with spinning wheels or surprise boxes — add an element of fun that encourages participation and drives conversions.

Pots, Planters & More – short quiz

This interactive pop-up transforms the typical experience into a short quiz, asking whether users are shopping for home or business. This simple interaction boosts engagement, provides valuable insights, and ensures the offer feels personalized to the shopper’s needs.

Of course, there are many more types of popups that serve a variety of purposes, but there are some universal tips that will help you make any of them effective.

Pop-up design best practices

After exploring the different pop-up banner examples and their use cases, the next question is: how do you ensure your pop-ups succeed without annoying your visitors? The right strategy isn’t just about what kind of pop-up you use, but also how you implement it.

Let’s dive into the best practices to help you design pop-ups that not only capture attention but also respect the user experience.

1. Limit the number of pop-ups

To ensure website pop ups enhance user experience without overwhelming visitors, it's crucial to limit their frequency and timing. While there's no one-size-fits-all number, best practices suggest:

• Per session: Display no more than one pop-up per user session to prevent annoyance.
• Per page: Limit to one pop-up per page to maintain a clean and navigable interface.

This approach helps maintain user engagement without causing frustration.

2. Personalize your pop-up to align it with user expectations

Generic pop-ups fail to capture attention. Use data like browsing history, geographic location, or referral source to tailor the content. For example:

• Offer first-time visitors a welcome discount.
• Show returning users personalized recommendations or loyalty rewards.
• Younger audiences might prefer bold, playful designs.
• Professionals may respond better to clean, minimalistic styles.

You can use special tools to segment audiences and deliver tailored messages (we will talk about them a bit later in this article).

3. Timing is everything

Poorly timed pop-ups can feel intrusive and drive users away. Instead:

• ‍Time-based triggers: Displaying a pop-up after 8–10 seconds can increase conversions by 20–30%. Poper‍
• Scroll-based triggers: Triggering a pop-up when a user scrolls 30–50% of the page can effectively capture engaged visitors.

4. Keep it non-intrusive

Pop-ups shouldn’t irritate users. To make them feel seamless:

• Use slide-ins or small banners rather than full-screen overlays.
• Allow users to easily dismiss the pop-up with a visible close button.
• Avoid pop-ups on pages where users are performing critical actions, like filling out forms.
• Align the message with the page context (e.g., promotions on product pages, surveys on checkout pages).
• Avoid stacking multiple pop-ups that compete for attention.

5. Design with clarity and focus

A cluttered or overly complex pop-up confuses users. Instead:

• Focus on a single, clear goal (e.g., collecting an email, promoting a discount).
• Don’t ask for too much information to fill in.
• Use short and actionable pop-up message paired with bold CTAs (e.g., “Get 10% Off Now”).

6. Ensure mobile responsiveness

Pop-ups that work well on desktops often fail on mobile devices. Make sure your designs:

• Fit smaller screens without obscuring content.
• Avoid large interstitials, which Google penalizes for being intrusive.

Use responsive templates that scale appropriately for all devices.

7. Test and iterate

This point is rather important: every audience is unique, so what works for one site may not work for another. A/B testing is essential to optimize:

• Headline and copy.
• Design styles (minimalist vs. vibrant).
• Timing and triggers.

Regularly analyze important marketing KPIs like conversion rates and exit rates to refine your strategy.

Affordable tools for creating stunning pop-ups

Bringing your pop-up ideas to life doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming. With the right tools, even a beginner can create professional, high-converting pop-ups. Here are some of the best tools to help bring your pop-up strategy to life without breaking the bank.

1. OptinMonster

• What it’s best for: Creating highly targeted pop-ups with advanced segmentation.
• Key features: Drag-and-drop builder, A/B testing, exit-intent technology.
• Free version? No freemium version but a 14-day money-back guarantee.
• Why choose it: Perfect for users who need sophisticated targeting without a steep learning curve.

2. Canva

• What it’s best for: Designing custom pop-ups with beautiful templates.
• Key features: A user-friendly design interface, hundreds of templates, and extensive customization options.
• Free version? Yes, with plenty of free design elements.
• Why choose it: Ideal for visually stunning pop-ups that align with your branding.

3. Wisepops

• What it’s best for: Comprehensive pop-up campaigns with real-time analytics.
• Key features: Customizable pop-up templates, integrations with marketing tools, and user behavior tracking.
• Free version? No, the price depends on your website’s monthly pageviews, but a 14-day free trial is available.
• Why choose it: Great for businesses looking to create data-driven pop-ups.

4. Poptin

• What it’s best for: Simple and responsive pop-ups for websites of all sizes.
• Key features: Exit-intent triggers, mobile-friendly designs, and form integrations.
• Free version? Yes, with basic functionality.
• Why choose it: Excellent for beginners who need quick, effective pop-ups.

5. Hello Bar

• What it’s best for: Slide-in banners and top-of-page notifications.
• Key features: Pre-designed templates, mobile compatibility, and A/B testing tools.
• Free version? Nos, but a 14-day free trial available.
• Why choose it: Ideal for unobtrusive pop-ups and announcements.

These tools allow you to create, customize, and optimize pop-ups that convert, whether you’re running a personal blog or managing a large-scale e-commerce site.

Ready to take your designs to the next level? Further, we’ll discuss how to collaborate with marketing designers to create pop-ups that go beyond templates and truly reflect your brand’s personality.

Collaborating with designers for pop-ups

While tools can help you create effective pop-ups quickly, there are times when your needs go beyond pop ups templates. Whether it’s ensuring seamless integration with your website’s design or crafting a unique experience for your audience, working with a professional designer can elevate your pop-ups to the next level.

Here’s how to collaborate effectively with designers to achieve outstanding results:

Preparing an effective design brief

A clear brief helps the designer understand your vision and deliver results that meet your expectations. Include the following:

1. Project overview: Describe the purpose of the pop-up and the desired outcome.
2. Target audience: Provide demographics and psychographics to tailor the design.
3. Brand guidelines: Share your brand's color palette, typography, and tone of voice.
4. Content: Supply the text, images, or offers to be included.
5. Examples: Showcase designs you like to guide the aesthetic direction.
6. Technical specifications: Mention platform requirements and any technical constraints.‍
7. Timeline and budget: Set clear deadlines and budgetary limits.

Choosing between a freelancer and a design agency

Your choice between a freelancer and a design agency depends on the scope, complexity, and budget of your project, but understanding the strengths of each option will help you make the right decision.

Freelancers:

• Pros: Often more affordable and flexible; ideal for smaller projects.
• Cons: May lack the breadth of skills or resources for complex tasks; communication can be an issue, availability can be inconsistent.

Design agencies:

• Pros: Offer a team of experts with diverse skills; provide comprehensive services and project management.
• Cons: Typically more expensive; may have longer turnaround times due to multiple projects.

Considerations:

• Project scope: For intricate or large-scale projects, an agency might be more suitable.
• Budget: Freelancers can be cost-effective for straightforward tasks.
• ‍Timeline: Agencies often have structured processes, which can affect speed.

As you can see, both freelancers and agencies have their own limitations and compelling benefits. But what if I told you there’s an option that combines the strengths of both — a solution that’s cost-effective, capable of handling tasks of any complexity, delivers results quickly, and works for both small and large-scale projects?

That’s TodayMade:

• Expertise you can trust: Our team of in-house designers specializes in marketing design. With diverse skill sets, we ensure your pop-ups are not only eye-catching but also tailored to your brand’s style and goals.
• Unlimited design requests: Submit as many requests as you need within the subscription period, and we’ll fulfill them one at a time, refining each design until you’re completely satisfied.
• Predictable pricing: With a fixed subscription fee, you avoid overspending and gain peace of mind knowing your design needs are covered.
• Seamless project management: From kickoff to delivery, we handle all project management tasks. A dedicated account manager will keep you updated, resolve any queries, and be available for face-to-face discussions as needed.
• Brand consistency guaranteed: We dive deep into your brand’s guidelines to ensure every design aligns perfectly with your aesthetic. Open communication allows us to refine designs based on your feedback to get everything just right.

So, whether you’re launching a single campaign or need ongoing design support, TodayMade is equipped to deliver high-quality pop-ups that drive engagement and conversions — on time and within budget. Contact us today to discuss your design needs.