Pop-ups—love them or hate them, they work. But are they actually helping your store grow, or are they secretly turning customers away? Today, I’m answering the top 6 questions e-commerce store owners ask me about pop-ups—AND at the end, I’ll show you the strangest, most ridiculous pop-up on the internet. Trust me, you won’t believe this one exists!

Hi, I’m Liezle, and today we’re tackling the top 6 questions people have asked me about pop-ups. If you’ve ever wondered whether pop-ups still work, how to make them less annoying, or what the best pop-up strategy is, this episode is for you. And remember—stick around to the end because I’m revealing the weirdest pop-up I’ve ever seen. Let’s dive in!

Question #1: Do Pop-Ups Still Work in 2025, or Are They Outdated?

Short Answer: YES, pop-ups still work.

• Well-designed pop-ups can convert anywhere from 3% to 11% of visitors.
• I’ve personally seen some e-commerce brands hit double that when they dial in the right strategy.

Why Old-School Pop-Ups No Longer Work:

• Customers are smarter, more selective, and impatient.
• Pop-ups need to feel seamless, relevant, and valuable.

Effective Pop-Up Strategies Include:

• Exit-intent offers
• VIP list exclusives
• Well-timed free shipping incentives

Bottom line? Pop-ups aren’t dead—but lazy, outdated pop-ups should be buried.

Question #2: How Do I Stop My Pop-Ups from Annoying People?

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room—annoying pop-ups.

We’ve all been there… land on a website, BAM! Pop-up overload before you even know what they sell.

3 Simple Rules to Make Pop-Ups Less Annoying:

1️⃣ Timing is Everything

• Delay pop-ups by at least 10–15 seconds.
• Use scroll-based pop-ups after visitors engage.
• Try exit-intent pop-ups—appear only when they’re about to leave.

2️⃣ The Offer Has to Feel Worth It

Skip the boring ‘Sign up for our newsletter’—instead:

• Exclusive VIP access: “Join our VIP list for early access to sales.”
• High-value freebie: “Download our free size guide before you shop.”
• Discount incentive: “Unlock 15% off—expires in 24 hours!”

3️⃣ Make It Easy to Close

• Make the close (X) button visible & easy to find.
• Avoid trapping visitors with pop-ups that won’t close.
• Optional: Fun opt-outs (e.g., “No thanks, I don’t like discounts”).

Final takeaway: A great pop-up should feel like an opportunity, not an interruption.

Question #3: What’s the Best Pop-Up Incentive—Discount, Freebie, or Exclusive Offer?

Answer: It depends on your business model & audience.

Breakdown of the 3 Main Incentives:

🟢 Discounts

• Most common & highly effective for price-driven customers.
• Examples: 10-15% off first purchase, free shipping, spin-to-win pop-ups.
• Caution: Avoid overuse if margins are tight or to prevent customers expecting discounts every time.

🟢 Freebies

• Great for brands needing education before the sale.
• Examples: Downloadable guides, quizzes, free samples.
• Perfect for industries like skincare, supplements, home decor.

🟢 VIP Exclusivity

• Works well for brands with strong brand loyalty.
• Examples: Early access to sales, VIP-only product launches, loyalty perks.

Key Takeaway: Make it exclusive, relevant, and time-sensitive.

👉 Not sure what kind of incentive to offer?

Take my free quiz to discover the perfect lead magnet for your store at shecommercesimplified.com/quiz.

Question #4: How Can I Test My Pop-Ups to Make Sure They’re Actually Working?

Most brands set it and forget it. But if you want strong conversion rates, you need to test & tweak constantly.

3 Key Metrics to Track in Klaviyo:

1️⃣ Submission Rate

• Aim for 3-5% conversion.
• Above 8%? You’ve nailed it.
• Below 2%? Time to fix the offer or timing.

2️⃣ Dismiss Rate

• High dismiss rate? Pop-up shows up too soon or isn’t relevant.

3️⃣ Email Performance

• Are pop-up subscribers actually opening & clicking your emails?
• Check how well they engage with your welcome email sequence.

How to Test:

• A/B test offers (10% off vs. free shipping).
• A/B test designs (bold pop-up vs. subtle slide-in).
• A/B test triggers (exit-intent vs. delayed pop-ups).

Best part? Klaviyo sends more traffic to your best-performing pop-up automatically.

Question #5: Can Pop-Ups Actually Hurt My SEO?

Short Answer: Yes… but only if done poorly.

What Google Penalizes:

• Aggressive, full-screen pop-ups on mobile.
• Pop-ups that block access to content.

How to Avoid SEO Penalties:

• Use small, non-intrusive pop-ups.
• Trigger them with exit-intent or scroll behavior.
• Google doesn’t penalize:
• Cookie consent pop-ups
• Age verification pop-ups
• GDPR compliance banners

Bottom line? Well-designed pop-ups won’t hurt your SEO.

Question #6: Can I Show Different Pop-Ups to Different People?

Answer: Yes—and you should!

Most brands make the mistake of treating every visitor the same. But you can easily segment pop-ups in Klaviyo:

3 Ways to Segment Pop-Ups in Klaviyo:

1️⃣ New vs. Returning Visitors

• First-time: “Get 10% off your first order.”
• Returning: “Welcome back! Free shipping on your next order.”

2️⃣ By Page or Content Type

• Product pages → Show product-specific offers.
• Blog readers → Offer free guides, size charts, or quizzes.

3️⃣ By Shopping Behavior

• Cart abandoners → Trigger reminder pop-ups or special offers.
• VIP customers → Special offers based on purchase history.

🚨 Important Note:
If this is your first time setting up a pop-up, keep it simple. Get one strong pop-up live, A/B test it, and THEN add advanced targeting later.

The Weirdest Pop-Up You’ll Ever See (Zombo.com)

I promised you something fun at the start—meet Zombo.com.

It’s a hypnotic, never-ending voiceover pop-up saying, “Welcome to Zombo.com. The only limit is yourself.”

The Lesson?

Don’t be like Zombo.com:

• ❌ No clear CTA
• ❌ No product or purpose
• ❌ No value

Your pop-up should always:

• ✔ Communicate clear value
• ✔ Have a purpose (discount, freebie, VIP access)
• ✔ Be easy to understand and act on

Quick Recap: Biggest Mistakes to Avoid With Pop-Ups

🚫 Mistake #1: Weak Offer

• No one wants another newsletter.
• Give them a clear, irresistible reason to sign up.

🚫 Mistake #2: Bad Timing

• Don’t interrupt the second they land.
• Use delays, scroll triggers, or exit intent.

🚫 Mistake #3: Hard to Close

• Make that X button visible & accessible.
• Don’t trap visitors.

Not sure what pop-up incentive works best for your store?

Take my free quiz:

🎯 Get a personalized recommendation based on your business & ICA.