But being part of the ecosystem also means paying close attention to the other tools that share the same mission. Over time, I’ve tested nearly every major platform in this space, not just to see how they perform, but to understand where we stand and how we can keep getting better.

This list is the result of that ongoing process. These are the tools I’ve worked with, learned from, and continue to measure against my own benchmarks. Some focus on automation, others on data, and a few, like OptinMonster, specialize in optimizing that crucial moment when a visitor becomes a lead. Each tool here brings something valuable, and I have a lot of respect for the results they deliver.

I’ve included only the platforms that have proven themselves in real campaigns. They’re reliable, effective, and worth your time if you’re serious about building a stronger lead generation system in 2026.

Here’s how they stack up.

OptinMonster – Best for On-Site Lead Capture and Conversion

I’ve spent years testing lead generation tools, and I can tell you that most of them focus on what happens after someone becomes a lead. Very few help you capture the lead effectively in the first place. That’s exactly why we built OptinMonster.

When I use it on our own sites and with our clients, it still surprises me how quickly it changes results. The difference comes from how personalized you can make every interaction. Instead of showing one generic popup to everyone, I can create messages that match exactly where someone is in their journey. If a visitor has already seen an offer, I can show them something different. If they’re about to leave, I can use exit-intent to catch them just in time. It’s not a guessing game. It’s precise.

Key features

• Behavior-based targeting that shows the right campaign to the right person at the right moment
• Exit-intent technology that detects when visitors are about to leave and captures them with a personalized message
• Drag-and-drop campaign builder for creating popups, slide-ins, and floating bars without code
• A/B testing built directly into the platform so I can test headlines, designs, and triggers quickly
• Advanced integrations with CRMs, email platforms, and automation tools like HubSpot, Mailchimp, and Salesforce

What I like most is that OptinMonster gives me control. When I’m running tests, I can see in real time which message, trigger, or design is converting best. That kind of visibility changes how you think about conversion optimization. I’ve used it across landing pages, blogs, and ecommerce sites, and it performs consistently everywhere.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that lead generation starts on your website. All the automation and CRM data in the world won’t matter if you can’t capture visitors before they leave. OptinMonster does that better than anything I’ve used, and we’re proud to say we’ve built it to solve that exact problem from our own experience.

HubSpot – Best for All-in-One CRM and Lead Nurturing

I’ve used HubSpot on and off for years, and every time I go back to it, I’m reminded why so many marketers trust it. It does everything in one place. I can capture leads, track their activity, follow up automatically, and keep my sales and marketing data connected. When I tested it again recently, I started from scratch with a simple form and workflow. Within an hour, everything was live, and new leads were being tracked inside the CRM without me touching a thing.

What I appreciate most is how it balances power with ease of use. The automation builder feels intuitive. I can build sequences that send emails, score leads, and alert my team when someone looks ready to buy. The analytics are simple to read but detailed enough to show what’s working. It feels like a platform that was built for marketers who actually want to understand what’s happening in their funnel.

Key features

• CRM that connects forms, emails, ads, and chat in one dashboard
• Marketing automation for sending personalized follow-ups
• Lead scoring based on user behavior and engagement
• Clear analytics for campaign tracking and ROI
• Integrations with Zapier, OptinMonster, and most major tools

When I use HubSpot, I never feel like I’m guessing. Every contact record tells a story. I can see when someone first visited the site, what they downloaded, and which campaign brought them in. That level of detail makes it easy to build relationships instead of just sending automated messages.

If you want one tool that can manage your leads from the first click to the final conversion, HubSpot is the one I’d start with. It keeps everything connected and gives you the visibility you need to actually improve results.

Zapier – Best for Automating Lead Workflows

Zapier is one of those tools I didn’t fully appreciate until I started using it to connect everything in my lead generation process. It’s not a lead capture tool on its own, but it’s the bridge that makes all your other tools work together. When I tested it, I connected forms from OptinMonster, email sequences from HubSpot, and a Google Sheet for tracking. Within minutes, the entire system was automated. New leads came in, got tagged, and started receiving follow-up emails without me doing anything manually.

What makes Zapier special is how quietly it works in the background. Once the automations are set up, you almost forget it’s there, but you see the results in how much time you save. I’ve built workflows that send new leads to Slack, notify the sales team, and even trigger ads for retargeting. It’s not flashy, but it’s incredibly powerful once you realize how much manual effort it removes from the process.

Key features

• Prebuilt “Zaps” that connect thousands of apps without coding
• AI features that suggest automations based on what you’re doing
• Multi-step workflows that connect lead capture, CRM, and follow-up
• Real-time syncing between tools like HubSpot, OptinMonster, Salesforce, and Gmail
• Central dashboard for monitoring and editing automations

What I like most about Zapier is that it gives structure to the chaos. Every time I find myself doing something repetitive, there’s usually a way to automate it. It’s also reliable. Once I turn an automation on, it just runs. I’ve used it for years now, and it’s never missed a lead or failed to send data where it needed to go.

Zapier is what keeps my lead generation stack organized. It connects every moving part, keeps data clean, and lets me focus on strategy instead of setup. If you use more than one marketing tool, it’s the easiest way to make sure they all work together without friction.

Intercom – Best for Conversational Lead Engagement

I’ve tested a lot of chat tools over the years, but Intercom is the one that actually feels like it belongs inside a modern lead generation system. When I added it to my site, I noticed one thing right away: people who would normally just browse started talking. The live chat and AI assistant work together to turn casual visitors into qualified leads without any heavy lifting.

Setting it up was simple. I connected it to my CRM and created a few automated flows to greet visitors, answer questions, and collect emails. Within a few hours, it started generating real leads from traffic that wasn’t converting before. The conversations didn’t feel robotic. The AI was quick, polite, and on-topic, and when someone asked something complex, the chat handed it off to me seamlessly. That handoff is what makes it work so well—it doesn’t break the conversation.

Key features

• Live chat and AI automation that qualify leads in real time
• Custom chat flows that match each visitor’s behavior
• CRM integrations with tools like Salesforce, HubSpot, and Pipedrive
• Built-in inbox for managing conversations with sales and support teams
• Detailed conversation analytics to see which interactions drive conversions

What I like most about Intercom is how natural the experience feels for both sides. From my end, I can watch conversations unfold and see which messages lead to signups or demos. From the visitor’s side, it feels like someone is actually there to help. I also like how easy it is to test different messages. A small tweak in tone or timing can double the number of leads you get.

Intercom is the tool I reach for when I want to make my website feel alive. It gives your visitors a reason to stay, ask questions, and start conversations that turn into real opportunities.

Cognism – Best for B2B Lead Data and Prospecting

When I started working with Cognism, I was mostly curious to see how accurate the data really was. A lot of B2B prospecting tools promise clean leads, but very few deliver. Cognism felt different right away. The database is updated constantly, and every contact I pulled went through live verification. During testing, I ran a few outbound campaigns with lists from Cognism, and the bounce rate was almost nonexistent. That alone made it worth it.

Building lists was fast. I could filter by company size, industry, and job title, and the search results were spot-on. I exported a batch of leads directly into HubSpot, and everything synced without errors. What impressed me most was the intent data. Cognism tracks which companies are actively researching topics or tools related to your product. That gave me a clear sense of who was actually in the market, not just who fit a demographic.

Key features

• Verified B2B contact data with high accuracy
• Real-time intent tracking that identifies active buyers
• Advanced filters for precise targeting by role, company size, and location
• Direct integrations with CRMs like HubSpot, Salesforce, and Outreach
• GDPR-compliant data sourcing for transparent prospecting

What I liked most about Cognism is how dependable it feels. I’ve used it long enough to know the contacts don’t go stale quickly. The data is clean, the interface is easy to navigate, and the export options save a lot of time. If I had to point out one thing that takes getting used to, it’s the pricing. It’s built for teams that prospect at scale, not for hobby projects. But if you rely on outbound to feed your pipeline, it pays for itself fast.

Cognism has become one of my go-to tools for B2B lead generation. It helps me find the right people faster and makes my outreach smarter instead of louder.

Salesforce – Best for Enterprise AI-Driven Lead Generation

When I first started testing Salesforce, I could immediately see why it sets the standard for enterprise-level lead management. It’s not just a CRM. It’s a system that connects every part of the lead journey, from the first form submission to final conversion. I used it to capture new leads, assign them to sales reps, and create automated workflows that followed up without me lifting a finger. The AI feature, Agentforce, felt like having another team member who never sleeps. It learns from your data and starts making smart suggestions fast.

Key features

• AI-powered lead scoring and qualification through Einstein and Agentforce
• Automated workflows that trigger emails or ad sequences based on lead behavior
• Real-time analytics that show which campaigns or sources are converting best
• Deep integrations with tools like HubSpot, LinkedIn Ads, and Slack
• A unified dashboard that tracks every lead interaction in one place

What I liked most was how accurate the AI recommendations became after a week of data. It started flagging leads that didn’t look promising at first, but ended up being some of the highest-value deals. The reporting was also genuinely useful. I could open one dashboard and understand exactly where my pipeline was strongest.

What I didn’t like was the initial setup. Salesforce isn’t a plug-and-play tool. I spent a full day getting the automation right. Once configured though, it ran smoothly and didn’t need much maintenance afterward.

I picked Salesforce because it delivers the most complete lead generation experience I’ve tested. The AI insights are reliable, the automation feels human, and once everything is running, it gives you a clear sense of control over the entire funnel.

Which Tool Should You Pick?

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from testing all these platforms, it’s that there isn’t a single “best” tool for everyone. The right choice depends on how you generate leads and what kind of systems you already have in place. Each of these tools does something exceptionally well, and once you understand that, the decision becomes much easier.

If your goal is to turn more of your website visitors into subscribers or customers, start with OptinMonster. It’s built for that exact moment when attention turns into action, and it’s what I use myself to grow lists and conversions.

Here are just two examples of how other online businesses used OptinMonster to increase leads and revenue:

• How PodBike Gets 18.22% More Email Subscribers with GeoTargeting
• How KnivesShipFree.com Boosted Revenue $10,118.20 Using Giveaways

If you want to manage your entire funnel from one place, HubSpot is the most complete all-in-one platform I’ve tested. It’s perfect if you need your marketing and sales teams working from the same dashboard.

For automating connections between tools, Zapier is the backbone of every good stack. It quietly keeps everything running without you having to check on it.

If live conversations are where most of your leads come from, Intercom is the best way to capture and qualify them in real time.

When accuracy and outbound prospecting matter most, Cognism stands out with clean, verified data and real intent insights.

And if you need something that can handle complex automation and enterprise-level workflows, Salesforce is still the benchmark.

I’ve used every one of these tools long enough to know that they all work. The key is to start with one that solves your most immediate challenge and build from there. Once you see results, you can layer in the others to create a system that runs smoothly and scales with you.

Ready to generate more targeted leads? Get started with OptinMonster today.

More on Lead Generation:

• What Is Lead Quality? And How to Measure It (+8 Bonus Tips!)
• How to Automate Lead Generation in 3 EASY Steps (Step by Step)
• What is a Lead Magnet? 69 Effective Ideas & Examples to Use
• How to Generate More Leads From Your Website: 9 Expert Tips

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the best lead generation tool for websites?

From my own experience, OptinMonster is the most effective tool for website lead generation. It focuses on turning visitors into subscribers or customers through behavior-based targeting and exit-intent campaigns. You can personalize every interaction, test what works, and see measurable results in real time.

2. Which lead generation software works best for small businesses?

If you’re a small business looking for an affordable, all-in-one solution, HubSpot is the tool I’d recommend. It’s easy to set up, connects your marketing and sales data, and gives you clear visibility into where every lead comes from. The starter plan is budget-friendly, and it’s flexible enough to grow with you.

3. How do I automate lead generation across multiple tools?

To automate your process, Zapier is the easiest place to start. It connects apps like OptinMonster, HubSpot, and Google Sheets without coding. I’ve used it to sync leads automatically between tools, send notifications, and trigger follow-ups. Once your automations are running, you don’t have to touch them again.

4. What tool should I use for B2B lead generation?

For B2B prospecting, Cognism has been the most reliable in my tests. It provides verified contact data, intent signals, and CRM integrations that make outreach faster and more accurate. The leads are clean, compliant, and ready to use in real campaigns.

5. Do I need AI in my lead generation tools?

Not every business needs AI, but it helps once you’re scaling. Salesforce and Intercom both use AI in smart ways — Salesforce for predicting which leads are most likely to convert, and Intercom for real-time chat qualification. I’ve found that these features save time and make follow-ups more focused.

6. How can I choose the right tool for my business?

Start with your biggest challenge. If you’re not capturing enough leads, focus on OptinMonster. If you’re struggling to manage or follow up, use HubSpot. Once you solve one problem, you can layer in other tools to build a stronger, more complete system.

At a Glance: Off-Page SEO Essentials

What it is: Actions taken outside your website to build authority, trust, and visibility in search engines through backlinks, brand mentions, and reputation signals.

Why it matters: Off-page SEO accounts for roughly 50% of ranking factors. While you control your content, search engines rely heavily on what others say about you to determine credibility.

Core strategies:
Link building – Earn high-quality backlinks from authoritative, relevant sites
Brand building – Generate mentions, reviews, and social signals that demonstrate trustworthiness
Relationship marketing – Collaborate with influencers, partners, and communities in your niche

Bottom line: Off-page SEO is about building your site’s reputation across the web. It requires consistent effort, relationship-building, and creating content worth linking to—but the ranking and traffic payoff is substantial.

Time investment: 3-6 months minimum to see measurable results
Best for: Businesses willing to invest in long-term authority building, not quick wins

Most site owners obsess over keyword placement and technical audits but the real reputation signals that move your rankings happen off your website.

Off-page SEO isn’t just about backlinks. It’s about building trust, proving authority, and earning visibility where your customers already spend time.

At OptinMonster, these are the exact strategies we’ve used to grow our organic presence and we’re pulling back the curtain to share them with you.

What Is off-Page SEO and Why Is It Important

Off-Page SEO, Explained (In 1 Sentence)

Off-page SEO includes everything you do off your website to boost its credibility and visibility in search. It builds trust and authority by earning backlinks, mentions, and signals from reputable sources — not by tweaking content or code.

Unlike on-page SEO which is all about optimizing your site’s content and structure, off-page SEO focuses on what others say about you. It’s the trust signals that come from backlinks, brand mentions, social shares, and reputation outside your domain.

You might be thinking, “Why should I bother with off-page SEO when I can focus on optimizing my website?” Well, let us share some compelling reasons:

• Improved Search Engine Rankings
• Increased Website Visibility
• Building Online Reputation
• Enhanced User Engagement
• How We Use These Off-Page SEO Strategies at OptinMonster

Improved Search Engine Rankings

Off-page SEO signals, particularly backlinks from authoritative and relevant websites, endorse your website’s quality. Search engines, like Google, value these endorsements and use them as an SEO ranking factor.

In fact, a study by Backlinko found that websites with a high number of backlinks tend to rank higher in search results.

The more high-quality backlinks you have, the higher your website will likely rank in search engine results.

Increased Website Visibility

Off-page SEO techniques, such as social media marketing and influencer outreach, can significantly expand your website’s reach and visibility.

Imagine your website as a small shop hidden in a quiet street. Without proper promotion, how will people find it?

Promoting your content and brand on external platforms can attract a larger audience, generate more organic traffic, and enhance your online presence.

Building Online Reputation

Off-page SEO involves managing your online reputation by monitoring and responding to customer reviews, feedback, and mentions.

The assessment criteria outlined in Google’s Quality Rater Guidelines heavily depend on a website’s reputation outside of its own pages to determine its level of trustworthiness.

By actively addressing customer concerns and maintaining a positive reputation, you can establish trust and credibility with search engines and users, leading to higher search page rankings and increased brand recognition.

Enhanced User Engagement

Off-page SEO activities, such as social media marketing, encourage user engagement and interaction with your brand. This can increase website visits, longer sessions, and higher conversions.

When users actively engage with your content and share it with others, it amplifies your online visibility and improves your website’s authority.

On-Page SEO vs. Off-Page SEO

On-page SEO and off-page SEO are two essential components of a comprehensive search engine optimization strategy. Here’s a comparison between the two:

On-Page SEO

• Focuses on optimizing elements within your website, such as content, title tags, URLs, headings, SEO-optimized hosting, and internal linking.
• Involves keyword research and page optimization to align your website’s content with user search queries.
• Aims to improve your web pages’ user experience, readability, and relevancy.
• Helps search engines understand the context and purpose of your website’s content.

Resource: On-Page SEO Checklist: How to Fully Optimize Your Posts

Off-Page SEO

• Concentrate on activities outside your website to boost its visibility and authority.
• Includes link building, social media marketing, content marketing, influencer outreach, online reputation management, and brand promotion.
• Enhances your website’s credibility and popularity by acquiring high-quality backlinks from reputable sources.
• Supports brand awareness, expands your online reach, and attracts a larger audience to your website.

Balancing on-page and off-page SEO techniques is crucial for a successful SEO strategy. Think of them as two sides of the same coin.

While on-page SEO ensures your website is optimized for search engines and users, off-page SEO helps establish your website’s authority, reputation, and visibility across the web.

Off-Page SEO Techniques

Now that we’ve explored the importance of off-page SEO, let’s take a look at some effective off-page SEO techniques you can implement to boost your website’s visibility.

In our experience, these eleven off-page SEO techniques are the easiest to include and offer the best return:

1. Link Building (Backlinks)

Link building is the essence of off-page SEO and is the most important off-page SEO technique for any website aiming to rank higher on the search engine results pages (SERPs).

Backlinks are the number one off-page SEO factor for Google, and as discussed above, Google tends to rank a site higher if it has a greater number of backlinks.

Moreover, the quality of these backlinks also equally matters, as a link from a high domain authority site carries more weight than one from a low-DA site. Regardless, Google’s algorithm also considers the link’s relevance to your domain.

Typically there are two types of backlinks that you can acquire to improve your off-page SEO:

1) Natural links: These are the backlinks that you get organically without doing anything. For example, some other website links back to you because they appreciate your page as a resource. Google regards such links highly as they indicate trust, appreciation, and endorsement.

2) Links Acquired via self-promotion: these are the backlinks you create by digital marketing or online promotion. It involves contacting a website to link back to you or asking an influencer to share your content to magnify your reach in exchange for an agreed compensation.

While creating authoritative and relevant backlinks, your link building strategy should align with the link building guidelines from major search engines such as Google.

Not only do backlinks bring referral traffic to your site, but Google also perceives your site as a trustworthy and reliable source of information.

However, building quality links requires dedicated effort and a long-term strategic approach. When executed correctly, your website’s average ranking in search results will likely increase.

Pro tip: Off-page SEO isn’t just about getting a link to your site from just anyone; it’s about getting a link to your site from the right one. And you want to make sure that you’re getting the “link juice” from the backlink too.

Link juice is only passed along in dofollow backlinks. This type of backlink is like the source site acknowledging and voting for the linked article, post, or page, resulting in an increase in the link’s authority.

The other type of backlink is a nofollow backlink. These are just links that don’t pass any authority from the source site to the linked site.

2. Social Media Marketing

Popular social media platforms websites have some of the highest domain authority sites. Have a look at a few:

• LinkedIn (DA: 98)
• Facebook (DA: 96)
• Twitter (DA: 94)
• Instagram (DA: 93)

This makes social media marketing one of the most effective off-page SEO strategies.

Social media platforms offer an excellent opportunity to expand the reach of your content. By leveraging social media, you get more clicks to your latest content and obtain valuable backlinks from platforms with high domain authority (DA).

While Google has not explicitly stated that backlinks from social media platforms directly impact SEO, they have acknowledged that social platforms are crawled for data just like any other website on the web.

Although the precise SEO impact of a backlink from a social platform remains uncertain, one thing is certain: your social profiles will rank in the search engine results pages (SERPs).

Not only will your social profiles rank, but they are also likely to appear at the top for brand-related search terms.

That’s why it’s crucial to ensure that your social profiles reflect positively on your company and its values. This can greatly influence a user’s first impression, especially if they don’t know much about your brand.

Furthermore, amplifying insightful content through social media platforms increases its visibility and the likelihood of it being shared and linked to by others.

3. Guest Posting

Guest posting is a popular off-page SEO technique for writing and publishing content on someone else’s website or blog. It involves collaborating with other website owners or bloggers to contribute valuable articles or posts relevant to their audience.

The benefits of guest posting are multi-fold. Firstly, it allows you to tap into an established audience and reach a wider group of readers who may not be aware of your website or brand.

By providing valuable content, you can showcase your expertise and attract new visitors to your site.

Additionally and more importantly, guest posting provides an opportunity to build high-quality backlinks to your website. Including a link to your site within the guest post acts as a valuable endorsement and can improve your search engine rankings.

Search engines highly value backlinks from reputable and relevant websites, as they indicate the credibility and authority of your site.

There are a number of blogs open for the guest post. You just need to identify the keyword you’re interested in and then search on Google in this way:

• Keyword + “write for us”
• Keyword + “become a contributor”
• Keyword + “contribute”
• Keyword + “guest blogging”

You can learn how to build an effective guest blogging strategy here.

4. Broken Link Building

Broken link building is an exciting strategy. The purpose is to find broken links and contact the resource owner that has a broken link.

The broken link could be one of your pages that you would then provide the update to, or it could be an outdated competitor’s link that you would then offer to replace with one of your links to similar content.

This will help reduce the number of redirects and 404 pages, resulting in a better user experience.

Broken links usually happen when web hosting expires, or site assets are messed up during migration. They can also simply be the result of typing mistakes.

Always opt for a reliable web hosting provider, and be sure to proofread to avoid spelling errors.

5. Local SEO

Local SEO is an essential off-page SEO technique that optimizes your online presence to improve visibility in localized search results.

It involves strategies and tactics to increase your business’s visibility to potential customers within a specific geographic area.

Local SEO is particularly valuable for businesses that serve customers in specific locations, such as brick-and-mortar stores, service providers, or businesses with multiple branches.

To effectively implement local SEO, consider the following strategies:

• Optimize your website with location-specific keywords and relevant content.
• Claim and optimize your Google My Business listing.
• Build consistent citations (mentions of your business name, address, and phone number) across relevant online directories.
• Encourage and manage customer reviews on platforms like Google, Yelp, and industry-specific review sites.
• Create location-specific landing pages if you have multiple business locations.
• Leverage local link building opportunities by partnering with local organizations, sponsoring events, or participating in community activities.

6. PR (Press Release)

PR (Press Release) is a powerful off-page SEO technique that involves crafting and distributing newsworthy announcements or information about your business to media outlets and online platforms.

Press releases are designed to generate media coverage and public interest in your company, products, services, events, or any significant developments related to your business.

When done effectively, PR can yield several benefits for your off-page SEO strategy, such as increased visibility and brand exposure, quality backlinks, enhanced reputation and credibility, and increased website traffic.

To leverage PR effectively for off-page SEO, consider optimizing press releases for SEO by incorporating relevant keywords and including anchor text links to your website or specific landing pages to maximize the SEO benefits.

Ensure your press releases are optimized for search engines to improve their visibility and discoverability.

7. Influencer Marketing

Add a community-driven section to your article, reach out to well-known influencers in your niche, and request that they provide valuable insight via feedback, a quote, or a review. Add some context to their quotes and highlight them in some way.

Once the content publishes, ask them to share it within their circle. People love to know what influencers think about things.

In this way, you can build relationships with influencers and leverage their authority to increase your own.

8. E-E-A-T

E-E-A-T stands for Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. It’s a framework used by Google’s search quality raters to evaluate the quality of content, especially in “Your Money or Your Life” (YMYL) topics.

E-E-A-T is crucial for both on-page and off-page SEO. Here’s how you can enhance E-E-A-T through off-page SEO techniques:

Experience:

• Showcase Awards and Certifications: Display any relevant awards or certifications prominently on your site.
• Provide Comprehensive Case Studies: Share detailed case studies demonstrating your successful track record and hands-on experience.
• Document User Success Stories: Publish testimonials and stories from users who have benefited from your services or products.

Expertise:

• Showcase Credentials: Ensure that authors with relevant qualifications and expertise are contributing to your content, especially for topics that require specialized knowledge.
• Guest Post: Write guest articles for reputable websites in your industry to showcase your expertise.

Authoritativeness:

• Build High-Quality Backlinks: Earning backlinks from authoritative websites in your niche can boost your site’s authoritativeness.
• Engage in Industry Forums and Communities: Regularly contribute to industry-specific forums, Q&A sites, and online communities. This can position you as an authority in your field.
• Get Mentioned: Aim to get your brand or content mentioned (even without a link) on reputable platforms.
• Collaborate with Experts: Partner with recognized experts in your field for webinars, podcasts, or co-authored content.

Trustworthiness:

• Secure Your Website: Ensure your website uses HTTPS, which signals to users that your site is secure.
• Gather Positive Reviews: Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews on platforms like Google My Business, Yelp, and industry-specific review sites.
• Address Negative Feedback: Respond to and address any negative feedback or reviews professionally.
• Maintain an Updated Privacy Policy: Ensure your website has a clear and transparent privacy policy, terms of service, and other trust signals.
• Be Consistent: Ensure consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) information across all online platforms and directories.

Additional Tips:

• Showcase Awards and Certifications: If your business or website has received any awards or certifications, display them prominently.
• Engage on Social Media: Regularly post and engage with your audience on social media platforms. This not only builds trust but also showcases your expertise and authority.
• Transparency: Be transparent about who you are, what your business does, and any affiliations or partnerships.

Improving E-E-A-T is a continuous effort that involves showcasing your expertise, building authority, establishing trust, and sharing your experiences. By diligently applying these principles, you can enhance your off-page SEO and increase your chances of achieving higher rankings in search results.

9. Brand signals

Brand signals refer to the various indicators search engines use to determine the authority, trustworthiness, and popularity of a brand online. These signals can influence search rankings and play a crucial role in off-page SEO.

Here’s how you can enhance brand signals through off-page SEO techniques:

Brand Mentions:

• Unlinked Mentions: Even if a reputable site mentions your brand without linking to you, it’s a positive brand signal. Monitor and encourage such mentions.
• Engage in PR Activities: Collaborate with media outlets, bloggers, and influencers to get your brand mentioned on their platforms.

Consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number):

• Ensure your business’s NAP details are consistent across all online directories, social media platforms, and your website.

Positive Reviews and Ratings:

• Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews on platforms like Google My Business, Yelp, and other industry-specific review sites.
• Respond to reviews, both positive and negative, professionally to show that you value customer feedback.

Social Media Engagement:

• Maintain an active presence on relevant social media platforms.
• Engage with your audience by responding to comments, sharing valuable content, and participating in discussions.
• Use branded hashtags to promote campaigns and encourage user participation.

Branded Searches:

• Encourage users to search for your brand name on search engines. A higher volume of branded searches indicates strong brand recognition.
• Optimize for branded keywords to ensure that users find accurate and positive information about your brand.

Brand Affiliations and Partnerships:

• Collaborate with other reputable brands in your industry for joint campaigns, webinars, or events.
• Display logos of partner brands, certifications, or awards on your website to boost credibility.

User Engagement:

• Create shareable content encouraging users to engage with and share your brand’s content.
• Monitor metrics like bounce rate and time on site to ensure users engage positively with your brand’s content.

Community Involvement:

• Participate in or sponsor local community events, charities, or causes.
• Engage in industry-specific forums, webinars, and online communities to position your brand as a thought leader.

Quality Backlink Profile:

• Aim to get backlinks from reputable, industry-relevant sites. A strong backlink profile can enhance your brand’s authority.

Transparency and Trustworthiness:

• Maintain transparency in business operations, affiliations, and partnerships.
• Display trust signals like SSL certificates, privacy policies, and terms of service prominently on your website.

Generating strong brand signals is essential for enhancing your brand’s online reputation and authority. By building a consistent, trustworthy, and recognizable brand presence, you can boost your off-page SEO and improve search engine rankings.

Bonus Off-Page SEO Techniques

10. Repurposing Content

Every social media platform has its preferred content: Instagram was popular for pictures but now transitioning into reels (short form videos), YouTube for videos, and Facebook and Twitter for expressing your thoughts.

We often share content on Facebook and Twitter that we neglect on YouTube and Instagram.

For example, say you have written a step-by-step guide to creating an exit popup on Shopify. You can then create a YouTube video tutorial to go along with it and add the content URL in the description box.

This way, visitors from Google will find your content piece, and YouTube searchers will get the video. Always try to repurpose the content piece with your audience and resource in mind, and take advantage of the boost different types of content can get from other social networks.

11. Questions & Answers

Writing great content and giving it to the right people can be one of the best ways to build your authority on different question-and-answer websites like Stack Overflow, Quora, and Yahoo Answers.

Pick a high-authority and relevant platform, search for your niche and related questions, and answer them in a way that adds value to the question.

If you have written a guide on the same topic, leave a link to your site so visitors can easily find your content. Be careful with the links so that they don’t look like spam. If handled correctly, this strategy can be the game-changing off-page SEO tactic.

12. Webinars & Public Speaking

We regularly host live webinars and virtual events to share actionable advice on lead generation, popups, and conversion optimization. These sessions attract thousands of registrants and generate natural mentions from attendees and partners.

For example, our “Exit-Intent Secrets” webinar and partner sessions with MonsterInsights have earned us both backlinks and long-tail brand searches over time.

SEO Bonus: We repurpose webinars into blog posts, social media clips, and email guides — multiplying our visibility across channels.

13. Awards & Recognition (Backlink Gold)

Being included in curated “best of” lists has become a valuable passive link-building strategy. OptinMonster has been featured in dozens of “Top Popup Builders” and “Best Lead Gen Tools” roundups from high-authority domains.

Examples of backlinks from awards/lists:

• WPBeginner – Best Lead Generation Plugins
• ThemeIsle – Best Popup Plugins for WordPress

Pro Tip: If your product gets mentioned in a list, share it, link to it, and consider creating a testimonial or badge page to earn even more visibility from the original source.

14. Event Marketing & Community Sponsorships

OptinMonster has sponsored WordPress meetups, virtual summits, and marketing events to boost visibility among our ideal audience. These partnerships often result in:

• Featured mentions on event pages (with dofollow backlinks)
• Co-marketing opportunities with speakers and hosts
• Branded search lift from attendees looking up our tools post-event

A few event types we’ve supported:

• WordPress Meetups (Miami, Chicago, Austin)
• WPBeginner Anniversary Giveaways
• Plugin & SaaS roundtable webinars

These efforts don’t just support SEO — they drive real trust and new users from people who engage with us live.

Remember, off-page SEO is an ongoing process that requires consistent SEO effort and adaptability. So, go ahead and unleash the power of off-page SEO to unlock new opportunities for your website’s success!

How We Use These Off-Page SEO Strategies at OptinMonster

We don’t just talk about off-page SEO, we use it every day to grow OptinMonster.

Here’s a look at how we apply some of the strategies from this article to our own content marketing, PR, and link building efforts.

Guest Posting: Reaching New Audiences + Earning Backlinks

Guest blogging is one of our go-to strategies for building high-quality backlinks and getting in front of new readers. We regularly contribute to trusted sites in our space, like:

• WPBeginner – OptinMonster Review
• MonsterInsights – OptinMonster Deep Dive
• TrustPulse – Why We Use OptinMonster

Each post includes natural links back to our most helpful resources, plus tailored tips based on our real product experience.

Digital PR: Sharing Product Updates and Research

When we launch new features or share internal data, we use press releases and email outreach to get the word out. For example, when we launched TrustPulse, we created a detailed announcement post and shared it with partners and journalists.

That campaign earned us backlinks from marketing blogs, niche tech roundups, and even mentions in roundup-style “best popup tools” posts.

Read the original:
TrustPulse Launch Announcement

Influencer Outreach: Building Relationships That Last

We also build long-term relationships with creators and marketers in our niche. Here’s how we approach influencer marketing:

• We offer early access to new features and ask for honest feedback.
• We collaborate on joint webinars or blog mentions when our audiences overlap.
• We celebrate users who give us shoutouts — and sometimes invite them to share their story.

Most of our best backlinks and mentions happen because we’ve built genuine connections over time.

Want to get results like this for your brand? Start by picking one tactic from this list and applying it to your next content campaign. Consistency is the key to off-page SEO.

Off-Pafe SEO Techniques Summary:

1. Link Building (Backlinks): Acquiring high-quality backlinks from authoritative and relevant websites to boost your site’s credibility.
2. Social Media Marketing: Leveraging social platforms to amplify content reach, engage users, and gain backlinks.
3. Guest Posting: Writing and publishing content on other websites to reach new audiences and earn quality backlinks.
4. Broken Link Building: Finding broken links on other sites and offering your content as a replacement to earn backlinks.
5. Local SEO: Optimizing for local search to improve visibility among local customers.
6. Press Releases (PR): Distributing newsworthy announcements to gain media coverage and backlinks.
7. Influencer Marketing: Collaborating with industry influencers to expand reach and build credibility.
8. E-E-A-T: Enhancing Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness to meet Google’s quality standards.
9. Brand Signals: Strengthening indicators like consistent NAP information, positive reviews, and social engagement to boost brand authority
10. Repurposing Content: Adapting content for different platforms to reach wider audiences.
11. Questions & Answers: Providing valuable answers on Q&A platforms to showcase expertise and direct users to your content.
12. Webinars & Public Speaking: Hosting or participating in webinars and podcasts to share expertise, build authority, and earn mentions or backlinks.
13. Awards & Recognition: Earning mentions and backlinks from “Top Tools” lists, industry awards, and expert roundups to enhance trust and visibility.
14. Event Marketing & Sponsorships: Supporting industry events, meetups, or conferences to gain backlinks, mentions, and targeted exposure.

FAQs About Off-Page SEO

Also checkout:

• 24 Expert SEO Tips & Advice to Boost Your Traffic
• SEO Best Practices: Simple Routines for Ultimate Success
• 50+ Powerful SEO Statistics That Will Help You Boost Traffic to Your Site
• A Beginner’s Guide to Email Marketing Automation
• What Is White Hat vs Black Hat SEO: How to NOT Do SEO
• How To Create a Content Marketing Strategy

TL;DR:

The best WordPress form plugin is WPForms, a beginner-friendly tool packed with powerful addons for surveys, payments, and lead forms. If you’re looking for a free option, WPForms Lite is a great choice, it’s a simple drag-and-drop form plugin that covers all your basic contact form needs. For more advanced use cases, Formidable Forms is ideal for developers who need complex calculations, data views, and deep integrations to build web apps or quote forms.

I’ve spent countless hours testing numerous form builders to find the perfect WordPress form plugin for my website. Let me tell you, it wasn’t a walk in the park.

To save you the same struggle, I’m sharing my experience to help you choose the right form plugin for your WordPress site.

Here are the 6 WordPress form plugins I tested for this review. You can click any of the names below to jump directly to that section and see my full breakdown of each tool:

Overview of the Top WordPress Form Plugins

Review: Best WordPress Form Plugins

WPForms – My Go-To WordPress Form Plugin

Out of all the WordPress form plugins I’ve tested, WPForms became my instant favorite. It’s incredibly user-friendly, even for a non-tech person like me. The drag-and-drop builder is a game-changer. I was able to create professional-looking forms in no time.

What I love most is the flexibility. Need a simple contact form? No problem. Want to build a complex survey or job application form? WPForms can handle it. I’ve used it for everything from collecting email subscribers to processing online payments.

The pre-built templates are a fantastic starting point, but the real power comes from customizing them to match my exact needs. I’ve played around with conditional logic, multi-page forms, and even geolocation features. It’s amazing how much you can do without writing a single line of code.

Plus, the integration options are top-notch. I’ve connected WPForms to my email marketing service, CRM, and payment processors with ease. It’s saved me countless hours of setup time.

While the free version is great for basic forms, I opted for the premium plan to unlock its full potential. It’s been worth every penny.

Is WPForms Free? There is a free version, called WPForms Lite.
Premium Pricing: Starts at $39/year

Resource: How To Create a Contact Form with WPForms

Formidable Forms – Power Under the Hood

Formidable Forms is a different beast altogether. While WPForms is great for most users, I found myself needing something more robust for a complex project, so I turned to Formidable Forms.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not as user-friendly out of the box as WPForms. There’s a steeper learning curve, but the payoff is immense. If you’re comfortable with a little technical tinkering, Formidable Forms opens up a world of possibilities.

I was blown away by its flexibility. Creating complex forms with conditional logic, calculations, and user-specific views was a breeze. I even built a custom directory using Formidable Forms! The possibilities truly feel endless.

However, it’s not for everyone. If you just need a simple contact form, WPForms is probably a better fit. But if you’re looking to build something truly custom, Formidable Forms is worth the investment of time to learn.

Is Formidable Forms Free? There is a free version, called Formidable Lite.
Premium Pricing: Starts at $39.50/year

HubSpot – All-in-One Marketing Solution

HubSpot was a pleasant surprise. I was initially skeptical about using an all-in-one platform, but their form builder is actually pretty solid. It’s definitely geared towards a slightly different audience.

If you’re a small business owner looking to grow your email list and nurture leads, HubSpot is worth considering. The form builder is easy to use, and the integration with their CRM and email marketing tools is seamless.

I found the drag-and-drop interface intuitive, and the pre-designed templates were a good starting point. While it might not offer the same level of customization as Formidable Forms, it’s perfect for most businesses.

The real value of HubSpot lies in its overall marketing platform. Being able to manage your contacts, send emails, and track your website performance all in one place is a huge time-saver. However, if you’re only looking for a WordPress form builder, WPForms is a specialized option out there.

Is HubSpot Free? Yes, there is a free version of the HubSpot WordPress plugin.
Premium Pricing: Starts at $800/month

Gravity Forms – A Developer’s Dream

Gravity Forms is targeted towards developers and those who crave maximum customization. I wouldn’t call it user-friendly in the same sense as WPForms, but the power it offers is undeniable.

I spent a good amount of time exploring its features, and I was impressed by the depth of customization available. Once I got the hang of it, building complex forms with conditional logic, multi-step flows, and even creating user-generated content was a breeze.

It’s clear that Gravity Forms is designed for those who want to build highly customized solutions. If you’re comfortable with a little coding or have a developer on your team, it’s a fantastic option. However, for simple forms, it might be overkill.

The lack of a free version is a drawback, but considering its capabilities, it’s understandable.

Is Gravity Forms Free? No, there isn’t a free version.
Premium Pricing: Starts at $59/month

Ninja Forms – The Swiss Army Knife of Form Plugins

Ninja Forms surprised me. It’s like the underdog that packs a punch. The free version offers a solid foundation, and the add-on system lets you customize it to your heart’s content.

I started with the basic form builder, and it was straightforward enough. The interface isn’t as polished as WPForms, but it gets the job done. Where Ninja Forms really shines is in its flexibility. Need more advanced features? Just grab an add-on.

I experimented with a few add-ons, and I was impressed by the range of options. From payment processing to user management, there’s probably an add-on for it. The pricing model is a bit different, too, allowing you to pick and choose the features you need.

While it might not be the most glamorous option, Ninja Forms is a practical choice for many users. If you’re looking for a good balance of features and cost, it’s definitely worth considering.

Is Ninja Forms free? Yes, there’s a free version.
Premium Pricing: Starts at $99/year

UserFeedback – A Focused Solution

UserFeedback is a niche player in the WordPress form plugin world, but it does one thing exceptionally well: collecting user feedback.

I was impressed by its simplicity. Setting up feedback forms is straightforward, and the customization options are sufficient for most use cases. The ability to embed feedback forms anywhere on your website is a huge plus.

While it lacks the breadth of features offered by the other form plugins, such as WPForms, it’s perfect for its intended purpose. If you’re primarily interested in gathering user feedback, UserFeedback is definitely worth considering.

It’s a great option for gathering insights from your audience and improving your website based on their input.

Is UserFeedback free? There is a free plugin, UserFeedback Lite.
Premium Pricing: Starts at $49.5/year

There you have it! My picks for the top WordPress form plugin.

Wrapping Up: Which Is The Best WordPress Form Plugin?

After putting these form plugins through their paces, it’s clear that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. The best WordPress form plugin depends on your specific needs, technical expertise, and budget.

For most users, I recommend WPForms because it offers a great balance of features, ease of use, and affordability. If you need more advanced features or are a developer, consider Formidable Forms owing to its unparalleled customization and power.

If you’re focused on collecting user feedback, UserFeedback is a specialized tool that does the job well. And if you’re looking for a broader marketing solution, HubSpot offers a solid form builder integrated with other marketing tools.

Remember, the best way to choose is to experiment with different options. Many of these plugins offer free trials or lite versions, so you can test them out before committing.

Frequently Asked Questions About WordPress Form Plugins

In fact, the eCommerce site Cosmetic Capital used a hello bar to increase their lead generation by 300%!

If you want to see this level of success on your own website, then you’re in the right place.

Today, we’ll share our favorite hello bar examples to help you find the right look, style, and messaging for your brand. We’ll also show you how easy it is to add each type of hello bar to your own website.

But first, let’s make sure we’re clear on what a hello bar is and why it’s so useful.

Remember, “hello bar” and “floating bar” refer to the same type of website feature. We will use them interchangeably throughout the rest of the post.

What Is a Hello Bar?

A Hello bar is a website optimization feature that displays a customizable bar, typically at the top of a website or webpage. Hello bars usually contain a short message or call-to-action intended to grab the website visitor’s attention and encourage them to take a specific action. That action may be signing up for a newsletter or downloading a free resource.

Hello bars are also called floating bars, sticky bars, welcome bars, or announcement bars.

They are often used by website owners and digital marketers to increase conversions and drive more engagement from their website visitors.

A hello bar is an excellent alternative to a popup because it’s not intrusive. It simply remains on your user’s screen while they browse your content. That accessibility means you can get more interaction with hello bars, and you can keep your UX high across your site.

What Does Hello Bar Do?

You can use hello bars to accomplish your marketing goals, as you’ll see in just a moment from our hello bar examples. They can be used to

• Make an announcement (company updates or flash sale)
• Greet first-time visitors with a welcome bar message
• Offer lead magnets for lead generation
• Increase registrations for webinars
• Provide purchase incentives like discounts, coupon codes, and free shipping
• Redirect to product pages to increase sales
• And more

Hello banners are a fantastic tool in your marketing tool belt.

Now that we’re clear on what a hello bar is, let’s look at some hello bar examples you can be inspired by.

Hello Bar Examples

Since this is such an in-depth resource for hello bar examples, we’ve broken each one down by its primary function.

Let’s dive into the list.

• Grow Your List
• Attract New Leads
• Drive More Sales
• Connect With Your Audience
• Educate Your Site’s Visitors
• Offer Lead Magnets
• Create a Sense of Urgency
• Give Discounts and Coupons
• Target Campaigns to Your Ideal Buyer
• Boost Conversions on Landing Pages
• Integrate With Your Email Provider
• Empower Your Audience
• Design Professional Campaigns Quickly

1. Grow Your Mailing List

The first of our hello bar examples is a simple floating bar from ActiveCampaign. They chose to display their bar at the bottom of the page:

This simple floating bar with an email signup form works great for building your email marketing list.

The campaign uses OptinMonster’s Postal Lead Generation template, which contrasts with the main web page. ActiveCampaign changed the copy to include social proof by saying that “thousands have improved their marketing, and the “see why” piques curiosity.

This is a winning combination, resulting in 800 new signups every month. Read the complete ActiveCampaign case study for more details.

How to Make It

For this, ActiveCampaign chose OptinMonster’s Postal Lead Generation template:

Once you see what the template looks like in the editor, you’ll notice ActiveCampaign made a few modifications:

• Changing the button color
• Adding the Name field to the signup form
• Moving the text above the signup form rather than to the side

With our inline text editor and drag-and-drop builder, these changes likely took less than 5 minutes to make.

That means within 5 minutes, ActiveCampaign had a professional hello bar running live on their site.

2. Attract New Leads

Advisor Coach also got great results by using a floating bar campaign on all their blog posts.

The black hello bar contrasts with the white web pages, and the yellow call to action button stands out.

Although we’d have gone for more contrast between the button color and the text color, this floating bar worked well for Advisor Coach. On those pages, they doubled their conversions.

Case Study: See how The Advisor Coach increased sitewide conversions by 360% with OptinMonster.

How to Make It

One thing that the Advisor Coach was concerned about was targeting mobile users.

That’s because much of their traffic comes from smartphones, so they needed campaigns that would look great on mobile devices.

With OptinMonster’s template options, you can filter out template styles by device:

From there, they used our Increase Subscribers template and changed the background color from white to black in the campaign builder:

After that, they made just a few minor changes in our inline text editor.

Again, this campaign was likely created in under 5 minutes.

3. Drive More Sales

DigitalMarketer liked our hello bar alternative so much that they used it on two sites: their primary site and their TruConversion product website.

This notification bar optin uses a bold CTA button, making it easy to drive traffic to the right landing page. In this case, to the landing page to purchase tickets to an upcoming conference.

In both cases, they used contrasting colors for their floating bars. They also triggered the fear of missing out (FOMO) in visitors by putting a definite end date in the first bar and a signup limit in the second.

The results: an 8.45% conversion rate for one hello bar, and 6.62% for the other.

How to Make It

What stood out to us was the enticing copy. “Copy” means the persuasive wording used to get people to engage with your campaign.

To change the wording in any OptinMonster campaign, hello bars included, you can use our inline editor:

This allows you to quickly change your campaign’s copy to find the message that most resonates with your audience.

4. Connect With Your Audience

While researching hello bar examples, we found a good one from Dogs Naturally.

This is a great hello bar example because of the copy. It entices customers with a lead magnet that features a big number. It also proved its relevance by including the current year.

Plus, this floating bar uses OptinMonster’s Yes/No forms, which have proven to convert well.

How to Make It

For this example, we’ll focus on the Yes/No aspect of the campaign creation. Adding a Yes/No feature is a great way to boost engagement with your campaign.

That’s because once people begin a process, they’re more likely to finish. And since it’s easier to get people to click “Yes” than type in their personal contact information, a Yes/No campaign is the best way to get things rolling.

We’re so confident in the power of 2-step options that we include a Yes/No view in most templates by default.

At the bottom of the builder, you’ll see tabs where you can toggle between the three default campaign views:

• Yes/No View (with yes and no buttons)
• Optin View (with an email optin form)
• Success View (with subscription confirmation and next steps)

When you click each of these tabs, you’ll be able to edit exactly how each step of your campaign looks.

And what if you want to start with the Optin view? Just click the arrow in the Yes/No tab and select Disable Yes/No View.

5. Educate Your Website’s Visitors

Here’s another creative use of OptinMonster, which is great for content producers. Envira Gallery keeps it simple by using its floating bar optin to encourage visitors to move deeper into the site.

Envira’s used a Yes/No form but switched off the No button. Their Yes button says “Get Started,”and the link redirects visitors to a piece of pillar content.

This is smart because it avoids asking for anything upfront and rewards the click with a valuable resource. You can use this floating bar to direct your visitors to content you know converts.

How to Make It

Earlier, we covered how to enable the Yes/No feature. But now, let’s look at removing the No option from your hello bar, like in the example above.

Hover your mouse over the Yes/No button and locate the trashcan icon:

Click on that to remove the Yes/No field from your campaign. Then drag a Button block into that space.

Once you’ve dragged a button into your campaign, you’ll see editing options to the left. There, you can change three things:

• Button Text. Envira changed it to “Get Started.”
• Button Click Action. To link to a blog post, choose Redirect to a url.
• Redirect URL. Enter the link to the page or post you want to direct visitors to.

6. Offer Lead Magnets

The OptinMonster floating bar optin example on Jeff Bullas’ site mirrors his navigation bar, which means it tends to blend in when visitors scroll. However, it’s effective when visitors first land on the site.

This black hello bar combines compelling social proof (“5 million visitors a year”) with the enticing offer of free information.

The green call to action button is highly visible – visitors will notice it.

How to Make It

What makes this campaign so effective is the design. Again, that green button is why the campaign stands out so much in the first place.

Otherwise, it would simply blend in with the rest of the site.

If you want a simple modification like that, you can easily change the button color. Just click on the button in your campaign block to see the editing tools on the left-hand side.

Select the Advanced tab in the left-hand editor. Then, you’ll see the option to change the button’s Background Color.

You can choose a color that perfectly matches your brand OR one that stands out to grab your user’s attention.

7. Create a Sense of Urgency

If you’re interested in hello bar examples directly impacting the bottom line, check out Kennedy Blue.

This dark blue floating bar grabs visitors’ attention as it contrasts with the pastel tones on the rest of the site. The white text is highly visible, and, combined with the countdown timer and coupon code, creates urgency for visitors.

It’s no surprise that this floating bar boosted sales by 50%.

Related Resource: See our list of 6 incredibly easy floating bar hacks to boost conversions.

How to Make It

Here you’ll notice that the key to Kennedy Blue’s success was in creating urgency for the users. For that, they used a countdown timer.

You can accomplish this in 2 ways:

1. When selecting a Template, search for “countdown timer” to filter the results for templates that already include a timer
2. Add a Countdown Timer to any of our templates or an existing campaign you have designed.

Then locate the block Countdown Timer from the left-hand side menu. From there, you can drag and drop it into place:

You’ll notice that the styling of the countdown timer will need some changes. When you click on the Countdown Timer block, you’ll see the editing options in the left-hand side menu:

This allows you to quickly and easily make the necessary modifications to build urgency for your users.

Learn more about how you can customize OptinMonster’s countdown timers.

8. Give Discounts and Coupons

While we’re on the subject of making sales, a hello bar on the pricing page paid off for LifterLMS.

Like the hello bar example above, the company included a clear offer with a coupon code and used a countdown timer to create urgency. In just five months, this campaign brought in $23,700 in sales and 7,000 new leads that Lifter would have missed.

How to Make It

Want to create the hello bar example from above? The one with the countdown timer AND the embedded coupon?

You can use OptinMonster’s Time Sensitive Discount hello bar template. Then follow a few steps:

1. Disable the Yes/No View, as we showed you in this example.
2. Import the Success View into the Optin View.

You need to do this second step because it is the Success View of this template that has a countdown timer, text, and clickable coupon code.

To accomplish this step, click the Import View that is to the left of the view tabs. It looks similar to a download icon.

Next, click Import from Success View.

Now, you have the exact same hello bar layout as the example above. This template has everything you need to replicate LifterLMS’s campaign to see the same incredible results.

9. Target Campaigns to Your Ideal Buyer

Optimize My Airbnb uses some of the methods we’ve already seen to make its hello bar stand out.

For example, the green background contrasts with the site, making the bar visible.

The yellow call to action button stands out, too, and there’s a clear statement of what’s on offer when visitors sign up. The use of yes/no forms will also help this campaign convert well. Here are some more creative ways to integrate yes/no forms into your marketing.

How to Make It

One thing about campaigns like these is that they might now be the right for every page on your site.

Sometimes, you’ll want a hello bar on your homepage rather than a product page. You may wish to have a floating bar on your blog posts, but you have other campaigns running for landing pages.

Whatever the reason, setting up campaigns for specific pages is super easy. Go to Display Rules in your OptinMonster editor:

Then you can select the URL path you want this to show up on. You can choose from many options, like:

• Any page
• The homepage
• Pages other than the homepage
• URL exactly matches
• And much more

With just a few clicks from this displayed drop-down menu, you can place your hello bars exactly where you want. And the best part is that you don’t need any tech skills or coding experience to do so.

10. Boost Conversions on Landing Pages

As you’d expect, we use floating bars, too. They’re our favorite way to announce a sale or a deal. Typically, you’ll see our floating bar optin at the top of the OptinMonster pricing page, where visitors can access it.

We usually stick to the default countdown timer color scheme: a white notification bar with black text, a red countdown button, and a yellow coupon code.

Does it work well for us? We’re going to say that we use it every year on all our sites, so what do you think?

How to Make It

Like the LifterLMS example, this uses the Time Sensitive Discount template:

One thing you may want to note about the countdown timer is that you have two options:

• Static
• Dynamic

Static countdown timers have a fixed start and end date. On the other hand, dynamic countdown timers start when the user first sees it and end after a specific amount of time.

That way, everyone has the same time to take you up on your offer.

So let’s say you have a new site visitor named Frank who comes on a Tuesday. Frank sees that he has seven days to purchase and redeem his discount. That means Frank’s sale ends next Tuesday.

But then you get another new visitor on Wednesday. We’ll call her Sarah.

Sarah’s countdown timer also gives her seven days to take you up on your offer, so her discount will expire next Wednesday.

Even though Frank and Sarah saw their deal on different days, a dynamic countdown timer will give them the same amount of time to redeem the offer.

To change your countdown timer from static to dynamic, click on the countdown timer in your OptinMonster editor.

Then you can change the type of timer you want in the left-hand side editing menu. Just click on the Countdown Type dropdown menu.

Customizing your countdown timer allows you to create more targeted incentives for your audience. As a result, you can expect conversion rates to go way up.

11. Integrate With Your Email Provider

Stacy Portugal’s floating bar picks up the color in the site’s logo to create visual harmony.

The white text contrasts nicely with the notification bar’s background, and there’s a clear and simple call to action to download the site’s lead magnet.

How to Make It

This campaign uses our Get Tips and Tricks template with just a few modifications. What’s important here, however, is delivering the lead magnet once the new visitor signs up.

You’ll want to integrate the hello bar with your email service provider (ESP) or use Monster Leads to store your new contacts.

Both can be done from the Integrations portion of your OptinMonster editor:

From there, you’ll be able to choose your ESP.

OptinMonster syncs natively with most major ESPs on the market. And if you don’t see yours on the list, you can connect any ESP with webhooks.

But sometimes, you may want to store your new leads separately from your ESP. Use our Monster Leads feature to keep a backup of your new leads in case of trouble with your ESP.

You can hook up your ESP and Monster Leads simultaneously. When new leads go to your ESP, you can set up an automated email series to deliver your lead magnet.

12. Empower Your Audience

The US Student Loan Center got great results using OptinMonster as a hello bar alternative. The organization got smart and used several OptinMonster campaigns to promote its lead magnet and generate a 10% increase in sales.

This yellow hello bar example contrasts with the muted tones on the site and uses Yes/No form with the No button turned off to provide a single call to action.

How to Make It

This is a very subtle and easy-to-make campaign. You could replicate this campaign in under 3 minutes using our Show an Announcement hello bar template.

All you’d need to do is change the text, background color, button color, and button action.

To change the background color of a campaign, click on the hello bar’s background to bring up the Columns editor to the left. Then select the Advanced tab to change the background color.

13. Design Professional Campaigns Quickly

Finally, here’s another hello bar example of the countdown timer floating bar in action. This time, it’s on WPForms. You must catch the red timer to evoke urgency, and visitors have a clear deal on offer.

How to Make It

This is another example of OptinMonster’s Time Sensitive Discount hello bar template. Again, this is a great one to use in a pinch because you won’t need to modify much.

Once you change the copy, add your coupon, and modify the colors, you can add this countdown timer to your product page’s URL, as we’ve seen before:

Then type in the URL of your pricing page, and your campaign will be ready to roll!

The Best Way To Make Hello Bars

Under each hello bar example in the last section, we gave you a quick glimpse at how to make them.

And in each example, we used OptinMonster:

That’s because OptinMonster is the best and easiest way to get a hello bar up and running on your website in minutes.

With over 100+ prebuilt templates, you don’t need to be a professional designer to make stunning floating bars. And to modify those templates, you don’t need any coding or technical skills.

OptinMonster has a codeless drag-and-drop visual builder that allows you to create high-converting hello bars for your website.

And as we already discussed, you can target these hello bars to the right parts of your audience in just a few clicks. This can be done with any of OptinMonster’s display rules.

Some of the most popular rules include:

• Exit-Intent® Technology: Recover visitors as they’re abandoning your site for good (also used to lower cart abandonment rates).
• OnSite Retargeting®: Keep users engaged by showing fresh campaigns to returning visitors.
• Geolocation: Personalize the user journey by targeting users based on their physical location.
• Page-level: Boost conversions by matching your special offers with your on-page content.

And that’s it! These have been 13 hello bar examples you can start using today.

Build Professional Hello Bars FAST with OptinMonster!

TLDR

Spin the wheel popups (or discount wheels) turn boring signup forms into fun, gamified experiences that grab attention and boost conversions. These interactive popups invite visitors to “spin” for a chance to win discounts, freebies, or exclusive deals, making list-building more engaging and effective.

Top pick: OptinMonster — best for exit-intent targeting and full customization ($9/mo).
Other solid options: Wheelio (Shopify-only), Spin-a-Sale, WP Optin Wheel (free), Popup Maker, and Wheel of Popups.

Tired of visitors bouncing before they join your email list or make a purchase?

You’re not alone. Most people ignore popups, unless you make them impossible to ignore.

That’s where a spin the wheel popup plugin comes in. It adds a fun, gamified wheel to your site that doesn’t just ask for an email, it invites people to play. And when there’s a chance to win a discount or freebie? That small moment of curiosity becomes a big jump in conversions.

We’ve used these wheels across multiple campaigns, and they work. In fact, they’re one of the most effective tools for grabbing attention and building your list faster, especially when paired with smart targeting.

In this post, we’ll show you the best spin the wheel popup plugins for WordPress, Shopify, and more + plus how to pick the right one for your business.

Let’s get started.

Best Spin the Wheel Popup Plugins at a Glance

Plugin	Platforms	Free Plan	Best For	Starting Price	Key Feature
OptinMonster	WordPress, Shopify, more		Exit-intent targeting & customization	$9/mo	Exit-Intent® tech + advanced targeting
Wheelio	Shopify		Simple gamified offers	$14.92/mo	On-exit overlays
Spin-a-Sale	Shopify		Affordable engagement	$9.99/mo	Email integrations + exit intent
WP Optin Wheel	WordPress, WooCommerce		Free entry-level wheel builder	Free	Seasonal templates & Zapier integration
Popup Maker	WordPress		Broad popup use	$4.95/mo	Multiple popup templates
Wheel of Popups	Multi-platform	(trial)	Agencies & large sites	$19/mo+	Device targeting + triggers

What Is a Spin the Wheel Popup?

Spin the wheel popups are optin forms that your website visitors can actively interact with. They’re also known as “spin to win popups” or “gamified wheels.”

These campaigns allow users to click a button, spin a wheel, and win a prize:

Best Spin the Wheel Popup Plugin

We’ve picked the wheel plugins in the market that are easy to install and use, have great designs, and are affordable.

1. OptinMonster

OptinMonster is the best spin the wheel WordPress popup plugin for your website. It lets you add a professionally designed spin to win wheel campaign to any website without writing code.

OptinMonster has dozens of attention-grabbing discount wheel templates to choose from. All the “nuts and bolts” have been put together for you, meaning you can launch your gamified popup in minutes.

We also understand there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to marketing, so we made each template fully customizable.

You can complement your brand image and marketing strategy by changing the color, call-to-action, text, fonts, and image in seconds using the drag and drop builder.

This allows you to match the content and style of your spin to win wheel with your overall website, product pages, or specific landing pages to increase conversions.

Choosing your rewards is just as easy. Simply type them into the “Wheel Sections” box and switch on the prizes you want to activate. OptinMonster will automatically calculate the probability of each prize every time you turn a spinner wheel section on or off.

Depending on which email service provider (ESP) you’re using, you can send the customer’s spin promo code to your email list and use it to send a customized welcome email reminding them to use their spin coupon quickly.

Added to that, OptinMonster lets you target your audience based on their interests, location, and activity on your site. You can even target visitors that are leaving your site to entice them to spin the wheel before they go.

That means you have full control over who sees your popup and when.

One of the most popular triggers is OptinMonster’s Exit-Intent® Technology. This lets you recover abandoning users and is incredibly effective at increasing conversions.

It’s also remarkably effective at reducing shopping cart abandonment for your online store.

In fact, an exit-intent spin the wheel promo is how PortraitFlip consistently converts over 3% of all their mobile traffic.

Plus, OptinMonster can make more than just spin the wheel promo popups. It has other campaign types as well such as lightbox popups, countdown timers, slide-ins, inline forms, fullscreen mats, and floating bars.

This helps you achieve other marketing goals, such as:

• Redirecting traffic to boost SEO
• Showcasing product demos
• Providing discounts to increase direct sales
• Grabbing user attention to get more webinar registrations
• Boosting your social media following
• And so much more…

OptinMonster works with all eCommerce websites, and you can integrate it into all email marketing services or tools (such as Constant Contact, ConvertKit, ActiveCampaign, and more).

It also allows you to stay GDPR compliant which is crucial if you have website visitors coming from the European Union.

Ready to create your own discount spin wheel popup? With pricing starting at only $9/month and a 14-day money-back guarantee, there’s no reason to put it off any longer!

2. Wheelio

Wheelio markets itself as the first spin the wheel discount app to include smart tracking tools like on-exit overlays and time triggers. Like OptinMonster, Wheelio comes with a stellar template for designing attention-grabbing discount wheels in a few short minutes.

Great for gamifying optins, Wheelio offers a simple platform that’s quick to learn. That’s partly because Wheelio’s services are pretty straightforward. It creates coupon wheels and that’s pretty much it. We don’t recommend Wheelio to business owners trying to revamp their marketing strategy.

But if you’re just looking for a discount spin wheel, Wheelio does everything you need it to.

With that said, here’s something to consider before purchasing a Wheelio subscription. Its baseline plan costs $14.92 a month and only comes with a wheel template and basic integration tools. If you need comprehensive analytics, segmentation, and custom fields, you’ll need Wheelio Pro. That costs $59.92.

At that price, you may want to decide whether you should spend a little more and get a comprehensive lead-generation solution.

Another thing to keep in mind is that Wheelio only works with Shopify at the moment. So, if you need a spin a wheel coupon plugin for WooCommerce and WordPress, you must find a Wheelio alternative for now.

3. Spin-a-Sale

Spin-a-Sale is a powerful spin the wheel discount app for Shopify. Sorry, WooCommerce users, there isn’t a Spin-a-Sale alternative for WordPress available at the moment. We hope that changes in the future.

Still, if you’re on Shopify and you’re looking for a powerful spinner wheel coupon app, Spin-a-Sale is second to none. Its prices start at $9.99 a month for basic services and $24.99 for a premium subscription. This makes Spin-a-Sale one of the more affordable gamified popups tools on the market.

Basic features include:

• MailChimp, AWeber, and Klaviyo integration.
• Advanced engagement tools like triggers, delay timers, and exit-intent popups for desktop and mobile.
• Customizable optin wheel slices.
• Adjustable win and loss probabilities.

Premium users get page-level targeting, protection against duplicate emails, and auto-generated coupon codes.

And all subscribers get access to a beautiful range of ready-made templates. So, finding the perfect theme for your Shopify site is a piece of cake.

Spin-a-sale Alternative: Bulk Discount Spin Wheel Popup

4. WP Optin Wheel

WP Optin Wheel has everything you need to create a WordPress and a WooCommerce coupon spinning wheel in minutes. You can also integrate it into most of popular email marketing platforms out there, including:

• MailChimp
• Klaviyo
• GetResponse

Like the other platforms covered, WP Optin Wheel offers several ready-made wheel templates. Its easy-to-use setup wizard makes changing each spin coupon code and win chance a breeze. Plus, you can integrate into Zapier and use it as part of your lead generation strategy.

There’s a free version of WP Optin Wheel as well as a premium subscription. The free version gives you access to the general template so that you can create gamified popups. But you’ll need to get the premium version if you want to:

• Fully customize your gamified wheel.
• Gain access to fun and quirky seasonal templates.
• Enjoy the full spectrum of marketing tools that come with the plugin, like on-exit overlays, integrated statistics, and comprehensive coupon settings.

Premium subscriptions cost a yearly fee of $39 for 1 site, $99 for 3, and $199 for unlimited sites.

WP Optin Wheel Alternative: Lucky Wheel

5. Popup Maker

Popup Maker lets you create engaging optins for your eCommerce site. It supports major website platforms like WordPress, as well as a number of other websites.

Popup Maker lets you choose from 10 popup templates, including a discount spin wheel.

Each template helps you achieve a specific outcome in the easiest way possible.

Popup Maker’s Silver Plan costs $4.95 a month and gives you all the basic tools needed for creating engaging popups. The downside is that you’re limited to only 100,000 monthly pageviews on this plan.

If you’re looking for something a little more powerful, there’s the Gold Plan. It costs $11.95 a month and comes with a lot of cool marketing tools. Key features include advanced analytics, on-exit overlays, and age restriction popups. This plan works for 500,000 pageviews.

Finally, there’s the Platinum Plan. It’s going to cost you $18.95 a month. With that comes smart marketing tools like geotargeting, scheduled popups, and time triggers. This subscription gives you 1 million pageviews.

6. Wheel of Popups

Wheel of Popups is a one-size-fits-all popup tool that works for all eCommerce websites. Whether you’re running Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, or building your own site from the ground up, you can use Wheel of Popups to generate leads and convert visitors.

Wheel of Popups comes with a standard spin the wheel promo template, which you can customize to look and operate the way you want it. Everything from its visual design to the prizes you want on the spinner wheel can be changed in seconds.

It also features an assortment of marketing tools, like time triggers and movement tracking. And you can even choose to have your popups viewed on specific devices. Say you wanted to reach out to mobile users. Wheel of Popups lets you restrict popups to mobile traffic, ignoring desktop users completely.

Signing up to Wheel of Popups is free and you get a 10-day trial to see if you like it. If you choose to purchase a subscription, you have 4 packages to choose from:

• Personal: $19 a month for 1 website.
• Developer: $49 a month for 5 websites.
• Agency: $149 a month for 20 websites.
• Reseller: $249 a month for 50 websites.

All subscriptions are 20% off if you pay for the year upfront.

Wheel of Popups Alternative: Crazy Rocket

How to Create a Spin to Win Coupon Wheel (The Easy Way)

Want to create a discount spin wheel in less than 5 minutes? Check out this video to see how it’s done!

If you prefer, you can also use our step by step discount spin wheel tutorial with pictures to help you get started!

Which App is Best for Spin To Win?

Now that we’ve covered each product, you’re probably wondering which one to buy.

Well, every company is different. We recommend looking at your own goals and business objectives beforehand. You can start by asking yourself the following questions:

• Do I only want to gamify popups or do I need a comprehensive set of marketing tools?
• Roughly how many pageviews will my discount wheel popup receive in a month?
• Am I using the popup on one site or many sites?
• Do I need a Shopify discount spin wheel or something I can use on multiple platforms?
• Will I use advanced tools like geotargeting?

Answering these questions will help you determine whether any discount wheel popup plugin will do, or if you need something that’s scalable and targets specific segments of your market.

Ready to create your own coupon wheel game?

If you’re looking for more resources to grow your eCommerce store, you’ll enjoy these articles:

• The Ultimate eCommerce Optimization Guide: 13 Steps to Instantly Boost Revenue
• 15 Smart Ecommerce Personalization Examples That Boost Sales
• 40 Exit Popup Hacks That Will Grow Your Subscribers and Revenue

Frequently Asked Questions About Spin To Win Wheels Popups

TL;DR: OptinMonster vs Mailchimp

OptinMonster helps you capture leads. Mailchimp helps you email them.
Use OptinMonster to turn your website traffic into subscribers with high-converting popups and targeting tools. Then use Mailchimp to send campaigns, automate emails, and manage your contacts.

Best for lead generation: OptinMonster
Best for email marketing: Mailchimp
Best results: Use both together

Are you wondering what the difference is between OptinMonster and Mailchimp?

Often times, beginners get confused and think that these 2 companies focus on solving the same problem. But, really, OptinMonster and Mailchimp are very different services.

Since this is such a common question that we get from interested users, we decided it would be best to clear up any confusion.

That’s why, in this post, we’re going to take a look at OptinMonster and Mailchimp. We’ll clarify what they do, how you can use them, and determine which is best for lead generation.

Let’s start by looking at a brief overview of each company.

What Does Mailchimp Do?

Mailchimp is primarily an email service provider (ESP) that allows users to send marketing emails (which they call “email campaigns”). They offer professional email templates and newsletter designs so you can quickly create and send beautiful emails to your subscriber base.

They also give you detailed analytics about the success of your campaigns to help you get higher open rates.

With Mailchimp’s list segmentation features, you can organize your email list, create unique tags for your audience, or even make and send email campaigns based on your customers’ behavior.

They strive to help you figure out how to get more people to open your emails, click-through to your site’s content, and purchase your products.

That last goal is where they overlap with OptinMonster.

Because besides sending emails, Mailchimp lets you build signup forms and landing pages. This is where most of the confusion begins when people compare OptinMonster vs. Mailchimp.

We’ll get to that in a minute.

For now, it’s important to know that Mailchimp’s focus is (and has always been) being a useful email service provider. It only offers a basic form builder and lead generation tools as a supplementary service.

Now let’s look at OptinMonster.

What Is OptinMonster?

OptinMonster is the world’s #1 conversion optimization toolkit. We help you create highly targeted campaigns such as lead generation, cart abandonment, and on-site retargeting campaigns to convert your website visitors into leads and customers.

We do that by helping you create highly effective optin campaigns (like floating bars,  popups, slide-ins, gamified wheels, and more) that are targeted to your user.

We offer 700+ templates and a drag and drop builder so you can create your campaigns in minutes (including any customizations you choose to make):

And the level of personalization we offer has been proven to convert much higher than generic optin campaigns created by email marketing tools like Mailchimp.

That means more advanced functionality without any extra “tech skills” required.

So whether you’re trying to grow your email list, get more page views, or increase sales, OptinMonster focuses on getting conversions at every part of your customers’ journey.

In fact, Expat.com used OptinMonster’s personalization features to grow its online community by 30,000 members per month!

The goal is simple: to get the right message, to the right people, at just the right time. And to do that, we have powerful campaign triggers to target a visitor based on what they’re doing on your site, what they show interest in, or where they are located.

Plus, we integrate with over 30 email service providers (Mailchimp included). That means you can send new leads directly to your segmented contact lists. This allows you to put your marketing strategy on auto-pilot.

But let’s be perfectly clear: OptinMonster isn’t an email service provider.

This means that users can’t send out email campaigns with our marketing software. And in a minute, we’ll share why that’s beneficial for you.

So when it comes to OptinMonster vs. Mailchimp, it’s really like comparing apples and oranges. They serve 2 different functions for your marketing plan.

To make this more clear, let’s look at how OptinMonster works with email service providers (ESP) to get you the most revenue possible. We’ll break this down into the simplest 2-step process we’ve seen work thousands of times.

How OptinMonster Works With ESPs

When you combine OptinMonster with any email marketing service provider, you can:

1. Get more email subscribers from your site’s traffic with OptinMonster and automatically send new leads to your ESP’s contact list
2. Then send an auto series email campaign with your ESP to market new promotions, product launches, or anything else you want your customers to purchase

This formula is the best example of the different roles OptinMonster and ESPs play in your marketing strategy. But keep in mind that it’s only 1 of the many ways you can use OptinMonster to increase conversions.

And while Mailchimp is a good example of an email service provider, it’s a replaceable part of the equation. OptinMonster can generate more revenue regardless of the email provider you choose.

As your company grows, you may find your needs change and you’d like to switch email providers. If that ever happens, here are our top 3 picks for ESPs:

• Constant Contact: an excellent solution for small businesses who value phone/email support
• Brevo (formerly Sendinblue): the perfect choice for businesses on a budget looking for a free option to get started
• Drip: the most advanced option for eCommerce

But whether you’re using Mailchimp or another email service provider, you might wonder why you need OptinMonster on top of your ESP.

So let’s turn our attention to the top 6 benefits of OptinMonster. That way, you can see why it’s the preferred lead generation software for marketers and business owners.

How OptinMonster is Better Than Mailchimp at Lead Generation

Mailchimp does come with its own email popups, but they’re mostly an afterthought compared to OptinMonster’s specialized templates and display rules. Let’s compare OptinMonster versus Mailchimp when it comes to lead generation.

1. Get More Leads Through Multiple Approaches

OptinMonster offers more types of campaigns than any other CRO (conversion rate optimization) toolkit on the market.

Far from being “just another popup company,” we help you reach potential leads through multiple approaches. That includes:

• Fullscreen Welcome Mats
• Slide-In Scroll Boxes
• Floating Bars
• Lightbox Popups
• Countdown Timers
• Sidebar Forms
• Inline Forms
• Content Lockers
• Coupon Wheel Optins

Many companies make the mistake of relying on just 1 campaign to get leads. They’ll have a single popup for their entire site or simply put an optin form in their sidebar. Mailchimp, for example, only allows 2 ways to convert your casual traffic into new leads.

We believe that this approach is too limited.

Instead, we empower our users to generate leads more broadly. It’s why we love seeing companies use our product in creative ways to bring in more revenue.

Like how Whole Whale increased their conversions by 100% using our Content Locker.

Or how Reliablesoft.net used a combination of popup, slide-in, and floating bar campaigns to increase conversions by 300%.

By using multiple campaign types across your site, you can increase your conversions and, ultimately, bring in more profit.

2. Design Campaigns Quickly and Easily

We think that everyone should have the ability to make beautiful optin campaigns to match their brand, their voice, and their style.

Our drag and drop builder accomplishes that goal.

OptinMonster’s easy-to-use editor gives you the freedom to design campaigns exactly to your needs. Plus, you don’t need any coding skills. We have over 700+ pre-built templates that work across desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.

Or, if you want something 100% custom, you can build your marketing campaigns from scratch.

Plus, our campaign builder is super easy to use. You can design powerful and persuasive campaigns in a matter of minutes rather than days. Here’s what one of our users had to say on the popular review site, Capterra:

Our intuitive campaign editor is how Crush Empire generated 460 sales in 1 year. They also saved an average of 5 hours per campaign they built.

It’s also why OptinMonster is known to be the best software for lead generation on the market.

3. Convert Customers at Every Stage of Their Journey

When it comes to targeting and trigger options for your campaigns, OptinMonster simply can’t be beat. We offer more ways to show your campaigns to the right people than any other software around.

Some of the targeting features we offer include:

• Page-Level targeting to display campaigns on specific pages of your site
• Geo-Location targeting to show campaigns to visitors from specific regions
• Device-Based targeting to make campaigns appear on desktop, tablet, or mobile devices
• Referrer Detection to show messages to users based on the website they’re coming from

And many other advanced targeting features that help you show the right message to the right people at just the right time.

But this is only half of the equation. You can also use triggers to let user behavior determine when they’ll see a campaign. Common triggers include:

• Exit-Intent® (for both desktop and mobile) to show a campaign as users are trying to leave your site
• Scroll Triggers to display a campaign after the user has scrolled through a certain percentage of your site’s page
• MonsterLinks that make campaigns appear when the user clicks a link

Frankly, we have too many targeting and trigger options to list in this post. The point is this:

More than any other software in the world, OptinMonster lets you fine-turn where and when your campaign displays.

This means higher conversions and more sales for you regardless of your marketing goals. 

That includes seeing higher conversions when you’re trying to:

• Grow your email list
• Boost your SEO efforts
• Improve your social media following
• Increase webinar registrations
• Drive more direct sales

Or any other action that will help expand your business.

And we see it happen with our customers all the time.

Exit-Intent® triggers are how Adam Enfroy grew his email list to over 11,000 subscribers in 1 year.

Then he uses OptinMonster to display targeted campaigns for affiliate products. With this strategy, he currently generates over $70,000 per month in revenue.

It’s one of the reasons why Adam recommends OptinMonster as one of his standard plugins every company needs:

You can see the same amazing results by getting started with OptinMonster today!

4. Integrate With Any Email Service Provider

Earlier, we talked about how OptinMonster lets you sync with any email service provider your choose. But we need to spend a few moments to discuss why that’s such a huge benefit for you.

There’s a big problem with combining your lead generator with your email service provider like Mailchimp does. Once you select the software, you’re stuck with it.

As your company grows, you may find that your email marketing needs change. Mailchimp is a perfect example: it’s an excellent option for beginners, but can hold you back as you grow.

Their free plan is perfect for businesses that are just starting out. But the small jump in their pricing from an email list with 500 contacts to 2,500 contacts, for example, goes from $14 to $49 per month:

At 10,000 contacts, you’re now paying $1,200 per year for the standard pro plan, which may encourage you to seek other options.

But if your lead generating services are tied up with your contact lists, migrating software will be a nightmare. That’s why we always think it’s best to keep those 2 components of your email marketing strategy separate.

With OptinMonster, you can use Monster Leads to store and export your leads, so you always have a backup. That way, if you change email service providers for whatever reason, you’ll have a backup of your contact list if there are any problems during the migration.

And OptinMonster supports all popular email service providers and CRM platforms including AWeber, Drip, ConvertKit, GetResponse, and HubSpot, to name just a few.

But the best part is that you don’t need to have any coding knowledge to set up your customized workflows. Instead, you can use APIs from your email provider to sync everything up in just a few clicks.

And with the Zapier integration, you’ll unlock connections to over 1,000 other apps that will help grow your business.

This gives your marketing strategy more flexibility and freedom. It also keeps you from feeling stuck with the choices you made early on in your business.

5. Optimize Campaign Success With Analytics

One of the biggest problems new marketers or business owners make is that they don’t keep track of how well their optin campaigns are performing.

Often it’s not because marketers don’t want to have this information, they just have too much going on to consistently stay up-to-date. That’s why we made our campaign reports ridiculously easy to track.

In your OptinMonster dashboard, you’ll see 3 key metrics clearly displayed:

• Visitors
• Leads
• Conversion Rate Percentage

With just this information, you’ll be able to make smarter decisions based on data about your campaign’s success.

And this is particularly helpful when you decide to run split tests. You can create an A/B split test with just the click of a button:

Then you can track which campaign is getting you more leads right from your OptinMonster dashboard. With A/B testing information, you can optimize all of your campaigns to get more conversions.

Split testing is actually how Logic Inbound increased conversions by 1500% for one of their clients.

With our intuitive presentation of your campaign’s data, we help you make sure you’re never leaving conversions on the table.

That’s why OptinMonster is consistently known as the software that empowers companies to get the most leads.

6. Works With Any Website

OptinMonster is designed to work on any website. So you won’t have to worry about which website platform you’re using.

If you’re on WordPress or WooCommerce, there’s an OptinMonster WordPress plugin available. So you can access the OptinMonster dashboard from inside your WordPress admin area.

For Shopify and BigCommerce sites, there are apps that you can install and use.

And for all other websites including HTML sites, OptinMonster has plenty of documentation to help you connect your site so you can publish your marketing campaigns easily.

Plus, at OptinMonster, we have a friendly customer support team that’s available around the clock. You can always reach to the support staff and they’ll guide you through any issues or doubts you may have.

7. Save Money

Any time you invest in a new tool for your business, pricing is always a factor. OptinMonster’s pricing breaks down into 4 plans:

• Basic for $9/month
• Plus for $19/month
• Pro for $29/month
• Growth for $49/month

We want to make sure that all of our customers are paying for features they need to get started, but allow them to upgrade for more features as their business expands.

At OptinMonster, our goal is to level the playing field for all businesses, big or small. That means fair pricing for what you get regardless of your budget.

That way, you save money by investing in a tool that pays for itself by attracting high-quality leads.

OptinMonster vs. Mailchimp for Lead Generation

If your goal is to generate more leads for your business, OptinMonster is the tool you need. Like we said, Mailchimp is a good choice for an ESP, but lead generation comes as their afterthought service.

At OptinMonster, lead generation is the only thing we do, which is why we do it best. We get companies better, higher-quality leads by offering:

• Multiple campaign types
• An easy-to-use campaign builder
• Unbeatable targeting and trigger options
• Marketing automation through tons of integrations with lead list backups (using Monster Leads)
• Powerful analytics reports
• Flexible pricing to support you as your business grows

We give you access to all of those things because our goal is to help you save time and generate more profit for your company.

We hope you liked this post, and if you like comparisons, you may also want to see our post on OptinMonster vs. Privy: Which Is Best for Lead Generation?

And if you’re ready to get started driving traffic, boosting conversions, and increasing your revenue, just click below to start your risk-free OptinMonster subscription right now:

We hope you enjoyed this post. If you did, you’ll definitely want to check out the following resources:

• Email Marketing Made Simple: A Beginner’s Guide
• How Does OptinMonster Work: 8 Benefits (+ 12 Case Studies)
• Is OptinMonster Worth It? An In-Depth (& Honest) Review

That post has everything you need to get your email marketing strategy up and running!

TLDR

OptinMonster is worth it if: you need to grow email lists, reduce cart abandonment, or boost conversions without coding skills.

Key strengths: 9 campaign types (popups, slide-ins, countdown timers), 700+ templates, drag-and-drop builder, advanced targeting (exit-intent, geo-location, AdBlock detection), and detailed analytics.

Pricing: Monthly/annual subscriptions (comparable to Netflix pricing). No free plan, but 14-day money-back guarantee.

Bottom line: Best for small-to-medium businesses and eCommerce stores that want professional lead generation tools without hiring developers. Proven results include 500%+ conversion increases for clients.

Is OptinMonster worth it? Well, it depends.

If you’re an online business owner who wants more traffic, conversions, and sales…

If you have a great service or product to offer but aren’t a professional developer or designer…

And if you want a reliable, easy-to-use solution that just works every time…

You can benefit from using OptinMonster.

But we know you probably have more specific questions. That’s why we wrote this extensive OptinMonster review to help you decide for yourself. Feel free to jump to what you’d like to learn about first:

• What Is OptinMonster?
• Do I Need OptinMonster?
• What Are The Top 5 Benefits of Using OptinMonster?
• OptinMonster Pricing
• Is OptinMonster Worth the Price?

By the end of this post, we’ll help you figure out if it lives up to the hype and is worth the price.

What Is OptinMonster?

OptinMonster is the world’s best lead generation software and WordPress plugin on the market. It enhances every part of your marketing strategy from getting more subscribers, growing leads, and increasing your revenue.

And with regards to the amount of targeting and triggers our campaigns offer, there’s simply no other platform that compares.

OptinMonster launched back in 2013 with a simple goal: to level the playing field by giving small and medium-sized companies resources that can compete with the big guys.

As a result, we’ve served over 1 million websites ranging from solo entrepreneurs to Fortune 500 companies.

Some of our most well-known clients have included:

• Capterra
• Pinterest
• ClickBank
• American Express
• TripAdvisor

Among others.

But due to our low costs, we make sure that small businesses and eCommerce stores can have access to all the features they need to thrive in their niche.

We do that by making sure our setup is accessible to everyone. Our clients build and customize their campaigns with no coding skills required. That includes adding lead magnets like discounts, coupons, eBooks, and more.

Then they set display rules and triggers to make sure these campaigns are seen by the right people and at the right time.

Our detailed analytics allow users to monitor their campaigns’ success and make adjustments as needed.

Finally, we integrate seamlessly with email service providers to automate your entire email marketing system. These would be ESPs you’re familiar with, like Constant Contact, Brevo, Mailchimp, and many others.

That way, when you get a new signup, that lead will go directly to the mailing list and automated sequences in your ESP.

And if you don’t see the email marketing services you use, you can integrate them using OptinMonster’s webhooks.

Plus, it comes as a convenient WordPress plugin. That means you’ll get access to all of OptinMonster’s features, tools, and campaigns directly from your WordPress dashboard.

As you’ll see, OptinMonster is hands down your best bet if you want to grow your email list, drive more conversions, and make more sales.

Before we can really answer the question, “Is OptinMonster worth it?” we have to ask another even more important question: “Do I need OptinMonster?”

Do I Need OptinMonster?

You definitely need a lead generation tool like OptinMonster if at least 2 of the following statements are true:

• Getting more pageviews and subscribers would grow your affiliate, product, or ad income. (Bloggers and publishers, we’re looking at you!)
• Converting more abandoned carts would increase your revenue. (This is you, eCommerce folks!)
• Email marketing is a main source of leads and revenue for your business.
• Your marketing and sales funnels work fine but could be better.
• You want to create a great user experience for your site visitors.
• You need to save time and energy in your marketing and stop guessing about what’s working and what to do next.

If this sounds like you, then you need to try OptinMonster!

Still on the fence? Let’s take a look at a few benefits of OptinMonster that make it stand out from the competition.

OptinMonster Review: The Top 5 Benefits

Since there are so many awesome features of OptinMonster, it’s easiest to break things down into the top 5 benefits of using our software.

OptinMonster gives you:

1. Multiple campaign options
2. Easy campaign customization
3. Precise targeting and trigger settings
4. Detailed analytic reports
5. Proven results

We’ll start by going over our campaign types.

1. OptinMonster Offers the Most Campaign Types

OptinMonster lets you build 9 types of campaigns:

• Lightbox Popup
• Fullscreen Welcome Mat
• Slide-in Scroll Box
• Floating Bar
• Countdown Timers
• Sidebar Forms
• Inline Forms
• Content Lockers
• Coupon Wheel Optins

Each of these campaign types is designed to increase your conversion rates. In a few moments, we’ll talk about the effectiveness of these campaigns in more detail.

For now, it’s important to understand the variety of campaigns we offer. Many of our competitors are limited to 5 or 6 campaigns, which means you need supplemental software to create the others.

For example, a lot of software that gives you a general popup campaign won’t include a Content Locker or Inline Form.

That’s problematic for many small businesses who need all the help they can get converting general traffic into email subscribers.

Like how Whole Whale was able to use a Content Locker campaign to double their email sign-ups and increase conversions by 62%. Here’s a glimpse of how they obfuscated their locked content to increase email subscribers:

The point is that when it comes to the variety of campaigns you can build, OptinMonster provides the most options.

But none of that matters unless it’s easy to create and customize the campaigns themselves. Fortunately, with OptinMonster, this couldn’t be more simple.

2. OptinMonster Makes Campaigns Easy to Customize

As we said earlier, it’s been our goal at OptinMonster to make our tools accessible to marketers or business owners in small and medium-sized companies.

Reaching that goal meant creating a campaign editor that didn’t require our clients to have a team of developers.

What we ended up with went a step further regarding ease of use.

Because with our drag and drop builder, you don’t need a team of developers. In fact, you don’t need any coding skills or knowledge at all!

We made sure that our campaigns could be tailored to fit with any brand and any voice in a matter of minutes.

We did that by creating over 700+ pre-built templates that our users can pull from to match different marketing goals:

These templates can be filtered in a variety of ways including by Device:

By Goals:

Or by Category:

But if you do want a campaign that’s 100% original to your business, we give you that option too. With our Canvas template, you can build any kind of campaign from scratch, so it’s fine-tuned to your needs:

From there, you can change every aspect of your campaign by dragging and dropping new elements into place:

The elements you can add to your campaigns include:

• Columns
• Text
• Chatbot
• Custom HTML
• Images
• Buttons
• Video
• Countdown timers
• Icons
• Optin fields
• Yes/No options

And more.

Plus, you can click on any part of your campaign to pull up the editing tools on the left-hand side:

You can edit a campaign’s:

• Text
• Font
• Background colors
• Images
• Buttons

And any other aspect of your design that you want to be personalized to your brand.

In other words, if you have an idea for an optin campaign, OptinMonster lets you build it quickly, easily, and exactly aligned with your vision.

And if you DO have more technical skills, OptinMonster allows you to use custom HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. This gives you 100% control over the look and functionality of your campaigns at all times.

It also lets you sync your campaigns to other marketing tools for better tracking, such as integrating a campaign with Google Analytics to track unique conversion goals.

Check out this helpful resource to learn how to create a campaign with OptinMonster.

Now let’s turn our attention to OptinMonster’s targeting options.

3. OptinMonster Offers Precise Targeting Settings

The only way to get the most out of your new campaigns is if you show them to the right people at the right time. So if you want to know “is OptinMonster worth it,” then targeting is definitely a factor.

More than any other software on the market, OptinMonster allows you to target and segment your audience.

This is the key to getting more conversions.

We accomplish this in 2 ways:

• Targeting conditions
• Triggers

Let’s start by looking at our targeting settings.

OptinMonster Campaign Targeting

When traffic comes to your website, they’re likely to land on different pages and at different times of the year. Plus, each visitor on your site is unique and will respond differently to certain messages.

To get the best conversion rates, you need to adapt your optimization strategy to personalize the user experience. And you do that through creating targeted campaigns.

At OptinMonster, we give you the ability to use the following targeting rules:

• Page-Level Targeting
• Referrer Detection
• OnSite Follow-up Campaigns®
• OnSite Retargeting®
• Geo-Location Targeting
• Cookie Retargeting
• Device-Based Targeting
• AdBlock Detection
• And many more!

Each of these targeting rules lets you display your campaigns at just the right moment in your customers’ journey.

As a result, you’ll see conversion rates soar.

You can show campaigns to match content on specific pages of your site. Or show regional campaigns to attract local customers for in-store products.

You can target traffic based on whether they’re browsing your site via desktop, tablet, or mobile. Or you can customize your campaigns while taking into account which 3rd party site your user is coming from.

But one of the most powerful targeting rules that we have is AdBlock Detection. That’s because over 616 million devices use AdBlock or similar software to prevent your campaigns from appearing.

So we created, tested, and perfected a solution.

By creating a campaign that politely asks users to turn off their adblock software, around 77% of people disabled it and allowed optin campaigns to appear.

This targeting feature alone can do wonders for your conversion rates by showing campaigns that would have otherwise been blocked.

Plus, we’re one of the only companies on the market that offer this level of targeting service.

And even though we’ve only scratched the surface of how you can target campaigns to specific users, let’s switch gears and look at a few of our campaign triggers.

OptinMonster Campaign Triggers

At OptinMonster, we help our clients trigger their campaigns based on user behavior. This allows you to personalize your customers’ experience and show them your optin forms when (and where) they’ll be most persuasive.

Our triggers include:

• Exit-Intent® Technology (for both desktop and mobile)
• Scroll Triggers
• Shareable MonsterLinks
• Inactivity Sensor
• Time Display Control
• Campaign Scheduling
• and many more!

These triggers take into account your users’ behavior. They show certain campaigns based on your traffic’s interaction with your site.

Our exit-intent popups, for example, appear as users are actively leaving your website. This is crucial technology for your site conversions because over 70% of people who have chosen to leave your site never come back.

But you can engage potential leads at this moment in their customer journey. In other words, exit-intent campaigns let you turn exiting users into lifelong customers.

All of our triggers let your users’ behavior determine when they’ll see a campaign. If they show particular interest in a page by scrolling down a certain percentage, you can give them a special offer related to the content.

Or if they click one of our MonsterLinks in your emails or site content, they’ll be taken directly to one of your enticing campaigns.

Finally, there are custom targeting rules for eCommerce platforms like WooCommerce, Shopify, and BigCommerce.

These targets and triggers let you INSTANTLY boost sales from your online store.

After you define the display rules for your campaign, you can also apply MonsterEffects to it. These are animation effects that are applied to the popup, slide-in, or other campaign types when they are displayed.

When you use OptinMonster, you have an endless combination of targeting and trigger options to choose from. This can help you:

• Grow your mailing list
• Reduce cart abandonment
• Boost engagement on social media
• Increase webinar registrations
• Redirect traffic to boost SEO
• And much more…

Plus, the best part is that we give you the ability to track it all. Which leads us to the next benefit of working with OptinMonster.

4. OptinMonster Gives You Detailed Analytics Reports

There’s only one way to make sure you’re getting the highest conversion rates: tracking the results.

OptinMonster makes this easy. In your dashboard, you immediately see 4 metrics for each of your campaigns:

• Visitors: how many people have seen that campaign
• Conversions: how many people have converted that campaign (such as subscribing or clicking)
• Conversion rate percentage
• Revenue attribution: how much revenue that campaign brought in directly or as part of a group of campaigns the customer converted before buying

You can also click on a campaign’s analytics icon to get even more information about its performance.

This pulls up a detailed account of how visitors are interacting within the period of time you want to know about.

But what do you do if a campaign isn’t performing as well as you’d hoped? With OptinMonster, we help you A/B split test your campaigns so you can make better, data-driven decisions moving forward.

With just a click, you can create an A/B test of any campaign you think could be doing better:

Then you can change any element of the campaign like a header or image, and let the test run for as long as you like.

When the results are in, you’ll know which campaign is getting you more leads. With that knowledge, you can optimize your conversion rates.

And this is just one of the many reasons OptinMonster has gotten massive results for our clients.

5. OptinMonster Is Proven to Get Results

So far, we’ve covered many of the great features OptinMonster has to offer. But the real question that users want to know is, “Do they get results?”

We already mentioned that OptinMonster is used on over 1,000,000 websites, but here are a few specific examples of the kinds of success our customers have found with us:

• MedStar increased conversion by over 500%
• American Bird Conservancy increased lead collection by over 1000%
• Blogger Adam Enfroy added over 11,000 subscribers in 2019 (and currently uses that list to generate over $30,000 a month in sales)
• Cosmetic Packaging Now grew their email list by over 750% with 2-step optins
• Singularity University generated 967 new leads from just 1 optin campaign

Read more about these and similar success stories on our case studies page.

But these represent our best clients, right? What do every day, regular users think about OptinMonster?

We checked some online review sites around the web and thought we’d share what people are saying about us.

Here’s a response found in the comments section of a blog that reviewed our software:

Here’s a user review from Capterra:

And another customer from Capterra had this to say about OptinMonster:

Finally, here are a couple of short headlines from G2 Reviews:

And the list goes on.

The fact is that our clients love us not only because our email optin campaigns are easy to design and have precise trigger settings.

They also love us because our software gets real results that help their business grow.

So we know that it’s effective but, again, the question “is OptinMonster worth it” really translates to “is OptinMonster worth the cost?”

To answer that question, we need to look at OptinMonster’s pricing.

OptinMonster Pricing

You can always visit our pricing page to find the latest OptinMonster pricing.

You’ll see that we offer monthly and annual subscriptions. And you might be wondering why we don’t offer a one-time, lifetime fee like many of our competitors, especially those in the WordPress ecosystem.

The answer is simple: Because we want to be around for a LONG time, and to be able to continue to improve our product for you!

When companies choose a lifetime model, it puts them in a position to have to focus on getting more and more NEW customers, rather than improving the experience for existing users. That’s because once a new user has purchased, they’ll never make that company any more money… they’re not contributing anymore to that company’s ability to continue to grow. So, rather than focus on making a great experience for existing users, the company is forced to spend their time and attention on finding more NEW customers to fund their growth. 

Our mission is to help small businesses grow and compete with the big guys. The way we do that is by continuing to build (and improve!) the absolute best lead generation tool on the market. We know that if you’re happy with it and seeing results, you’ll share us with your friends and their friends and their friend’s friends… and well, you get the picture.

OptinMonster FAQs

Is OptinMonster Worth It?

So the question remains: Is OptinMonster worth the price?

In short, yes.

Just for a minute, let’s put aside the fact that OptinMonster has more campaign types than our competitors, easier campaign customization, more precise targeting rules, and detailed analytics reports for our customers.

For roughly the same price as your Netflix subscription, you can get started getting more email subscribers, building higher-quality leads, and increasing your sales immediately.

In fact, we’re so confident about this that we offer all of our users a 14-day unconditional money-back guarantee. Sign up with OptinMonster to get started today!

We hope you enjoyed this post. If you did, you might also be interested in the following resources or tutorials:

• Email Marketing for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Run a Successful Email Marketing Campaign 
• 17 Tips for Writing Email Copy That Converts
• 9 Best Lead Generation Plugins for WordPress (Compared)

These articles will have everything you need to refine your email marketing strategy and drive more conversions/sales for your online store.

TL;DR

What they are: Popup notifications are message overlays that appear on webpages to capture attention and drive actions like email signups, sales, and engagement.

Types that convert best:
Lightbox popups for email capture
Exit-intent popups to recover abandoning visitors (53% recovery rate possible)
Slide-ins for non-intrusive engagement
Fullscreen welcome mats for major offers (up to 80% conversion increase)

Keys to success:
Time strategically (wait 10-15 seconds, use scroll triggers)
Make mobile-friendly (60%+ of traffic is mobile)
Target the right audience with relevant offers
Always provide easy exit options
Test and optimize continuously

Biggest mistakes to avoid:
Showing too many popups (kills bounce rates)
Poor timing (instant popups are intrusive)
Weak value propositions (be specific about benefits)
Ignoring mobile users (hurts SEO and conversions)

Best tool: OptinMonster offers drag-and-drop creation, advanced targeting, exit-intent technology, A/B testing, and mobile optimization without coding.

Are you looking for ways to convert your website visitors into leads or paying customers? Wondering if popups can help you improve your lead generation efforts?

Popups convert anywhere between 1-8% on average. But popups can be annoying if you don’t use them correctly.

If you haven’t used popups on your website before, you should know the possibilities you can unlock with them. Since there are different types of popup notifications you can use for different purposes, it can be difficult to know which one suits your goals best.

This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about popup notifications:

By the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly which popup types to use, how to implement them effectively, and how to avoid the mistakes that kill conversions and frustrate visitors.

Let’s get started.

What Is a Popup Notification?

A popup notification is a message overlay that appears on a webpage to capture visitor attention and drive specific actions like email signups, purchases, or engagement with your content.

These messages range from small corner banners to full-screen overlays. They trigger at strategic moments: when visitors arrive, scroll through content, attempt to leave, or click specific elements.

Here’s an example of a standard lightbox popup used to capture email addresses and phone numbers:

This is a classic lightbox popup, one of the most recognizable types you’ll encounter across the web.

Understanding the Different Types of “Popups”

Website popups are distinct from other notification types. Here’s what makes them different:

Website Popups (what this guide covers): Messages that appear within your browser while visiting a website. Created using JavaScript and CSS, they include email capture forms, promotional offers, and exit-intent messages.

Push Notifications: Browser-based alerts that appear even when you’re not on a website. They require user permission and work through your browser’s notification system. Best for time-sensitive updates like flash sales or breaking news.

Desktop/System Notifications: Operating system alerts that appear outside your browser from installed applications. Examples include calendar reminders or software updates.

Mobile App Notifications: Alerts sent directly from mobile apps to your phone’s notification center.

This article focuses specifically on website popups: the interactive messages you display to site visitors to boost engagement, capture leads, and drive conversions.

Common Popup Terminology You Might Encounter

Popups go by many names depending on their style and behavior:

• Lightbox popup
• Exit-Intent® popup
• Modal window or dialogue box
• Toast notification
• Snackbar popup
• Slide-in or scroll box
• Welcome mat or splash screen
• Floating bar or sticky banner

These terms all refer to specific styles or behaviors of website popups. We’ll break down each type in detail throughout this guide so you know exactly when and how to use them.

Why Should You Use Popups on Your Site?

When designed with your audience in mind, popup notifications can become one of the highest-converting elements on your site. Here’s why marketers and business owners rely on them:

• Generate high-quality leads – Capture email addresses, phone numbers, or sign-ups directly on-page, making it easy to grow your list.
  Example: Adam Enfroy used OptinMonster popups to gain over 11,000 subscribers in 12 months.
• Recover abandoning visitors – Use Exit-Intent® technology to present a targeted offer before a user leaves.
  Example: Fastrack Digital recovered 53% of abandoning visitors with exit popups.
• Boost sales & revenue – Offer time-sensitive discounts, upsells, or free shipping reminders at the right moment.
  Example: Shockbyte more than doubled their sales conversions with targeted exit popups.
• Increase event and webinar signups – Present registration forms in high-visibility popups to maximize participation.
• Grow brand awareness & engagement – Use visually striking popups to announce new products, share important updates, or showcase content.
• Collect valuable customer feedback – Trigger surveys and polls inside popups to learn about your audience and improve your offers.
• Build social proof and trust – Highlight recent purchases, sign-ups, or reviews using social proof notifications.

Proven Impact:
Across thousands of campaigns, OptinMonster customers report popup conversion rates ranging from 1% to 8%, with some niche campaigns achieving increases of 600% or more in conversions. (Source: OptinMonster internal campaign data)

Now that you know what a popup notification is and how it can grow your business, let’s look at how to create effective popups that convert.

How to Create Effective Popup Notifications: Best Practices

The difference between a high-converting popup and an annoying one comes down to execution. Follow these best practices to create popups that drive results without frustrating your visitors.

1. Time Your Popups Strategically

Don’t bombard visitors the second they land on your page. Give them time to engage with your content first.

What works:

• Wait 10-15 seconds after page load before showing a popup
• Trigger popups after visitors scroll 50-75% down the page (shows genuine interest)
• Use exit-intent technology to catch visitors as they’re about to leave
• Show welcome popups only to first-time visitors, not returning users

Why it matters: A popup that appears too soon feels intrusive. Strategic timing ensures visitors see your message when they’re most receptive.

2. Design for Clarity and Simplicity

Cluttered popups confuse visitors and kill conversions. Keep your design clean and focused.

What works:

• Focus on one clear call-to-action (CTA) per popup
• Use 2-3 colors maximum that align with your brand
• Keep copy concise (headline + 1-2 short sentences + CTA)
• Make your CTA button large, bold, and action-oriented (“Get My Discount” beats “Submit”)
• Use plenty of white space to avoid visual overwhelm

Why it matters: Visitors should understand your offer and what action to take in 3 seconds or less.

3. Make Your Popups Mobile-Friendly

Over 60% of web traffic comes from mobile devices. Your popups must work flawlessly on small screens.

What works:

• Test popups on multiple mobile devices before launching
• Ensure close buttons are large enough to tap easily (minimum 44×44 pixels)
• Use responsive designs that adapt to screen size
• Avoid popups that cover critical content or navigation on mobile
• Consider using slide-ins or floating bars instead of full-screen popups on mobile

Why it matters: A popup that’s difficult to close on mobile creates a terrible user experience and can hurt your mobile search rankings.

4. Target the Right Audience with the Right Message

Generic popups convert poorly. Personalize your message based on visitor behavior and characteristics.

What works:

• Show different popups to new vs. returning visitors
• Tailor offers based on the page visitors are viewing (product-specific discounts on product pages)
• Use geographic targeting to show location-relevant offers
• Display exit-intent popups with stronger offers to abandoning visitors
• Create separate campaigns for different traffic sources (social media vs. search vs. email)

Why it matters: Relevant popups feel helpful rather than intrusive. A first-time visitor needs different messaging than someone who’s visited 5 times.

5. Offer Real Value in Exchange for Attention

People will close your popup unless you give them a compelling reason not to. Make your offer irresistible.

What works:

• Provide exclusive discounts (15-20% off for email subscribers)
• Offer valuable free resources (ebooks, templates, checklists, guides)
• Give early access to new products or sales
• Create urgency with limited-time offers (“Next 100 subscribers only”)
• Be specific about the value (“Get 47 conversion tips” beats “Subscribe to our newsletter”)

Why it matters: Visitors exchange their attention (and often their email) for your offer. If the value isn’t clear and compelling, they’ll bounce.

6. Always Provide an Easy Exit

Forcing visitors to engage with your popup creates frustration and damages trust. Make closing simple and obvious.

What works:

• Include a visible X button in the top-right corner
• Add a “No thanks” or “Maybe later” text link below the CTA
• Allow users to close popups by clicking outside the popup box
• Never require form completion before allowing dismissal
• Respect the close action (don’t immediately show another popup)

Why it matters: Trapped visitors leave your site entirely. Giving them control over the experience builds trust and keeps them browsing.

7. Test, Measure, and Optimize Continuously

Your first popup won’t be perfect. Use data to improve performance over time.

What works:

• A/B test different headlines, offers, designs, and timing
• Track conversion rates, bounce rates, and time on site
• Test popup frequency (showing too often hurts conversions)
• Monitor feedback and complaints about popup experience
• Refresh popup designs quarterly to prevent banner blindness

Why it matters: Small changes can dramatically impact conversion rates. A popup that converts at 2% vs. 5% makes a massive difference in your results.

Bonus Tip: Follow Legal Requirements

Depending on your location and audience, you may need to comply with regulations like GDPR, CCPA, or accessibility standards.

What works:

• Make popups keyboard-navigable for accessibility
• Provide clear privacy information when collecting emails
• Honor “Do Not Track” signals where required
• Ensure cookie consent popups meet legal standards
• Include proper contrast ratios for visually impaired users

Why it matters: Non-compliance can result in fines and damage to your brand reputation.

When you combine these best practices with the right popup tool, you’ll create campaigns that convert visitors into leads and customers without hurting user experience. OptinMonster makes implementing all of these best practices simple with its targeting rules, A/B testing features, and professionally designed templates.

9 Types of Popup Notifications

The type of popup notification you choose will depend on your marketing goals. But regardless of which type you need, 2 factors will make or break your popups’ success. Your popup needs to:

• Look visually appealing
• Reach the right people

To do this consistently, you need a tool that allows you to create professionally designed popups that you can trigger to the right audience on the right pages and at the right time.

And for that, there’s no better tool than OptinMonster:

OptinMonster is hands down the world’s most powerful lead generation software and WordPress plugin.

OptinMonster lets you create stunning popups in a matter of minutes. Its drag-and-drop builder frees you from the burden of coding popups manually. That means you can design amazing popups even if you have never created one before.

OptinMonster’s targeting rules allow you to show your popup messages on the right pages, and based on user behavior. This helps you improve UX, connect more deeply with your target audience, and drive conversions.

With that said, let’s dive into our list of 9 types of popup notifications. You can design most of these popups in OptinMonster:

Quick Overview: 9 Types of Popup Notifications

#	Popup Type	What It Is	Best For	When to Use
1	Lightbox Popup	Centered overlay that dims background content to focus on a message or offer.	Email list growth, promotions, lead magnets.	Trigger on exit intent, after time delay, or on high-intent pages (e.g., blog posts, pricing pages).
2	Modal / Dialogue Box	Similar to lightbox but forces action before continuing.	Age verification, login validation, language selection.	Use on regulated product sites, gated content, or when confirmation is legally required.
3	Slide-in Popup	Small box that slides in without blocking main content.	Non-intrusive promotions, content recommendations.	Trigger after scroll depth (50–75%) or time on page for engaged readers.
4	Fullscreen Welcome Mat	Covers the entire screen like a landing page.	Major announcements, high-value offers, pre-sell pages.	Show on first visit, during product launches, or limited-time campaigns.
5	Floating Bar	Persistent bar at top or bottom of page.	Announcements, free shipping alerts, countdown timers.	Use sitewide during seasonal sales, or to promote evergreen offers.
6	MonsterLink Popup	Popup triggered by clicking a link, button, or image.	Warm lead generation, gated content access.	Use in blog posts, navigation menus, or banners to convert already-interested users.
7	Social Proof Notification	Small, timed alerts showing other users’ actions.	Building trust, increasing urgency (FOMO).	Trigger after a few seconds on-page, or during checkout to reinforce purchase decisions.
8	Push Notification	Browser-based alerts sent even when user isn’t on your site.	Product launches, flash sales, content updates.	Use for time-sensitive deals, new blog post alerts, or cart recovery sequences.
9	Video Popup	Popup containing an embedded video.	Product demos, tutorials, event promotions.	Trigger on product pages, sign-up confirmations, or as a follow-up to a lead magnet.

1. Lightbox Popup

A lightbox popup is a design overlay that appears on a webpage you’re viewing. Like any other popup, the job of a lightbox popup is to attract visitor’s’ attention to a relevant offer with a CTA.

Lightbox popups are most commonly used as optin campaigns for capturing email addresses. Here’s a lightbox popup example:

Notice how the lightbox popup stands out and draws attention to its content in contrast to the dark background around it. This quality in lightbox makes them hard to ignore.

And that’s why they convert like crazy! Crush Empire used the website lightbox popup below to convert 12.40% of its website visitors.

When to Use Them: Lightbox popups are great for just about every marketing goal you could have. They can be used to:

• Grow your mailing list
• Boost pageviews
• Get more webinar signups
• Trigger a customer survey
• Drive sales with discount codes or limited time offers

Lightbox popups are extremely flexible and can be used with different ‘display rules’ to create sub-types of popups.

We’ll talk more about display rules or the different ways you can use OptinMonster’s targeting features to make your popups more effective in the next section.

2. Modal/Dialogue Box

A modal popup or ‘dialogue box’ is similar in design to a lightbox popup. Modals bring the popup notification to the center of your users’ attention by making its background darker.

So how are they different from lightbox popups? Modal popups force the user to interact with the content before allowing them to get back to the browser page.

Putting up an age verification window on your website is a perfect example of a modal popup:

In this case, if you don’t enter your birthdate, or if you enter an age less than the legal drinking age, the modal won’t let you visit the website.

When to Use Them: Modal popups are great when you need to verify some type of information from your users before letting them access your site.

This includes validating login credentials on a site, verifying age on adult websites, forcing people to choose a language, or making them agree to terms and conditions.

3. Slide-in Popup

A slide-in popup notification appears on your users’ web page without blocking the background content. That means the user can still see and interact with the site they are browsing while the notification appears on their screen.

Unlike modals, slide-ins don’t interfere with the users’ browsing experience. Here’s an example of a slide-in scroll box popup:

When to Use Them: Slide-in popups are non-intrusive to your audience. These are good for showing promotional deals, redirecting users to related content, or alerting users about changes to your site or business.

The slide-in scroll box lets you strategically show your popups at the perfect time. For instance, OptinMonster’s slide-in popups appear at the bottom right corner of a web page as site visitors scroll down.

They work well with the Scroll Trigger rule, which lets you control when you want to show the notification based on how far down the page visitors scroll.

Related Content 11 Ways to Use Slide-In Optins To Skyrocket Conversions.

4. Fullscreen Welcome Mat

A Fullscreen welcome mat takes up an entire screen on the website. But this doesn’t mean the user is forced to engage with the popup’s graphical interface. They can close the window at any time and continue browsing the website.

A Fullscreen popup acts like a landing page, allowing you more real estate to add extra text, images, videos, or even social proof to your campaign.

Because they look like landing pages, it’s impossible to ignore Fullscreen popup notifications. It’s also the reason why Fullscreen popups can increase conversion rates by as much as 80%.

Here’s a great example of a Fullscreen welcome mat campaign:

When to Use Them: Fullscreen popups are great when you need your user to see an offer or deal. You can use them to create engaging pre-sell pages or any other landing page that shows unique offers related to the content on the main browser page.

Related Content How to Create a Welcome Mat Popup to Increase Conversions.

5. Floating Bar

You can use floating bars either at the top or bottom of your website page. A floating bar, or a website notification bar, is a perfect tool to display informational or promotional notifications.

Like slide-in scroll boxes, floating bars provide a non-intrusive way of getting the right information to the right people on your website.

Here’s an example of a floating bar:

When to Use Them: Floating bars serve many purposes, such as announcing:

• The launch of a new product.
• Promotional deals like free shipping.
• Updates, alerts, or general changes in company information.
• Time-sensitive offers (and they work best with a countdown timer).

Floating bars can also complement other types of popup campaigns on your site to boost overall conversions.

Related Content 6 Simple Floating Bar Hacks to Boost Conversions.

6. MonsterLink Popups

So far on this list, we’ve covered different types of popups that aren’t connected to display rules or user behavior. But MonsterLinks popups are so effective that they deserve a mention here.

MonsterLinks is OptinMonster’s unique optin technology that uses 2-step campaigns to help you boost website conversions.

A MonsterLink allows you to display a popup when users click (or hover) a link, button, or image. Here’s what a clickable MonsterLink popup looks like in action:

When to Use Them: You can use MonsterLinks for just about all of your marketing goals. They generate really warm leads because the popup triggers based on user behavior, like them clicking on a link or an image.

And people only click if they are bought into an offer or a CTA’s promise. As a result, people who see the popup are more likely to convert since they are already invested in what the link offers.

To learn more about MonsterLinks, watch this short video:

7. Social Proof Notifications

A social proof notification shows how other people are interacting with your website or product. It leverages social proof to build trust and improve conversions.

These messages show up on one corner of your website, like an automated chatbot widget, without disrupting the UX.

Here’s an example of a social proof notification popup:

When to Use Them: Social proof notifications can help you with just about any marketing goal you have. They use FOMO (‘fear missing out’) to persuade potential customers to take action. You can use social proof notifications to:

• Increase pageviews
• Grow your mailing list
• Drive sales

TrustPulse is one of the best social proof notification tools that you can use to trigger real-time notifications:

TrustPulse helps you add instant credibility to your site by showing verified website actions like:

• Purchases
• Demo Registrations
• Signup Form Submissions

TrustPulse is also great at triggering FOMO. For instance, its On-Fire campaigns create a sense of urgency by showing off hot products or other actions to your site visitors:

Related Content TrustPulse Review: Is It the Best Social Proof Software?

8. Push Notifications

Push notification popups make connecting with your audience incredibly easy. All other popups we have covered so far require people to visit your website for them to work.

That’s not the case with push notifications.

Push notifications can appear on your user’s browser even if they aren’t on your site. But they have to give you prior permission to send them push notifications. Once they optin, you can configure the notification settings to send users various kinds of transactional or promotional notifications.

And there are plenty of push notification tools that help you set this up in minutes. Here’s an example of a push notification for desktop and mobile from PushEngage:

When to Use Them: You can use push notifications for all of your major marketing and sales goals. People are likely to sign up to receive push notifications because they don’t require users to provide personal contact information like email addresses or phone numbers.

Push notifications are best for eCommerce brands that want to drive sales to their new product launches and special offers. Since customers don’t need to be on your site to see these notifications, they allow you to instantly engage your audience and:

• Increase pageviews for new content.
• Improve sales through special offers.
• Alert users about changes or updates in your company.

Want the best tool for creating push notifications? Then you need to try out PushEngage:

PushEngage makes creating push notifications simple. Once you persuade website visitors to consent to your messages, you can use PushEngage to quickly and easily create real-time notifications.

Want to give it a try? Get started with PushEngage today!

Related Content How to Create a Push Notification in WordPress to Boost Traffic.

9. Video Popup

Using videos in your marketing is a great way to improve brand awareness and generate qualified leads. According to Wyzowl’s research, 88% of people confess to buying software or an app because of the brand’s persuasive video.

You can extend the benefits of video marketing by creating video popups to engage your site visitors while keeping your site speedy.

OptinMonster lets you load videos within a popup campaign, which means the video won’t be hosted on your site and your site’s loading speed won’t suffer.

Here’s an example of a video popup created in OptinMonster:

When to Use Them: You can use video popups if you have product tutorials that you want your customers to see during their free trial. You can also use video popups to drive up subscriptions for your YouTube channel.

Next, let’s look at a few ways you can personalize your popup notifications to improve customer engagement.

Common Popup Mistakes to Avoid

Even well-intentioned popups can backfire if you make these critical errors. Here’s what to avoid and how to fix it.

Mistake 1: Showing Too Many Popups

The Problem: Bombarding visitors with multiple popups in a single session creates frustration and increases bounce rates. If someone sees a welcome popup, then an exit popup, then a slide-in, then a floating bar, they’ll leave your site.

The Solution:

• Limit popups to one per session for each visitor
• Use frequency capping to control how often returning visitors see popups
• Space out popup campaigns (if someone closed your email popup, don’t show them a discount popup 30 seconds later)
• Consider using a single multi-purpose popup instead of multiple single-purpose ones
• Track popup impressions across your site to avoid overlap

Real Impact: Studies show that sites with more than 2 popups per session see bounce rates increase by up to 35%.

Mistake 2: Poor Audience Targeting

The Problem: Showing the same generic popup to everyone regardless of their behavior, location, or stage in the customer journey. A first-time visitor from organic search needs different messaging than a returning customer who abandoned their cart.

The Solution:

• Segment your audience based on behavior (new vs. returning, pages visited, time on site)
• Create location-specific campaigns (different offers for different regions)
• Show product-specific popups based on browsing history
• Don’t show “welcome” offers to customers who already purchased
• Use referral source targeting (social traffic vs. paid ads vs. email clicks)
• Exclude converted visitors from seeing the same offer again

Real Impact: Targeted popups convert 3-5x better than generic ones. OptinMonster’s targeting features make this segmentation simple.

Mistake 3: Terrible Timing

The Problem: Popups that appear instantly when someone lands on your page are intrusive and annoying. Visitors haven’t had time to understand your content or decide if they’re interested.

The Solution:

• Wait at least 10-15 seconds before triggering your first popup
• Use scroll-depth triggers (50-75% down the page) to target engaged readers
• Implement exit-intent technology to catch abandoning visitors at the right moment
• Avoid showing popups during critical actions (checkout process, form completion, video watching)
• Time promotional popups to align with user intent (discount codes on product pages, not blog posts)

Real Impact: Delaying popup appearance by just 10 seconds can increase conversion rates by 20-40% while reducing bounce rates.

Mistake 4: Difficult or Hidden Close Buttons

The Problem: Making it hard for visitors to close your popup destroys trust and damages user experience. Hidden X buttons, tiny close areas, or requiring form completion before closing creates immediate resentment.

The Solution:

• Place a visible X button in the top-right corner (standard convention)
• Make the close button at least 44×44 pixels for easy clicking (especially on mobile)
• Use contrasting colors so the close button stands out
• Add a “No thanks” or “Maybe later” text link as a secondary exit option
• Allow clicks outside the popup box to close it (except for critical modals like age verification)
• Never require information submission before allowing closure

Real Impact: Popups without clear exit options see 50-70% higher bounce rates and generate negative brand perception.

Mistake 5: Overcomplicated Design

The Problem: Cramming too much text, multiple CTAs, clashing colors, and excessive form fields into a popup overwhelms visitors. They can’t quickly understand what you’re offering or what action to take.

The Solution:

• Focus on one clear call-to-action per popup
• Keep headlines to 5-10 words maximum
• Limit body copy to 1-2 short sentences
• Ask for minimal information (email only beats email + name + phone for conversion)
• Use 2-3 brand colors maximum
• Include plenty of white space to improve readability
• Make your CTA button the most prominent element

Real Impact: Simplifying popup design can increase conversions by 25-50%. Every additional form field reduces conversion rates by approximately 10%.

Mistake 6: Ignoring Mobile Users

The Problem: Popups designed only for desktop often break on mobile devices. They cover entire screens, have tiny close buttons, or don’t resize properly, creating a terrible mobile experience.

The Solution:

• Test every popup on multiple mobile devices before launching
• Use responsive design that adapts to screen size
• Increase close button size for mobile (easier tapping)
• Consider alternative formats for mobile (floating bars or slide-ins instead of full-screen overlays)
• Ensure popups don’t violate Google’s mobile interstitial guidelines
• Load popups faster on mobile (optimize images and code)

Real Impact: Mobile-unfriendly popups can hurt your mobile search rankings and increase mobile bounce rates by 40-60%.

Mistake 7: Weak or Unclear Value Propositions

The Problem: Generic offers like “Subscribe to our newsletter” or “Sign up for updates” don’t give visitors a compelling reason to convert. They don’t understand what they’ll receive or why it matters.

The Solution:

• Be specific about what visitors will get (“Get 25% off your first order” vs. “Get a discount”)
• Highlight the benefit, not the feature (“Learn 47 ways to increase conversions” vs. “Download our ebook”)
• Create urgency with limited-time offers or scarcity (“Only 50 spots available”)
• Show social proof in your popup (“Join 10,000+ subscribers”)
• Match the offer to the page context (relevant content upgrades convert better)

Real Impact: Strong value propositions can increase popup conversion rates by 100-300%. The difference between “Subscribe” and “Get my free SEO checklist” is massive.

Mistake 8: No Testing or Optimization

The Problem: Launching a popup once and never improving it means you’re leaving conversions on the table. What works for one audience might not work for yours.

The Solution:

• Run A/B tests on headlines, offers, designs, and timing
• Test different popup types for different goals
• Monitor key metrics (conversion rate, bounce rate, time on site)
• Analyze which traffic sources respond best to popups
• Refresh popup creative every 3-6 months to combat banner blindness
• Track revenue impact, not just email signups

Real Impact: Companies that consistently test and optimize their popups see 50-100% improvement in conversion rates over 6 months.

Avoiding these mistakes is just as important as implementing best practices. When you combine mistake prevention with strategic popup design using a tool like OptinMonster, you’ll create campaigns that grow your business without annoying your visitors.

The key is balance: popups should feel helpful and timely, not intrusive and aggressive.

How to Personalize Popups to Improve UX

Creating stunning popup campaigns that are visually appealing is only half the battle. The other half is making sure that you show these popups to the right people and at just the right time in their customer journey.

That way, you can get the most out of your popups and offer your site visitors a delightful customer experience. When done the right way, popups can help you improve UX.

The best way to do this is by setting ‘display rules’ to whichever type of popup notification you’re using.

Display rules are settings that you can add to popups to determine whether the campaign should appear. These display rules break down into 2 categories:

• Targets
• Triggers

Targets are rules that will show a popup based on your users’ characteristics. This can be things like where the user is located, what type of device they’re using, or how they’ve interacted with your site in the past.

Triggers, on the other hand, are rules that use your site traffic’s behavior to determine if a popup should appear. This includes events such as when users are about to leave your webpage, if they click a link or button, or how far down the browser page they scroll.

If you’re planning to publish a popup on your site, make sure you personalize it to match your customers’ expectations based on where they are in their buying journey.

And OptinMonster offers you the best targeting and trigger options. Read our review of OptinMonster to learn more about all the features it offers, including the targeting and display rules.

Popup Notifications: Frequently Asked Questions

Are popups effective for lead generation?

Yes. When implemented correctly, popups are one of the most effective lead generation tools available. Average popup conversion rates range from 1-8%, with well-optimized campaigns achieving even higher rates.

Why popups work:

• They capture attention at critical moments
• Exit-intent technology recovers abandoning visitors
• Targeted offers match user intent and behavior
• Clear CTAs reduce friction in the conversion process

Real results:

• Adam Enfroy gained over 11,000 email subscribers in 12 months using OptinMonster popups
• Fastrack Digital recovered 53% of abandoning visitors with exit-intent popups
• Shockbyte more than doubled their sales conversion rate with targeted popups

The key is using the right popup type, timing, and offer for your specific audience and goals.

So Which Is the Best Type of Popup?

The type of popup that will work for you depends heavily on your marketing goals. It also depends on who your target audience is, how they interact with your site, and how effective your popup is.

If you want to see immediate results, start with Exit-Intent® popups. These appear as users are leaving the browser page and are great at recovering visitors who are about to abandon your site. OptinMonster’s Exit-Intent® technology works on mobile devices, too.

And they convert like crazy!

As an example, Fastrack Digital used Exit-Intent® popups to recover 53% of its abandoning visitors.

If you enjoyed this post, you’ll love these related resources:

• 37 Types of Popups to Use on Your Website
• How Does OptinMonster Work? 3 Use Cases
• Email Marketing Made Simple: A Step-by-Step Guide

Want to create a popup notification for your website?

TL;DR:

What is Scarcity Marketing?
Scarcity marketing leverages FOMO (fear of missing out) by creating urgency through limited availability or time-sensitive offers. It increases perceived value and drives immediate purchasing decisions.

Key Tactics:
Limited Supply – Low stock alerts, exclusive collections, limited quantities
Time Pressure – Countdown timers, flash sales, deadline-driven offers
Exclusivity – VIP access, invite-only sign-ups, special editions

Why It Works:
Research shows 69% of millennials experience FOMO, and 60% make impulsive purchases because of it. Scarcity increases demand, boosts perceived value, and drives fast action.

Top Examples Include:
Countdown Timers (Cracku increased conversions 300%)
Low Stock Alerts (“Only 2 left in stock”)
Invite-Only Access (Clubhouse’s explosive growth)
Flash Sales (Amazon Lightning Deals, Best Buy 48-hour sales)
Limited Editions (Coca-Cola’s “Share a Coke” campaign)
Exclusive Content (Netflix’s “Only On Netflix”)
Waitlists (Float, HappySales creating exclusivity)
Cart Abandonment Emails with time-limited discounts
Social Proof + Scarcity (iHerb showing “13 sold in 24 hours”)
Important Note: Use scarcity ethically—false scarcity can backfire and damage trust.

Bottom Line: Scarcity marketing, when done authentically, creates urgency that converts browsers into buyers by making products feel more valuable and time-sensitive.

Have you ever seen a countdown timer on a sale or an “Only a few left!” message on a product page? That’s an example of scarcity marketing in action.

Scarcity marketing works because it increases the perceived value of a product. When something feels rare or exclusive, we tend to want it more. This can lead to higher sales and a competitive edge for businesses that use it effectively.

In this article, I’ll share 34 scarcity examples to help you boost conversions and increase revenue. These are real-life examples of businesses that have scarcity marketing strategies, so you can get ideas for your own marketing efforts.

• What Is Scarcity Marketing?
• 34 Scarcity Marketing Examples

What Is Scarcity Marketing?

Scarcity marketing is a strategy that leverages the fear of missing out (FOMO) by creating a sense of urgency through limited availability or time-sensitive offers. It’s a powerful technique for increasing perceived value and driving immediate action.

Here’s how it works:

• Limited Supply: This could involve limited quantities of a product, exclusive collections, or limited-time offers.
• Time Pressure: Countdown timers, flash sales, and “only a few left” notifications create a sense of urgency and encourage people to buy before it’s too late.
• Exclusivity: Making a product or service feel exclusive can make it more desirable. This could involve VIP access, limited edition releases, or high-end products.

By using these tactics, scarcity marketing aims to:

• Increase Demand: When something feels scarce, people are more likely to want it, leading to higher sales.
• Boost Perceived Value: Limited availability suggests a product is more valuable or desirable, making people more willing to pay a premium.
• Drive Action: The fear of missing out encourages people to make a purchase decision quickly before the opportunity disappears.

Scarcity marketing can be a powerful tool, but it’s important to use it ethically. If done wrong, it can come across as manipulative or inauthentic.

Let’s take a look at 34 examples of scarcity marketing.

Scarcity Marketing Examples

We have curated these scarcity examples from real-life brands that have used the scarcity principle in their online campaigns. The examples offer several ideas on how to apply the scarcity principle in your marketing.

1. Cracku: Urgency Through Countdown Timers
2. Wildist: 50% Discount for 2 Days
3. Tinder: Fear of Missing Out
4. Booking.com: Book Before It’s Too Late
5. Chemical Guys: Beat the Clock Sale
6. Bud Light: Limited Edition Pack
7. JACK1T: Only 2 Pieces in Stock
8. Clubhouse: Invite-Only Sign-Ups
9. Amazon Prime: Discount While Supplies Last
10. Bed Bath & Beyond: Top Deals Are Scarce
11. BookMyShow: Seats Filing Fast
12. Netflix: Only On Netflix
13. Tesla Apparrel: Notify When Available
14. MasterClass: BOGO Meets Limited-Time Offer
15. Coke: Share a Coke
16. Airbnb: Rare Find
17. Float: Request Access
18. Moto Z: Limited Time Offer
19. HappySales: Join the Waitlist
20. Nokia: Black Friday With a Twist
21. Amazon: Today’s Lightning Deals
22. Ninety9: Happy Hour Deals
23. Best Buy: Flash Sale
24. iHerb: 13 Sold in 24 Hours
25. Fleet Feet: Clearance Sale
26. Thread Up: End-of-Year Sale
27. Pulp & Press: Abandoned Cart Email
28. Asos: Black Friday Deal
29. Catalina Crunch: Early Access SMS Marketing
30. Jeffree Star: A Different Take on Scarcity
31. G Fuel: Giveaways Worth $10,000
32. Eightvape: Christmas Holiday Offer
33. Udemy: Sale Ends Today
34. Growth Marketing: Last Chance to Register

1. Cracku: Urgency Through Countdown Timers

Countdown timers are the best scarcity examples in marketing. Cracku, an online student coaching portal, used OptinMonster to create countdown timers on its website.

They combined it with a limited-time offer and increased conversions by 300%.

2. Wildist: 50% Discount for 2 Days

Wildist offers people to sign up for its workshops at half price, but only for 2 days.

Notice the testimonials from past customers on the top-right of the page. Social proof earns you trust and improves website conversions by 34%.

Pro-Tip: Check out this list of social proof notification apps you can use to add credibility to your site! We recommend TrustPulse. It’s the best social proof notification tool out there.

3. Tinder: Fear of Missing Out

Tinder uses a push notification for its mobile app users to improve product adoption. They notify inactive users that their profiles won’t be visible to possible matches if they don’t start using the app.

The clever use of scarcity triggers fear of missing out (FOMO) in buyers. Research suggests that about 69% of millennials experience FOMO, and 60% make impulsive purchases because of it.

In other words, FOMO works wonders in convincing people to take action.

Pro-tip: Want to create push notifications like Tinder’s? Take a look at PushEngage. It’s the world’s best push notification software that’s easy to install and set up.

4. Booking.com: Book Before It’s Too Late

Scarcity examples are more common in marketplaces with fluctuating supply and demand of goods and services. For instance, the travel and hospitality industry.

Booking.com is a master at scarcity marketing. Take a look at how they imply that this deal on a hotel won’t be available for very long.

5. Chemical Guys: Beat the Clock Sale

Car detailing company Chemical Guys creates urgency for website visitors with multiple limited-time offers.

The sooner buyers book a service, the more discounts they get.

6. Bud Light: Limited Edition Pack

Bud Light collaborated with the Philadelphia Eagles to launch a special edition commemorative beer pack to celebrate the team’s Super Bowl victory.

The beverage company produced 20,418 packs to honor the victory date: 02/04/2018. Special edition marketing also allows brands to sell products at higher prices. Fans don’t mind buying limited quantities of special merchandise at a premium.

7. JACK1T: Only 2 Pieces in Stock

JACK1T lets you know when they are running low on a particular item. This is a good scarcity example that highlights how creating urgency in marketing can improve conversions.

8. Clubhouse: Invite-Only Sign-Ups

Remember when Clubhouse was a rage? One of the reasons it became so popular in such a short time was because it created an illusion of exclusivity.

Only people who had an invite from existing Clubhouse members could join the social audio platform. This drove a huge demand for Clubhouse sign-ups.

Clubhouse had another level of scarcity baked into its platform. Initially, it was available only in iOS. A year later after its launch, it was launched on the Android platform.

Although the craze for the platform has died down, it remains a shining example of how to use a sense of scarcity and exclusivity to increase sign-ups.

9. Amazon Prime: Discount While Supplies Last

Amazon Prime Now has a weekly ad with a time-sensitive discount.

For more examples like these, read our post on how to use discount codes to increase conversions.

10. Bed Bath & Beyond: Top Deals Are Scarce

Bed Bath & Beyond uses a unique promo offer for each product category in its website’s Top Deals section. All deals have footer text to create urgency in buyers:

• Limited time
• Valid thru 2/2
• While supplies last

This is to let the buyers know they’ll get the most value for their money if they buy sooner.

11. BookMyShow: Seats Filing Fast

India’s largest online movie and events booking platform BookMyShow uses a popup to convert movie lovers to buy its most expensive tickets.

Let’s see how it works.

The most expensive seats have better reclining, extra leg room, and the best view of the screen. The booking page suggests that people might lose out on the premium experience if they don’t act fast.

They also use ember color text for the fast-selling seats. This is an example of demand-induced scarcity. What color you choose for CTA buttons can impact conversions.

12. Netflix: Only On Netflix

Netflix knows that movie lovers will go to any extent to watch their favorite movies and shows. It buys the copyright of high-demand content like Kill Boksoon and Money Heist.

It even has an entire genre called Only On Netflix for non-subscribers to browse. Netflix drives new subscriptions by making high-demand content available only on its platform.

13. Tesla Apparrel: Notify When Available

Tesla has an eCommerce shop that sells vehicle accessories, battery chargers, and apparel. The website has a functionality for buyers to receive an email notification for out-of-stock items.

This is a genius scarcity marketing example on many levels.

• First, it implies that out-of-stock products are scarce resources. People are more likely to opt in for notifications if they think it’s going to fly off the shelves.
• Second, it’s also a lead generation technique. Buyers who optin for a notification will also start getting marketing emails from Tesla for other products in the future.

Pro-tip: Want to target and convert website visitors based on their past interactions? Use OptinMonster’s Onsite Retargeting®. It lets you optimize campaigns for returning visitors and boost your eCommerce sales.

14. MasterClass: BOGO Meets Limited-Time Offer

Buy one get one (BOGO) is a great way to convert customers and increase your average order value.

In this scarcity example, MasterClass offers 2 memberships for the cost of 1. It combines the discount with a holiday offer that’s ending soon.

Product bundling like this gets buyers to convert faster because they get a 2x return on investment (ROI) on their purchase.

15. Coke: Share a Coke

The world-famous beverage company Coca-Cola’s Share a Coke campaign was a hit when it came out. The campaign allowed customers to buy Coke bottles with the names of their friends and family members.

The campaign sold 1.25 million drinks in the U.S. and improved sales by 11% in a year.

Coke ran the campaign at the expense of replacing its brand name from the bottles. It’s a classic example of scarcity advertising coupled with emotional intelligence.

Depending on where you live, you can still order personalized Coke bottles from their website. Notice not 1 but 2 website notification bars on the website.

The company sure knows how to create multiple sale opportunities on a website!

16. Airbnb: Rare Find

Airbnb makes its customers feel lucky to find properties that aren’t sold out. It’s the company’s way to highlight resource scarcity for their premium property listings.

17. Float: Request Access

Float asks new users to request access to the app instead of handing out free signups. This means their platform isn’t easy for everyone to sign up for.

The message is clear: you might not be allowed if you don’t fit the bill. The scarcity of access makes it immediately appealing.

18. Moto Z: Limited Time Offer

Moto Z offers its customers a scarce opportunity to buy its new smartphone for only $200.

Limited-time offers convert like crazy.

An online clothing company ran an experiment offering one of its products with and without a limited-time next-day shipping offer. The one with the relative scarcity offer increased sales by 226%.

19. HappySales: Join the Waitlist

HappySales is a business-to-business (B2B) sales technology software that’s yet to launch. Its website allows users to join the private beta. When you click the CTA button, it takes you to a sign-up form.

But instead of asking users to sign up for free, Happysales encourages joining privately. This implies that they don’t entertain everyone. It’s an exclusive circle of users.

20. Nokia: Black Friday With a Twist

Nokia sent this marketing email to its customers a few years back. Instead of offering instant discounts or pre-orders, Nokia made it easy for customers to create a personalized wishlist.

This is among the best Black Friday-related scarcity examples.

21. Amazon: Today’s Lightning Deals

Amazon’s “Lightning Deals” are offered daily for only a few hours.

22. Ninety9: Happy Hour Deals

Protea Hotel in Kampala uses happy hour discounts to drive traffic to its retro bar. You can get amazing discounts on a limited variety of drinks, but only between 5-7 pm.

23. Best Buy: Flash Sale

Best Buy’s flash sale offers multiple scarcity examples rolled into one.

The sale is live only for 48 hours. The website notification bar lets users know the exact time and date when the sale will start and end. This heightens the sense of scarcity.

Best Buy also reminds buyers of the limited availability of products. And that they won’t accept rainchecks.

24. iHerb: 13 Sold in 24 Hours

iHerb’s website has multiple cues to convert visitor traffic. It uses a notification bar to offer a 20% discount, While also reminding buyers that the offer ends on a specific date.

Further down, iHerb lets people see the number of products other buyers have bought in the last 24 hours. If you don’t act on time, the product might run out of stock.

The limited availability of resources is one of the causes of scarcity.

Pro-tip: Are your customers dropping off of your website due to out-of-stock products? Read our guide on how to win more sales with out-of-stock pages.

25. Fleet Feet: Clearance Sale

A lot of online retailers use clearance sales to sell surplus products at reduced prices. Online apparel stores especially have clearance sales because they are closing down or need to clear old stocks to make room for new product inventory.

In any case, a clearance sale implies that the discounted offering is going to run for a short time. Here, Fleet Feet has an entire product category called Clearance with discounted products.

26. Thread Up: End-of-Year Sale

End-of-year sales are similar to clearance sale campaigns. Thread Up, a second-hand apparel store, combines its year-end sale with multiple other promotions.

The copy on the website offers a discount code and free shipping. It also reminds customers about the sale ending date and time to trigger buyers’ scarcity mindset.

27. Pulp & Press: Abandoned Cart Email

Pulp & Press sends buyers a limited-time discount on their orders to reduce cart abandonment. This is a great way to create artificial scarcity and convert lost opportunities into sales.

28. Asos: Black Friday Deal

Asos offers a Black Friday discount code. It follows its promotion by reminding people to stay safe and be ahead of the surge.

This is among the best scarcity examples that explicitly communicate the limited resources and time.

29. Catalina Crunch: Early Access SMS Marketing

Catalina Crunch offers users early access to its Black Friday deals. When visitors click on the signup button, the website asks them to enter their phone number.

These kinds of optin campaigns are trade-offs between what buyers want and what sellers can offer.

30. Jeffree Star: A Different Take on Scarcity

Jeffree Star has a different take on creating scarcity.

Instead of creating scarcity with limited-time offers or discounts, they do it with delivery times.

Jeffree Star uses a website alert banner to let customers know that orders after 12/19 will be delivered after Christmas. This means the earlier people place their orders, the earlier they will receive them.

Nice way to evoke scarcity!

31. G Fuel: Giveaways Worth $10,000

G Fuel runs a giveaway contest on its website for visitors to enter a chance to win 1 grand prize. Or, they can enter to win 10 runner-up incentives.

Either way, G Fuel’s scarcity example is not based on time. It’s built on the probability of winning by participating in the sweepstakes and answering a simple question.

Pro-tip: Do you want an easy way to run giveaways in WordPress? Get RafflePress. RafflePress is the best plugin that lets you run successful giveaways in WooCommerce.

32. Eightvape: Christmas Holiday Offer

Eightvape displays a banner on its website hero section, offering customers tempting Christmas offers for a limited period.

The website also uses a Yes/No campaign to convert visitors into leads. Yes/No campaigns offer people a no-brainer choice: to choose an easy option or skip it for an opportunity cost.

33. Udemy: Sale Ends Today

Udemy has a one-day flash sale for visitors to enroll in one of its online courses. The website also offers a discount code and has a notification bar with a countdown timer.

34. Growth Marketing: Last Chance to Register

Growth Marketing’s email uses an image of a clock to suggest the need to act fast and create urgency. The CTA adds to the sense of scarcity further.

These CTAs work well both on your site and in your email marketing copy. Read our guide to creating the perfect call to action for more tips to improve conversions.

Time Is Running Out: Use These Scarcity Marketing Examples Now

See what we did there? Scarcity can be a great incentive for buyers to act sooner. Take inspiration from the examples in this post to apply in marketing your business.

If you want more tips to help you sell more fast, here are some helpful resources:

• What Is Upselling? 15 Upselling Tips & Examples to Boost Revenue
• How to Increase Sales With Social Media: 9 Expert Tips
• Average Order Value: Guide to AOV + 8 Proven Strategies

If you’re new to marketing, you may also want to check out our comprehensive lead generation guide. Lead generation is the starting point for most things in marketing.

If you’re already running lead generation campaigns on your website, get started with OptinMonster. OptinMonster is the #1 lead generation tool that helps you build marketing campaigns to capture leads through popups, floating bars, sidebar optins, and more.

Quick Answer: How To Get More Email Subscribers Fast

Based on our work with over 1.2 million websites, the fastest ways to grow your email list are implementing exit-intent popups, adding inline forms at article ends, converting popular posts into PDF lead magnets, using content locking on premium sections, and deploying two-step opt-ins. Businesses using these methods, paired with mobile optimization and simplified forms, have increased signups by up to 1000%.

Do you want to learn how to get more email subscribers? Or maybe you’re wondering how to grow an email list from scratch?

In my career as a digital marketer, I’ve certainly felt the frustration of seeing my number of subscribers stay stagnant.

But luckily, it’s entirely possible to increase your email subscriber list. And to do it fast.

In fact, Aish.com increased their email signups 10x by making a few simple additions to their website. Many of these changes took 5 minutes or less.

Here at OptinMonster, we work every day to help businesses and organizations transform their lead generation. More than 1.2 million websites use our email signup popups to skyrocket their email newsletter audience.

You don’t have to figure out how to grow your email list on your own. Instead, you can learn from our decade of experience.

So if you feel like your email marketing is at a standstill, don’t worry!

In this article, I’ll share 17 proven tips to get more email subscribers. These are strategies that OptinMonster has either used for our own email list or has helped our customers implement. And we’ve seen their success again and again.

How To Get More Email Subscribers

To get more email subscribers, you need to optimize your greatest marketing asset: your website.

The key to successful email marketing isn’t just a large list. You need a list that’s full of high-potential leads who want to see your email campaigns.

Visitors to your site are already interested in your content or products. That makes them great leads for building an engaged email list. When your subscribers are engaged, you’ll see higher open rates, click-through rates (CTR), and overall conversions.

That’s why many of the tips below explore how to get subscribers on your website. You’ll also find a few tips for leveraging your social media channels to increase your email subscribers.

Let’s get started!

1. Add an Exit-Intent® Popup

Hey, did you know that over 70% of the people who leave your website will never return?

You can convert many of these abandoning users into email list subscribers with one simple trick.

When a website visitor starts to leave your site, you can show them a popup message that asks for their contact info before they leave. You can offer them a special coupon or offer in exchange for their email address.

Then, instead of a lost visitor, you have a new email subscriber.

But how do these popups work?

It’s called Exit-Intent® Technology. It detects user exit behavior, such as moving the cursor toward the back button. On mobile devices, it can detect when someone quickly scrolls back up to the top of the page. Then it prompts your visitor with an optin form just when they’re about to leave.

Exit-intent is OptinMonster’s specialty!

OptinMonster is hands down the best way to grow your email list. We provide you with the tools you need to create high-converting optin campaigns that you can target to your site’s traffic.

The best part is how easy it is. We offer dozens of premade templates that you customize with drag-and-drop builder.

OptinMonster lets you personalize these campaigns to make sure you’re showing the right optin form to the right person at just the right time in their customer journey.

Plus, you don’t need any coding or tech skills to get started. Our drag-and-drop editor will have you creating beautiful popups, floating bars, inline campaigns, and much more in a matter of minutes.

Want to check it out? Click below to sign up for your risk-free OptinMonster account:

Here’s How You Do It

You can create an Exit-Intent® popup quickly with OptinMonster.

Just follow our guide to create your first campaign. Then follow these steps:

1. Click the Display Rules tab at the top of the campaign builder.
2. Select the Conditions tab at the bottom of the page.
3. Click on one of the conditions listed.
4. Select When (Triggers).
5. Select Exit Intent.

Or, follow this easy video tutorial:

OptinMonster makes sure your popups are mobile-friendly so you can grow your audience no matter which device they’re using.

Don’t have OptinMonster yet? Click here to get started!

2. Add an Optin at the End of Articles

Readers who reach the end of your article are primed to act.

Your headline grabbed their attention. The introduction drew them in like moths to a flame. Your bullet points and anecdotes kept them on the edge of their seats.

Of the millions of articles they could have read, they read yours. And they read until the very end.

They like you. They really, really like you!

That’s why the end of your article is the perfect time to ask them to join your email subscription list.

Here’s How You Do It

Adding a call to action in your author bio and the end of each article is a great way to strike while the iron is hot. Here’s how Jeff Goins does it:

But what if your blog’s theme lacks an author bio section? What if your website has numerous authors?

Then you can use OptinMonster to create an after-content widget with some enticing copy to get more email subscribers. All you need is an inline campaign and a compelling call to action (CTA).

Lilach Bulloch uses inline forms to help her convert 57% of website visitors.

Readers who make it to the end of your articles are focused. They’re engaged and looking for direction.

Direct them to your email subscription list.

3. Turn Popular Posts Into Lead Magnets

If you want to earn a spot in people’s email inboxes, then you need to offer them something valuable

That’s where lead magnets come in!

A lead magnet is an exclusive offer or content that users receive in exchange for their email address. In other words, you offer something for free, and you get a new email subscriber in return.

Lead magnets can be a coupon code or special discount. Or they can be special content, like a PDF guide, free ebook, or white paper:

“Subscribe to our mailing list, and get our Ultimate Guide to the Top X Ways to Z!”

But here’s the thing:

Creating lead magnets can be tricky.

What if you don’t have time to write an ebook or create a PDF checklist? Maybe producing a video series is more than you can do right now. And, what if creating dazzling infographics is beyond your current skill set?

If this describes you, it doesn’t mean you’re resigned to sitting on the sidelines while everyone gets more email subscribers.

Not if you have 30 seconds to spare.

That’s all the time it takes to convert one of your popular articles into a handy, easy-to-print PDF file.

Go to Print Friendly and enter the URL of the article you’d like to convert. Click the “PDF” button. Click “Download.”

Then all you have to do is offer it and deliver it to visitors. And that’s a simple process with OptinMonster.

Here’s How You Do It

You can deliver your lead magnet with one of OptinMonster’s pre-made templates, such as the eBook Download template:

Go to the Optin View in the OptinMonster campaign builder.

Click the button on your optin and scroll down in the left-hand settings bar until you see Button Click Action. Choose Redirect to a URL.

Then, in the Redirect URL field, enter the URL for your lead magnet download. When users enter their email address and click the button, they’ll immediately get your lead magnet.

Alternatively, you can use email automation to simply email your link to every user who signs up through this popup form.

Here are some more ways to deliver your lead magnet when people sign up.

Pretty easy, right? Almost as easy as our next way to grow your email subscription list.

4. Use Gated Content (also known as Content Locking)

Want a quick way to get more email subscribers without creating new content?

Try gated content, or content locking.

Content locking is where you block off part of the content visitors are reading, and visitors have to subscribe to unlock it. This is easy to do with OptinMonster. In fact, Trading Strategy Guides added 11,000 new subscribers by using this technique.

Here’s How You Do It

First, identify which blog posts bring in the most website traffic. If you’re using WordPress, you can easily see your most popular posts in your dashboard by using MonsterInsights:

MonsterInsights is the world’s best Google Analytics plugin for WordPress. With this, you can get all the data you need to make smarter marketing decisions. In fact, that data is right there in your WordPress dashboard.

Then, you can identify your most popular posts and pages:

With that information, you can quickly turn your best-performing posts into exclusive content for subscribers only.

Start by creating an inline campaign, and then follow these steps:

1. Choose the Display Setting tab at the top of the OptinMonstercampaign builder.
2. Select the Actions tab at the bottom of the builder.
3. Scroll down and turn on the Enable Content Locking? toggle. You can choose whether to blur the content or remove it completely.

That’s it! Once visitors subscribe, they’ll magically get access to the content, and you’ll increase your email subscription list.

When visitors have email subscription benefits like this, they’re less likely to unsubscribe. It’s much easier to grow your newsletter subscribers when your new subscribers stick around.

For more detailed step-by-step instructions, see our documentation on content locking.

5. Use a 2-Step Optin

Want to know a neat psychological trick that’s proven to increase email subscribers? It’s the Zeigarnik effect.

This bit of human psychology just means that once we’ve started an action or task, we’re more likely to complete it. And it’s why OptinMonster’s 2-step optins are so successful.

2-Step Optins let users click a CTA button on your website to trigger your optin popup. Once they’ve taken the step of clicking your CTA, they’ll be more likely to complete the process of signing up for your newsletter.

US Student Loan Center increased sales by 10% by using 2-step optins. They added a CTA on their website, and this is what visitors see when they click the link.

Here’s How You Do It

Use our MonsterLinks technology to create a button, link, or image that triggers your popup!

For instance, you can have a CTA button that says:

“Get Our Best Articles, Right in Your Inbox!”

When the user clicks that button, they will get your popup to subscribe to your newsletter.

You can accomplish this with just a few clicks in the Display Rules of your campaign.

Details instructions are available here: How to Use MonsterLinks to Load Your Popup with the Click of a Button

You can also integrate the campaign with your favorite email providers, such as Constant Contact or Brevo (formerly Sendinblue). You can then set up an automated email series, so your subscribers will receive emails as soon as they fill out this subscription form.

You can send a welcome email and then follow up with product updates, new posts on your blog, and recent launches.

6. Run an Online Contest

Online contests are one of the best ways to increase email optins. You can instantly boost your email subscription list by offering a prize that your target audience loves.

Plus, with an online contest plugin like RafflePress, you can put everything on auto-pilot:

RafflePress is the best giveaway and online contest plugin around.

It lets you create various entry options such as following you on social media, visiting certain web pages, sending referrals to your contest, and, of course, signing up for your email subscription list.

With RafflePress, contest automation is easy. You can gather entries and declare winners just by clicking a few buttons.

The tool works great for any WordPress site, including eCommerce stores, business sites, and blogs.

For more information, check out this post on how to run an online contest to grow your traffic and generate leads.

7. Try a Different Button Color

What color is your optin button?

If you answered “I don’t know” or “What does it matter?” you’re potentially missing out on an easy way to get more email subscribers.

I’ve done a good bit of research on CTA color, and I discovered that there’s no specific color that converts better.

What matters is that your button colors are high-contrast, on-brand, and consistent.

Basically, you want to make it easy for website visitors to find where they’re supposed to click.

When you make your next newsletter signup form, experiment with button colors that really stand out from the background of your website.

Here’s How You Do It

If you’re using OptinMonster, changing the button colors in any campaign is pretty easy:

1. Click on the button in your campaign.
2. Select the Advanced tab in the left-hand editing bar.
3. Choose your color beside Background Color.

And while we’re on the subject of buttons . . .

8. Split Test Your Button Copy

Do you use generic copy such as “Subscribe” or “Sign Up” for your optin buttons? If so, we have bad news for you:

It’s actually your CTA button’s copy, not color or positioning, that matters most.

If you’ve never given your button’s copy a passing thought, it’s time to remedy the situation.

Provide value and relevance, but be sure not to exaggerate.

Keep it simple, but don’t be boring. It’s okay to use two sentences so long as they are short.

One particularly effective digital marketing strategy is to personalize your optin button.

Joanna Wiebe of Copy Hackers suggests writing button copy in the first person. By personalizing the words, they become more appealing to the reader.

Let’s look at a few examples.

Which sounds better?

What wording do you relate to?

Which button would you rather click?

The differences are subtle, but during her a/b testing, Joanna found first-person pronouns (“I” and “my”) beat the competition by a whopping 24%.

Sometimes, “subtle” can be huge.

To get the same data on your button, you’ll need to split test. This is easy with OptinMonster.

Here’s How You Do It

Login to OptinMonster, and click on the campaign that you want to A/B test. To the right, you’ll see different options for that campaign, including a Split Arrow Icon. Click this to begin setting up your Split Test.

Follow the prompts, and then change one element of your campaign, like the button wording. Save and publish the campaign, and OptinMonster will automatically divide your traffic and collect data, so you can learn which one works best.

Just follow the steps in this video:

9. Show Off Your Testimonials

Did you know OptinMonster is recommended by the likes of Michael Stelzner, Ian Cleary, and Yoast?

If you spend much time on our site, then you will learn it quickly.

OptinMonster prominently displays these heavy hitters on our homepage and Testimonials page. There’s no way you could miss them.

Why do we do this? Because it shows we’re the real deal.

People won’t give their hard-earned money or email address to simply anyone. They want to know you’re on the up and up.

Offering testimonials and case studies builds trust, and more trust means you get more email subscribers.

Here’s How You Do It

Go find a great endorsement you’ve received.

Look at the reviews and other social proof you have. Browse through your comments and emails. Search for mentions on social media.

Be A Better Blogger found its featured testimonial when the great Amy Harrison tweeted the following:

This tweet was turned into a testimonial that’s displayed whenever a reader clicks on one of Be A Better Blogger’s MonsterLinks:

That optin form? It’s currently sporting an awesome 26.09% conversion rate.

The takeaway here? Testimonial + OptinMonster = Get More Email Subscriptions.

Of course, all the awesome testimonials in the world won’t help you if readers can’t see them, so this next tip is a great one!

10. Remove Distractions

How many widgets do you have on your website’s sidebar?

Do you use several calls to action at the end of your articles?

How many choices are your visitors given?

If you’re overwhelming your readers with options, how can they be expected to take the one action you want them to take?

If you want to grow your email subscriber list, you need to cut down on the clutter.

Here’s How You Do It

The following screenshot from Henneke Duistermaat is a perfect example of a landing page that optimizes for one thing: get more email subscribers.

Per Henneke, this landing page has converted as high as 59.6 percent.

It’s easy to see why. Every aspect, from the headline to the testimonial, is designed to build an email list. There are no social media icons, advertisements, or anything else to distract readers from the task at hand.

What lessons can we learn from Henneke’s landing page?

• Remove distractions
• Don’t prioritize social media icons
• Stick to one CTA for each article.

We should get rid of anything that doesn’t help us get more email subscribers.

Focus on making it easy for visitors to share their contact information without distractions.

On that note, here are some more tips on how to build an email list.

11. Stop Asking for Too Much Information

What information are you asking potential customers to provide on your lead generation and contact forms? Name, email, phone, more?

Now, let me ask you another question:

Do you need it? Do you do anything with that information?

If the answer is “no,” you need to stop asking people to provide it. A/B test after A/B test confirms that the more information you ask from readers, the less likely they are to optin.

Keep it short and sweet.

Stick to the bare essentials with a simple subject line. Only ask for the information you need to get started. If you’d like other information, you can ask for it later.

This is called progressive profiling, and it really works to create an email list!

Here’s How You Do It

Don’t need names? Don’t ask for them. Have no use for phone numbers? Don’t ask people to input them.

Just keep it simple.

The less data you request, the more email subscribers you’ll earn.

Customizing your optin form fields is easy with OptinMonster, and it works on any campaign. Simply choose the fields you want on your signup form. It’s all drag and drop.

12. Share Your Campaign Everywhere

It stands to reason that the more places you can display campaigns, the more chances you have to build your email list.

You can share them on your company’s LinkedIn profile, in the descriptions of YouTube videos, in the show notes of any podcast episodes you appear on, during webinars you host, and more. You can even link to campaigns from Facebook ads and other paid advertising.

Luckily, this couldn’t be simpler with OptinMonster.

Here’s How You Do It

Once you’ve created a campaign you’re happy with, go to the publishing options. One of those is a Share Link.

Grab the link, and add it anywhere you want to show the campaign: social media, author bios, email signature, and more.

See how simple that was?

Using the MonsterLink functionality, you can boost your chances of getting more email subscribers fast.

13. Link to a Campaign in Your Social Media Bio

Right now, what information is in your X bio or Instagram bio? What information shows up on your Facebook page?

Your occupation? A personal quote that holds special meaning to you? Perhaps a hashtag or two or ten?

Why don’t you use that precious real estate to promote your email subscription list?

That’s how Brent Jones used his Twitter bio:

Simple, effective, and takes minutes to implement.

Here’s How You Do It

Every social media platform has some type of bio or about section. Simply edit that bio and add the direct link to your newsletter signup campaign. Get the direct link with the steps in our previous tip.

Here are some more ways to get leads from X (formerly Twitter). Does your audience live on Instagram? Here’s how to generate leads on Instagram.

14. Add an Optin Link to Your Email Signature

On any given day, how many emails do you send? 10? 20? More?

If you’re like most people, the answer is: “A lot. I send lots and lots of emails.”

What if we told you each of those emails you send is an opportunity?

You can turn your recipients into newsletter subscribers by placing a hyperlinked call to action in your email signature.

Here’s How You Do It

Each email provider is slightly different, but for Gmail, go to Settings » General. Scroll down, and you’ll find the Signature section:

The link in your signature could point to a landing page, your homepage (assuming it’s optimized), or an article with a particularly-appealing optin bribe. Or you can use MonsterLinks to link directly to your optin campaign.

15. Be More Social

Chances are you already spend several hours each week on various social media platforms.

That’s good! Social Media Examiner noted how a majority of marketers increase leads when they use social media for 6+ hours each week:

But it matters how you’re using those hours.

Sharing even high-quality videos of kittens and puppies won’t help unless your business is related to kittens and puppies. Publishing food photos won’t help unless you’re a chef or restaurant owner.

To see how to grow your email list with social media, you need to be purposeful with those 6+ hours.

Here’s How You Do It

Be helpful. Answer questions. Share worthwhile content. Reach out to people. Make connections.

People who find you indispensable on social media will want more of you.

They’ll want MORE helpful advice. Answers to ALL their questions. More worthwhile content.

And where will they go to get “more?”

Your email subscription list.

16. Add a Subscribe Checkbox

If you’re a WordPress user, the WPForms plugin can boost optins with little-to-no upkeep. Just ensure plugin stay up to date, and you’re good to go.

But don’t worry; you’ll be notified when updates are available in your WordPress dashboard!

With WPForms, you can add a subscribe checkbox to any form on your site. This works with the most popular email service providers, including Brevo (formerly Sendinblue), Constant Contact, and AWeber.

With one simple click, readers can optin to your email subscription list while submitting your contact form or any other form. This is GDPR-friendly, and it makes building an email list extremely easy.

You can check out these step-by-step tutorials on how to add a Mailchimp signup checkbox to your contact form or see the tutorials for AWeber and Constant Contact instead.

Ready for another plugin to build your email list?

17. Add a “Thanks for Commenting” Redirect

Another excellent plugin is Yoast Comment Hacks.

When someone leaves you a comment for the very first time, this plugin redirects them to a “thank you” page. Ramsay Taplin of Blog Tyrant used this thank you page to encourage newsletter subscriptions:

Check out these step-by-step instructions on how to set up an after-comment redirect on your WordPress site.

It’s vital to ask website visitors to subscribe when they’re most engaged. And it’s hard to get more engaged than making the choice to leave a comment! When you give them an optin at that moment, you have a high chance of gaining a new subscriber.

Skyrocket Your Email List With OptinMonster

And that’s it! You now know how to increase your email subscribers with these 17 proven tips.

We hope that you found this article helpful. If so, we encourage you to check out the following resources:

• Best Email Service Providers (ESP) for Small Businesses
• How to Run a Successful Email Marketing Campaign
• Best WordPress Email Plugins You Must Try
• Email Marketing for Beginners: A Step by Step Guide
• How to Create an Effective Email Autoresponder Series

These articles will teach you how to grow leads and monetize the new email subscription list to create new income streams for your business.

Again, like any job you do, using the right tool will make or break your success. Click below to start building your email database today with the world’s #1 lead generation software.

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