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Pop-Ups: To Use or Not to Use on Your Website?

Pop-Ups: To Use or Not to Use on Your Website?

Pop-ups were hot stuff during the 1990s. They took over websites, screaming about promotions, deals, discounts, etc. They made website navigation a challenging task. Google Terms of Service outlawed pop-ups with multiple windows that hindered website navigation. 

The pop-ups you see today on visiting a site are modern pop-ups. Although website designers and marketing experts have mastered the art of creating new-generation pop-ups, they are no less distracting and annoying. This is the reason why people block pop-ups on their web browsers to enhance their browsing experience.

For instance, if you are using a Mac, you can turn on your trusted pop-up blocker, and you don’t have to worry about annoying ads popping up on your screen. However, sometimes, you may run into websites that interact with their users using pop-ups. In such situations, it becomes imperative to unblock pop-ups, and you may wonder how to unblock pop ups on Mac.

The process of allowing pop-ups and ads is straightforward on a Mac. First, head to the Safari preferences > navigate to the Websites tab > click on Pop-up Windows > open the dropdown for any site that is currently active and choose Allow > open the dropdown for When Visiting Other Websites and choose Allow. 

Whether you are using Google Chrome, Firefox, or any other browser on your Mac or any other device, the process of unblocking pop-ups is similar. You can do it in the Google Chrome Settings or Firefox Settings. 

Now, the real question is, should you use pop-ups on your website or not? Since people have such strong emotions and reactions to seeing pop-ups, marketers and website designers are split. Web users either absolutely despite pop-ups or love the information shared by them. So, are they here to stay? Let’s explore. 

Reasons Supporting the Use of Pop-Ups on Websites 

  • Although pop-ups are an intrusive form of advertisement, they help pay the bills of websites. Since it is free to browse the web, websites include pop-ups to earn money. 
  • Pop-ups show advertisements for deals or offer information about brands that users might be interested in purchasing or knowing. These convert like crazy when designed properly, and that’s why they are popular among website designers and marketers. 
  • Pop-ups hijack the entire screen, and their method is not subtle. But they know how to get attention and focus on one message at a time. They contain one CTA, and that compels the readers to take action. 
  • The ROI potential of pop-ups is massive, and they cost next to nothing to design them. 

Reasons Against Using Pop-Ups on Websites

  • Pop-ups are rude because they interrupt site visitors while they are trying to browse the web. Imagine you are reading an exciting snippet on a website, and bam! The screen is hijacked or overtaken with a sizeable pop-up advertisement that you didn’t ask for. As soon as you ignore it and close the window, another one pops up, vying for your attention. 
  • They are extremely annoying and distracting, especially if they cover the entire screen. 
  • They tend to block content because they load last. Therefore, by the time users are reading the website content, the pop-ups block their view. 
  • They keep annoying users unless they take action. Although their goal is to convert, if they force users to take action, it is treated as an intrusion. 
  • If a website is embedded with a massive number of pop-ups, the website will likely have a slower loading time. This increases the bounce rate because site visitors don’t have the patience to wait for more than three seconds. 
  • When pop-ups interrupt user sessions, it results in losing potential leads. 

Pop-ups have become the favorite medium for cybercriminals to carry malware and viruses. Viruses or malware may attempt to infect your device through pop-ups that appear on the screen while browsing the Internet. These pop-ups seem harmless, but as soon as you click on them, they download viruses, ransomware, or spyware on your device. For instance, pop-ups might claim that your device is infected with a virus. It will ask you to click on the given link or download software to rid your device of the virus. In most cases, this software or link is a virus or malware. 

There are also illegitimate pop-ups asking users to verify their bank account information or credit card information. If you provide such information, you risk losing your money. 

So, Yay or Nay for Pop-Ups?

The answer isn’t a simple yes or no. Pop-ups are among the most effective marketing tools to generate leads and promote offers. Sometimes, they also alert users of other essential things, like cookie use or the type of information the website is collecting. 

However, they can quickly become a nuisance and ruin the browsing experience if not used correctly. 

Website designers must include pop-ups sparingly so as not to overwhelm the site visitors. And users not wanting to see pop-ups can use ad blockers to block all pop-ups. 

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