We all have heard that there’s “money in the list” and clearly, pop-ups seem to be one of the preferred ways to generate this “list”.

This is a list which you’ll use later to make money off your blog. Given this reasoning, one would think its a legit way to start the online money making journey.

But, I think differently & if you follow my reasoning, you would want to avoid pop-ups like the bubonic plague. I surely do.

Take a look at the example of pop-up below:

This is one kind of pop-up you’ll come across on a site. The moment you land on the site, the pop-up comes.

Until you take an action around this, you don’t get to see anything, right? Similarly, there are pop-ups which asks for an email id to download a free eBook, to access discount coupons, to some high converting product or begging you to like their FB page and so on.

If I would have been just a website or blog visitor, the pop-ups will shout and direct my thoughts toward these things:

• I don’t know you. Why the hell should I disclose my name and email id?
• Why are you pushing so hard to sell your product? I am not interested man!
• Are you so desperate that you resort to such methods?
• Where’s the hurry? Let me first check out the site at least. Guffaw!

As a result, the reader will either hit the ‘X’ button or ‘Go Back’. The website or blog loses a potential reader, follower, business lead or a customer.

According to me, pop-ups are an “on your face” internet marketing technique and it is completely unethical.

Why Should you Avoid Pop-Ups?

• It’s Unethical.

It’s against the basic tenet of permission marketing.

By using pop-ups, you are not asking a reader for “permission”, you are basically forcing it down the throat that “you better enter your details first or get lost”.

Who’s going to trust you with their email id & privacy? Nada!

• It’s Anti-Social.

It gives a very negative impression.

It says “here’s another blogger who cares more about email ids and resulting $$$ (if any) than real reader engagement”.

If you don’t care, why should the reader care? Nada.

• It’s not Accurate.

When you’re literally forcing visitors to sign up, your list will not be accurate.

Often, to get around your pop-ups, there will just leave their non-active email ids and never bother to read your newsletters.

Was it worth all the forceful marketing? Nada.

• It’s Distractive.

Come on, let the reader read your information!

You’re creating negative perception by throwing pop-ups their way when they are clearly not interested.

By adding pop-ups, you’re shoeing off your readers. Whose loss is that? Yours! Don’t you realise it?

• It’s a Threat.

According to Intranet Journal, pop-ups can infect a computer with viruses.

It’s a big risk for any visitor, no doubt.

• It’s not Trustworthy.

Where’s the guarantee that if I give my name, email and hit ‘enter’, it won’t take me to an unsecured webpage?

You seriously can’t expect a first time visitor to hand you their trust. Do you?

Reader Engagement Vs. Pop-Ups Based Email List Building

I know it’s going to be really difficult to choose.

The strangest part is that people who use pop-ups do seem to notice an increase in opt-in rates. It’s another matter whether they are really able to do email marketing and earn anything from it!

A reader is not interested in your pop-ups. They are annoying, disturbing and intrusive to the whole reading experience.

It harms brand building.

While some may argue that pop-ups are a way to “nudge” visitors to take action, its a very annoying experience for a new reader.

If you still have to show pop-ups to regular readers, it means they are:

• NOT interested to be in your email list;
• NOT interested in your free eBooks;
• NOT interested in your newsletters.

How much more clear do I have to be?

If Pop-Ups are Bad, Why are they Still Around?

Not that’s a really jinxed question. It all comes around to human mentality. To put in simple words, they are still around because:

• We like to copy.

If so-and-so blogger says pop-ups are amazing, hundreds others will follow and copy it, not stopping to think whether they are really useful or not.

• We are suckers for email ids.

Oh yes, we are. When “you’ve to build email list” sticks to a bloggers’ mind, the blogger will travel hell and heaven to create one. Pop-ups happen to be one of ‘best’ ways. Whether it gives any $$$ returns or not is a matter of another discussion.

What is your opinion about pop-ups? Be honest. I would like to thank Main Uddin for his awesome inputs on pop-ups.