Popups are incredibly effective for lead generation when the right offers are presented on the appropriate pages. However, the abundance of options can be overwhelming.

To spark your creativity, we’ve compiled 16 examples of popups with diverse use cases, offers, and designs. Whether your goal is lead generation, funnel optimization, data collection, or sales promotion, there’s something here for you.

16 fantastic popup examples (and their winning formulas)

This collection showcases a range of popup ads with various applications, offers, designs, tones, targeting strategies, and more.

1. Invesp – Embrace authenticity

Invesp utilizes a popup for its newsletter, which reads: Overwhelmed by CRO best practices disguised as conversion insights? Join 365K+ marketers, designers, & optimizers who receive uncomfortable conversion ideas in their inboxes for free. Every Wednesday.

Reasons for its effectiveness

• Transparency is key! Invespro guarantees valuable insights delivered weekly, distinguishing itself from superficial content.
• Leveraging social proof. The impressive number of subscribers (35K+) creates a sense of fear of missing out.
• Effective lead qualification. Targeting “marketers, designers, & optimizers” ensures the popup attracts the right audience.

Potential improvements

• Using sentence case in the headline would enhance readability and, consequently, customer perception.

2. Survey Sparrow – Incorporate visuals

Survey Sparrow’s popup features a man gesturing towards the headline, Build surveys that work. The description highlights, Beautifully designed conversational surveys. Highly engaging, 40% more responses. The CTA encourages users to Signup for free.

Reasons for its effectiveness

• Visually captivating. The man’s expression and the popup’s design command attention.
• Strong value proposition. The description clearly outlines benefits, including a quantifiable increase in responses.
• Building trust. The popup emphasizes a free trial period and reassures users that no credit card is required.

Potential improvements

• Avoiding repetition of the 40% completion rate at the bottom would streamline the message.

3. Tully’s Training – Address pain points directly

Tully’s Training presents a distinctive popup that reads, Hi, My name is Mary Tully – Does your dog struggle with any of the following? Users can select from options like Puppy mayhem, destructive behavior, aggressive dogs, and potty training.

Reasons for its effectiveness

• Visual appeal and trust-building. The high-quality image of Mary with a dog enhances the popup’s attractiveness and establishes credibility.
• Interactive elements. Offering four clickable options instead of traditional buttons encourages engagement.

Potential improvements

• Streamlining the copy would enhance the design’s clarity and engage readers more effectively.

4. Pop Chart – Craft a memorable phrase

Pop Chart’s popup stands out with its conversational approach, stating, Our emails are off the chart. Get un-spammy updates from Pop Chart.

Reasons for its effectiveness

• Addressing user concerns. The popup directly addresses the common fear of receiving excessive emails.
• Simplicity is key. The minimalist design and concise copy enhance clarity.
• Subtle approach. The popup’s narrower width makes it less intrusive.

Potential improvements

• This example is already highly effective and requires no significant changes.

5. Almond Surfboards – Engage with a survey

Upon entering the site, Almond Surfboards presents a popup asking, How long have you been surfing? Your previous experience will help inform the best equipment for you. Users can choose between options: less than or more than two years.

!popup example by almond surfboards

Reasons for its effectiveness

• Personalized approach. The popup aims to tailor the user experience based on their surfing experience.
• Clean and on-brand design. The minimalist copy and relevant image contribute to a visually appealing experience.

Potential improvements

• Testing different approaches, such as varying the number of questions or offering incentives, could provide valuable insights.

6. WPMU Dev — Highlight your ratings

WPMU Dev’s popup entices users with the statement, Our biggest discounts happen over email. The description adds, Be the first to know about our newest product releases and sales – including this year’s Black Friday sale which is set to be our biggest yet!

Reasons for its effectiveness

• Clear value proposition. The popup explicitly states the benefits of subscribing to the newsletter.
• Social proof builds trust. Displaying positive Trustpilot reviews enhances the plugin’s credibility.
• Strategic copywriting. Highlighting the Black Friday sale creates a sense of excitement and urgency.

Potential improvements

• Using sentence case in the heading and incorporating a more visually engaging graphic would enhance the popup’s impact.

7. Flexxable — Don’t shy away from bold statements

This popup grabs attention with the phrase HOLD UP! and features a man in handcuffs wearing company apparel. The subtitle and description read: Are you being held hostage by demanding lead gen clients? Escape “Retainer Prison” and end the nasty texts, PMs & emails demanding you DO MORE work for less money. The CTA button entices users to GET MY ESCAPE PLAN.

Reasons for its effectiveness

• Attention-grabbing approach. The bold statement and negatively charged imagery immediately capture attention.
• Targeted copy resonates with the audience. The popup speaks directly to the pain points of agencies dealing with demanding clients.
• Compelling call to action. The blue button stands out against the black and white image, positioning the offer as a solution.

Potential improvements

• Using sentence case in the title would improve readability without diminishing the intended impact.

8. Canva – Combine visuals and text effectively

Canva’s popup promotes its app within the web interface, featuring a visual representation of the editor and three key features/benefits.

Reasons for its effectiveness

• Visual storytelling. The image effectively showcases the app’s capabilities and illustrates features.
• Strategic placement. Targeting existing web users increases the likelihood of engagement.
• Creative headline and tone. The friendly and inviting language resonates with users.

Potential improvements

• The text-heavy approach might benefit from some streamlining.

9. Tessemae’s – Leverage a strong slogan

Tessemae’s’s popup promotes a 15% discount with the following: Simplify food, amplify life Enjoy 15% off!! Join Tessemae’s email list to receive new recipes, product announcements, sales, and enjoy 15% off your first order!”

Reasons for its effectiveness

• Memorable tagline. The catchy slogan effectively conveys the brand’s value proposition.
• Visually appealing design. The vibrant colors and on-brand imagery enhance the popup’s attractiveness.
• Crystal-clear communication. The copy clearly outlines the benefits of subscribing to the newsletter.

Potential improvements

• Ensuring consistent capitalization throughout the form fields and CTA would enhance visual appeal.

10. PCMag – Keep it simple and clear

PCMag’s popup promotes various offers in exchange for an email address, featuring the logo, a headline that reads “Enter your email to unlock,” a checklist of benefits, and a single email address field.

Reasons for its effectiveness

• Clean and focused design. The red CTA button draws attention and complements the logo and checkmarks.
• Transparent value proposition. Users clearly understand the benefits of providing their email address.

Potential improvements

• Adding a colon after “unlock” and using sentence case in the heading would enhance clarity and readability.

11. Getty Stewart – Maintain a friendly and focused approach

Gettystewart.com’s popup promotes a downloadable guide with the following: Guide to Super Soups FREE 5 day email guide to inspired, flavourful soups

Reasons for its effectiveness

• Gated content strategy. Offering a valuable guide in exchange for contact information is a proven lead generation tactic.
• Effective copywriting. The specific offer, enthusiastic “Yes” button, and friendly “No” option enhance engagement.
• Visually appealing imagery. The enticing visuals effectively promote the soup guide.

Potential improvements

• Removing the redundant logo and guide title on the right would provide more visual space for the image.

12. Postable – Embrace transparency and humor

Postable’s popup grabs attention with the playful message, “Like discounts? Allow us to bribe you with an obscene discount code.” The call to action is an enthusiastic _“_Send me my code!”

Reasons for its effectiveness

• Engaging question. The headline effectively captures the audience’s attention.
• Humorous and transparent tone. The playful language reveals the brand’s personality and builds trust.
• Visually appealing color scheme. The teal button stands out and complements the headline.

Potential improvements

• Specifying the discount amount, adding visuals, and shortening the email field placeholder text would enhance the popup’s effectiveness.

13. Tiny Organics – Provide personalized recommendations

Tiny Organics’s popup entices users with the offer, Unlock 35% off your first order. It then prompts users to Select an age group for personalized product recommendations.

Reasons for its effectiveness

• Attractive discount. Offering a substantial 35% discount is more enticing than typical popup offers.
• Personalized experience. Gathering age group information allows for tailored product recommendations.
• Appealing imagery. The visuals effectively showcase the products and their natural ingredients.

Potential improvements

• Adding a progress indicator (“1 of 3”) below the “continue” button would reassure users about the length of the process.

14. nexus-security by LocaliQ – Don’t be afraid to leverage fear

This high-performing popup features a guide thumbnail and the following text: Boring content doesn’t convert. These 120 words and phrases stand out and inspire action. The CTA encourages users to Get the free guide.

Reasons for its effectiveness

• Provocative headline. The fear of creating ineffective content resonates with the target audience of copywriters.
• Solution-oriented description. The popup presents the guide as a solution to the problem of boring content.
• Relevant offer. A free guide is perceived as highly valuable by blog readers at this stage. Potential improvements
• Testing a version without the description could reveal whether a more concise approach is more effective.

15. Kith – Include preference options

Kith’s minimalist popup reads: Join our list. Sign up to receive updates on the latest products as well as exclusive early access through the Kith Loyalty Program. Users can select their preferences (men’s, women’s, kids’) before entering their email.

Reasons for its effectiveness

• Personalized communication. Preference options allow for targeted messaging and a better user experience.
• Simplicity and clarity. The concise copy and clean design effectively convey the value proposition.

Potential improvements

• Adding clarifying copy to indicate that selecting preferences is a quick step would enhance user experience.

16. Allbirds—Host a giveaway

Allbirds’s understated popup entices users with the following: Win the Ultimate Trip. A trip for 2 to New Zealand, the source of our Super Natural wool. Sign up to stay connected and a chance to win.

Reasons for its effectiveness

• Understated excitement. The bold-faced headline and relevant destination create anticipation without being overly promotional.
• Effective lead generation. Hosting a giveaway through a popup is a compelling way to capture leads.

Potential improvements

• Using a more captivating image of New Zealand and streamlining the copy, particularly the terms and conditions, would enhance visual appeal.

Draw inspiration from these examples for your next campaign

Popups deliver results! While the array of options can feel daunting, the key is to start. Launch a couple of campaigns, gather insights, and use those findings to inform your next steps. These examples provide ample inspiration for your initial implementation or A/B testing. Best of luck!