On: Three months at Y Combinator: what it’s like and h...

[computerjunkie]

Its an ugly trend and an invasive one. The fact that you need to reassure me that your content is good makes me question if your all you just want is my email and become unnecessary email notifications. Its needy, demanding and somewhat attention seeking.

Usually websites that insist with these subscription popups have mediocre to poor content.

If your work is good enough, people will subscribe because they like it. Don't force it.

[graeme → computerjunkie]

For anyone running a business: Do not listen to these complaints. These commentors are not your target market.

I use an email popup. It's greatly increased email list signups. No one's comaplained, time on page did not decline. Nothing bad happened.

You should always test a chance like this, but net-savvy hackers are a poor representation of most demographics.

[adbge → graeme]

+1.

I've been experimenting aggressively with different techniques for email capture (e.g. [1]) and, looking at my analytics, the exit-intent popup accounts for 47.27% of all emails.

[1]: http://rs.io/behavior-modification-techniques-if-then-rules/

[frandroid → adbge]

When you say exit-intent, do you mean the pop-up at the beginning of the page, or the bottom of the page one? I'm much less bothered by the latter because it's less counter-intuitive to me, and it doesn't get in the way of me reading the content. If that's what you meant, what's your take on the former?

That said, I know that pop-ups work. That does not make them less irritating to all of those people who like to know what they sign up for before actually writing their email address there (the pop-upon-loading one). 42% more of 2% still annoys a large chunk of the 97% left.

[graeme → frandroid]

I'm not OP, but neither.

  1. Open the page in incognito
  2. Read for a moment.
  3. Move your mouse outside the tab. Something should pop-up.

It means the system is designed to notice you are leaving, and prompt you.

[computerjunkie → graeme]

Don't you find that obstructive? Halfway through the article I am reading (still deciding if its good or not) and I scroll down to read more then a faded dark background popup comes up asking me for my email when I'm not even finished reading. Putting a subscription box at the bottom of the page after the article is fine, but distracting a user when reading an article halfway is rude and counter productive.

[graeme → computerjunkie]

This one?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ls79ipe0997zfs6/Screenshot%202014-...

That's STILL not the exit intent popup. That only happens when you stop reading and go to leave.

I personally don't like the forced left column reading of this site. I'd rather read on the right. I don't like that the email subscribe box follows me down, it makes me dizzy.

[graeme → adbge]

What service do you use for that popup?

[Retric → graeme]

What's your bounce rate?

[graeme → Retric]

It's low. And more importantly, it didn't change after I added the popup.

[arjie → graeme]

Aaargh! I wish incredibly annoying things weren't so successful.

[graeme → arjie]

I do agree with you there. This is a good example of an externality. They make the internet more annoying, but help the individuals who use them.

That said, what do you think of the popup I'm using?

http://lsathacks.com/

[arjie → graeme]

I didn't get a popup. Only a little thing in the bottom right. Seem unobtrusive. Does it work for you?

I like it, but any sign ups?