Convert Abandoning Visitors into Customers using Exit Intent Technology

Visitors are the sole of revenue generation for any site. And an abandon visitor is a lost opportunity. In this article, I will explain you how to convert abandoning visitors into customers by using exit intent technology or in simple words, exit popus.

With so many websites just a Google search and a mouse click away, online audiences are understandably fickle. Unfortunately, when a visitor leaves a site, there’s a good chance they’re never coming back.

Even the very best websites lose a substantial number of visitors quickly, never to be seen again – it’s just how the online world works. But how do you salvage a visitor that’s about to leave your website, potentially forever?

Well, one solution to convert abandoning visitors that’s becoming increasingly popular is exit intent technology.

Now, exit intent essentially analyzes your visitors’ behavior to detect when they’re about to click away from your website. This could be after a period of inactivity, but usually involves tracking mouse movements. For example, if a visitor moves their mouse towards the top of the screen, they’re likely headed for the back button.

With exit intent detected, a pop-up is triggered — often called an exit pop-up.

I know what you’re thinking, pop-ups are intrusive, right? Well, I agree, they are if they’re overused.

I’m not sure this applies to exit pop-ups, though. Think of them as a Hail-Mary approach; a last-ditch effort to persuade visitors to stick around.

In many ways, you’ve got nothing to lose: the visitor is leaving, they might not return, so what’s the worst that could happen?

Because this is your last chance to turn a visitor into a potential lead, exit pop-ups need a compelling offer to convert visitors. Today, I want to show you three ways you can use exit pop-ups to drive more conversions.

If you want to add exit pop-ups to your website, there are a number of plugins that support the exit intent technology. This includes OptinMonster and our very own WP Exit Popup WordPress Plugin.

Convert Abandoning Visitors into Customers

1. Signup Incentive

Exit pop-ups are most commonly used to grow a mailing list. Webmasters understand the value of growing their list, and the exit pop-up is a last attempt to drive that conversion.

If you’re using an exit pop-up to grow your list, always make sure you include an awesome incentive. The visitor hasn’t found what they’re looking for on your website, hence their desire to leave. The only way you’re going to get them to hand over their email address is to give them an offer they can’t refuse.

Usually this involves a free giveaway of some sort, such as an eBook. The more valuable the signup incentive, the more your exit pop-up will convert.

This strategy is used by many top bloggers because it’s proven to be effective, so give it a try.

2. Coupons and Discounts

The other day I was browsing an online shop. As I went to leave, a beautiful, colorful pop-up appeared, offering me 20% off my order. This piqued my interest, and a few minutes later I was a paying customer.

That’s a textbook example of what an exit pop-up is supposed to do. Online customers love a bargain, so an exit pop-up displaying a coupon code or a discount is a great way to retain visitors. That’s why you’ll often see this strategy used by eCommerce store so often.

In fact, this is one of the most effective ways to use an exit pop-up. Why? Because it directly targets one of the most common buyer objections: price.

If I like your products but I think they’re on the expensive side, a decent discount helps me overcome my objection. But this strategy works in another way: the offer satisfies my need for a bargain, too.

If you run an online shop, this strategy is a must. You could also promise to send the discount code through to an email address, making it a great way to grow your list, too.

3. Top Products

Exit pop-ups are also effective when used to showcase your top products – this is especially true if your products have the wow factor.

If you get a lot of visitors looking for a specific product, you can use your exit pop-up to link to the popular product’s sales page, too. You might think your site is easy to navigate, but if your visitor disagrees, they’ll leave. By using an exit pop-up to point visitors towards where they want to go, you give them no reason to leave.

Besides, once they’ve found your sales page, your sales copy can start to do its job.

Final Thoughts

Even if you’re anti-pop-up, very few webmasters object to exit pop-ups. When configured correctly, they have the potential to convert abandoning visitors, and this can have a very big impact on your bottom line.

As with any element of your site that can have a big impact on profits, be sure to test your exit pop-ups extensively. Small tweaks can have a big impact on conversion rates, so run A/B tests to make sure your exit pop-ups are performing to their maximum potential.

Do you use exit pop-ups? Share your experiences on how you convert your abandoned visitors in the comments section below!