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What are popups, popunders and popovers?
Popups, popunders and popovers are small windows that are generated by a web page when it is opened or closed.
The basic differences between popups, popunders and popovers are:
- Popups as the name implies, "pop up" on top of the web page you are viewing.
- Popunders are less obtrusive than popups as they open behind the web page you are viewing.
- Popovers are a form of popup but they differ in that they are opened as part of they web page you are viewing. This means that they are the hardest to "kill" using a popup blocking program.
How effective are popups, popunders and popovers?
People generally assume that popups, popunders and popovers make money through advertising. This is wrong.
By and large, most people have been conditioned to ignore advertising. Thus when a popup is shown that contains a blatant advertisement, it is simply closed (occasionally with some anger).
In desperation, the webmaster adds more popups, vainly hoping that one of their popups will generate a sale.
But...
You cannot disguise an advertisement.
And most people will go out of their way to get rid of them.
The explosive growth of the "popup killer" market is evidence of this.
Despite this, popups, popunders and popovers are quite effective for getting people to join optin lists.
How do popups, popunders and popovers work?
Popups, popunders and popovers are normal HTML web pages (in the form of a normal web page or a Windows type alert) that are activated by a script, usually Javascript, which is incorporated into the HTML coding of a web page.
There are a number of variables that can be programmed into popups, popunders and popovers:
- They can be triggered when you open a web page.
- They can be triggered when you leave a web page.
- They can be triggered when you click a link in a web page.
- They can be triggered by a timer that is activated when you open or leave a web page.
- By using cookies, they can be triggered only once, once a day, once a week, or once a year.
It is because popups are intrusive that they can be effective, but they have to be used properly or they will be an annoyance.
How do you use popups, popunders and popovers effectively?
Irrespective of how you use popups, popunders and popovers, there are three very important rules:
- Never use more than one popup, popunder or popover on a web page.
- If you use a popup, popunder or popover on a web page, use cookie controls so that the visitor will only see it once per day.
- Never use popups, popunders or popovers on every page of your website.
A very effective method of getting people to join your optin list is to use a popup, popunder or popover which contains a form to capture the persons name and email address.
Here are a few tips for designing your form:
- Use a heading, in a larger font and of a different color to the rest of the form, which includes a major benefit. In other words, in as few words as possible, explain how your reader will benefit from subscribing to your optin list.
- In as few words as possible explain one or two additional benefits (in bulleted form) and how your reader will benefit from subscribing to your optin list.
- You primary objective is to get your reader to join your optin list, so ask them to subscribe and use a different color font (e.g.blue).
- If you want to use a graphic, use one that is simple and does not detract from the rest of the form.
How do you create popups, popunders and popovers?
The quickest and simplest way to create virtually any type of popup, popunder or popover you can think of is to use PopUpMaster Pro!
The system uses a very easy to use interface which allows you program any or all of the available options into your popup, popunder or popover code.
You then add this code to your web page HTML.
What is particularly useful is that in most cases you can add this code to the bottom of your web page HTML which makes your web page search engine friendly.
PopUpMaster Pro is also fully compatible with main-stream web building applications like FrontPage, Dreamweaver, and even Ken Evoy's Site BuildIt.
But...
If you do not want to spend any money, the following article will be of some use to you:
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Create Your Own "First Visit" Pop-Window
By Shelley Lowery
It's a proven fact that the use of popup windows is a highly effective marketing technique that produces great results. However, they can be very irritating to your visitors. How can you use this powerful marketing technique without offending your visitors? Compromise and use a popup window that only displays the first time your visitor enters your site.
Your first step in creating your popup window will be to create an HTML document that will contain your window contents. The key to using this technique effectively is to give your visitors a reason to respond to your offer. For example, if you're using your popup window to gain new subscribers to your publication, offer a free gift just for subscribing. This will increase your response considerably.
Below, is an example popup window that you can use to gain new subscribers. It is set up with "tables" and will adjust to fit your new window. Copy and paste the following code into your HTML and edit as needed:
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>Claim Your FREE Gift</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY BGCOLOR="#ffffff">
<CENTER>
<TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" ALIGN="Center">
<TR>
<TD BGCOLOR="red"><P ALIGN=Center>
<FONT face="Verdana,Helvetica" SIZE="3" color="white">
<B>Claim Your FREE Gift!</B></FONT>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD><B><FONT face="Verdana,Helvetica"
SIZE="3"><BR>
Subscribe to YOUR PUBLICATION for a wealth of information
to assist you in YOUR PUBLICATIONS SUBJECT. <FONT color=
"red">ALL new subscribers will receive YOUR FREE GIFT.
</FONT></FONT></B><BR>
<BR>
<FORM METHOD="POST" ACTION="YOURFORM.cgi">
<CENTER>
<TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" ALIGN="Center">
<TR VALIGN="Top">
<TD>
<INPUT type="text" name="email" value="you@domain.com"
size="20" onfocus="value=''">
<INPUT TYPE="submit" VALUE="Subscribe"></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
</FORM>
<P ALIGN=Center>
<BR>
<A HREF="javascript: self.close()"><FONT face="Verdana,
Helvetica" SIZE="2">Close
Window</FONT></A><BR>
</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
</BODY>
</HTML>
Save your new document as "popup.htm" and upload it to your server where you store your HTML documents.
Your next step will be to place the following script, courtesy of Brian Terry <secretwebriches.com>, within your HTML after your <BODY> tag.
<SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript">
<!--
function GetCookie(name) {
var arg=name+"=";
var alen=arg.length;
var clen=document.cookie.length;
var i=0;
while (i<clen) {
var j=i+alen;
if (document.cookie.substring(i,j)==arg)
return "here";
i=document.cookie.indexOf(" ",i)+1;
if (i==0) break;
}
return null;
}
var visit=GetCookie("COOKIE1");
if (visit==null){
var expire=new Date();
window.name = "thiswin";
newwin=open("popup.htm", "dispwin",
"width=350,height=350,scrollbars=yes,menubar=no");
expire=new Date(expire.getTime()+7776000000);
document.cookie="COOKIE1=here; expires="+expire;
}
// -->
</SCRIPT>
If you saved your new window document as anything other than "popup.htm," you'll need to change the "popup.htm" text within the script to your new file name. You can also change the width and height settings to whatever you'd like. However, make sure that all of the information within your window is visible.
Popup windows provide Internet marketers with a great way to gain new subscribers, introduce new products and announce special offers. Their response rate is outstanding. With the use of this great script, you can use the power of popup windows without continuously nagging your visitors.
Copyright © 2001, all rights reserved
About the Author:
Shelley Lowery is the author of Ebook Starter. A complete ebook design kit including over fifty predesigned ebook templates and ebook covers. http://www.web-source.net/ebookstarter.htm
Shelley invites you to partner with her in her Ebook Starter affiliate program. Visit: http://www.web-source.net
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Important - If you wnat to use the code from the article for your popup, bear in mind that it uses simple coding which can be stopped by the simplest of popup killers.
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