We get into debates all the time about what works and what doesn’t. But the truth is, annoying things work. That’s why people keep doing them. The question is, should you?
While browsing Sitizens I found a post by Dan Zarrella that looked at email popups. Those popups on blogs that ask you to subscribe via email. People say popups suck, are annoying, and make people go away.
Well he actually proved they work and don’t hurt anything on his blog. That’s why tracking is so important.
Same thing goes with videos on ads. People say all the time oh you shouldn’t make them auto play oh you shouldn’t use videos. Well guess what, they work! And there is no point in making a video if it’s not going to play!
I’ll re-iterate what I’ve said over and over, and Dan says as well, to track it for yourself. Some niches it might hurt your signups and reputation. For instance, if you are in a popup blocker software industry they’d probably frown and not even see the popup.
Yeah track,track and track you will be surprised what is working for you and what’s not. I find it hard to do anything with out tracking. It’s like taking a road trip with out a map or GPS
What’s your end game? To make some money off people? Yes, they work for that purpose. Or is it to develop a platform, find loyal customers and networkers? In that case – they don’t work – you lose those people over time unless you have a method to turn it off for returning visitors.
Do you have proof of this? What did you use to track?
Oh I love it when people say whats true and others are afraid to say! Kudos on the post. Those that disagree just haven’t learned yet and odds are aren’t making much online. Its ones choice as to whether or not to use those tactics that work hint hint ;)
Good post Tim.
I guess I am one of those guys that does not listen to the negativity of using video’s and other things that are suppose to affect ones marketing efforts in a negative way. One reason is, I listen to myself. That saying, what have I signed up for or what have I spent money on. Most of the time there is a short video explaining the basics of a program or explaining site navigation highlights.
I have been using video for years both on my main sites and on splash pages I use in TEs. I have actually had people call me and say they hate video’s, but mine just caught their attention. Hence: if a video is something you are interested in they are OK. If not, you hate them. (If you are interested in the first place, not likely to purchase)
On my main sites I have autoplay on to mainly give information on product and to direct potential customers to certain sections on the site. (what links to click if interested in that specific page) But I do have those set on my main site to only play so many times a day/week per visitor.
Instead of people having to hunt for something, I tell them where it is (most searched for) in less then one minute. Seems to work fairly well.
And yes the little pop ups (as long as they are well done) for such things as specials, are welcome in my book. Makes it so I do not have to hunt for the, well, specials.
Regards
Richard Faller
Very good point and well said…
Ron
I have no problems with popups as long as they disappear when the site goes
What I do have a problem with is popups that stop the surf bar as I surf a traffic exchange or one that ask me to confirm that I want to leave the page
I am sure that popups work if used correctly but most are used on generic splash pages which is dame annoying
I do prefer to do buness with people I know or have seen advertising in the TEs (branding themselves first)
I like others have stopped surfing certain sites because of it and I am close to downgrading in a couple of sites because of them
I don’t mind videos with auto play, I just don’t like the ones with music that I don’t like or is too loud or say things I consider to be crazy.
Hi Tim,
Once again, this is a real delicate area. Years ago, many of you will remember the emphasis that was put on Splash Pages that loaded fast and allowed the viewer more time to absorb the content. I way preferred those days. I know that we have to move ahead and stay with the times but there has to be a “middle of the road” somewhere as it appears that video and Pop-ups are here to stay.
It looks like “High Pressure” selling moved into Hi-Tech. In the old days it was all about getting your foot in the door. Personally, I have always caught way more fly’s with sugar, compared to molasses.
I can’t speak for other Admins but, out of respect for my members, I simply do not approve sites that slow or stop my timers. (regardless of the reason)
Enough rambling and…
Best Wishes,
Ron
That’s where tracking needs to get involved. If your widgets or gizmos are causing sites to not load or crash browsers, it will hurt your signup rate. Clean short videos or simple easy to close pop overs work best IMO.
Thanks for the response and that is just one of the reasons I do business with you. Your suggestion of “Clean short videos or simple easy to close pop overs” could very well be the middle of road I am looking for. Thanks
I too, have always used and loved videos. And well, I guess they do work, because since I sell them, they obviously work or I would not have any customers! Most of my customers are repeat customers, so obviously something is working for them too! Now pop-ups- I am not too fond of- but hey that’s just me.
Tim said, “But the truth is, annoying things work. . . . The question is, should you?”
From a business sense, the answer to the question is an unqualified yes.
Then there’s the ethical aspect of the question. If you’ve managed to block all these annoying things from your surfing experience, is it fair to use them to further your business? Is this a time when you should be following the golden rule or the rule of gold, All is fair in love, war, and business.
Since I don’t have them blocked, I guess I can in all good conscience slip once in once in a while. Of course, I’ll probably still grouse about it when other people do the same.
Tim – I don’t. Just using standard observation. Of the 50 top blogs I read, none use a pop-up, as in zero. As I say, I agree that it works – it makes you money. But, long term is it a viable way to create loyalty, build your brand, and use your platform to develop residual income? I say no it isn’t. I don’t see anything can track loyalty and residual sales.
They definitely do not work on me. I hate popups. I agree some do interfere with the surf or even worse crash your browser.
The worse popups are those that have about 8 of them. If they are ion a safelist that means 16 to close. I will write down the title of the solo and not open those.
I don’t have the sound on because I use one of these browser ads. I get paid well for little work. I end up with dozens of then in another browser and cannot stand the noise of them all talking at once.
Hi Tim,
I go with gut feeling a lot over tracking as I’m lazy that way.
If I visit a site and get annoyed with something then I would never consider using it on my own site.
In my opinion you need to be careful of what you track when it comes to pop-ups. Sure a lot of subscribes may appear in your autoresponder, but how many confirm and become readers vs all those who never made it past the pop-up?
A bad first impression can’t be changed, and that’s really difficult to measure, it’s a human emotion rather than data points.
We can’t all live life according to binary code.
Andrew
Andrew Stark has one of the most balanced and sensible views of marketing I’ve seen in the traffic exchange industry. I can appreciate what he says here because I have the background of having read his views in other forums.
I have made no secret that I am against the use of autostart A/V, especially at the front end in traffic exchanges. I feel the same about popups or any other form of intrusive device.The excitement over improved response rates is shortsighted, in my view, because this is the same attitude that was rampant in support of email spam. If marketers don’t use more maturity in the use of this latest tool, it’s simply a matter of time before an exterior body will come in and drop the same policing on A/V that was dropped on email spam. We all know that everyone is quite piously against the use of spam now, right?
Anyone who takes the time to read outside TE circles will discover that there is already a movement forming to place limits on autostart A/V. One of the groups raising concerns is the ad agency community. They are getting concerned feedback from their upscale clients that their ads showing up on sites containing aggressive A/V is hurting their image. When Madison Avenue starts questioning a particular ad medium, smaller marketers ought to take notice. And anyone who is selling advice in this area really should take a long moment for reflection. Liabilities pop up in the most unexpected places.
There is no doubt a place for video in a marketing plan. However, the tactic of shoving it in the face of everyone who visits your site is nothing short of self centred and childish behaviour.
A lot of marketers need to do a lot of growing up. Consumers are are the energy that fuels the engine of the entire marketing system. (Surfers are consumers in traffic exchanges.) When marketers annoy consumers to the point of getting consumer protection agencies involved, they are announcing to the whole world that they are an immature group incapable of behaving responsibly without exterior supervision.
Annoying things work, Tim? Like Andrew says, think a few steps past the data coming into your autoresponder.
So True, I have come across a number of people who say they don’t like autoplay videos and pop ups, My feeling on this is… The ones who say that are closed to opportunities before they see the pop up or video. “Speed clickers” just looking for pennies or credits with no intention of being open to offers or opportunities which could be life changing to them. It’s all in the mind set. I find it is always the selfish ones who say they don’t like pop ups and autoplay vids, take that away and they will find something else to hate on.
Yep. Also other annoying things that work- OTOS, Exit Popups, Autoplay videos, sounds on pages…
Although they work, there is no way to track weather they hurt your reputation or not.