How far are you willing to go to get more subscribers to your site?
There is one plugin I hate more than all the rest. It’s that annoying pop-up option asking you to sign up for something.
- The screen fades
- A huge pop-up takes over the screen
- You have to close it if you want to continue reading
It annoys me every time.
Not once have I thought, What a great way to get subscribers.
People hate it – as they go to download it to their site.
- It makes me wonder
- Would you sell your soul for subscribers?
I know. They are laughing all the way to the bank. Or so they say.
It’s their business what they use, but I am amazed at how many comments I have read that say –
I hate the pop-up, too, but hey you can’t beat the increase in subscribers.
- You hate it
- There’s a good chance your readers hate it
- But, you still do it
I’m sorry – I don’t get it.
And then there are those who hate it, but use the form to sign up. Why?
- It doesn’t stop the annoying pop-up
- It still happens
- EVERY-SINGLE-TIME
So, I stand with my intimate number of subscribers in silent protest. I refuse to sell out.
Are we the new silent majority?
=================
Live…Laugh…Love
=================
Count me among your majority, Cathy. Never have I signed on because of one of those stupid things. I usually stop visiting because even if you sign up, the damn thing still shows up.
No thanks. I give the option. I don’t hit them over the head with it because it’s not how I’d want to be given the option. Sign up or not. I’d love to have you, but I’m not into ticking you off in my desperation for one more subscriber.
I knew there was a reason I liked you, Lori. 🙂 The ones I really hate are on sites with a 2-3 page article, You click out of the thing on Page 1 and zap, it’s back on page 2. If I didn’t want the article for research, I would be long gone.
Thanks for weighing in, Lori.
I’m with you and Lori, Cathy – those forms are more likely to drive me away forever and I have never, ever used one of them to sign up for anything. I absolutely loathe them.
I totally agree with you, Sharon, and loathe is a perfect word choice. I have never used them either. Gad, they’re annoying.
Thanks for participating in my mini-rant, Sharon. 🙂
I absolutely detest those “pop-ups”. Moreover, many of them decide to employ your whole screen, so you can’t read the blog underneath.
So, I decided long ago that these “employers” would never have a chance for me to be intrigued enough to apply once again…
You’re singing my song, Roy. 🙂 I find them totally invasive – hate, hate, hate them. Ah, I feel better now. 🙂
Thanks for sharing your view, Roy.
YES! I hate those pop-ups too. I always close them without even reading whatever it says, and I rarely return to the site. I will subscribe to something if I find value in what it’s offering, and not before. That’s like trying to sell something in a store without even showing the customer what it is you’re selling. You wouldn’t do that in retail, so why on a blog?
Great point, Ashley. Don’t you wonder why they are so prevalent when so many people hate them? Are they really that successful at converting subscribers or is that just good marketing? And at what cost?
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Ashley.
way back when I used popups – no longer do. They are reputed to increase subscribers a lot… but that may change… seems like it changed, popups lessened, and then started again… waves of popups?
I’m glad you have come back over from the dark side, Anne. 😉
Just say no to pop-ups. While we are in mini-rant mode. I’m getting tired of other writers always selling to writers. There were a few sites that I visited often because they had good content, but I get turned off when every other post is a sales pitch. This is why I love Lori, Cathy, Anne and others on the forum because they offer advice and guidance out of the goodness of their heart, not their wallet. Don’t get me wrong, once in awhile if you have a class or book offer it up and often I’ll buy it, but please quit trying to milk me for every dime. Okay, rant over. Sometimes, my Irish temper gets the best of me, especially on a Friday. 🙂
Wade – it’s allowed – especially on the eve of St. Paddy’s Day. 😀
I so agree with you, Wade. I removed a few blogs from my RSS feed because I was sick of being sold to. It’s that same kind of question for me – is it worth selling your soul for? Which might explain why I’ll probably never be hanging out with the billionaires of the world. 😀
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your Irish temper, Wade-we love it. 🙂
Hi Cathy,
It’s nice to know someone else who isn’t afraid to voice their opinion on those pesky pop-ups. They’re a time-consuming nuisance for people who are online all day working and performing research.
But I don’t blame the website owners who use them. I had a mailing list a few years ago when I sold ebooks and it really is a good way to make money.
Hi Ramiro. I keep hearing that it works, but I am not going there. And I share your aggravation with the pop-ups while doing research. Very annoying.
Thanks for sharing your perspective, Ramiro.