Too many websites now have pop-up ads, videos or “newsletter” signups that cover the entire page and can only be removed by clicking a tiny X or microscopic text that says something smarmy like “No, I don’t like to save money”.
These same sites automatically add me to their email list if I am required to submit an email for an order, a question or additional information. As soon as they capture my email, I’m barraged with “special offers”, new products, and other unwanted dreck.
Chat bots are even worse. They take up valuable screen space and can never help. The most ridiculous ones pop up and then say “customer service is unavailable. Please fill out this form and we’ll respond within 48 hours.”. What year is it – 1985?
Nobody likes popups, spam, page blockers, chat bots and emarketing.
I’m one of those people who dislike them so much, I’ll often just close the page and never revisit the site.
So instead of “capturing” my information for marketing to use to generate sales, the opposite happens – I’ve left to find what I need elsewhere.
We can fix this.
Anyone in the company who is responsible for designing the web page, capturing the information, checking a box to enable the popup or getting a lead from one of these should navigate the site at least once a week. This includes all executives, managers, customer service agents, marketing people and sales people. It should be mandatory for anyone who is in a position of authority and strategic decision making. Board members should be required to do this at least once a quarter.
You’ll notice on my website there are no popups. There are no “sign up for my newsletter” prompts. I even deleted the unobtrusive “subscribe to be notified of new posts” in the sidebar because nobody uses it.
I don’t have a copyright notice. I don’t have ads. I have never used popups.
Because they are annoying.
I figure my readers get annoyed enough by my writing.