Insecure Writers Want to Know
Hello and welcome, everyone, to my website! I’m so glad you are here. And I’m pleased to be one of the co-hosts for February for IWSG.
What bothers me most, when visiting an author’s website or blog are the pop-ups. Sometimes even within seconds of landing on the website or blog! We need to remember to give our visitors time to peruse our website or blog before we dun them to “join our newsletter” or sign up for anything else.
Yes, of course we need visitors to subscribe to our newsletters, to become part of our tribe to help promote or purchase our books or programs. But first we need to visit with them. Tell them about ourselves, by way of allowing them to investigate our websites or blog posts.
This is why I have a banner link on the homepage and then a side panel link on my blogs asking visitors to sign up for my newsletter. [And yes! Please do.] Not the intrusive pop-up.
A pop-up feels more like a demand rather than a request. It’s like an imperative. In order to look around this website, you must sign up for the newsletter. I realize you can just “x” out of the pop-up. But it’s a step visitors must take in order to see your website or blog. And even if they have signed up for your newsletter, the pop-up continues each time they visit.
Wouldn’t you rather just learn about a new friend by looking around their site first before joining anything?
Pop-ups make me think of the salesman [or woman] at a store who descends upon you the moment you walk through the door.
As I “x” out of the pop-up, I think: “No man, just let me see what’s here first.”
And what I want to see is what you are doing. Your journey. Who you are as a person. Are you lucky enough to be published? Let me see your books. Don’t “shout” at me to “buy” your books. Let me decide if they are right for me.
So what do you think about pop-ups? Are they just a fact of life? Like snow or raindrops? Pop-ups certainly are everywhere. Not just on authors’ websites. Please feel free to offer any comment on this. Thanks for sharing your insight.
I’m extremely thankful for all of you for being my sounding board and advisors on this scary writing and publishing journey.
Thanks for stopping by my little spot on the web. Please come again! And of course, please sign up for my newsletter. It is appreciated more than you realize.
This post was written for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. I’d like to thank my fellow co-hosts for February: Janet Alcorn, SE White, and Cathrina Constantine! Please visit them if you can.
Our group posts on the first Wednesday of every month. To join us, or learn more about the group, click HERE.
Not a fan of pop-ups either. Author Anne R. Allen advises against them as they are a big turnoff.
Thanks for co-hosting!
Ann R. Allen is right. Thanks for offering your input here at Adventures in Writing, Alex. Have a beautiful week!
Thanks for co-hosting. I don’t like all the pop-ups either.
Thanks for weighing in here at Adventures in Writing, Natalie. Have a beautiful day!
Hi,
Thanks for co-hosting.
Pop-ups ? No, please,, leave visitors in peace, with time, to get to know a new friend. (maybe) One just happened now, as I write – not you, of course.
This is morning, I’m at the office, where everything works, not at home, in a dead zone., no signal, arthritic broadband,.
I’m with you, Esther. No pop-ups. Oh, and it’s better to have an arthritic broadband than arthritic hands. All best to you!
I did have one, but thinking of taking it down. I’m not even sure if it’s working properly due to changes happening at my mail provider. The worst is if they appear on every page on a site – I’ll be out of there!
So true, Nick. Pop-ups are like the pushy salesman who won’t let you look first before you sign up. All best to you, sir!
I 100% agree about pop-ups. I don’t mind so much when they pop up as I leave the site, but as you say, let me look around first to see if I’m interested. I’m not going to hand over my email address to a site I haven’t explored.
Well said, Janet. And that’s the point. Thanks so much for offering your insight here at Adventures in Writing. Have a beautiful day!
Good points. It feels like overkill, as if they don’t trust me to navigate and make up my own mine. Thanks for co-hosting, Victoria. Best to you.
Thank you, Joylene. It’s always a pleasure seeing you here at Adventures in Writing. Have a wonderful day!
Hi,
Good Article. I have a pop-up and
am thinking about changing it to something else.
Thank you for co-hosting.
Shalom shalom
Thank you for sharing your insight here, Pat.
I apologize for the late response. I’m relearning my website/blog. Now I need to approve comments in a new way. Have a great day!
Oh! I have a pop-up, although I’m not published as yet. But you’ve given me something to think about. Thank you for co-hosting.
Food for thought, Sonia. That’s what blog posts are meant to be. Thanks so much for visiting Adventures in Writing. Please stop by again.
Pop Ups are like those rude people in malls who leap out and spray perfume on you. Ask first is always a good idea.
So true, Nancy. So true. I don’t care for rude or pushy people. Thanks so much for stopping by Adventures in Writing. Please come again. Have a beautiful day!
Yep about the pop-ups. It didn’t seem to matter if you already had subscribed. I was beyond thrilled when someone told us-all how to delete that action (in the blog’s backend).
Yes, that’s the problem, Jacqui. I’ve subscribed to a lot of the blogs and sites I visit. Yet, there’s that blasted pop-up again. Wonderful that some of you know how to not have that action happen every time I visit.
Have a beautiful day!
I couldn’t agree with you more. I usually leave once a pop-up appears. And you nailed why–they seem like a demand, not an invitation. Thanks for this post. And thanks for co-hosting today.
I listed pop ups too! I feel as though they hold me hostage.
Yes they do, Jessica. Thanks for sharing your insight at Adventures in Writing.
I apologize for the late response. I’m relearning my website/blog. Now I need to approve comments in a new way. Have a great day!
Thank you for your kind words, Lee. Yes, I believe pop-ups are more of a demand than a request. All best to you!
Same. This reminds me to go check my timer setting on the popup to make sure it isn’t too fast. We want to grab them, as so many people talk about the benefits of newsletters, but I also don’t want to immediately jab them in the eye.
Yes, we need to have the benefits of a newsletter for those who care about what we are doing.
You make a good point, Kristina. Perhaps you can change the timing of the pop-up to make it more palatable for visitors. Thanks for visiting Adventures in Writing. Please come again. Have a beautiful day!
Great post and thoughts. It was recommended for me to have a pop-up, but I hare the over bearing ones- so we programmed it to wait to pop up until someone is leaving, and then not bother them again. I’m hoping that’s a happy medium. Goodnkuck with your writing!
That’s a good idea, Miffie. Never thought of that one. And thanks for your good wishes. I need them.
I apologize for the late response. I’m relearning my website/blog. Now I need to approve comments in a new way. Have a great day!
I hate pop-ups too! Particularly annoying are the guilt-trippy ones a lot of businesses and other professional webpages use by the button for opting out, with language like “No, I don’t like awesome free gifts.” Let us look around a bit first before we commit to signing up for a newsletter, coupons, or a discount code!
Hello and welcome to Adventures in Writing, Carrie-Anne. Your insight is soo true!
I apologize for the late response. I’m relearning my website/blog. Now I need to approve comments in a new way. Have a great day!
Thanks for co-hosting this month. I’ve gotten used to pop-ups to the point that I click them away without thinking. Once, after visiting a site, I decided I wanted to follow or sign up and couldn’t find a way to do so. I guess the pop-up was your only chance. I hope that flaw was eventually fixed by the site owner, but I’ve stopped visiting.
Another good point, Toi. After we rid our vision of the annoying pop-up, we can’t find how to follow once we’ve looked at the site.
Thanks so much for visiting Adventures in Writing. Please stop by again!
Hi Victoria,
Looks like we all agree, Pop-Ups are annoying! I wonder why they are so popular?
Thanks for co-hosting our Feb IWSG blog-hop.
Lynn La Vita > Insecure Writers Support Group
Yes, Lynn, I think the verdict is in. And we all agree. Thanks so much for stopping by Adventures in Writing. Please come again. Have a beautiful day!
Yeah, pop-ups can get annoying real fast. It reminds me of when my kids were younger and I’d get home from work, and before I could even put down my purse, they were clamoring for my attention, asking me to do stuff for them. And it’s like, sheesh, let me take my shoes off first, please.
Thanks for co-hosting this month!
Great analogy, Loni. So very true! I can picture it for real. Thanks so much for sharing this anecdote with the readers of Adventures in Writing. Please stop by the website again. Have a beautiful day!
I dislike pop-ups that demand I subscribe. Too aggressive for me.
On the other hand, lately pop-up comments have been the only way to comment on some Blogger blogs. Yikes!
Yes, pop-ups do seem like a demand to subscribe, Olga. And yes, the “pop-up comments” on some blogs are the only way to comment. It seems like more work to me.
Thanks so much for visiting Adventures in Writing. Please stop by the website again. Have a beautiful day!
Yes! This is how I feel about pop ups, too. I just got to the site, to do pester me to subscribe when I haven’t figured out if I want to or not yet.
This is the point, Patricia. Let me look around first to see if I’m interested in following you.
Thank you for sharing your insight on Adventures in Writing. Please stop by the website again. Have a beautiful day!
Agreed. Not a pop-up fan. Thank you for co-hosting IWSG this month.
The verdict is in, Liza. Not many people want a pop-up in their face the moment they get to your website. Thanks for commenting. All best to you!
You nailed it! I tend to ignore and whisk away any pop-ups as soon as I can. I no longer sign up for any newsletters and such because as it is now I get so many email notifications about things that it gets a bit overwhelming. Seems like when I get online I spend most of my time getting rid of emails. Don’t need any more!
Thanks for co-hosting!
Lee
I understand, Arlee. I truly do. My email is terrible as well. There is no way I can get to it all. As much as I’d like to.
Thanks so much for visiting Adventures in Writing. Please stop by the website again. Have a beautiful day!
You said it better than I could. Dislike pop-ups.
Absolutely, Melissa! Thanks for your kind words. Have a beautiful day.
Ooh, pop-ups are the worst! ‘Buy my books’. “Get my top 10 recommendations’. Urrgh!
Worse still are adverts, mostly unconnected and inappropriate.
Hello and welcome to Adventures in Writing, Rosemary. Your insight is soo true! And the adverts? Absolutely!
I apologize for the late response. I’m relearning my website/blog. Now I need to approve comments in a new way. Have a great day!
Great post. Always treat visitors the way you want to be treated – like you’re intelligent and not interested in being led by the pop-ups. I wonder what is the profile of people who use those tools. Do web designers automatically build them in without consulting the owner of the web, are they teenagers, are they desperate?
Always! Yes, I sometimes wonder about who puts in all these pop-ups as well, Feather.
I apologize for the late response. I’m relearning my website/blog. Now I need to approve comments in a new way. Have a great day!
I also find pop-ups absolutely off-putting. Thanks for co-hosting today! @samanthabwriter from
Balancing Act
Thanks for weighing in here at Adventures in Writing, Samantha. Have a beautiful day!
Thanks for co-hosting today! You’re right, I don’t like pop-ups either. Especially when they come back again after you “X” them out.
Hello and welcome to Adventures in Writing, Lidy. I hate when the pop-ups keep coming back, too.
I apologize for the late response. I’m relearning my website/blog. Now I need to approve comments in a new way. Have a great day!
Definitely not a pop-up fan, either. Are they effective? No idea. But they turn me off and I’ve never signed up via a pop-up.
Not many people are a fan of pop-ups, Shannon. We are not alone in our dislike of them. Have a beautiful day!
Well, pop-ups were my number one rant, too, so it seems from the comments that IWSG writers are in total agreement on this!
Thanks for co-hosting this month, and I like your ‘split’ blog. It’s given me an idea to use in my redesign 🙂
Yes, I don’t have anything to sell, Jemima, so my website is just me and my blogs and workshops. Thank you for your kind words.
Please stop by Adventures in Writing again. Have a great day!
Oh yes! Pop ups are very annoying. Especially ones that have a soundtrack too and you’ve forgotten to mute your computer at 5am….
Hello and welcome to Adventures in Writing, Kate. I hate the pop-ups with sound, too. Even if it is NOT 5 am.
I apologize for the late response. I’m relearning my website/blog. Now I need to approve comments in a new way. Have a great day!
You’ve a cozy little spot here. Inviting and not off-putting. And no pop-ups 😉 Nice! Thank you for co-hosting.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Diedre. They are appreciated more than you realize. Have a beautiful weekend!