Avoid clickshaming your customers into opting in

By Ilana Davis

Have you seen the passive-aggressive popups that make you feel bad for not clicking on their button?

This example from Canvas Factory boils my blood.

Opt in button says Get $10 off now and to decline the offer it says No thanks, I don't like exclusive canvas deals

Declining their offer says “No thanks, I don’t like exclusive canvas deals”

I’ll give them some credit. At least they personalized it by adding “canvas” to the content.

I’ve also seen popups that say “No, I don’t like saving money”.

Of course we all want to save money. Maybe I just don’t want to buy from someone who makes me feel bad if I’m not ready to share my contact information.

There is enough negativity in this world, why must we make people feel crappy for saying no.

Often times these popups appear as soon as a customer lands on the page. At that point, we haven’t had a chance to even know who you are and what you’re selling.

Why would I sign up to give you contact details when I don’t know what you sell yet?

Even if they waited for me to leave the site (exit intent) which Canvas Factory did, why do we have to be mean?

These passive aggressive calls-to-action don’t work and they are super annoying and demeaning.

Instead, just leave the decline off all together. This popup would have been perfectly acceptable with just the “Get $10 off now” and if I didn’t want it, I can click the close button.

Increase your opt-in rate by removing passive-aggressive comments that make people feel like poop on your website.

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