Using a combination of features you can create and edit popups that can be used on your website. Popups appear as a small window as an overlay. Popups are essentially miniature pages with widgets in them. Popups can be set up to appear when clicked as a link or automatically as an action from a triggered personalization rule. Use popups to grab user's attention or provide information without having to change content on your pages. Great for special events like a fundraiser or an outing, especially since popups can contain any widget and content you would place on a page, like images, videos, and buttons.
Rules that trigger popups will only happen once every 30 minutes for the same user/per session. If you need something that always appears, consider using the New Row action for a personalization rule instead of a popup. For something a little less intrusive than a popup considers a notification bar for simple reminders.
Add a Popup
To add a popup:
In the side panel, click Pages, and then click the Popups tab (in upper right).
Click + New Popup.
Select a popup type, like Blank for example. The popup type selected will pre-populate the popup with some select widgets.
Type a name for your popup (make it a short and obvious name like "Golf Outing"), and click + Add Popup.
Edit the popup and its content just like you would a page. Drag and drop widgets, edit the widgets and content.
Activate/View Popups
Unlike a page which when generated is visible in the navigation automatically, a popup can only be visible and triggered by a link being clicked or by using a site personalization rule. Popup triggers only occur once per session. A session is any activity on the site and remains active until at least 30 minutes have passed.Link to a Popup
There are several widgets that allow you to link to a popup, such as Photo Gallery image links, text, and buttons. Linking to a popup is less intrusive on your visitor as it requires them to click a button or link to trigger the popup, giving them control and a choice over viewing the popup as opposed to automatically appearing. Links to popups are also a great way to conserve space on a page; by placing some important content into a popup it saves space on your page. Additionally, popup clicks are tracked as engagement within the built-in statistics in your dashboard.
To link to a popup:
- Click on the widget that you want to link the popup to, like a Button for example.
- Under the widgets Content tab, look for the Link or Linked to Option of the item.
Alternatively, if you are linking from text, highlight the desired text and click the link icon in the text editing menu. - Choose Popup, then select which popup you want to link to from the dropdown menu.
Use Personalization Rules to set Conditions for a Popup
You can set personalization rules for an existing popup. Personalization rules can include what triggers the popup to appear, how quickly the popup appears on the screen, and more.
Create Personalization Rule
To create a personalization rule:
- In the side panel under More click Personalization.
- Select from the available existing rules to edit (by clicking the gear), pre-built rules or choose to build your own (recommended for new rules).
- Select and set your trigger (choose time), action (choose popup), and further customize as necessary. During the process you will choose the time, popup as the action, the page, etc.
- Trigger - this is what will cause the action to happen in this case, to activate your popup. Typically, Time is the recommended trigger, so that your popup can start and end on a chosen date and time. Other options include Device, Location, and Visits. Clicking next to move to the next steps.
- Action - This is what you want to happen when the chosen Trigger happens. In this case you want to choose Popup as the action and select one of your existing popups (though you can create a new one). You will also choose which page this popup is to happen on during the Trigger Time. Clicking next to move to the next steps.
- Trigger - this is what will cause the action to happen in this case, to activate your popup. Typically, Time is the recommended trigger, so that your popup can start and end on a chosen date and time. Other options include Device, Location, and Visits. Clicking next to move to the next steps.
- At the end of the process and steps be sure to name your rule and choose Publish now when saving.
- You can preview the popupin the editor either:
- By putting the site in Preview Mode (top right by Republish) and then Select Rule (from the top left side).
- By clicking the Play button on the Personalization panel where your rules are saved.
- By putting the site in Preview Mode (top right by Republish) and then Select Rule (from the top left side).
- Republish the website using the Republish Button. IF the rule is active, open a new browser tab and visit the live site to see your pop-up live.
Rules will typically only trigger for the same user once every 30 minutes, or until they clear their browser cache, even if that user still meets the trigger requirements.
If a user comes back more than 30 minutes after the first visit, we update the number of visits cookie.
The New Row rule does not obey this 30-minutete session rule
Website Builder uses cookies for first-time users when using personalization rules. One cookie is used for timestamp, another cookie for number of visits.
We only show popups once for the current browser session.
Personalization is not supported on multi-language sites or dynamic pages.
If you are having trouble viewing your popup on your live website. Try the following:
- Double check your Trigger and ensure the settings are such that the rule is live like the start and end date/time
- Double check the action is set to the correct popup and correct page like your home page.
- Ensure you do not have multiple Popup rules active. Only one of each action can be active at the same time. If two rules with the same action type are both triggered at the same time, on the same page, whichever is listed highest on the list of rules will take effect.
- It would be a good idea to also click the republish button on your website.
- Try clearing your browser cookies and cache
- Try using another browser, device, or an incognito window.
- Try waiting until the time has expired (30mins)
- If necessary, try deleting the rule, then adding a new build your own rule and republishing.
Edit and or Activate/Deactivate Existing Rule
To Edit, Activate or Deactivate a personalization rule:
- In the side panel, click More, then click Personalization.
- Click the gear icon next to the desired rule.
- Select either Edit, Activate/Deactivate (if currently Active).
- Deactivate lets you turn off an active rule.
- Editing the Trigger lets you change the settings of the selected rule and trigger. For example, updating the date and time so you can reuse the rule. It does not let you change the Trigger (for that you need to create a new rule).
- Editing the Action lets you change the Page Selected, Text (notification bars and rows), or other setting. It does not let you choose a new action (for that you need to create a new rule).
Other Options and Articles to Consider