Exit Intent: How Should Your Website Respond?

When growing your online presence, every website visit counts, and so does the ability to keep those visitors engaged. But what happens when a visitor is about to leave your site, possibly to never return?

That’s where exit intent technology comes into play. This post explores what exit intent is, how it works, and strategies to capture potential abandonments and redirect users toward conversion. Whether you’re curious about how to trigger an exit-intent popup or looking for practical tips to increase popup conversion rates, we’ve got you covered.

What is Exit Intent?

Exit intent is a technique that tracks a website visitor’s behavior to predict when they are about to leave your website. When certain actions, such as moving the cursor toward the browser bar or back button, are detected, a popup or other form of engagement is triggered.

You’ve probably seen this in action on many websites over the years. That’s because this technique gives businesses a last-minute opportunity to redirect the user’s attention back to their site, ideally making them a converting customer. Some common exit triggers include:

• Cursor Movement Toward Exit: If the user’s cursor heads toward the browser’s close button or back arrow, it can signal an intent to exit. The system will immediately deploy a popup to engage the user before they leave.
• Inactive Behavior: If a visitor has been idle for a certain amount of time, exit intent can trigger a popup. This works well for mobile devices, where users may leave the page open without interacting for a while.
• Scroll Patterns: Rapid scrolling through a page can indicate the visitor isn’t engaging with content, triggering an exit intent response to redirect their focus.
• Form Abandonment: If a user starts filling out a form but doesn’t complete it, exit intent popups can help or provide a reminder to finish.

Does Exit Intent Actually Work?

The short answer: yes, if done well. Exit intent popups can be a highly effective tool in reducing website abandonment. In fact, data suggests that these popups can save up to 15% of visitors from leaving. However, the key is to make sure they’re done properly. Popups with fewer input fields are more likely to be completed. According to research, it’s best to stick to just one or two fields. Pair a simple form with something of value and people will be more inclined to stick around and provide their information.

Source: Picreel

Effective exit intent strategies focus on personalization and delivering a well-timed message. Whether it’s offering a discount or suggesting alternative content, a good exit popup can grab a visitor’s attention just in time. With that said, the quality of the popup message and design greatly affects conversion rates. A poorly executed popup may annoy visitors, while a strategic one can capture interest and even increase brand loyalty.

How to Create an Exit Intent Popup

Creating an effective exit intent popup requires a combination of good design, relevant messaging, and value for the user. Here’s how to create an exit intent popup that converts:

1. Choose the Right Exit Intent Tool

First, you’ll need to choose a tool that integrates with your website platform. Here at Hushly, we offer a solution to re-engage website abandoners so you don’t have to worry about losing conversions. This allows you to present a visitor with personalized content whenever they display certain triggers that indicate they’re about to navigate away from your site.

2. Offer Something of Value

Your popup should offer a reason for the visitor to stay. This could be a special discount, a free eBook, early access to content, or a trial offer. The key is to make the offer valuable and relevant to your audience. For example, e-commerce stores might offer a 10% discount if the visitor joins their email list. Blog sites might offer an exclusive piece of content to keep visitors engaged.

3. Keep It Simple

Don’t overwhelm the visitor with too much information. A well-designed exit intent popup should have a clear headline, a concise message, and a single call to action. Avoid multiple offers or clutter that could confuse or frustrate the user. You want to make it as easy as possible for them to convert.

4. Personalize the Message

If possible, use dynamic content to personalize the message. For instance, if a visitor has added items to their shopping cart, but hasn’t checked out, your exit popup could include a friendly reminder. It could say, “Looks like you forgot something in your cart. Use this 10% discount to complete your purchase.”

5. Use Engaging Visuals

The design of your popup matters. Use visuals that align with your brand and draw attention. Color contrast, clear fonts, and high-quality images can make a difference in grabbing the user’s attention.

How Do You Trigger Exit Intent on Mobile?

While desktop exit intent is often triggered by cursor movements, triggering exit intent on mobile devices requires a different approach. Here are a few ways mobile exit intent is typically triggered:

• Back Button Press: When a user clicks the back button on a mobile device, exit intent tools can detect this action and deploy a popup.
• Inactivity or Scroll Behavior: Like on desktops, inactivity for a certain amount of time or scrolling behavior can trigger an exit popup on mobile. If a user scrolls too quickly through the page or stops engaging with it, an exit popup may appear.
• Close Tab Gesture: Many mobile browsers have swipe or close gestures. When a user swipes to close the tab, it can trigger an exit intent popup.
• Form Abandonment: If a user is filling out a form or a checkout process on mobile but doesn’t complete it, an exit popup can be triggered to remind or encourage them to finish the process.

Exit Intent Strategies to Capture Website Abandonment

Want to make sure your exit intent popup generates plenty of new leads for your business? Use these tips to inspire your website visitors to act at the last minute:

1. Offer a Discount

Offering a discount is one of the most common ways to recapture abandoning visitors. A strategically timed offer, such as 10% off for first-time customers, can encourage them to stay and make a purchase.

Source: Thrive Market

Thrive Market uses an exit intent popup to convert new customers before they leave their website. They offer a 20% off discount for first-time shoppers to get them to come back.

2. Ask for Feedback

If the visitor doesn’t seem interested in completing a transaction, exit intent popups can ask for feedback instead. This strategy helps you gather useful insights about why visitors are leaving and can help improve your site’s performance in the long run.

3. Highlight Scarcity

Using scarcity in your popup can create urgency. For example, “Only three items left!” or “Offer expires in 24 hours!” are powerful motivators for visitors who may be on the fence.

4. Provide Alternative Content

If visitors are leaving because they didn’t find what they are looking for, suggest alternative content. For example, if a blog reader is exiting after reading a single post, offer them a related article or a free downloadable guide to keep them engaged.

Source: Social Media Examiner

Social Media Examiner sees the benefit of providing additional content. Before people can leave the site, it offers an opportunity for them to download a free guide.

5. Remind the Benefits

An exit intent popup can remind users of the benefits of staying on the site. This could include free shipping, exclusive content, or access to special resources.

Improve Your Lead Generation with Hushly

If you’re looking for a way to personalize buyer experiences, capture conversions, and generate massive results for your business, Hushly needs to be your go-to. Our three-in-one platform offers everything a B2B marketer needs to succeed.

To experience it for yourself, book a demo today.