Exit Intent is one of those new online marketing terms like Autoresponders (which was defined in this earlier post). It refers to a popular online lead generation strategy that you would recognize in use (but perhaps not by name) as you surf the web.
As a professional project manager specializing in web design and online lead generation strategies for clients, I try to stay up to date on all the latest marketing lingo so that I can explain concepts in easy to understand terms.
Admittedly, I test out my understanding and explanation on my family first. If the eyes roll, I keep working on it!
Once the concept is ready for introduction to a client, we determine if it makes sense strategically to implement it as part of the project schedule.
What is Exit Intent?
Technically speaking, Exit Intent is the name for the “exiting” mouse movement of a website visitor that triggers a pop-up message on the screen.
Stated another way, as your cursor moves to leave the active browser tab, a message pops ups to grab your attention before you leave.
You can manually trigger an exit intent pop up on this site via this link and you should see the following message:
Is Exit Intent kind of annoying for site visitors? Well, yes.
Is Exit Intent kind of effective? Well, yes.
3 Benefits of Exit Intent Opt-In Pop-Ups
1. Exit Intent Pop-Ups are Less Intrusive than Time-Based Pop-Ups
You are probably very familiar with time-based pop-ups on the center of website screens.
Some appear the moment you arrive on a website before you have a chance to read anything. Others appear after a set number of seconds or as you scroll down the page a set percentage.
I don’t know about you, but I find time-based pop-ups very disruptive and I am quick to exit them out (and not opt-in to the form).
2. Exit Intent Pop-Ups are an Online Elevator Pitch
When you use an exit-intent pop-up, you are automating your elevator pitch so that site visitors know what you are about before they leave.
Is there a chance someone is not interested in your content or business? Absolutely.
But if you are able to solve a problem someone is experiencing, you’ll want to catch the site visitor before they leave. Often, your value proposition is a lot clearer in an exit intent message than on a random web page.
3. Exit Intent Pop-Ups are Somewhat Effective
You won’t realize great opt-in rates on an exit intent pop-up because well… people are trying to leave.
Will get some leads on your email list that you would have otherwise missed? Absolutely.
And that lead could become a customer for years to come.
Exit Intent pop-ups are often worth the brief interruption.
My Software Tool for Exit Intent
I use OptinMonster for exit intent (and all my pop-up variations – including the footer bar) on this website. I highly recommend this cloud-based software and you can discover my lessons learned with OptinMonster in this online review.
Once someone opts-in to your campaign via OptinMonster, the software is smart enough to not generate a pop-up again for that user!
I plan to incorporate OptinMonster setup, design, and integration in at least one of my upcoming guided do-it-yourself projects using Teamwork software from Ireland.
You can catch announcements about these interactive project offerings via my email mailing list (click here to not miss out).
Exit Intent is worth adding to your toolkit and testing as a lead generation tool.
Hope this blog post helps.
I’m here to help you succeed, one project step at a time.
Brent
Special Bonus: All subscribers to my mailing list can add their own lead magnet web addresses at any time to my upcoming lead magnet examples listing here on the Graceful Resources website. So free publicity for their respective websites!