Pop-ups can be an effective way to attract visitors’ attention and encourage specific actions, such as:
- Subscribing to a newsletter.
- Promoting special offers.
- Displaying discount codes.
- Collecting leads.
- Announcing important updates.
- Encouraging visitors to contact your business.
One of the most popular plugins for creating pop-ups in WordPress is Popup Maker – Popup for opt-ins, lead generation, & more.
This guide explains how to install the plugin and create your first pop-up.
Table of Contents
Installing Popup Maker
Step 1
Log in to your WordPress administration panel.
Step 2
Navigate to:
Plugins → Add New
Step 3
In the search field, enter:
Popup Maker
Step 4
Locate the plugin:
Popup Maker – Popup for opt-ins, lead generation, & more
Step 5
Click:
Install Now
Step 6
After installation is complete, click:
Activate
The plugin is now ready to use.
Creating Your First Pop-up
After activating the plugin, a welcome screen will appear.
Click:
Create your first popup
to start creating your first project.
Configuring the Pop-up
Internal Name
At the top of the editor, enter an internal name.
Example:
Summer Promotion
This name is only visible within WordPress and helps you identify the pop-up later.
Pop-up Title
Enter the title visitors will see.
Example:
Special Promotion
Content
In the main content editor, add the information you want visitors to see.
Examples include:
- Promotional messages.
- Discount codes.
- Newsletter subscription forms.
- Images.
- Buttons.
- Contact information.
The editor works similarly to the standard WordPress content editor.
Configuring Triggers
The Triggers section determines when the pop-up appears.
Common options include:
Automatic Display
Show the pop-up automatically when a page loads.
Delayed Display
Show the pop-up after a specified number of seconds.
Click Trigger
Display the pop-up only after a visitor clicks a specific button or link.
Exit Intent (Premium Features May Apply)
Display the pop-up when a visitor appears ready to leave the website.
Choose the trigger that best matches your marketing goals.
Targeting Specific Pages
Open the:
Targeting
section.
Here you can choose where the pop-up should appear.
Options typically include:
- Entire website.
- Homepage only.
- Specific pages.
- Specific posts.
- Selected categories.
For example, you may want a promotion to appear only on product pages rather than throughout the entire website.
Customizing the Appearance
Open the:
Display
section.
Here you can customize:
- Pop-up style.
- Size.
- Position.
- Overlay settings.
- Animation effects.
- Theme and layout.
Popup Maker includes several built-in templates that can be used as a starting point.
Configuring Close Options
Open the:
Close
section.
You can define how visitors close the pop-up.
Common options include:
- Close button (X).
- Clicking outside the window.
- Pressing the Escape key.
- Automatic closing after a set period.
Publishing the Pop-up
Once your configuration is complete:
- Review your settings.
- Click:
Publish
The pop-up will become active immediately according to the rules you configured.
Previewing the Pop-up
After publishing, click:
View
to preview how the pop-up appears on your website.
This allows you to verify:
- Layout.
- Styling.
- Text formatting.
- Images.
- Trigger behavior.
Common Use Cases
Popup Maker can be used for:
Newsletter Signups
Encourage visitors to subscribe to your mailing list.
Promotions and Discounts
Display coupon codes or limited-time offers.
Contact Forms
Provide visitors with a quick way to contact your business.
Announcements
Highlight new products, services, or important updates.
Lead Generation
Collect visitor information for future marketing campaigns.
Best Practices
To avoid negatively impacting user experience:
- Avoid showing pop-ups immediately after page load.
- Limit the number of active pop-ups.
- Ensure pop-ups are mobile-friendly.
- Use clear calls to action.
- Make closing the pop-up easy.
Summary
To add a pop-up to a WordPress website:
- Install and activate Popup Maker.
- Create a new pop-up.
- Add a title and content.
- Configure triggers.
- Select where the pop-up should appear.
- Customize its appearance.
- Configure closing options.
- Publish and test the pop-up.
Popup Maker provides a flexible way to create promotional, informational, and lead-generation pop-ups without requiring coding knowledge.