A large debate is raging among programmers and advertisers over whether or not to allow pop-ups on the Internet. In the early days of the Internet, pop-ups were everywhere and were often used as a basic form of advertising. However, many people are using them less often because consumers became frustrated by the overabundance of online pop-ups.
Now that the original pop-up craze has slowed, many designers are beginning to consider implementing them again. As such, here are arguments from both sides of this debate to help you decide whether or not to allow pop-ups on your website.
Pros
Those in favor of pop-up advertisements often argue they are a great way to get in the face of consumers and increase sales. This argument states that well-designed pop-ups increase the likelihood that consumers will click on the pop-up and commit to purchasing whatever is being advertised.
Another argument in favor of this advertising tool states that regular in-page advertisements are too often overlooked by consumers because they get lost among the other information that’s available on websites. So, if the advertisement is taken out of the webpage context, it will attract more attention.
Cons
Those who are against pop-up advertisements state that consumers view them as spam and will not only close the pop-up but will leave the website they were visiting. Another argument against pop-ups states that they are ineffective because browsers now include features to block them. As such, it’s argued that designers are wasting their time attempting to create effective pop-ups because they are no longer reaching the intended audience.
The debate over these advertisements will surely continue, with each side creating new examples to bolster their position. As such, the best thing you can do is determine whether or not pop-ups will serve your specific purposes and make a decision based on this information.