Exit intent popup

What is exit intent?

Exit intent is a technology that detects when a user is about to leave your online store. It tracks the mouse’s movement and speed, and when the mouse moves toward the browser’s address bar, tab, or close button, it triggers a pop-up.

It’s a “last resort”—a final attempt to engage a visitor who would otherwise leave your store without converting.

How does it work?

On desktop, the script detects when the mouse leaves the browser window’s viewport—typically moving upward toward the address bar or the close button. This is interpreted as a signal that the user is about to navigate away.

On mobile, mouse tracking doesn’t work since there’s no mouse. Here, alternative triggers are used, such as rapid scrolling up (toward the address bar) or back-button detection. However, effectiveness is lower on mobile.

What do you display in an exit-intent pop-up?

• Discount code: “Wait! Get 10% off with the code EXIT10”—the most common and often most effective approach.
• Free shipping: “Order now and get free shipping”—this can be enough to tip the scales.
• Newsletter with an incentive: “Sign up and get 15% off your first order”—converts visitors into leads, even if they don’t buy right away.
• Limited-time offer: “Your offer expires in 15 minutes” with a countdown — creates a sense of urgency.
• Social proof: “47 other people are viewing this product right now”—plays on FOMO.

Exit Intent in Shoporama

Shoporama’s newsletter pop-up system supports exit intent as a trigger. You can configure:

• Popup type: Modal (centered overlay), slide-in from the bottom, left, or right
• Trigger: Exit intent, time delay, or scroll depth
• Styling: Fully customizable with colors, border-radius, overlay, and width
• Mobile display: Choose whether the popup should also appear on mobile devices
• Cookie control: Set how many days must pass before the popup appears again
• Statistics: View impressions and conversions to measure effectiveness

The Effectiveness of Exit-Intent Popups

When implemented correctly, exit-intent popups can:

• Convert 2–4% of visitors who would otherwise leave the site
• Build your email list with qualified leads
• Reduce the bounce rate and increase time on site

Best Practices

• Show it only once: Store in a cookie that the user has seen the popup, and don’t show it again for at least 7–30 days.
• Offer real value: A discount code or free shipping works well. “Just sign up for our newsletter” without an incentive doesn’t work well.
• Make it easy to close: Include a clear close button and allow users to close it by clicking outside the pop-up. A pop-up that’s hard to close frustrates users.
• Test the offer size: A/B test whether a 5%, 10%, or 15% discount provides the best balance between conversions and profit margin.
• Don’t display it during checkout: An exit-intent pop-up in the middle of the checkout process can be disruptive and confusing. Display it only on product and category pages.