ECOMMERCE TIPS

How to Create Shopify Discount Pop Up Under 10 Minutes & Best Tips

The Shopify Discount Pop Up
Shopify apps packages for Black Friday

In brick-and-mortar stores, it's easy to approach customers who are about to leave without buying anything and convince them to buy. However, selling online is more challenging because we just can't physically engage with customers. We could try to retarget to reach this group of visitors again, or another powerful tool: well-crafted Shopify discount pop up. Some argue that pop-ups are becoming more annoying to online shoppers. But when designed effectively, they can work like a salesperson in a physical store without being disruptive. Popups can capture visitors' attention and deliver precisely the right message at the right moment, turn them into buyers and lead to higher conversion rates. 


In this comprehensive guide, we're going to take you through the process step-by-step, so you can get your Shopify discount pop up live and convert in less than 10 minutes. Additionally, we will share pro tips to ensure that your pop-up doesn't just attract attention but also effectively converts visitors into customers.


This should give you a robust understanding of not just the "how" but also the "why" behind successful Shopify discount pop up. With this knowledge in hand, you'll be better equipped to design pop-ups that resonate with your target audience and drive tangible results for your online store.

1. How to create Shopify discount pop up: the step-by-step guide

Step 1: Choose the right Shopify pop-up app

Shopify merchants have huge support from this system as the Shopify App Store offers them a comprehensive range of apps designed to simplify the work. Developed by various Shopify Partners, these apps address to different needs and budgets as well as serve different types of Shopify merchants. A quick search for "pop-up" in the Shopify App Store yields hundreds of choice, free or paid available. 

Shopify popup apps on App Store
  • We recommend qikify Sales Pop Up & Proof: 

    • Versatile: Offers a wide range of features, including discount pop-ups, sales alerts, visitor & sold counters, cart countdowns, email pop-ups, subscription, and more.
    • User-friendly: Simple and intuitive interface, making it ideal and easy to set up and use for all store owners, including those who are new to Shopify.
    • Cost-effective: Free and paid plans to suit various budgets with 20% discount for annual plan and Shopify Plus.
    • Real-time analytics: The up-to-date analytics that automatically refresh every 15 minutes, allowing you to keep track with the key metrics like engagement rate and conversion rate. 
    • Top rating: 4.9/5 with over 1,500 reviews

Step 2: Create the discounts on your Shopify store setting 

If you haven't created any discount on Shopify before, head to the Discounts section within your Shopify store's setting to set up a new one. Crafting an appealing discount offer demands a deep understanding of both your customer base and your product range. Keep these considerations in mind:

  • Target locations: Choose to target specific countries or all countries 
  • Purchase types: Is this discount applied for one-time purchase, subscription or both? 
  • Applicable products: Specify whether the discount applies to your entire catalog or just certain items.
  • Spend thresholds: Implementing a minimum spend criteria can boost your average order value.
  • Customer eligibility: Choose to apply the discount for specific customer segments or all customers
  • Maximum discount uses & combinations 
  • Active time

Discounts creating on Shopify

Create discounts at the Discounts section on Shopify

Step 3: Choose the type for your Shopify discount pop up

Now head back to your chosen Shopify Pop up app and start the creation process. Generally, you have two types of popup to use for discount, each serving a unique objective:

  • Directly offer the discount
  • Subscription-based discount: This style allows you to gather more leads, though it may result in a lower engagement rate if customers are hesitant to subscribe.

email subscription based discount popup

Kate Spade uses the email subscription-based discount popup for their store

Ensure that the discount code you enter matches precisely with the one you've established in the Shopify Discounts section. 


Set up the basic settings for your discount popup such as: Popup title & description, Subscription type (if you use the Subscription-Based discount), The input data label, Button text, Success Message.


Additional Features: qikify Sales Pop Up & Social Proof also provides an optional countdown timer to create a sense of urgency if needed. 

basic settings for shopify discount pop up

Basic settings for Shopify discount pop up

  • Pro Tip: 

    To ensure code accuracy, make use of the 'Quick Copy' function within the app.
Quick Copy Function On Shopify Discounts Settings

Quick Copy function on Shopify Discounts

Step 4: Design for impact

Always pay close attention to the design elements of your Shopify discount pop up; it plays a crucial role in seizing customer attention. While discounts are persuasive, your initial task is to attract the user's focus. Make certain that the popup design aligns with your store's brand guidelines but also stands out on the website.


Leverage the use of images in your popup. Individuals typically respond more positively to visuals and color than to plain text.

Design settings for the shopify discount pop up

Set up the design settings for Shopify discount pop up

Step 5: Decide on the appropriate trigger settings

Lastly, it is of utmost importance to carefully select the trigger setting, as it significantly influences the visitors' response to the popup. There are some most commonly used trigger settings: 

  • Exit intent: The popup appears as visitors are about to exit the website. 
  • After specific time: The popup appears after a visitor has spent a specified amount of time on the site. 
  • After scrolling: The popup appears when a visitor scrolls down a certain percentage of the site. 

Behavior setting to trigger shopify discount pop up

Behavior settings to trigger Shopify Discount Pop Up

Also, decide whether you want the popup to display on specific pages or across your entire website. 


Note: Additional settings should be reviewed, such as mobile device visibility, pop-up frequency, and success messages, etc. 

2. Essential tips for a high-converting Shopify discount pop up

Shopify discount pop up is much like other forms of advertising—effective when done right but potentially disruptive to the customer's buying journey when poorly executed. Crafting a successful Shopify discount pop up isn't solely about grabbing eyeballs; it requires the understanding of your customer base, product offerings, and timing. 


Effective planning and strategic insight are essential for turning simple and small popups into a powerful tool for conversion. To help you navigate these complexities, we've compiled a set of actionable tips as below. 

Tip #1: Offer enticing incentives to drive engagement

To keep customers engaged, it's crucial to offer incentives that truly resonate with them. Employ A/B testing to identify which incentives yield the most favorable responses. Beyond mere discounts, you can also consider offering other options include:

Tip #2: Timing is everything

The overflow of popups across the Internet has led to user annoyance, making the popup execution even more challenging. The right timing of your popups is incredibly crucial. For example, avoid showing your popups over your website’s main content within the first few seconds of arrival, as this can be off-putting as a salesperson pushing an upselling discount offer the moment you just step into a store. Conversely, showing your popup too late could mean missing a key opportunity to influence customer buying intention.


To determine the optimal timing, consult your analytics data for customer engagement metrics, such as average time spent on site. 

Tip #3: Create an eye-catching design for your Shopify discount pop up

Absolutely, your pop-up's design should align with your brand’s style, but it also needs to be visually striking to capture your customers' attention. Use vibrant colors, striking fonts, and appealing visuals if possible. A dull pop-up is a forgotten pop-up. Given that a Shopify discount pop up interrupts the user's browsing experience, it's essential for the design to stand out. Similar to other forms of advertising, pop-ups are unexpected elements that appear on the buying journey, and therefore, visitors are likely to dismiss them without much thought unless the popup can grab their attention. 

eye-catching designed discount pop up from blume

Example of an eye-catching designed discount pop up from Blume

Tips #4: Deliver a clear message  

Visitors have a limited time to decide whether to engage with your call-to-action (CTA) or close the pop-up. Therefore, ensure that your message is both clear and succinct. This allows customers to quickly grasp the core idea and understand the CTA.

Tips #5: Add a sense of urgency 

Capturing your customers' attention is only half the battle; motivating them to take immediate action is the next step. Infusing your pop-up with a sense of urgency can be an effective way to instill fear of missing out (FOMO) and prompt quicker decision-making. Common tactics for creating urgency include integrating a countdown timer or indicating that the discount codes are available on a first-come, first-served basis or limited in quantity.

Tip #6: Customize your Shopify discount pop up for specific pages and customer segments

Display pop-ups that resonate with different customer profiles. For instance, you could offer subscription deals in pop-ups aimed at returning customers. For first-time visitors, a pop-up featuring a discount code for free shipping may be more appealing. Customizing your pop-ups according to the customer's journey and segment can significantly enhance their effectiveness.

Conclusion

The journey of eCommerce on Shopify is both varied and full of possibilities. As a store owner, there's an endless array of strategies you can deploy to optimize your store, right down to seemingly small elements like pop-ups. 


While some argue that pop-ups are more irritating, not work anymore than beneficial, that's far from the truth. 


Crafting a high-converting Shopify discount pop-up is not just a matter of technical setup (obviously, the settings are so simple); it requires a nuanced understanding of your target audience, their behaviors, and the crafting of irresistible offers. By continuously refining your strategy, you can not only boost revenue but also enhance the customer experience. This guide equips you with the tools and insights needed to create effective pop-ups, setting the stage for your online store to reach new levels of success. So why hesitate? Implement these tactics today and watch your conversion rates skyrocket.


Our qikify Sales Pop-Up & Social Proof app boasts over 1,500 reviews on Shopify, with an impressive average rating of 4.9 out of 5. This stands as strong evidence that, with the right approach, pop-ups can indeed be a high-performing asset for your store. 

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  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  • Qikify expert Lauren

    Lauren Nguyen

    Growth Marketing Specialist at Qikify 

    Hey there! Lauren here - the data-driven marketing gal at Qikify. My thing? Providing eCommerce merchants like you with the most valuable insights and streamlined solutions to help grow your online stores and drive more sales. Since joining this exciting industry, I've been all about sharing expertise to boost your success.


    When I'm not geeking out over marketing, you'll find me kickstarting my day with a delicious morning coffee (and let's be real, an afternoon cup is a must some days to power through).


    Feel free to connect with me through LinkedIn. I'm always stoked to chat with fellow marketing enthusiasts, store owners, swap ideas, and explore cool new collaborations. Together, we can take your online business to new heights!