Help & onboarding
If your first interaction with a mobile user is blocking their view, you've already lost
Blocking popups on mobile disrupt the user's flow and often get dismissed without reading. Smaller inline prompts convert better by respecting the experience.
When a full-screen popup takes over a mobile viewport, users lose all context of the page they were reading. The content disappears, replaced by a prompt they didn’t ask for — and the instinctive reaction is to close it as fast as possible. Most users dismiss intrusive interstitials before processing the message, which means even a genuinely good offer gets reflexively swiped away.
A better approach is to use smaller, non-blocking prompts that stay anchored to the bottom of the screen. A compact dismissible banner can capture just as much attention without hijacking the experience. The user keeps reading, the prompt stays visible, and the interaction feels like an invitation rather than an interruption.
Time the prompt for engagement, not for arrival. Showing it immediately on page load is the most common mistake. Wait until the user has scrolled past the first viewport or spent at least a few seconds reading. Keep the banner to no more than 20-30% of the viewport height so page content remains visible behind it. Include a clear, tappable close button — prompts without one feel like traps.
This kind of non-intrusive prompt can preserve the user’s flow while still capturing leads. Users who aren’t interrupted often engage more willingly, which typically results in better quality interactions than those forced by a blocking overlay.
Make them smaller and non-blocking. The goal isn't to eliminate prompts — it's to prevent them from hijacking the screen. A well-timed compact prompt can still capture leads without disrupting the experience.
Show prompts only to users who haven't already dismissed or converted. Use a cookie or local storage flag to suppress the prompt for returning visitors who already engaged with it.
No more than 20-30% of the viewport height. This keeps the page content visible behind the prompt, so users don't feel like they've lost their place. Anchor it to the bottom of the screen for easy thumb dismissal.
Exit intent is unreliable on mobile since there's no cursor to track. Instead, trigger prompts based on scroll depth or time on page — signals that indicate genuine engagement rather than guessing when someone is leaving.
