Popup Cro
Design and tune popups, modals, and slide-ins that capture emails or promos without trashing trust or mobile UX.
Overview
Popup-cro is an agent skill most often used in Grow (also Validate, Launch) that helps solo builders create and optimize popups, modals, and banners for conversion without hurting brand perception.
Install
npx skills add https://github.com/coreyhaines31/marketingskills --skill popup-croWhat is this skill?
- Seven-purpose assessment: email capture, lead magnet, discount, announcement, exit intent, feature promo, and feedback/s
- Reads `.agents/product-marketing-context.md` first to avoid redundant discovery questions
- Separates overlay CRO from form-cro (inline forms) and page-cro (whole-page optimization)
- Balances conversion with annoyance risk, triggers, mobile experience, and existing performance data
- 7 popup purpose categories in initial assessment
- metadata version 1.1.0
Adoption & trust: 51.4k installs on skills.sh; 32.4k GitHub stars; 3/3 security scanners passed (skills.sh audits).
What problem does it solve?
You added a popup or exit intent overlay but conversions are weak, users complain, or mobile performance is untested.
Who is it for?
Bootstrapped SaaS or content sites with live traffic experimenting on email capture, promos, or exit-intent saves.
Skip if: Inline-only form optimization (use form-cro) or full landing page structure tests without overlay focus (use page-cro).
When should I use this skill?
When the user wants to create or optimize popups, modals, overlays, exit intent, lead capture popups, announcement banners, scroll triggers, or sticky notification bars.
What do I get? / Deliverables
You get a purpose-driven popup strategy with trigger, offer, and UX guardrails aligned to your traffic and brand—then refine with form-cro or page-cro if the issue is outside overlays.
- Popup purpose and trigger recommendations
- CRO guidance balancing conversion vs. UX and mobile
- Pointers to related skills (form-cro, page-cro) when scope differs
Recommended Skills
Journey fit
Spans multiple journey phases - primary shelf plus alternate fits below.
Popup CRO optimizes on-site conversion for people who already have traffic—canonical shelf is Grow lifecycle, not one-off ideation. Interrupt overlays, exit intent, and capture flows are lifecycle conversion mechanics tied to retention and signup funnels.
Where it fits
Pick popup purpose and trigger rules before publishing a waitlist landing page.
Tune an announcement banner for a Product Hunt launch without blocking mobile navigation.
Revise exit-intent copy and frequency after seeing list growth stall and support complaints.
Align a content-upgrade slide-in with the article topic instead of a generic newsletter ask.
How it compares
Overlay-specific CRO playbook—not a generic copywriting skill or analytics dashboard.
Common Questions / FAQ
Who is popup-cro for?
Solo builders and small teams running marketing sites who want agent-guided recommendations for modals, slide-ins, banners, and exit popups.
When should I use popup-cro?
Use it during Validate/landing when scoping capture mechanics, at Launch/distribution when announcing offers, and in Grow/lifecycle when optimizing exit intent, scroll triggers, or email popups on live traffic.
Is popup-cro safe to install?
It is editorial marketing guidance only; review the Security Audits panel on this Prism page before installing any skill from the repo.
Workflow Chain
Then invoke: form cro
SKILL.md
READMESKILL.md - Popup Cro
# Popup CRO You are an expert in popup and modal optimization. Your goal is to create popups that convert without annoying users or damaging brand perception. ## Initial Assessment **Check for product marketing context first:** If `.agents/product-marketing-context.md` exists (or `.claude/product-marketing-context.md` in older setups), read it before asking questions. Use that context and only ask for information not already covered or specific to this task. Before providing recommendations, understand: 1. **Popup Purpose** - Email/newsletter capture - Lead magnet delivery - Discount/promotion - Announcement - Exit intent save - Feature promotion - Feedback/survey 2. **Current State** - Existing popup performance? - What triggers are used? - User complaints or feedback? - Mobile experience? 3. **Traffic Context** - Traffic sources (paid, organic, direct) - New vs. returning visitors - Page types where shown --- ## Core Principles ### 1. Timing Is Everything - Too early = annoying interruption - Too late = missed opportunity - Right time = helpful offer at moment of need ### 2. Value Must Be Obvious - Clear, immediate benefit - Relevant to page context - Worth the interruption ### 3. Respect the User - Easy to dismiss - Don't trap or trick - Remember preferences - Don't ruin the experience --- ## Trigger Strategies ### Time-Based - **Not recommended**: "Show after 5 seconds" - **Better**: "Show after 30-60 seconds" (proven engagement) - Best for: General site visitors ### Scroll-Based - **Typical**: 25-50% scroll depth - Indicates: Content engagement - Best for: Blog posts, long-form content - Example: "You're halfway through—get more like this" ### Exit Intent - Detects cursor moving to close/leave - Last chance to capture value - Best for: E-commerce, lead gen - Mobile alternative: Back button or scroll up ### Click-Triggered - User initiates (clicks button/link) - Zero annoyance factor - Best for: Lead magnets, gated content, demos - Example: "Download PDF" → Popup form ### Page Count / Session-Based - After visiting X pages - Indicates research/comparison behavior - Best for: Multi-page journeys - Example: "Been comparing? Here's a summary..." ### Behavior-Based - Add to cart abandonment - Pricing page visitors - Repeat page visits - Best for: High-intent segments --- ## Popup Types ### Email Capture Popup **Goal**: Newsletter/list subscription **Best practices:** - Clear value prop (not just "Subscribe") - Specific benefit of subscribing - Single field (email only) - Consider incentive (discount, content) **Copy structure:** - Headline: Benefit or curiosity hook - Subhead: What they get, how often - CTA: Specific action ("Get Weekly Tips") ### Lead Magnet Popup **Goal**: Exchange content for email **Best practices:** - Show what they get (cover image, preview) - Specific, tangible promise - Minimal fields (email, maybe name) - Instant delivery expectation ### Discount/Promotion Popup **Goal**: First purchase or conversion **Best practices:** - Clear discount (10%, $20, free shipping) - Deadline creates urgency - Single use per visitor - Easy to apply code ### Exit Intent Popup **Goal**: Last-chance conversion **Best practices:** - Acknowledge they're leaving - Different offer than entry popup - Address common objections - Final compelling reason to stay **Fo