Popups are an effective tool for increasing conversions, growing email lists, or highlighting important content. However, poorly managed popups can annoy users and negatively impact the user experience. Whether you want to temporarily pause a campaign, disable a specific popup, or completely remove popups from your WordPress site, understanding the right approach is crucial. This guide will show you how to pause or disable popups in WordPress using common plugins and methods.
Why Control Popups?
Before diving into the technical steps, let’s explore the importance of managing popups effectively:
– User Experience: Excessive or intrusive popups can drive visitors away.
– SEO Impact: Google penalizes sites with intrusive interstitials, affecting search rankings.
– Campaign Timing: Pausing popups during specific periods (e.g., low-traffic days) helps optimize engagement.
Method 1: Pausing or Disabling Popups Using Plugins
Most WordPress sites use popup plugins such as Popup Maker, OptinMonster, or Elementor Popups. Here’s how to control popups with these popular tools:
1. Popup Maker:
– Log into WordPress Admin: Go to your WordPress dashboard.
– Navigate to Popup Maker: Click on Popup Maker in the sidebar.
– Edit the Popup: Find the popup you want to disable and click Edit.
– Disable or Pause:
– To temporarily disable the popup, set the Trigger to Disabled.
– Alternatively, use the Publish dropdown and select Draft to pause it.
– Save Changes: Click Update to apply the changes.
2. OptinMonster:
– Log in to OptinMonster Dashboard: Access your OptinMonster account.
– Select the Campaign: Choose the campaign you want to disable.
– Toggle the Status: Set the campaign status to Paused or Inactive.
– Save Changes: Click Save to confirm.
3. Elementor Popups:
– Open Elementor Editor: Go to the page or template containing the popup.
– Access Popup Settings: In the sidebar, click on the Popup option.
– Disable Display Conditions: Remove or modify display conditions to prevent the popup from appearing.
– Save and Update: Click Publish or Update.
Method 2: Disabling Popups Site-Wide
If you want to remove all popups across your site, follow these steps:
1. Deactivate the Plugin:
– Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins in your WordPress dashboard.
– Find the popup plugin and click Deactivate.
– This will disable all popups associated with that plugin.
2. Delete the Popup Plugin:
– If you no longer need popups, you can delete the plugin.
– After deactivating, click Delete to remove it from your site.
Note: Deleting a plugin permanently removes its settings, so back up any important data first.
Method 3: Pausing Popups with Custom Code (Advanced Users)
For advanced users familiar with coding, you can disable popups using custom scripts:
1. Edit Functions.php:
– Navigate to Appearance > Theme Editor.
– Open the functions.php file.
– Add a conditional statement to prevent popups from loading:
“`php
function disable_popups() {
if (is_user_logged_in()) {
wp_dequeue_script(‘popup-script-handle’);
}
}
add_action(‘wp_enqueue_scripts’, ‘disable_popups’);
“`
– Replace `’popup-script-handle’` with the actual script handle from your popup plugin.
2. Save Changes: Click Update File.
Best Practices for Popup Management
– Schedule Campaigns: Use scheduling features to activate popups only during specific times or promotions.
– Limit Frequency: Avoid overwhelming users by limiting how often popups appear.
– Test Responsiveness: Ensure your popups are optimized for mobile devices to comply with Google’s guidelines.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
– Popups Still Appear: Clear your browser cache or use incognito mode to check changes.
– Conflicting Plugins: Deactivate other plugins one by one to identify conflicts.
– Contact Support: If issues persist, consult the plugin’s support documentation or forums.
Effectively managing popups on your WordPress site improves user experience and maintains your site’s credibility. Whether you need to pause an ongoing campaign or disable all popups, tools like Popup Maker, OptinMonster, and Elementor make the process straightforward. By following these steps, you can control how and when your popups appear, ensuring they enhance your website rather than detract from it.