Welcome mats are a type of fullscreen popup that can dramatically increase engagement and conversation rates, leading to higher signups and more revenue.
What are Welcome Mats?
A welcome mat is a type of fullscreen popup that takes over the entire screen when a visitor lands on your website. Unlike traditional popups, welcome mats are optimized with a prominent call-to-action and can be highly effective at driving signups.
| Welcome Mat | Popup | |
|---|---|---|
| Display Size | Fullscreen | Small window |
| User Experience | Can be less intrusive if well-designed | Often perceived as annoying or intrusive |
| Conversion Rate | Higher (up to 40% increase) | Lower (up to 5% decrease) |
| Content | Typically includes a clear call-to-action and offer | Often lacks clear value proposition |
| A/B Testing | Easy to test and optimize for better results | Can be difficult to test and optimize |
Example of Welcome Mats in Action: Grammarly
Grammarly is a popular SaaS tool that provides writing assistance and error detection. The company has seen significant success with its welcome mat, which offers visitors a free trial of the premium version of their tool.
The welcome mat takes over the entire screen when a visitor first lands on the site and includes a clear call-to-action to start the free trial. The welcome mat has been optimized through A/B testing to ensure that it drives the maximum number of signups while still providing a positive user experience.
After implementing their fullscreen welcome mat, Grammarly was able to achieve:
- A 10% increase in signups for their premium service.
- A 25% increase in monthly recurring revenue.
- A 40% decrease in bounce rate for visitors who saw the welcome mat.
These numbers show the powerful impact that a well-designed welcome mat can have on a SaaS company's bottom line. By providing a clear call-to-action and a compelling offer, Grammarly was able to significantly increase signups and revenue while also improving their website's performance.
| Company | Results |
|---|---|
| Teachable (formerly Fedora) | Increased daily webinar signups by 70% |
| Grammarly | Achieved a 10% increase in signups and a 25% increase in monthly recurring revenue |
| Shopify | Increased email signups by 757% |
The Importance of Using Welcome Mats Carefully
While welcome mats can be an effective tool for driving signups, it's important to use them carefully. They can negatively affect website usability, bounce rate, visitor patience, and time on page if not implemented properly.
To ensure that your welcome mat is effective, follow these best practices:
- Use a clear and compelling call to action.
- Keep the welcome mat simple and easy to close.
- Don't show the welcome mat to returning visitors.
- Use A/B testing to determine the optimal design and messaging.
| Best Practice | Description |
|---|---|
| Offer a clear value proposition | Clearly communicate the benefits of your offer to visitors |
| Use a compelling call-to-action | Make it easy for visitors to take action and sign up |
| Optimize for mobile | Ensure that your welcome mat looks and functions well on mobile devices |
| Test and optimize | Continuously A/B test your welcome mat to improve its performance |
| Use sparingly | Only show your welcome mat to new visitors or after a certain amount of time spent on the site |
By following these best practices, you can ensure that your welcome mat is a powerful tool for driving signups without negatively affecting your website's performance.
Welcome mats are a powerful tool for SaaS websites looking to increase signups and revenue. By implementing a welcome mat with a clear call-to-action and following best practices, you can see significant improvements in your conversion rate. However, it's important to use welcome mats carefully to avoid negative effects on your website's usability and performance.