How to Create Popup Modal In WordPress [Easy to Use Plugin]

Imagine the impact of a popup appearing whenever a visitor clicks a specific button on your WordPress site. Rather than sending users to a different page, which can lead to a loss of engagement, you could keep them on the same screen while displaying a contact form, extra information, or a login prompt, seamlessly overlaying the existing content. This seamless approach enhances user experience and maintains their interest. 

What’s more, adding a popup modal can be a game-changer for your website’s functionality. It not only helps in capturing leads and growing your email lists and providing instant information but also enhances user interaction without disrupting their browsing experience. In fact, using popup builders can lead to a remarkable 40% increase in conversion rates for websites.

If you're thinking about adding modal popups to your WordPress site, you're in the right place. In this article, we'll show you just how easy it can be to set them up using a plugin and break down the differences between using a plugin and creating popups from scratch.

What is a Modal Popup?

Unlike standard popups that may open in a new browser window or tab, a modal popup is a special type of window that grabs the spotlight by overlaying the main content of your website. Unlike slide-in popups that appear subtly from the side or bottom of the screen, modal popups demand full attention, as user’s interaction is required to close it or continue browsing.

Let’s dive into the key features of modal popups, explore when they’re most commonly used, and see how they stand out from other types of popups.

Key Characteristics of Modal Popups

The standout feature of modal popups is that they block any interaction with the site’s content until the popup is dealt with. This guarantees visitors will engage with the popup — by filling in the form, clicking a link, or simply closing it.

Whether it's prompting a signup, offering a deal, or delivering important information, a modal form in WordPress is the ultimate attention-grabber, ensuring that your message gets seen and acted upon before the user returns to the rest of the page. 

Modal popups can either:

• Completely cover the page

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• Partially dim it

• Appear without dimming the underlying content

Modal popups can serve various purposes and showcase a wide range of content, including:

• Text
• Images
• Videos
• Forms for filling out
• Promo codes

They can even combine multiple elements in one popup for a more dynamic experience.

Common Uses of Modal Popups

Modal popups are incredibly versatile and can be used for various purposes, but there are a few key areas where they really shine:

• Lead Generation: Nearly 50% of marketers consider online sign-up forms to be the best tool for lead generation, with lead generation popups accounting for 66% of all web forms in use (FormStory data). Modal popups allow capturing contact details and personal info by offering something valuable in return — discounts, promo codes, or exclusive content. It's a win-win for both you and your visitors.
• Announcements: Got big news? Use the WordPress modal box to ensure important updates — like site changes, new product launches, or policy updates. They help make sure everyone sees your key messages.
• Calls to Action: Need to guide visitors towards specific actions? Modal popups can contain strong CTAs, guiding users to take specific actions like signing up, making a purchase, or downloading a resource.
• Surveys and Forms: Feedback pop-ups typically achieve an average conversion rate of 12.62% (Sumo data). Whether you're gathering feedback, gauging preferences, or collecting data, WordPress modal forms make it easy for visitors to interact without leaving the page, making them a powerful tool for insight collection.

Claspo provides an easy-to-use drag-and-drop popup builder for WordPress packed with customization options and a wide variety of templates. We understand exactly how popups can make a big impact. For example, GradeUA used Claspo’s popups to double their conversion rates by effectively capturing leads and engaging visitors.

Why Use Modal Popups in Your WordPress Website

Let’s explore how WP modal popups can be used and the valuable benefits they offer to your business.

Enhanced User Engagement

One of the great things about modal popups is their versatility as they can be effectively used at various stages of the customer journey. By tailoring your messages and incentives, you can boost user engagement exactly when and where you need it. For example, if you’re aiming to collect email addresses from new visitors, you can display a popup offering a compelling reason to subscribe. 

This could be:

• A promo code or free shipping if you run an online store

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• A free eBook or checklist for an online course

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• A discount, a free trial or a demo if you’re a SaaS business, etc.

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For example, Claspo’s builder includes a handy promo code element that’s easy to add to your popups. Visitors can copy the code with just one click, making it super convenient for them to use.

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Modal popups aren't just great for growing your contact list. They’re also perfect for informing visitors about important updates, changes, or promotions.

For instance, if you’re running a giveaway and want to boost traffic to that page, create a modal popup to spread the word. To encourage clicks rather than dismissals, include a captivating image or video of the prize and give a brief but exciting description.

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Additionally, modal popups are an excellent way to keep your website visitors informed. Their features ensure your message won’t go unnoticed.

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Increased Conversion Rates

Modal popups not only boost engagement but also drive higher conversions across different stages of the customer lifecycle. Along with the bonuses and incentives we’ve mentioned, you can enhance conversions by incorporating elements like:

• Sliders

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• Videos

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• Сountdown timers

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• Сustomer testimonials

Effective Communication Tool

Emails, messages, and mobile push notifications are great tools for staying connected with customers. They help you deliver valuable information, notify subscribers about promotions and new arrivals, and recommend products.

However, to use them effectively, you first need to collect customer contact details. That's where webpage widgets come in handy — they let you engage with all your website visitors without needing their prior consent.

Use modal popups to:

• Notify consumers about upcoming promotions. For example, Sephora used a modal popup to announce an upcoming event to their site visitors. The speaker's photo grabs attention right away, the event date is clearly highlighted, and the bold red accent makes the CTA stand out.

• Recommend items. Take MenKind, for example. After visitors add an item to their cart, they’re shown products frequently purchased with it. This smart approach lets you make personalized offers to visitors, even if you don’t have their data or they aren’t subscribers yet. It’s a great way to encourage customers to add more to their cart and increase their total purchase value.

Lead Generation and Email Capture

Lead generation is a crucial part of any marketer’s job, but it can be resource-intensive — 53% of marketers spend at least half their budget on it. This is where modal popups come in to make things easier. By creating targeted popups with lead magnets, you can capture valuable contact information effortlessly and see increased conversion rates when using lead magnets to boost signups.

Here are some popular types of lead magnets that can drive results:

• Ebooks: Offer comprehensive guides or in-depth explorations of topics that are highly relevant to your target audience. These can provide valuable knowledge, tips, and actionable insights, positioning your brand as an authority in your industry. eBooks are particularly effective because they deliver substantial value in exchange for contact details.

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• Whitepapers: Present detailed reports or research findings that address specific industry challenges or emerging trends. Whitepapers are ideal for engaging a professional audience looking for credible, data-driven information. They often require a higher level of commitment from the reader, which can translate to more qualified leads.

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• Free Courses or Webinars: 44% of respondents identify webinars as among the most effective lead magnets. Share high-value resources that are only available to those who sign up, such as in-depth free courses, webinars, or video series. Exclusive content helps build a sense of exclusivity and can enhance the perceived value of your offerings, encouraging users to provide their contact information.

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• Exclusive Discounts: Lead magnets with a monetary incentive, like discounts, consistently show some of the highest conversion rates. Offer financial incentives, such as a percentage off or a fixed amount off their next purchase. Discounts and coupons can effectively encourage immediate action and are particularly useful for converting visitors who are on the fence about making a purchase.

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Guiding User Behavior

By strategically placing popups, you can nudge visitors toward key actions and improve engagement. For example, if someone is visiting your site for the first time, you can greet them with a welcome popup or a widget that helps identify their needs. For instance, a clothing shop could ask them which category they're interested in — men’s, women’s, or children’s. And if a visitor has been browsing your catalog for a while, you can display a popup offering help from a consultant.

You can also use popups to highlight limited-time offers or special promotions when users visit specific product pages, encouraging faster decision-making and driving sales.

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Improving User Retention

Modal popups let you engage with visitors based on their behavior in a more personalized way. For instance, you can use exit-intent pop-ups to catch those about to leave your site without making a purchase.

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Tailor this strategy to different stages of their journey:

1. If someone lands on your homepage but hasn’t browsed your catalog, show them a popup featuring a category of products on sale.
2. If they’ve viewed products but haven’t made a selection, offer a promo code or discount through a popup.
3. If they’ve added items to their cart but are about to leave, sweeten the deal with free or discounted shipping.

Setup You Need to Get Started with Claspo WordPress Popup Plugin

As we move forward from exploring the impact of modal widgets on website engagement and conversions, it’s time to get hands-on with the Claspo WordPress Popup Plugin and see why it’s considered one of the best WordPress plugins of 2025.

Drag-and-Drop Builder

Claspo offers a highly intuitive builder that lets you design popups effortlessly without coding skills. With its simple drag-and-drop interface, you can easily arrange elements, add text, images, and calls to action, and watch your design come to life instantly. Whether you’re setting up a promotional popup or a lead capture form, Claspo’s builder ensures a smooth, hassle-free experience, letting you focus on designing engaging popups.

Wide Range of Templates

Claspo offers a vast array of pre-designed templates, so you can quickly and easily create polished popups in just minutes. Each template is fully customizable, letting you tweak colors, fonts, images, and other design elements to perfectly match your website’s branding.

Advanced Targeting Options

You can customize your popups to reach specific audiences based on a variety of criteria, including user behavior, geographic location, device type, and more. This precision ensures that your popups are shown to the most relevant users at the most opportune moments, maximizing their impact. 

Whether you want to engage new visitors, re-engage returning users, or target mobile users differently from desktop users, Claspo’s targeting capabilities allow you to deliver highly relevant content that resonates with each segment of your audience.

A/B Testing Capabilities

Claspo gives you the power to fine-tune your popup performance with its built-in A/B testing features. It lets you create different versions of a popup by tweaking elements like headlines, images, calls-to-action, or design layouts. 

You can then test these variations side by side to see which one resonates best with your audience. You can compare two or more popups and get automatic results. By tracking key performance metrics like click-through rates and conversions, Claspo pinpoints the winning design that drives the most success.

Seamless Integration

Claspo offers seamless integration with a wide array of marketing tools and platforms, making connecting your popup campaigns with your existing marketing ecosystem easy. Whether you're using email marketing services like Mailchimp, HubSpot, or others or need to sync with your CRM system, Claspo ensures all your data flows smoothly between platforms. This integration allows you to automatically sync the contact information collected from your popups into your email lists or CRM, enabling you to follow up with leads instantly. Additionally, Claspo supports webhooks, allowing you to set up real-time data transfers and automate workflows with almost any marketing app.

Responsive Design

With Claspo, all your popups are fully mobile-responsive, ensuring a seamless experience for your audience no matter what device they’re using. Whether visitors browse your website on a desktop, tablet, or smartphone, the popups you create will automatically adjust to fit perfectly on any screen size. This means your messaging will always look sharp, load quickly, and function flawlessly, regardless of the device.

Exit-Intent Technology

Claspo’s exit-intent technology is designed to keep visitors from leaving your site without engaging. When someone is about to exit, it triggers a perfectly timed popup, giving you one last chance to capture their attention. Whether you're offering a special discount, promoting a limited-time deal, or simply asking for feedback, this feature helps you re-engage potential customers before they bounce.

How to Add a Modal Popup Using a Claspo WordPress Plugin (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Installation and Setup

The first step for adding a popup modal in WordPress is to install and set up the Claspo plugin. Here’s how to add popup messages on WordPress:

1. Download the plugin. Head over to the WordPress Plugin Directory and download the Claspo WordPress Plugin.
2. Install the plugin:
   • In your WordPress dashboard, go to the Plugins section and click on Add New.
   • Upload the downloaded plugin file, then click Install Now.
3. Activate the plugin. Once the installation is complete, simply click Activate Plugin to start using Claspo on your website.

Claspo automatically adds the necessary scripts to all your website pages, so everything runs smoothly right out of the box.

Step 2: Creating Your First Modal Popup

Once the Claspo plugin is installed, it’s time to create your first modal popup. Claspo makes the process easy by offering over 700 customizable templates tailored for various purposes.

1. Choose a template. Begin by selecting a pre-designed template that suits your needs. Claspo categorizes templates by use case, industry, and theme so you can quickly find the perfect one.

2. Or create a widget from scratch. 

3. If you decide to create a widget from scratch, start by selecting the use case and layout type that best suits your needs.

4. Next, choose the elements you'd like in your template (you can always customize them further).

Step 3: Customizing the Modal Popup

Style. After choosing a template, fine-tune it to match your brand’s look and feel using a drag-and-drop editor. You can easily adjust colors, fonts, sizes, and placements for all elements. Personalize every detail to align with your website’s design, ensuring a seamless user experience.

Customize call-to-action buttons to stand out and encourage clicks, create clear and appealing headings, and make sure your body text is easy to read. You can also adjust the close icon for clear dismissal options and set the background to establish your popup's overall tone and aesthetic.

Content. Enhance your popup by adding eye-catching images in different formats. Add a floating image for a dynamic touch or incorporate a slider to showcase multiple images or videos, creating a visually engaging and functional popup.

Whether you want to set an image as the background or use it as a decorative element, Claspo has you covered. If you don’t have your own images, explore our free, built-in image library. Just type a keyword in the search bar to find the perfect image for your widget.

Language. Our widget builder simplifies creating multilingual popups. It automatically adjusts the text to the visitor's preferred language based on their browser settings or your site’s default language. There's no need to design separate popups for each language. Just add new languages in the editor, and our system will translate your existing content, requiring only a few minor tweaks from you.

Adaptivity. Every template in our widget library is designed to be mobile responsive. This means that as you customize your modal popup, you can trust they'll look great on any device. When creating a widget from scratch, simply use the column component to ensure your form content is automatically aligned vertically on mobile screens.

Step 4: Displaying the Modal Popup

Once you've customized the appearance of your modal popup, proceed to configure its display settings. If you’re concerned about adding a popup modal in WordPress without annoying your visitors, rest easy. Claspo comes with features that ensure your popups are noticeable but not intrusive.

Overlap Protection. Claspo automatically prevents popups from stacking on top of each other, even if conflicting display rules are set.

Silence Intervals. Set a buffer period between popup appearances to avoid overwhelming users. The default is 3 minutes, but you can adjust this based on your site’s traffic and visitor interactions.

Smart Display Rules. Our system includes pre-configured conditions for popup display. You can easily customize behavioral targeting in just a few clicks, such as showing widgets only to new visitors, users on specific devices, or visitors from particular locations or UTM-tagged campaigns.

Step 5: Testing and Publishing the Modal Popup

Before making your modal popup live, it’s crucial to test its functionality and user experience across various devices and screen sizes. Claspo’s secure testing environment allows you to preview how your popup will appear on desktops and smartphones, ensuring a seamless user experience everywhere. Check for any display issues and verify that all interactive elements work smoothly.

Once you’re satisfied with the design and performance, it’s time to publish your popup. Claspo makes this step straightforward, allowing you to launch your popup with just a few clicks.

Add Popup with a Plugin or Manually?

When it comes to adding popups to your WordPress site, you have two primary options: using a plugin or adding them manually. Each approach has its own advantages and considerations, depending on your technical skills and the level of customization you require. Whether you’re aiming for quick and easy implementation or seeking precise control over every aspect of your popups, understanding these options will empower you to enhance your website’s functionality in the best way for your needs.

Ease of Use

Using a plugin. This is the easiest and most user-friendly approach. WordPress modal window plugins, like Claspo, offer intuitive drag-and-drop builders and a range of pre-designed templates, making it simple to create and customize popups without any coding knowledge. With a plugin, you can quickly install, activate, and start designing your popups within minutes. This method is ideal for those seeking a straightforward, effortless setup without the need for a team of designers and developers.

Manual method. Creating a popup manually requires a solid grasp of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. This method is best suited for those with web development experience who are comfortable writing code. While it allows for complete customization, it can be time-consuming and involves a lot of trial and error. Ensuring your popup works seamlessly on various devices and browsers introduces additional challenges. If you’re prepared for a technical challenge and prefer a hands-on approach, this might be the route for you.

Customization Options

Using a Plugin. With a plugin, you gain access to extensive customization options. Claspo WordPress plugin offers a variety of design templates, animation effects, and targeting rules, allowing you to effortlessly tweak the look and functionality of your popups without needing to write any code. Advanced features such as A/B testing, analytics, and seamless integration with email marketing services are also included, making it easier to optimize and manage your popups effectively.

Manual method. Although manually coding a popup offers complete control over every detail of its design and functionality, it requires a deeper technical understanding and more time investment compared to using a plugin. If you have specific design requirements or complex interactions in mind, manual coding can provide the flexibility you need. 

Technical Requirements

Using a plugin. Opting for a plugin means a low barrier to entry, as no coding skills are needed. You can create and manage popups directly from your WordPress dashboard using an intuitive interface. Most plugins also offer extensive support and documentation, including tutorials and customer service, simplifying troubleshooting and ensuring smooth operation.

Manual method. Creating a popup manually requires a high coding skill level, as you’ll need to write and integrate HTML, CSS, and JavaScript into your WordPress site. This includes understanding how to properly implement scripts and avoid conflicts with other site elements. Additionally, coding errors can disrupt your popup’s functionality or even affect your entire site, so debugging these issues demands a solid grasp of web development.

Maintenance and Updates

Using a plugin. With a plugin, maintenance is much easier, as development teams regularly release automatic updates to ensure compatibility with the latest versions of WordPress. You won't need to worry about maintaining or updating the code yourself. Additionally, many premium plugins offer ongoing support, assisting with any issues that may arise post-installation and giving you peace of mind.

Manual method. When you manually code popups, all maintenance and updates fall on you. If WordPress updates lead to compatibility issues, you'll need to troubleshoot and resolve them. Additionally, there's a greater potential for security risks, especially if the code isn't properly implemented or becomes outdated, leaving your site vulnerable to problems.

Performance Impact

Using a plugin. Claspo WP plugin is optimized to ensure that popups load quickly and have minimal impact on your website's performance.

Manual method. A manually coded popup tends to be very lightweight, as you control the code and include only what's necessary for your specific use case without any extra bloat. However, you'll need to handle the optimization yourself, such as minifying scripts and carefully testing load times to ensure it doesn't slow down your site.

Final Say: What to Do for the Best Outcome

In summary, creating effective popups involves a thoughtful approach that balances user experience with your marketing objectives. By being mindful of timing, targeting the right audience, optimizing for mobile devices, and limiting frequency, you can create engaging and non-intrusive popups. Coupled with A/B testing, clear exit options, compelling content, and personalization, these practices ensure that your popups enhance user experience rather than detract from it.

For those looking to implement these strategies seamlessly, choosing the best modal plugin for WordPress sites is crucial. This is where Claspo stands out. Claspo provides the tools and flexibility needed to design, deploy, and manage popups effectively, helping you achieve optimal results with minimal hassle. By combining best practices with a top-quality modal plugin like Claspo, you'll be well on your way to maximizing engagement and conversions on your site.