OptiMonk Review: DIY Pop-ups, Sidebars, and More
As an e-commerce store owner, you should use whatever tools you have in your tech arsenal to build a loyal customer base. And with new apps coming out every day, it’s easier than ever to do so.
But how do you know which platforms are best for you and your business?
Let’s face it:
It’s tough to know for sure.
But today, we’re going to tell you all about OptiMonk, one of the most popular lead generation tools out there.
With this full guide to OptiMonk and all its bells and whistles, you’ll see how it can turn your store into the high-conversion business you’ve always known it could be.
What Is OptiMonk?
OptiMonk is a conversion rate optimization tool that generates pop-ups and sidebars for your Shopify store. It’s become a popular option for e-commerce store owners who want to aggressively pursue leads and convert them to sales.
But OptiMonk does more than generate leads — it boasts a CRM model that increases engagement levels. So while it is possible for savvy marketers to generate leads without OptiMonk, boosting and maintaining visitor engagement will still be its own acrobatic feat.
How does OptiMonk increase engagement? It allows you to add product recommendations, promotions, and on-site visitor redirects that turn visitors into shoppers.
Additionally, OptiMonk lets you generate forms to collect contact information from visitors to add to your newsletter lists. This can include email addresses as well as phone numbers to sign up for SMS message offers.
And while it’s easier to get visitors to sign up for your email newsletter, it’s not always easy to get them to make that initial purchase. This is where OptiMonk comes in handy again, as you can send out announcements and special offers to grease the wheels and coax subscribers toward repeat purchases.
Looking for help with your marketing? Learn more about our
Shopify email marketing services!
Conversion Optimization and Your Shopify Store
We cannot overstate how essential it is to optimize your Shopify store for conversions. Investing time and attention into conversion rate optimization (CRO) is how e-commerce businesses grow. Running a store that isn’t maximizing its sales potential is a waste of your time and money.
To properly set up a store that generates sales, there are a few basic steps to keep in mind:
Know your brand’s culture and develop a strategy to attract your desired customers.
Invest in tools that enable you to put your strategy in place.
Measure the success of your work.
Tweak and improve your strategy as necessary.
CRO is an ever-evolving process that needs to be monitored. Over time, you’ll develop strategies that help your business succeed and keep customers coming back for more.
Remember: What works for one store may not work for yours. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution to CRO. This is why OptiMonk is an especially useful plugin.
How OptiMonk Works
OptiMonk’s pop-ups and side messages target website visitors based on behavior.
They initiate contact with website visitors according to factors you set, like engagement level, cart abandonment, and geolocation. You can also set parameters to reach out to new and returning visitors using unique variables.
You can choose the pop-up templates you use, such as mailing list subscription forms, social questionnaires, redirects, and cart abandonment reminders.
Along with pop-ups, OptiMonk lets you initiate website sidebars. Among other things, these sidebars can:
Collect subscriptions to build email lists
Redirect to your social pages
Count down to sales
Nanobars, which you can place at the top or bottom of your page, offer visitors more opt-in features. For example, visitors can opt to follow your brand on social media or read GDPR compliance information.
OptiMonk Design Options
Let’s go into detail about the design templates OptiMonk can bring to your Shopify store.
Pop-ups
OptiMonk’s pop-ups generally appear in the center of the screen on a particular page and convince your visitors to become subscribers. They can also redirect visitors to another page, such as back to the shopping cart to prevent abandonment.
You decide the frequency and how pop-ups are triggered. Depending on how you tweak the settings, full-screen pop-ups can appear on a number of landing pages and serve as exit-intent reminders to enhance your retargeting efforts.
Nanobars
Appearing in your store’s header or footer, OptiMonk’s nanobars are sticky notifications that serve as calls-to-action (CTAs). They do not overlap other content, so your shopper can continue browsing without interruption.
Nanobars can remind your website visitors to sign up for subscription lists, follow your brand on social media, rate your store for feedback, and accept your privacy policy.
Sidebars
Sidebars are widgets you place on the side of a webpage. They serve as gentle nudges that remind visitors to submit feedback, finish a purchase, and become a subscriber.
As with pop-ups and nanobars, you can choose where the sidebar is placed and customize it to match the look and feel of your store.
DIY and Customization
OptiMonk’s new drag-and-drop editing features make it easy to add elements to your Shopify store. These elements include social media windows, on-site messengers, and tab options.
While messenger and social targeting options help you collect visitor information directly, tabs are more discreet. They are miniaturized versions of your pop-ups that appear in the corner of the screen and can subtly keep your offers in the shopper’s mind as they browse.
Tabs are triggered either before the pop-up appears or after the visitor closes the pop-up.
Integrations
It is possible to integrate OptiMonk with other software-as-a-service (SaaS) tools, such as Recart, MailChimp, and Klaviyo.
To integrate OptiMonk with other apps, you simply need to:
Log into your accounts for each tool you wish to integrate.
Select your API key.
Add it to your OptiMonk account.
This lets you easily share user data between all your marketing tools.
OptiMonk Pricing: How Much Does It Cost?
OptiMonk offers several pricing options. Explore the packages below, listed in ascending order, and choose the plan based on your business needs:
Free Plan
OptiMonk’s free plan lets you explore some of its key features, albeit on a smaller scale than paid plans.
Expect the following with a free plan:
Unlimited campaigns
Only one Shopify domain allowed
3,000 page views per month
$0 per month
Essential Plan
Unlimited campaigns
Only one domain
A/B testing to measure user experience
25,000 page views
$29 per month
Growth Plan
Unlimited campaigns
Four domains maximum
A/B testing
Custom variables to refine tracking parameters
Cart rule integrations
100,000 page views
$79 per month
Premium Plan
Unlimited campaigns
10 domains maximum
A/B testing, custom variables, and cart rules
Priority support
No OptiMonk branding
500,000 page views
$199/month
Master Plan
Unlimited campaigns
A/B testing, custom variables, cart rules
Priority support
No OptiMonk branding
Customizable page views (based on pricing)
Pricing varies; contact OptiMonk directly
You may want to check out a free trial initially. But if you truly want to ramp up your marketing efforts, paid plans are the way to go.
All paid plans are available on a per-month basis, but annual subscribers receive two free months. You get all the plan’s features for a year, but you only pay for ten months.
As for page views, OptiMonk notifies you when you’ve reached 80% and then 100% of your total monthly allotment. That way, it doesn’t catch you off guard.
What Type of Stores Need OptiMonk?
At this point, you can probably see that many e-commerce stores would benefit from using OptiMonk.
Here are a few ways that OptiMonk can bring value to your business:
Segmenting Website Visitors
Stores with a wide section of visitors would be superbly served by this app. This is because it utilizes segmenting technology, which allows you to reach unique groups of visitors through tailored campaigns.
Encouraging Brand Loyalty
If you need to build customer loyalty, OptiMonk is a smart option. It will direct your website visitors to your social pages, which can increase their interest in your brand and community.
Redirecting Shoppers
Businesses with cart abandonment woes can benefit from OptiMonk. Its pop-ups, nanobars, and sidebars can redirect otherwise distracted shoppers back to their neglected carts.
Adding Fun Promotions
Brands that sell lighthearted goods and services may enjoy OptiMonk’s gamification features. This lets you turn your promotional offers into tempting play-to-win campaigns.
You can add a lucky wheel or scratchcard pop-up to your website. Once visitors play the pop-up game, a coupon code is offered, enthralling shoppers and encouraging a purchase.
OptiMonk can be valuable for both B2B and B2C shops. Though they may go about it differently, every store wants to increase its revenue, and OptiMonk is a formidable lead-generation tool that can help with that task.
Is Using OptiMonk Better Than Hiring a Pro Marketer/Developer?
There are a few ways to build a revenue-generating Shopify store. Some business owners either hire developers and marketers, while others use apps like OptiMonk to do those jobs themselves.
The best path for your business depends on several factors, including:
Business Goals
As we mentioned, just about any ecommerce store on the Shopify platform can benefit from using OptiMonk.
Odds are, one of your main business goals is to build a brand that generates money and continues to attract and retain customers. OptiMonk’s targeting and retargeting features are designed to do those very things.
Brand Identity
Though OptiMonk has many pick-and-choose customizations, one of the few complaints e-commerce store owners have about OptiMonk is its lack of custom theme options. If you pride yourself on your store’s unique look and feel, OptiMonk tools may not suit your style.
Similarly, if your business is all about creating a personal touch, you may prefer to hire a pro. Expert developers can create customer engagement and lead generation tools that are truly personalized to your brand and target shoppers.
Budget
Money may be the largest factor in the developers vs. OptiMonk matchup. Depending on who you hire, experts could be a lot more expensive than an OptiMonk plan.
Keep in mind that these aren’t mutually exclusive options. Expert Shopify store developers, like us at SKU Agency, can help you take full advantage of the features OptiMonk and other apps offer.
Conclusion
OptiMonk has many exceptional features that may make it a no-brainer option for your e-commerce business.
Odds are, you want to grow your email subscribers list, reduce cart abandonment, engage customers, build loyalty, and drive conversions. OptiMonk can help with all of these things.
While choosing this platform may be ideal for many stores, it’s not a match for everyone. You may still prefer to work with e-commerce developers who can create custom solutions for your store.
Interested in working with Shopify experts to meet your goals? Check out how our services can help you build a brand that leaves the other guys behind.
