Targeting & Triggers Guide

Popify's targeting and trigger system helps you display social proof notifications at exactly the right moment to maximize conversions. This guide covers how to show recent customer activity, orders, and visitor behavior to build trust and urgency.

Understanding Popify's Core Features

Popify specializes in displaying real-time customer activity to create social proof and FOMO (fear of missing out). The platform captures and displays:

Recent orders - Show when customers make purchases
Add to cart events - Display when visitors add items to their cart
Live visitor count - Show how many people are currently browsing
Product views - Highlight when others are viewing specific items
Recent purchases by location - Show where customers are buying from

These notifications build trust and encourage action by showing that real people are actively engaging with your store.

Trigger Types

Time-Based Triggers

Page Load Delay

Set how long after page load the notification appears
Recommended: 3-5 seconds to let visitors orient themselves
Too fast = annoying; too slow = missed opportunity
Best for: Welcome messages, general social proof

Time on Page

Trigger after visitor spends X seconds on the page
Shows visitor is engaged and ready for a nudge
Recommended: 10-15 seconds for product pages
Best for: Exit intent alternatives, engagement signals

Scheduled Display

Show notifications during specific days or hours
Align with flash sales, limited-time offers, or peak shopping hours
Set different rules for weekdays vs. weekends
Best for: Time-sensitive promotions, business hours

Cart Abandonment

Detect when visitor is about to leave with items in cart
Combine with exit intent for maximum effect
Offer incentives to complete purchase
Best for: Recovery campaigns, last-minute discounts

Display Rules & Targeting

Page-Level Targeting

Specific Pages

Homepage only: Broad welcome messages, general social proof
Product pages: Show recent purchases of that specific item
Cart page: Display urgency messages, similar customer purchases
Checkout page: Reinforce trust with recent order notifications
Collection/category pages: Show activity for products in that category

URL Matching

Exact match: Target one specific page
Contains: Target all URLs with specific text
Starts with: Target entire sections of your site
Regex patterns: Advanced URL targeting for complex rules

Device Type

Desktop vs. mobile different experiences
Tablet-specific notifications
Adjust sizing and positioning per device
Optimize for touch vs. click interactions

Advanced Targeting

User Behavior Segmentation

High intent: Visited multiple product pages
Price-sensitive: Viewed sale items
Browser type: Abandoned cart previously
Engagement level: Time spent on site

Social Proof Notification Types

Recent Purchase Notifications

Real-Time Orders Display recent purchases as they happen:

"John from New York just purchased [Product Name]"
"Someone in California bought this 5 minutes ago"
"2 people purchased this in the last hour"

Configuration Tips:

Show real customer names (first name only) or "Someone"
Include location (city/state or just country)
Display time elapsed (just now, 5 minutes ago, 1 hour ago)
Add product image for visual appeal
Limit to purchases from last 24-48 hours for authenticity

Add to Cart Activity

Live Cart Events Show when visitors add items to their cart:

"3 people have this in their cart right now"
"Sarah just added this to cart"
"This item was added to 12 carts today"

Configuration Tips:

More subtle than purchase notifications
Update in real-time as events occur
Group similar events ("5 people" vs. individual names)
Use to build urgency without being too aggressive

Live Visitor Count

Active Visitors Display how many people are currently browsing:

"24 people are viewing this right now"
"15 shoppers currently on this page"
"High traffic: 50+ visitors online"

Configuration Tips:

Update count periodically (every 30-60 seconds)
Round to nearest 5 or 10 for believability
Show site-wide or page-specific counts
Indicate increased activity during peaks

Product View Notifications

Viewing Activity Show when others view specific products:

"This product was viewed 47 times today"
"3 people are looking at this right now"
"Trending: 120+ views in the last 24 hours"

Configuration Tips:

Particularly effective on product pages
Combine with purchase data for stronger effect
Update regularly to maintain accuracy
Highlight trending or popular items

Location-Based Activity

Geographic Social Proof Show where customers are buying from:

"Customers from 15 countries bought this"
"Popular in United States, Canada, and UK"
"Recently shipped to Texas, Florida, and New York"

Configuration Tips:

Builds international credibility
Personalizes experience by showing local activity
Use flags or location pins for visual interest
Rotate between different locations

Inventory & Urgency Notifications

Stock Alerts Create urgency with inventory information:

"Only 3 left in stock!"
"Low stock: Order soon"
"Back in stock - selling fast!"
"Limited quantity available"

Configuration Tips:

Only use with genuinely low stock
Update dynamically based on real inventory
Combine with recent purchase data
Don't overuse or visitors will become skeptical

Timing & Frequency Settings

Display Duration

How Long to Show

Quick notifications: 3-5 seconds (social proof)
Standard: 5-8 seconds (promotions)
Extended: 10-15 seconds (important information)
Sticky: Until closed by user (critical messages)

Animation Timing

Fade in: 0.3-0.5 seconds
Display time: Per above recommendations
Fade out: 0.3-0.5 seconds
Consider reading speed of your message

Notification Frequency

Time Between Notifications

Minimum recommended: 8-10 seconds between popups
High traffic: Can show more frequently
Low traffic: Space out more to avoid appearing fake
Balance: Show enough to create FOMO, not so much it's annoying

Per Session Limits

Limit total notifications shown per visit
Recommended: 5-10 notifications per session maximum
Different limits for different notification types
Respect visitors' attention and patience

Same Notification Repeat

Don't show the exact same notification twice in one session
Rotate through different recent activities
Vary the messaging and products
Keep content fresh and believable

Optimal Timing Strategies

Homepage Strategy

First notification: 3-5 seconds after load
Focus on: General site activity, recent orders site-wide
Frequency: Every 10-15 seconds
Goal: Build immediate credibility

Product Page Strategy

First notification: 5-8 seconds after load
Focus on: Product-specific purchases, cart additions, views
Frequency: Every 12-18 seconds
Goal: Drive specific product purchase

Cart Page Strategy

First notification: Immediately or 2-3 seconds
Focus on: Similar purchases, urgency messages
Frequency: Every 15-20 seconds (less aggressive)
Goal: Encourage checkout completion

Best Practices

Authenticity is Critical

Use Real Data

Always show actual customer activity
Never fabricate purchases or visitor counts
Keep time stamps accurate and recent
Update data regularly for accuracy

Maintain Credibility

Don't show impossibly high numbers
Match notification frequency to actual traffic
Show realistic time frames (avoid "just now" for old data)
Be consistent with your brand voice

Balance and Restraint

Don't Overwhelm

Fewer, well-timed notifications beat constant popups
Consider total notifications per page view
Respect visitor attention span
Monitor bounce rates and adjust

Prioritize Notifications

Purchase notifications > Cart additions > Views
Show most impactful social proof first
Save less urgent messages for later
Create a hierarchy of importance

Mobile Optimization

Mobile Considerations

Smaller screen = less intrusive notifications needed
Position carefully (usually bottom of screen)
Shorter display times on mobile
Larger tap targets for dismissal
Test on actual devices

Testing and Optimization

What to Test

Notification timing and frequency
Message wording and style
Display duration
Positioning on page
Visual design variations

Key Metrics

Conversion rate impact
Click-through rate (if notifications link)
Bounce rate changes
Time on site
Cart abandonment rate

Continuous Improvement

Run A/B tests on timing
Experiment with different notification types
Adjust frequency based on performance
Review data weekly or monthly

Common Targeting Scenarios

Scenario 1: New Product Launch

Goal: Drive awareness and first purchases

Targeting Setup:

Page: New product page only
Trigger: 5 seconds after page load
Notifications: "15 people viewing this right now", "Just added to 3 carts"
Frequency: Every 10 seconds
Additional: Exit intent with special launch discount

Scenario 2: Abandoned Cart Recovery

Goal: Recover lost sales

Targeting Setup:

Page: All pages after cart page visit
Trigger: Exit intent or 30 seconds of inactivity
Notifications: "Others completed checkout for this item", "Still available - cart expires in 10 minutes"
Frequency: Once per session
Additional: Offer incentive on second visit

Scenario 3: Flash Sale Promotion

Goal: Create urgency and maximize sales

Targeting Setup:

Page: Site-wide during sale period
Trigger: 3 seconds after page load
Notifications: "128 people shopping the sale now", "Sarah just bought 2 items from the sale"
Frequency: Every 8 seconds
Additional: Countdown timer, stock alerts

Scenario 4: Building Trust for New Store

Goal: Establish credibility with social proof

Targeting Setup:

Page: Homepage and key product pages
Trigger: 4 seconds after page load
Notifications: "Verified purchase from [location]", "500+ happy customers", "Featured in [Publication]"
Frequency: Every 15 seconds
Additional: Show customer reviews, trust badges

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Notifications Not Appearing

Check page targeting rules
Verify trigger conditions are met
Ensure notification is published/active
Check if frequency caps are hit
Review browser console for errors

Too Many/Too Few Notifications

Adjust frequency settings
Modify session limits
Review trigger sensitivity
Check if data source is active

Low Conversion Impact

Test different messaging
Adjust timing and positioning
Ensure notifications are relevant
Check mobile experience
Verify data authenticity

Visitor Complaints

Reduce frequency immediately
Make close button more prominent
Review exit intent sensitivity
Ensure mobile experience isn't intrusive
Add frequency caps per visitor

Advanced Strategies

Sequential Messaging

Show different notifications based on visitor progression
First visit: Social proof
Second visit: Exclusive offer
Third visit: Strong incentive

Dynamic Content

Personalize based on browsing history
Show notifications for viewed products
Reference visitor's location
Adjust messaging by traffic source

Integration with Email/SMS

Coordinate popup timing with email campaigns
Suppress for customers who recently purchased
Different targeting for email subscribers
Follow up cart abandonment across channels

Key Takeaways

Authenticity matters: Always use real customer data
Timing is everything: Right message at right moment converts best
Less is more: Quality over quantity for notifications
Mobile-first: Optimize for mobile users always
Test continuously: Small changes can significantly impact results
Match to traffic: Scale notification frequency to actual visitor volume
Respect users: Easy to close, not too aggressive

By strategically targeting your Popify notifications and using appropriate triggers, you'll create authentic social proof that builds trust, creates urgency, and increases conversions wit