Hi,

Is it possible to create an exit survey from a site so that as soon as they close the browser, or go to another site, a small window appears asking them why they're leaving?

Anyone do this (I seem to have seen it once somewhere) and found it beneficial?

Thanks,
Steve

Steve,

I used to do this from another site of mine but I cant remember where Igot the script. Try http://javascript.com

You are looking for an exit pop-up

Essentially, there are several ways to attack this. Just a simple exit popup asking their feedback, or one leading to a survey on SurveyMonkey.com, or Alex Mandossian's ASK Campaigns at, I believe, http://askdatabase.com/ASK/asksignup.php

The problem I've found is being able to easily control when the pop-up appears. I want it to pop-up only when they leave from certain internal pages and are going to only external pages (i.e., leaving my site from certain pages).

I've looked at some exit popups, and they can't do this.

Anybody find this possible?

Steve

It's doable. It's an "exit = 'false'" variable in the script. For example, it's the same as making sure not to exit pop-up when a client clicks to the order page. Let me look it up ... I've seen it somewhere methinks.

OK, I think I came across that. I believe you had to put that in EVERY link on the page (ouch I wonder if it still works if the user hits the back button to an internal page.

I'll have to check it out I guess. Thanks.

Steve

Yes, it works. "Exit" means if they exit the domain. Entirely.

Michel

Can you give me a rough percentage of people responding to exit surveys vs. the people leaving? Is the number of respondents enough to make it worthwhile?

We are discussing this on another private forum and feel that people who have left your site will not be interested to spare another minute or so telling you why they left unless you offer them a big incentive.

One guy is asking this question at the end of the sales page ("if you will not order, why?") but I think it creates uncertainty at the moment of final decision and should be avoided. What is your take on this?

It depends. If you offer a free gift for their participation, and if the gift is relevant. But you don't want to offer something too big, because then it's a catch-22. People will fly by the survey just to claim the gift. Another option is to offer a gift only, ask for their email, then send the gift and an email asking them if they want to fill oiut the survey.

I had an experience with exit popups that really ticked me off.

I received an email, clicked on the link, read the sales page and decided to order - and paid full-price - $97 I think it was. It was for a piece of software with re-distribution rights. I then went back to the site to check something out, and when I left, having "observed" that I hadn't ordered on that occasion, I got an exit popup offering me the product for $50 less (but with no re-distribution rights).

I was absolutely furious because that option had not been made avaiable to me as one of the options when buying on the first go.

Moral of the story - don't offer anything that you aren't also offering to your actual (possibly loyal) customers.