Learn how to create your first popup campaign with HashBar. This guide walks you through every step from navigating to the editor to publishing a high-converting popup on your website.
Note: Features marked (PRO) require HashBar Pro. All other features are available in the free version.
Prerequisites
- WordPress 5.0 or higher installed
- HashBar plugin installed and activated
- Administrator access to your WordPress dashboard
Step 1: Navigate to Popup Campaign
From your WordPress dashboard, go to HashBar > Popup Campaign. You’ll see the popup campaign list page where all your popups are managed.
Click the “Create New” button to create your first popup campaign.
Step 2: Choose a Template
The editor opens with the Templates tab. Choose from the ready templates library of professionally designed, conversion-optimized popups to get started quickly.
Templates are available for various goals including lead capture, promotions, exit intent, announcements, and more. Pick one that matches your goal, customize it, and publish.
Tip: You can also start from scratch without a template. Skip the Templates tab and configure each tab manually for full control.
Step 3: Configure Basic Settings
Switch to the Basic tab to set your campaign type and popup position.
Campaign Types
| Type | Best For |
|---|---|
| Lead Capture | Building your email list |
| Announcement | Sharing important news |
| Promotion | Highlighting special offers |
| Exit Intent | Recovering leaving visitors |
| Welcome | Greeting new visitors |
| Survey (PRO) | Collecting feedback |
| Age Verification (PRO) | Verifying visitor age |
| Cookie Consent (PRO) | GDPR compliance |
Popup Positions
| Position | Description |
|---|---|
| Center Modal | Classic popup centered on screen |
| Bottom Right | Slides in from bottom-right corner |
| Bottom Left | Slides in from bottom-left corner |
| Floating Box | Floating element that stays in view |
| Fullscreen (PRO) | Covers entire viewport for maximum impact |
| Side Panel Left (PRO) | Slides in from left edge |
| Side Panel Right (PRO) | Slides in from right edge |
Step 4: Add Your Content
Switch to the Content tab to configure your popup’s message, image, and CTA button.
Content Settings
- Choose your Content Type (Custom Content, HT Contact Form, or PRO options like Custom HTML, Contact Form 7, WPForms, etc.).
- Enter your Heading text (e.g., “Don’t Miss Out!”).
- Enter your Body Text with your offer or message.
- Optionally add an Image and choose image position (Top, Bottom, or PRO: Left, Right, Background).
- Configure your CTA Button – text, URL, and link target.
Step 5: Set a Trigger
Go to the Triggers tab to control when your popup appears. For your first popup, we recommend starting with Time Delay.
| Trigger | Description |
|---|---|
| Immediate | Shows as soon as the page loads |
| Time Delay | Shows after X seconds (recommended: 3-5 seconds) |
| Exit Intent | Shows when visitor moves to leave the page |
| Scroll Depth (PRO) | Shows after scrolling X% of the page |
| Element Click (PRO) | Shows when a specific element is clicked |
| User Inactivity (PRO) | Shows after X seconds of no activity |
| Element Visible (PRO) | Shows when a specific element enters viewport |
| Page Views (PRO) | Shows after X page views |
Tip: A 3-5 second Time Delay is a good starting point. It gives visitors a moment to engage with your page before the popup appears, which typically results in better conversion rates.
Step 6: Publish Your Popup
- Give your popup a title at the top of the editor (for your reference only, not displayed to visitors).
- Review your popup in the Live Preview panel on the right side.
- Click the “Publish” button.
Your popup campaign is now live! Visit your site’s frontend to verify it appears correctly based on the trigger you configured.
Step 7: Customize Further (Optional)
Once your basic popup is running, explore additional tabs to enhance it:
| Tab | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Form | Build lead capture forms with 11 field types |
| Design | Customize colors, backgrounds, typography, and buttons |
| Targeting | Control which pages, devices, and users see your popup |
| Frequency | Set how often visitors see the popup (once per session, once per day, etc.) |
| Schedule | Set start and end dates for your campaign |
| Animation | Add smooth entry and exit animations (15 options) |
| Countdown | Add a countdown timer to create urgency |
| Coupon | Display a coupon code with one-click copy |
Quick Example: Email Newsletter Signup Popup
Here’s a quick example to create a lead capture popup:
- Choose a Lead Capture template from the library
- Set campaign type to Lead Capture and position to Center Modal
- Set heading to: “Join Our Newsletter”
- Set body text to: “Get exclusive deals and updates delivered to your inbox.”
- Go to the Form tab and add Email and Name fields
- Set the success message to: “Thank you for subscribing!”
- Set trigger to Time Delay – 5 seconds
- Set frequency to Once Per Session
- Publish
What’s Next?
Now that your first popup is live, explore these guides to unlock more features:
- Popup Campaign Editor Guide – Complete tab-by-tab reference for all 12 editor tabs
- Countdown Timer Guide – Create urgency with Fixed, Evergreen, and Recurring timers
- Coupon Display Guide – Show discount codes with one-click copy
- Targeting & Triggers Guide – Master all 8 smart triggers and targeting options
- Analytics Guide – Track views, clicks, and conversions
- A/B Testing Guide – Test different popup variants to find the best performer (PRO)
- Use Cases & Recipes – Real-world examples with step-by-step configurations
That’s it! You’ve successfully created your first popup campaign with HashBar. If you need additional assistance, feel free to contact our support team.