Yeah, you have. It’s sitting at the very top of my website. See it up there?
It’s the light gray bar that slides down and right now is inviting you to learn my Twitter secrets. Don’t click it yet. Stay here and read this post, then you can go check out the Twitter link, k?
So why might you be interested in something like this?
Because it’s a less *in your face* way to promote something that with pop ups. It’ll get noticed, but in a less hated way.
What can you do with it?
Their home page at http://hellobar.com shows how different marketers are using it to drive clicks to their opt in pages, membership programs, products, and more.
Where can you use it?
You create your Hello Bar on their website and they give you a snippet of javascript to add to your website. So you can use it on almost any type of site, as long as you’re able to edit your code and add javascript. Here’s a post that shows how to add it to Weebly, Joomla, and a bunch of others.
My two cents about it…
A few weeks ago I blogged about how many more opt ins I was getting to my list since I’d added a pop up to my site (it only shows once every thirty days and not on every page load or every visit). Then I shared some alternatives to pop ups. I hadn’t discovered Hello Bar yet. This would now top my list of suggestions of alternatives to pop ups.
How to get your own Hello Bar (you know you want one)
It’s in private beta right now which means you need an invite. You can sign up at http://hellobar.com with the “Request Invite” button. I requested it and they sent me a code in a day or two. Or you can get an invite from someone who’s already using it. I have three invites left and I’ll be happy to share (first three commenters to ask get them).
Do you have Hello Bar? How are you using it? Share it with me in the comments box so I can come take a peek.
Steve @ Karmic Kappuccino says
Michelle,
I noticed this on your site. I figured it was something you’d coded yourself. Very neat. Would love to add to my page if you’d send me the invite. (Thanks a million).
Will keep you posted on the results I see using it.
Have a great weekend.
-Steve
Michelle Shaeffer says
I do tend to hack my themes/plugins/etc but this one I can’t take credit for. :)
Just sent an invite to the email you left with your comment, Steve. I forgot to mention it in the post, but they have a nice analytics package for it that shows how many times it’s been displayed, how many clicks, etc. Enjoy!
Leanne Chesser says
I would like to try that, Michelle! Thanks!
Michelle Shaeffer says
Invite’s on it’s way. :) Have fun, Leanne.
Rhonda Neely says
More great information! I am surprised at the results from your pop up because I personally dislike those pop up things.
Michelle Shaeffer says
Yeah, it’s interesting. By far the majority say we don’t like them, but we respond to them. :)
Heather Bestel says
This is really great, thanks
I’ve been thinking about pop ups and just haven’t found something I like.
This could be just the thing.
I’ll let you know.
Heather x
Michelle Shaeffer says
Could be! It’s nice to have options, isn’t it? I love being able to test different things and see what works for me.
Dawn Hogan says
Hi Michelle,
I would love to try this out, if you have any invites left?
Thanks for always being on top of things!
Dawn
Michelle Shaeffer says
Had one left and just sent it to you, Dawn. :)
Dawn Hogan says
Thank you thank you… Will be adding it to my site today!
You are a doll :O)
Evelyn Roberts Brooks says
Can’t wait to try it – thanks! Evelyn
Michelle Shaeffer says
Okay, I had to click that blog link, Evelyn. What a fun way to turn the expected saying upside down.
Diana Simon says
Hi Michelle, another great tool you are sharing. I am not at a point yet where I can edit my code but it’s an alternative to pop-ups. I personally don’t like them and 90% of the time, I close them without taking the time to even read what’s the opt-in. Yes, I am that horrible. I know it converts and will I use it for my blog? I don’t know yet but somehow it feels I am selling myself short by putting it up especially when I am not a fan of pop-ups.
Tony says
Can you please email me back and give me a hellobar invite? Thanks.
Michelle Shaeffer says
Hi Tony. I’m sorry, I’m out of invites. But when I signed up with the “Sign Up Now” button on their main page, I got access pretty quick — I think it was only a day or two if I remember correctly.
Seth Neal says
So it looks like you are no longer using the plugin?!
Have any reasons why?
Michelle Shaeffer says
Yes, I took it down to test out another option and compare. :) I’ll be putting it back up with a different offer to test out. Still love it.
Jason Amunwa says
Although I’m waaaay late to the party, thanks for the nice writeup, Michelle! Always great to hear how people are using our little tools.
Jason
Hello Bar & SlideDeck Product Mgr.
Michelle Shaeffer says
It’s a very cool tool, thanks for creating it! :)