How exit intent works
The browser continuously reports the position of the cursor. An exit-intent script watches for
upward movement toward the browser interface. When the cursor crosses the top edge of the viewport,
the trigger fires and the visitor sees a pop-up.
This is the last point of contact. The visitor has already decided to leave. The job of the offer is
to give them a reason to stay, or to finish the purchase.
When exit intent works and when it does not
| Scenario | Effectiveness | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Cart has items, visitor is leaving | High | Hot intent plus a concrete offer |
| New visitor with no cart | Medium | A first-order discount works if the offer is fresh |
| Repeat display in the same session | Low | It irritates, and raises the odds of a permanent exit |
| Article or blog page | Low | No transactional context, nothing to convert into |
Personalizing the offer
Exit intent returns the most when the offer is specific:
- Cart > 0 → “Your cart is waiting. 10% off for the next 2 hours”
- Viewed a specific product → “[Product name] — last one in stock”
- New visitor → “$10 off your first order”
- Returning after 30+ days with no purchase → “Things have moved on — take a look at what is new”
Tip: never put exit intent on the checkout and payment pages — it interrupts the final step of
the funnel and increases losses at checkout. Safe surfaces: the homepage, PLP, PDP and the cart
page.
Common mistakes
- Firing on every visit. A visitor who moved the mouse by accident gets a pop-up. It annoys, and
it costs goodwill. - A generic offer with no context. “Bestsellers” instead of the specific product converts poorly.
- No way to close the pop-up. If the visitor cannot dismiss it, it reads as a trap rather than
as help. - Mobile with no adaptation. Desktop exit intent does not work on mobile — there is no mouse.
Mobile needs its own logic (scroll-back).