TL;DR. A popup is made of steps. Each step has one job: ask a question, collect a contact, show a game, or display a reward. Combine email, SMS, and web push in one flow. Reward subscribers with a static code or a unique-per-subscriber code from a pool.
The step types
Teaser
A floating tab outside the popup. Click to open the full popup.
Best for: keeping the popup accessible after dismiss, so visitors can re-open it.
Pro tip: pick the corner farthest from your chat widget.
Micro Commitment
A yes/no question or two-button choice before any data collection.
Best for: warming up cold visitors. Example: "Want 10% off your first order?" with Yes / No thanks. Visitors who say "Yes" convert at a much higher rate on the next step.
Pro tip: keep both buttons short. A "No" button helps; visitors are more likely to engage when they feel they have a choice.
Collects an email address. A single input plus a submit button.
Best for: building your newsletter list.
Pro tip: turn on DOI (Double opt-in) if you're targeting EU traffic. See Email DOI and SMS / TCPA consent compliance.
SMS
Collects a phone number with country code dropdown. Includes a built-in TCPA consent checkbox.
Best for: high-engagement transactional updates (order shipped, restock).
Pro tip: SMS is a paid channel; each message has a cost. Use SMS in popups where visitors show clear intent (exit-intent triggers, cart-based triggers, or as a reward in a game). See Email DOI and SMS / TCPA consent compliance for TCPA compliance.
Web Push
Triggers the browser's native push permission prompt.
Best for: getting permission to send free, real-time browser notifications.
Pro tip: web push doesn't work on iOS Safari unless the visitor adds your site as a PWA (iOS 16.4+). See Popup conflicts (two popups, Native Browser Prompt, iOS Install Prompt).
Reward / Thank You
Shows the discount code (or message) after the visitor subscribes.
Best for: closing the loop. Visitors who just gave you their email expect a reward; deliver it instantly.
Pro tip: add a one-click Copy code button. Visitors are far more likely to use a code if they can copy it in one tap rather than highlighting and copying manually.
Custom
Free-form content. Drop in any layout: image, heading, paragraph, buttons.
Best for: in-popup announcements, terms links, or anything the standard step types don't cover.
Gamification
Spin-to-Win, Scratch Card, or Mini Quiz. Pick a layout, define the prizes or answers, and let the visitor play.
Best for: increasing time-on-popup and conversion rate on first-time visitors.
Pro tip: pair gamification with unique discount codes so each winner gets their own code from a pool. See Spin-to-Win, Scratch Card, and Mini Quiz (Gamification).
How steps connect
The popup runs steps in order. Each step has a primary action (for example, submit email). Once the action succeeds, the popup advances to the next step. If the visitor clicks No on a Micro Commitment step, the popup closes; the rest of the flow doesn't run.
Collect email, SMS, and web push in one flow
Multi-channel popups convert better. Visitors who say "Yes" to an email tend to also say "Yes" to a push notification or SMS while they're already engaged. Asking in one flow lifts overall conversion compared to single-channel popups.
Add all three in the wizard
In wizard step 5: Collection, toggle on the channels you want:
Email
Phone / SMS
Web Push
The wizard generates one step per channel, in the order you toggled them.
Add or reorder channels in the editor
Already past the wizard? In the editor:
Click + Add step in the left sidebar.
Pick Email, SMS, or Web Push.
Drag the new step to the position you want.
What order should the steps be in?
A good default for a 3-channel popup:
Micro Commitment ("Want a discount?")
Email (lowest-friction commitment)
SMS (slightly higher commitment, opt-in language)
Web Push (instant, one tap)
Reward / Thank You
Why email before SMS?
Email is the most familiar input; visitors fill it without hesitation. By the time they see the SMS step, they're invested and more willing to commit.
Why web push last?
Web push is a single browser prompt with no typing. Visitors who got this far will tap "Allow" most of the time.
What if the visitor skips a channel?
Each collection step has an implicit Skip action (the visitor can close the popup or move on). The popup advances to the next step regardless. The Reward step still shows.
You lose that channel for that visitor, but you keep the channels they did fill in.
Subscriber list mapping
Email subscribers go to your email list. SMS subscribers go to your SMS list. Web push subscribers go to your web push list. All three are independent.
To assign subscribers from this popup to a specific list, click Subscriber lists on the campaign card in Forms > Campaigns.
Add a discount reward
Two ways to reward subscribers: one static code everyone shares, or dynamic codes from a pool (one unique code per subscriber). Both are set up entirely inside the popup wizard. PushOwl creates the discount in Shopify for you, no manual generation, no CSV uploads.
Static discount code
A single code (e.g. WELCOME10) shown to every subscriber.
When to use it:
Simple "10% off your first order" offers.
Codes you don't mind being shared on coupon sites.
Lower technical setup; one code to remember.
How to set it up:
In wizard step 6 (or the editor's Reward step), pick Static discount code.
Either search and pick an existing Shopify discount, or click Create new discount code.
If creating new, fill in:
Name (e.g. "Welcome 10%")
Code (e.g.
WELCOME10)Discount value and type (% or fixed amount)
Click Create. PushOwl creates the discount in your Shopify admin and selects it for this popup.
Dynamic discount code (unique per subscriber, from a pool)
A pool of pre-generated codes; each subscriber gets their own unique one.
When to use it:
High-value offers (e.g. 30% off) that you don't want shared on coupon sites.
Quizzes or games where the reward should feel personal.
When you want to track exactly which subscriber redeemed which code.
How to set it up:
In wizard step 6 (or the editor's Reward step), pick Dynamic discount code.
Either pick an existing pool, or click Create new discount pool.
If creating a new pool, fill in:
Pool name (e.g. "Welcome 15% pool")
Discount value and type (% or fixed amount)
Number of codes (between 10 and 1,000)
Code prefix (optional, max 6 characters; e.g.
SAVEproduces codes likeSAVE-AB12,SAVE-CD34)
Click Create pool. PushOwl generates all the unique codes in your Shopify admin automatically and selects the pool for this popup.
Pool replenishment. Each new subscriber consumes one code. PushOwl monitors the pool and tops it up automatically when it runs low, so you don't have to track it day-to-day. If you expect heavy traffic at launch, start with a higher count to give yourself runway.
What the visitor sees
After a subscriber completes the popup, the Reward / Thank You step shows:
The discount code (static or their assigned unique code).
A Copy code button.
An optional Shop now button.
Add a one-click Copy button. Visitors are far more likely to use a code if they don't have to highlight and copy it manually.