How to create a pop-up with or without a game and add scripts and triggers

Pop-up Setup – Key Points

Script: Only one script for all pop-ups; first pop-up sets it.
Triggers: Timed, Scroll, Exit-intent, Click. Use Allow/Disallow lists to control where pop-ups appear (!)
I want to only use a teaser: Use either the redirect (embedded page vs live URL) and link via a button, and set the 'teaser setting'.
Testing: Always test on a live URL to ensure everything works.
Without a game: Remove the Game page if you don’t want a game included.

How do I set up a pop-up script?

The most important thing to remember is that there is only one script for all of your pop-ups.

This means that the first pop-up you create will serve as the script for all the others you make afterward.

If you’re ever in doubt, go to the Sharing button in the platform, select ‘Embed script’, fill in the required information, and the script will be sent to you.

You will then receive this email, from which you can copy the script (if you haven’t already added it to your website).

How do I create a pop-up?

To create a popup in Scratcher, go to 'Create', select 'Popup', and choose the layout you'd like to use.

Note: A completely blank popup flow is not available yet. However, you can choose a template with a game included and remove the game element if needed.

Placement

Select the type of popup you want to display:

Top bar
Side popup
Centered popup
Full-screen popup

Each format offers different levels of visibility and interaction, depending on your goals.

Size

Customize the height and width of your popup for desktop, tablet, and mobile. Use the device icons to preview and adjust the layout for each screen type, ensuring a responsive and optimized experience.

Backdrop

Choose the background color that appears behind your popup. It can be solid or transparent. You can also paste in a brand-specific color code for consistency.

Add a teaser element that directs users to your campaign, another page, or opens the popup. A teaser acts as a clickable prompt—designed to engage visitors and encourage interaction. You can use teasers independently or together with your popup and place them anywhere relevant on your site.

How do I use ONLY the teaser to redirect to the embedded or live URL of the campaign?

It’s important to decide whether you want users to be redirected to the published URL in Scratcher or to the page where the game is embedded via script. Make sure to consider this crucial first step carefully.

To do this, go to 'Teaser settings', 'Settings', 'Action' and choose 'None':

Next, add a button via ‘Elements’ to include in the teaser, and link it to either the embedded URL or the live URL, depending on your setup.

Pop-ups in Scratcher can be triggered by various user actions, allowing you to control when and under what conditions they appear. The most important settings are ‘Allow’ and ‘Disallow’, which help differentiate between multiple pop-ups on the same website.

Timed Trigger

Show the popup after a specific time (in seconds) on the page—ideal for giving users a moment before prompting them.

Scroll Trigger

Display the popup once the user scrolls to a certain point—useful for targeting engaged visitors.

Exit-Intent Trigger

Detect when a visitor is about to leave (e.g., moving the mouse toward the browser bar) and display the popup before they exit.

Click Trigger

Show the popup only when a visitor clicks a specific button or link—great for offering more info after an action.

Allow List (! - where the pop-up should appear)

Define the conditions under which the pop-up should appear, such as specific URL paths, referrers, devices, or IP addresses.

For example:

If you want the pop-up to appear on the front page of your website, add the script to the <head> section (see the beginning of this article).
Then define all the URLs where the pop-up should be shown.
To include all subdomains, you can add a * after the URL. This ensures the pop-up appears on subdomains, unless it’s blocked on the front page or by specific exit triggers.

Disallow List (! - where the pop-up should not appear)

You can also define conditions where the pop-up should not appear, such as specific URLs, subdomains, devices, or referrers.

For example:

If you want the pop-up to be hidden on a certain landing page, add that URL to the disallow list.
You can use a * wildcard to exclude multiple subdomains or pages from showing the pop-up.
This ensures the pop-up is only triggered where it’s allowed and avoids showing it in undesired locations.

Show Options

Control how often a popup is shown per user (e.g., once a day, up to 3 times total), helping avoid overexposure.

Where is my preview or how do I test in live?

Unlike a regular campaign, we don’t have a standard preview for pop-ups since they run directly on a website. This means the client usually sets up an internal test page to review them. Always test the pop-up to ensure everything is working correctly.

Looking for a pop-up without a game included?

Yes, you can absolutely create a pop-up without including the scratcher game. All you need to do is simply delete the 'Game' page from your campaign flow — this will ensure it doesn’t appear.

This is a great way to repurpose the format for other goals, such as:

A redirect pop-up leading to a landing page or webshop
A newsletter signup form to collect leads
A promotion or announcement display (e.g., “New collection out now!”)
A feedback form or mini survey
A QR code pop-up to scan and engage with other content or social media

FYI: We are currently working on creating a template without the game itself, but for now, all templates include one of the 30+ available games by default.

Updated on: 21/10/2025

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