#152: Do live “FOMO” pop-ups still work?

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No. 152: 

Hey all,

Before we dive in:

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Now, back to today’s insight.

Remember those live “FOMO” purchase alerts?

“Amy from Brooklyn just bought…”

They were everywhere.

Then most brands removed them.

But the data says: they still work. Just not across the board.

Before you abandon live purchase alerts entirely, test where they help and where they hurt.

They may still earn their keep.

Here’s why.

In less than 2-minutes, take away:

• An insight to test: Here’s where live “FOMO” purchase alerts still work.

• A news highlight: How Rent the Runway is rethinking their customer service approach.

• Useful tips: How to narrow your focus for greater profits.

Read time: 1.5 minutes

🎯 WEEKLY INSIGHT

Live “FOMO” purchase alerts increase desktop conversions, but quietly hurt mobile performance.

In a recent test, we removed real-time order notifications on mobile (“Tom in LA bought xyz…”) for a high-AOV brand.

The result? A 25.2% increase in mobile conversion rate.

Why?

On small screens, pop-ups feel intrusive.

They interrupt the flow, add friction, and crowd limited space.

Mobile shoppers want speed and simplicity. Not distractions.

But on desktop, those same notifications still work.

They signal demand. Add urgency. And they don’t block the experience.

That subtle social proof builds trust in high-consideration moments (without slowing the customer down).

⭐ Takeaway: Don’t ditch live alerts entirely. A/B test by device. What drives sales on desktop might slow buyers on mobile.

The best UX isn’t ever one-size-fits-all. As always, test!

🕙 WHAT’S BREWING

How this 8-figure fashion brand grew revenue even with a 23% decline in traffic.

📣 IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Real customer images boost footwear brand’s conversion rate.

How to narrow your focus for greater profits.

Try these 3 upsells that always convert.

🗞️ NEWS HIGHLIGHT

How Rent the Runway is refocusing on customer growth and loyalty.

👀 FROM LAST WEEK

#151: How to bracket test price tiers to prepare for tariffs.

💡 ALLEN’S QUICK TIP

👊 STOUT SUCCESS

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See you next time.

— Allen