BugWP logo BugWP
Back to Community
Home / Community / General

How to Use Advanced Targeting Conditions in Popup Maker for Precise Display Control

35 threads Sep 16, 2025

Content

One of the most common challenges WordPress users face with popups is getting them to appear exactly where and when they want. A popup that shows up on the wrong page or for the wrong user can be annoying and counterproductive. This guide will explain how to use the powerful targeting features within Popup Maker to gain precise control over your popup displays.

The Problem: Imprecise Popup Display

By default, you might set a popup to appear on your entire site. However, there are many scenarios where this isn't ideal. Perhaps you want a special offer popup to appear only for logged-out users, or a specific welcome message to trigger only when a certain URL parameter is present. Without advanced controls, your popups might show in places they shouldn't, like on the very page they link to, which can create a confusing user experience.

The Solution: Leveraging Advanced Targeting Conditions

While the core Popup Maker plugin offers basic targeting, many advanced display rules require the Advanced Targeting Conditions (ATC) extension. This tool significantly expands your control over when and where popups are triggered. It's important to note that BugWP.com is an independent resource and is not affiliated with the creators of this extension.

Common Targeting Scenarios and How to Solve Them

1. Show a Popup Based on User Login Status

Goal: Display one message for logged-in users and a different message (like a login prompt) for logged-out visitors.

Solution: Create two separate popups. For the "logged-in" popup, use the ATC condition Is Logged In. For the "logged-out" popup, use the same condition but apply a Negative Condition (denoted by a red ! symbol). This tells the popup to only show for users who are not logged in.

2. Trigger a Popup from a URL Parameter

Goal: Make a popup appear only when a specific query string is present in the URL (e.g., example.com/?show_popup=special_offer).

Solution: Use the ATC condition Query Argument Is. Set the query argument to the parameter name (e.g., show_popup) and the value to the specific trigger (e.g., special_offer).

3. Exclude a Popup from Specific Pages

Goal: Prevent a popup from appearing on the page it links to, avoiding a redundant experience for the user.

Solution: In your popup's targeting settings, go to Targeting > Pages: Selected. Add the page you want to exclude and then click the (!) symbol to apply a Negative Condition to it. This will prevent the popup from loading on that specific page.

4. Target a Popup Based on a User's History

Goal: Show a second popup only to users who have already seen a first one.

Solution: This can be achieved with the ATC condition Has Viewed Popup. You can set this condition to check if a user has seen another specific popup within a certain range of visits, allowing you to sequence your messages effectively.

Key Takeaways

  • Negative Conditions are Powerful: The red (!) symbol is your key to excluding specific groups or pages from seeing your popup.
  • Specificity is Key: Use conditions like Query Argument Is and Is Logged In to finely tune your audience.
  • Extensions Expand Functionality: For complex targeting needs like exit intent or advanced user history, the 'Popup Maker' team has developed specific extensions like Advanced Targeting Conditions and Exit Intent Popups.

By mastering these targeting techniques, you can ensure your popups are helpful, relevant, and welcomed by your site's visitors instead of being a source of frustration.

Related Support Threads Support