Show widget automation
4 min
The Show widget automation opens another widget when the visitor interacts with an element, for example a "Get 10% off" bar button that opens a signup popup, or a "No thanks" button that opens a softer offer. It ignores the other widget's triggers and, unless you tick Suppress rules, still respects its schedule and rules.
Available on: all platforms.
How it works
- The visitor clicks, submits or otherwise uses the element that has the automation.
- Personizely finds the selected widget. Unless Suppress rules is ticked, it checks that widget's schedule and all its rules, including Frequency, Target and Widgets interaction.
- If they pass and the widget isn't already open, it's shown. The view is recorded as a manual show.
The same thing is available from your own code: ply.showWidget(id, suppressRules). See the JavaScript API.
Configuration
Option | What it does | Values / default |
|---|---|---|
Widget | The widget to show | Any widget on this website |
Suppress rules | Show the widget even if its schedule or rules don't pass | Off by default |
Behavior details and limitations
- The target widget must be active. Inactive widgets aren't on your site, so nothing opens.
- It opens on the first step of the target widget, or the step the visitor last reached if the widget remembers steps.
- The first widget is still open when the second is checked. If the button also has Close widget as its action, the closing happens just after. A "Don't show if a popup widget is already open" Widgets interaction rule on the target then blocks it. Tick Suppress rules, or change that rule.
- Frequency counts. The view counts toward the target widget's Frequency rule, and without Suppress rules the Frequency rule can stop it.
- A/B tests. If the target widget is in an A/B test and the visitor is in its control group, the view is recorded but nothing appears.
- Both can stay open. Showing a callout from a popup leaves both visible. For a hand-off, use Close widget as the element's action.
Examples
- Bar to popup: an announcement bar's button opens the signup popup, with Suppress rules on.
- Downsell on "No thanks": the exit popup's "No thanks" button has Close widget and Show widget for a smaller offer, with Suppress rules on.
- Help on demand: a quiz popup's "Need help?" link opens a contact callout.
Troubleshooting
- Nothing opens → the target widget is inactive, its rules don't pass (check the console with ?ply_debug=1), or a Widgets interaction rule sees the first widget as open.
- It opens only once → its Frequency rule stops it. Tick Suppress rules if it should always open on request.