How to Boost COD Campaign Conversions with Pop-Under Traffic in India

Most online ads scream for attention, popping up right in your face. Pop-under ads take a different approach, they stay quietly in the background while you browse and only appear at the perfect moment. No interruptions, no annoyance, just a subtle nudge that gets noticed.

This approach works especially well in India, where shopping habits are unique. Even with UPI and digital wallets gaining popularity, around 60% of all consumer spending still happens in cash (Reserve Bank of India). For affiliates, this creates a clear opportunity, but also a challenge. How do you get the attention of these COD-first customers and turn them into confirmed conversions? The answer is using Pop-under traffic.

In this blog, we’ll discuss how pop-under traffic can help affiliates boost COD conversions in India, why this ad format works so well, and the strategies you can use to get maximum ROI.

Why COD Campaigns Need Special Attention in India

Cash on Delivery (COD) is one of the most preferred payment methods in India, but it comes with unique challenges that affiliates must understand to run successful campaigns. COD campaigns require careful planning because not all clicks lead to confirmed purchases.

1. Cart Abandonment: Many shoppers leave items in their carts because they don’t fully trust the website, aren’t sure about delivery times, or change their minds. On mobile, cart abandonment in India can reach 85% (ClickPost), which is a big challenge for COD campaigns.
2. Low Buyer Intent: COD often attracts casual shoppers rather than serious buyers. Over 60% of Gen Z shoppers in India buy on impulse, especially for fashion and gadgets (Market Xcel), which can lower conversion rates.
3. Fraud Risk: COD orders can include fake requests or wrong contact details, which cause failed deliveries and lost money. With India expected to lose ₹20,000 crore to cybercrime in 2025 (CloudSEK), it is important to check orders carefully.
4. Logistics & Delivery Issues: Poor roads and wrong addresses often cause delivery failures. Last-mile delivery alone costs more than 50% of total shipping (Filuet), making smooth delivery very important.
5. Higher Operational Costs: Handling cash requires extra work with delivery partners, which increases costs. Nearly 47% of Indian companies report rising expenses (ABP Business News), adding pressure on COD campaigns.

How Pop-Under Traffic Helps Increase COD Conversions

After seeing the challenges of COD campaigns in India, it’s clear that affiliates need to have a traffic strategy that subtly reaches potential buyers. Pop-under ads do exactly that. 

These ads are open in a new browser window or tab behind the main page, so users notice them only after finishing their primary activity. They don’t interrupt the user’s browsing experience like pop-ups, which makes users more receptive to your message.

Why pop-under traffic works for COD campaigns:

1. Subtle Visibility: Ads appear at the right moment without annoying the user.
2. Cost-Efficient: Typically lower cost per click than display or native ads.
3. Targeted Reach: Most pop-under networks allow targeting by location, device, or user behavior.

By combining timing, targeting, and subtle messaging, pop-under ads can guide COD-first buyers toward completing a purchase, turning hesitant clicks into confirmed conversions.

Step-by-Step Guide to Boost COD Conversions with Pop-Under Traffic

Now that you know why pop-unders work, here’s a strategic way to get the most out of them. Let’s understand it step by step:

Step 1: Understand Your Audience: Not everyone who will see your ad, will buy. Focus on those who are genuinely interested in the type of products you are willing to promote. For example, if you’re promoting fashion or beauty items, target users who have browsed similar products. Also, think about location, people in smaller cities may prefer COD more than those in big cities.

Step 2: Make Your Message Clear and Trustworthy: Pop-under ads don’t interrupt, so your message must be simple. Highlight COD benefits like “Pay Only When You Receive It,” fast delivery, and easy returns. Your landing page should be easy to use on mobile and quick to complete, with no extra steps that might confuse the buyer.

Step 3: Show Ads at the Right Time: Pop-unders work best when they appear after users finish browsing their main page. Don’t show too many ads too often, or users might ignore them. Well-timed ads get noticed and clicked.

Step 4: Test Different Ads and Offers: Try different ad designs, headlines, and offers. Mention discounts, popular products, or COD benefits to see what works best. Small changes can make a big difference in getting users to place an order.

Step 5: Keep an Eye on Performance: Track clicks, conversions, and completed COD orders. See which ads, networks, and audience segments perform best. Focus on what works and stop what doesn’t. This helps save money and get better results.

Step 6: Build Trust on the Landing Page: People who buy on COD are cautious. Show reviews, delivery guarantees, and secure cash handling to make them feel safe. A trustworthy landing page helps turn interest into a confirmed purchase.

Common Mistakes Affiliates Should Avoid:

1. Avoid Broad Targeting: While over 105 million Indians use COD, only about 12% of internet users started their e-commerce journey with COD and avoided other payment methods (IAMAI). This shows that broad targeting wastes budget on users who may never convert through COD.
2. Ensure Mobile Optimization: Mobile is where most shopping happens in India. More than 80% of internet users access the web via smartphones, and 77% of e-commerce transactions take place on mobile devices (Wright Research). Landing pages that aren’t optimized for mobile can significantly reduce conversions, especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, where smartphones are the primary access point.
3. Build Trust to Reduce Bounce Rates: Trust is critical for people buying on COD. E-commerce sites in India see an average bounce rate of 41%, which can rise above 60% on poorly optimized or untrustworthy pages (Cpluz). Suspicious creatives or unclear product information can make cautious COD users leave instantly.

Tips to Boost COD Conversions Along with Pop-Under Campaigns

Once your pop-under campaigns are running, you can boost COD orders further using these strategies:

1. Multi-Channel Retargeting: Don’t stop at one touch. Reach users who didn’t convert with follow-up ads on social media, display networks, or native platforms. Gentle reminders through emails, push notifications, or SMS can help keep your COD offer in front of potential buyers.
2. Time-Sensitive Promotions: Encourage users to act quickly by offering limited-time discounts, seasonal deals, or free shipping specifically for COD orders. A sense of urgency can help hesitant buyers make the purchase.
3. Incentives for First-Time COD Buyers: Promote campaigns that offer cashback or first-time COD incentives, as provided by the advertiser. These little nudges often make the difference between abandoning the cart and completing the order.
4. Geo-Targeting and Segmentation: Not every region behaves the same. Focus on cities or towns where COD is preferred, and adjust your messaging for urban versus semi-urban audiences to make it more relevant.
5. Cart Recovery Techniques: If users leave items behind, use abandoned cart emails or retargeting ads highlighting COD convenience and ongoing offers. Reminders can bring them back to complete the purchase.
6. Social Proof: People who prefer COD often hesitate due to trust issues. Display product reviews, ratings, testimonials, or trusted seller badges to make them feel confident about their order.
7. A/B Testing Retargeting Creatives: Keep experimenting with ad copy, visuals, and CTAs in your retargeting campaigns. Continuous testing helps identify what works best and can improve conversions over time.

By combining these tactics with your pop-under campaigns, affiliates can convert hesitant visitors into COD buyers and boost overall campaign performance without appearing pushy.

Boost Your COD Conversions the Right Way!

Cash on Delivery campaigns in India can be tricky. Shoppers may hesitate, carts get abandoned, and delivery problems can happen. Using pop-under ads, clear messaging, mobile-friendly landing pages, and smart retargeting can help turn interested users into buyers without annoying them.

vCommission helps affiliates do this smoothly. Our tracking platform offering real-time dashboards make sure every approved sale is recorded correctly, so you are properly credited for every sale you generate. You can focus on promoting campaigns through web, mobile, or content, knowing vCommission platform keeps everything accurate and fair. 

Sign up now to boost your COD conversions using Pop-under traffic, gain trust from buyers, and grow your earnings confidently!