It's not about what, it's about when though — like the GP, I got a pop-up fairly immediately before I'd engaged in the article so I just closed the tab.

The best time to engage me is after I've enjoyed the article and hopefully interested to hear more from the writer rather than immediately landing on the page.

It's the equivalent to sales staff jumping on customers in shops the minute they walk in the door — "can I help you with anything today?" — before you even have a chance to see what the shop is like.