An announcement bar is the thin strip at the very top of a website: “Free delivery this weekend”, “New collection is out”, “Closed on Monday for maintenance”. It is seen on every page without getting in the way.
Good uses for an announcement bar
- Promotions and promo codes, with a countdown to the end date.
- Free shipping thresholds for online stores.
- Launches, events and webinars.
- Practical information: holiday hours, delivery delays.
Best practices
- One message at a time, or a gentle rotation between two or three.
- Short text and one button.
- Schedule it: start and end dates so you never leave an expired promotion online.
- Let visitors close it, and remember their choice.
- Target pages and devices: a message for the shop only, or only on mobile.
Setting it up
Topbar gives you rotating messages with buttons, start / end scheduling in your timezone, a live countdown, gradient colours, sticky top or floating bottom position, page targeting and a live preview in the settings. Look at the top of the demo page.
Pair it with the right tools
For WooCommerce stores, combine it with an honest sale countdown on product pages and a free shipping progress bar. While your site is under construction, use a coming soon page instead.
Writing messages that get clicked
An announcement bar has room for one short sentence. Make every word count:
- Lead with the benefit: “Free delivery from $50” rather than “Delivery information”.
- Add a deadline when there is one: “-20% on everything until Sunday midnight”.
- Use one link only, with a clear verb: “Shop the sale”, “Book now”, “Read the update”.
- Keep it under 80 characters so it fits on one line on phones.
Message ideas by business type
- Online store: shipping threshold, sale end date, new collection, holiday delivery cut-off dates.
- Restaurant: new seasonal menu, special evening, holiday closures, online booking link.
- Services: availability (“Booking for March is open”), new service, free consultation.
- Associations and schools: next event, registration deadline, newsletter issue.
Do not annoy visitors
Let visitors close the bar and remember that choice for a while. Avoid stacking an announcement bar, a cookie banner, a popup and a chat bubble on the same screen: on a phone, there would be no room left for your content. Rotate messages only if you have several important ones, and keep the rotation slow enough to read.
Schedule your announcements
Scheduling start and end dates avoids the classic mistake of a “Black Friday” bar still showing in January. Plan your bars alongside your promotions calendar. For time-limited deals, pair the bar with a sale countdown on product pages, and for stores, consider a dynamic free shipping bar. Try styles on the TopBar demo.
Frequently asked questions
Can I schedule an announcement in advance?
Yes. Set a start and an end date and the bar appears and disappears on its own.
Can visitors close the bar?
Yes, and the bar stays hidden for them until you publish a new message.
Can I show the bar only on some pages?
Yes, with page targeting and desktop or mobile options.