How to Add an Announcement Bar to BigCommerce (2 Easy Ways)

Running a sale, offering free shipping, or launching a new product? Add a BigCommerce announcement bar to share important messages clearly at the top of your store.

Use BigCommerce’s built-in banner for simple announcements, or choose WiserNotify for countdowns, targeting, and tracking.

Types of Announcement Bars

BigCommerce store owners can leverage announcement bars in several ways:

Promotional Bars

• Showcase discounts or special offers to encourage purchases.
• Example: “Enjoy 20% off sitewide! Use Code: BIG20 at checkout.”

Shipping Announcements

• Highlight free shipping or delivery terms.
• Example: “Free shipping on all orders over $50!”

Urgency Bars

• Create urgency with countdowns or limited-time deals.
• Example: “Flash Sale! Ends in 2 hours.”

Event Announcements

• Promote upcoming events, sales, or new product launches.
• Example: “New collection drops this Friday—Shop the look!”

Holiday or Seasonal Announcements

• Add festive flair with seasonal promotions.
• Example: “Celebrate the holidays with 25% off everything!”

Method 1: Add an announcement bar using BigCommerce

For a simple promotion or store update, use BigCommerce’s built-in banner feature.

Step 1: Open the banner settings

Log in to your BigCommerce control panel.

Go to:

• Storefront > Themes > Customize
• Depending on your theme, open the Header or Announcement Bar section. BigCommerce does not generally provide a universal Marketing > Banners path for creating a sitewide announcement bar.

Step 2: Add your announcement

Enter your message in the announcement bar field.

For example:

• Free shipping on orders over $75. Shop now.

If your theme supports links or buttons, add the relevant URL. Keep the message short and clear.

Step 3: Choose the location

Use the theme editor to place the announcement bar at the top of the page, if your theme provides this option.

The exact settings depend on your BigCommerce theme. Some themes may not include a built-in announcement bar.

Step 4: Set the visibility

Enable the announcement bar and configure any available display settings.

If your theme does not support scheduling, start and end dates, or page-specific visibility, you may need to update the bar manually or use a third-party app or custom code.

Step 5: Save and check your store

• Click Save or Publish in the theme editor.

Open your storefront and check the announcement bar on desktop and mobile. Make sure the text is readable and any link works correctly.

Method 2: Add a BigCommerce announcement bar with WiserNotify

Use WiserNotify to create and manage announcement bars with features such as countdown timers, page targeting, visitor targeting, scheduling, campaign tracking, customizable designs, call-to-action buttons, and responsive display options.

Check the in-depth guide: How to connect WiserNotify with BigCommerce?

Step 1: Connect BigCommerce with WiserNotify

First, connect your BigCommerce store to WiserNotify.

Log in to BigCommerce and go to Advanced Settings > API Accounts.

Click Create API Account and select the V2/V3 API Token.

Copy your Store Hash, Client ID, and Access Token.

Open WiserNotify > Integrations > BigCommerce and click Integrate.

Set the required OAuth scopes and save the API account.

Add the requested BigCommerce API details and enter a connection name.

Click Create.

Once connected, WiserNotify automatically adds its pixel to your BigCommerce store.

Step 2: Create your announcement bar

Go to your WiserNotify dashboard and create a new notification.

Choose Announcement Bar, select a template, and add your message.

For example:

Free shipping on orders over $60

You can also add a button such as Shop Now and link it to the right product, collection, or offer page.

Step 3: Customize and set display rules

Change the colors, text, button style, and spacing to match your store.

You can also set where the announcement bar appears and use options such as:

• specific pages or URLs
• visitor location
• device type
• campaign schedule
• countdown timer

Keep the rules connected to the offer you are showing.

Step 4: Preview and publish

Preview the announcement bar on desktop and mobile.

Check the message, links, targeting, and timer, then publish it.

After publishing, open your BigCommerce store in a private browser window to make sure the bar appears correctly.

Best Places to Display an Announcement Bar

The right placement helps shoppers notice your message without interrupting their shopping experience. Choose the location based on the type of announcement and the action you want visitors to take.

1. Homepage

The homepage is a good place for storewide announcements because most visitors start their journey here.

Use it for free shipping offers, major sales, new product launches, and seasonal promotions.

2. Product Pages

Product pages are useful when your message can help shoppers make faster purchase decisions.

Use the announcement bar to highlight product discounts, limited-time offers, free shipping details, or bundle deals that are related to the products shoppers are viewing.

3. Category Pages

Category pages work well for offers that apply to specific product groups.

Showing relevant promotions while shoppers browse a category helps them discover deals that match their interests.

4. Cart Page

The cart page is a useful place to remind shoppers about offers before they complete their purchase.

You can use it to highlight free shipping limits, discount codes, or offers that encourage shoppers to add more items to their cart.

5. Landing Pages

Landing pages are useful when visitors arrive from ads, emails, or social media campaigns.

Keep the announcement connected to the campaign that brought them there. A consistent message helps shoppers understand the offer and creates a smoother buying experience.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Keep your message clear and concise to ensure it’s easy to understand.
• Use fonts, colors, and styles that align with your store’s design for a professional look.
• Test the announcement bar on mobile devices to ensure it doesn’t obstruct navigation.
• Regularly update or remove expired announcements to maintain credibility.
• Avoid running multiple announcement bars simultaneously, which can overwhelm users.

Conclusion

Adding an announcement bar to your BigCommerce store is a quick and effective way to communicate key updates to your customers.

Whether you’re promoting a sale, announcing free shipping, or sharing news, a well-designed announcement bar can capture attention and drive action.

By using BigCommerce’s built-in features or third-party apps, you can create customized bars tailored to your store’s goals. Follow these steps and best practices to make your announcement bar a valuable addition to your e-commerce strategy.

Related guides

Adding an announcement bar on a different platform? These related guides help:

• Get Instant Attention? Add Announcement Bar to Flatsome
• Get Instant Attention? Add Announcement Bar to Yola
• Add Announcement Bar to Weebly.
• Add Announcement Bar to Wix.
• Add Announcement Bar to WordPress.