An announcement bar is a simple but powerful feature for your Shopify Plus store. It allows you to showcase important updates, promotions, or events at the top of your website, ensuring that visitors see your key messages without interrupting their browsing experience. Shopify Plus, with its robust customization options, enables merchants to add and style announcement bars easily.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to implement an announcement bar on your Shopify Plus store, from using built-in tools to advanced customizations, and best practices to maximize its effectiveness.
Types of Announcement Bars
Shopify Plus stores can use announcement bars in many creative ways:
Promotional Bars
- Highlight discounts and offers to boost sales.
- Example: “Get 20% off sitewide – Use Code: SAVE20.”
Urgency Bars
- Create urgency for limited-time deals.
- Example: “Flash Sale! Ends in 2 hours!”
Shipping Announcements
- Inform customers about free shipping thresholds.
- Example: “Free shipping on orders over $50!”
Event Notifications
- Promote webinars, product launches, or store events.
- Example: “New Collection Launching This Friday—Don’t Miss It!”
Policy Updates
- Share important updates, like extended returns or store hours.
- Example: “Holiday returns extended until January 31st.”
Add Announcement Bar to Shopify Plus
Adding an announcement bar to your Shopify Plus website is incredibly easy and requires no coding knowledge. Many platforms offer plugins and tools with simple drag-and-drop interfaces to create and customize announcement bars effortlessly. Create Announcement Bars the Easy Way with WiserNotify.
Using WiserNotify, you can quickly add an announcement bar to your Shopify Plus website to grab visitors’ attention and share essential updates, promotions, or calls to action.
With advanced features like A/B testing and analytics, WiserNotify allows you to create visually engaging and highly targeted announcement bars that boost user engagement and drive conversions. Key features include:
Type of Widgets:
- Anncoment Bar Widgets
- Recent Activity Notifications
- Reviews and Ratings Widgets
- Countdown Timer Widgets
- Form Submission Notifications
- Inline Widgets
- Exit-Intent Pop-Ups
- Live Visitor Count Widgets
Customizable Design
- Adjust colors, fonts, and styles to align with your brand.
Real-Time Updates
- Automatically display live or dynamic data like visitor counts or recent
activities.
Targeted Messaging
- Personalize bars for specific audiences or user segments.
Urgency and Scarcity Elements
- Include countdown timers or stock alerts to drive quick action.
A/B Testing
- Experiment with different designs and messages to optimize performance.
Multi-Language Support
- Customize announcement bars in various languages for global reach.
Behavioral Triggers
- Show bars based on user behavior like exit intent or time spent on a page.
Compliance-Friendly
- Includes options for GDPR and cookie consent notifications.
Integration with Social Proof Widgets
- Combine with social proof notifications to amplify trust and engagement.
Adding an announcement bar to your site with WiserNotify is seamless. Sign up for a free plan to explore its features, then log in to your dashboard. Add your site to generate a unique pixel code for integration.
To add an announcement bar to your website, create a widget in WiserNotify. Follow these straightforward steps.
1. Create an Announcement Bar
- Log in to the WiserNotify dashboard.
- Navigate to the Create Notification section and select the Announcement Bar template.
- Customize the design by:
- Adding a compelling message such as “Exclusive Discount! Limited Time Only.”
- Choosing the appropriate font, colors, and background to align with your branding.
- Including a clear Call-to-Action (CTA) button like “Shop Now” or “Learn More.”
- Preview the design to ensure it matches your preferences.
- Save the widget design and press Next.
2. Set Display Rules
- Configure display settings, such as showing the bar on specific pages or targeting users based on location or behavior.
- Schedule the announcement bar for a particular timeframe if needed.
Here’s a real-life example of how an announcement bar will look on a website.
3. Preview and Activate
- Preview the announcement bar to ensure it looks and functions correctly.
- Publish the bar to make it live on your website.
Steps to Install WiserNotify on Shopify Plus
- Log in to your WiserNotify dashboard. Start with the free plan to explore the platform’s features.
- Add your Shopify Plus site, and copy the unique pixel code provided.
- Log in to your Shopify Plus admin panel.
- Navigate to Plugins > Add New and search for “WiserNotify.”
- Install and activate the plugin.
- Paste the copied pixel code into the WiserNotify plugin settings.
Using WiserNotify, you can easily create and manage announcement bars on your Shopify Plus website. This ensures that your key messages reach your audience effectively and drive the desired actions.
How to Add an Announcement Bar to Shopify Plus Other Ways
- Log in to Your Shopify Plus Admin Panel
- Access your Shopify Plus dashboard.
- Access the Theme Customizer
- Navigate to Online Store > Themes.
- Click Customize on your active theme.
- Enable the Announcement Bar
- In the theme editor, look for Header Settings or Announcement Bar (availability depends on your theme).
- Enable the announcement bar option.
- Add Your Message
- Enter your announcement, such as “Free Shipping on All Orders Over $50!”
- Add a clickable link, such as “Shop Now,” to direct visitors to specific pages.
- Customize the Design
- Adjust colors, fonts, and alignment to match your store’s branding.
- Save and Publish
- Preview your changes and click Save to make the announcement bar live.
Best Places to Display an Announcement Bar on Shopify Plus
Top of Every Page
- This ensures your message is visible to all visitors.
Homepage Only
- Highlight seasonal or storewide promotions.
Product Pages
- Display category-specific or product-related offers.
Cart and Checkout Pages
- Reinforce urgency to reduce cart abandonment.
Mobile Views
- Ensure the bar is optimized for smaller screens for seamless browsing.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Stick to one message to avoid confusing visitors.
- Test the bar on mobile devices to ensure it doesn’t obstruct navigation.
- Regularly update the bar to ensure relevance.
- Use colors and fonts that align with your store’s design.
- Include a compelling call to action to drive user engagement.
Conclusion
Adding an announcement bar to your Shopify Plus store is a simple yet effective way to engage your customers and drive conversions. Whether you use Shopify’s built-in tools, an app, or custom code, you can tailor the announcement bar to align with your branding and marketing goals.
Follow the steps outlined in this guide to create a visually appealing and functional announcement bar, and watch how it enhances your customer experience and boosts sales. Get started today!
