Adding an Announcement Bar

An announcement bar is a full-width banner that appears at the top or bottom of your site. Unlike Activly's popup notifications, an announcement bar is persistent — it stays visible until the visitor dismisses it or navigates away. It is designed for messages that need maximum reach across your entire site rather than targeted, context-sensitive placement.

Use cases

• Free shipping threshold ("Free shipping on orders over $50")
• Sale or discount announcement ("20% off sitewide — this weekend only")
• Product launch or new arrival ("Introducing the Pro Plan — now available")
• Countdown to a deadline ("Sale ends in 24 hours")
• Policy or operational update ("Shipping delays expected — order by Dec 18 for holiday delivery")

Setup steps

1. Create a new notification. Go to your Activly dashboard, click New Notification, and choose Announcement Bar.

2. Write your message. Keep it under 80 characters to ensure the full message is readable on mobile screens without truncation. Announcement bars are not the place for long explanations — lead with the most important information.

3. Choose bar position. Select Top or Bottom. The top position gets significantly more attention because it appears before any other page content. The bottom position is less intrusive and works well for low-urgency messages or cookie consent notices.

4. Set background color and text color. Use your brand colors or a high-contrast combination for readability. Activly's color picker accepts hex codes directly. Avoid colors that clash with your site's navigation — the bar should feel deliberate, not accidental.

5. Add a CTA link (optional). If the announcement includes an action — clicking to see the sale, going to a product page, or entering a discount code — add a link. The link text appears as underlined or button-style text within the bar.

6. Set display rules. Announcement bars typically show sitewide, but you can restrict to specific URLs or URL patterns if needed. You can also set show/hide rules for mobile.

7. Set start and end dates for time-limited promotions. Under Schedule, set an end date for promotional bars. Activly will automatically stop showing the bar when the promotion ends — you do not need to remember to turn it off manually.

8. Activate.

Tips

• The top bar position consistently outperforms the bottom for promotional messages. Use it for anything you want visitors to act on.
• Display one announcement at a time. Stacking multiple bars looks cluttered and dilutes attention.
• For time-limited promotions, always set an end date. A bar advertising a sale that ended last week undermines trust.
• If your site already has a fixed navigation bar at the top, test that the announcement bar does not obscure it on mobile — check on a real device after activating.
• Short, specific messages outperform vague ones. "Free shipping over $50" is clearer than "Great deals on shipping available."

What's next

• Customizing Notification Design
• Creating Your First Notification in 5 Minutes