What is a website’s notification bar? A notification bar (also known as a notification banner or an announcement bar) is a user interface pattern that frequently occurs in the header section of a website. It is typically used to promote a sale, a campaign, new features, or any other change to the product or website. Depending on the design, they can be small, large, dismissible, or not.
“OK, cool,” you’re thinking now. However, why would I want a notification banner? “you might wonder.
Let’s have a look at it.
What are the benefits of using a notification banner on your website?
Unless your website/app/tool/product is stuck in a static state, you’ll need to alert and announce items to your users on a regular basis. So, what do you do now? Find out how to do it properly.
There are a variety of approaches to getting it correctly. Welcome modals, tooltips, and hotspots, for example. However, there are several compelling reasons to use a notification banner. These are some of the reasons:
A notification banner typically takes up around 5% of a webpage, and the best thing is that it doesn’t require website users to engage with it. They are usually unconcerned about it. Furthermore, because not every website visitor or user will find every notification banner and its content appealing, being non-disruptive is always a bonus. They are appealing to the eye.
Because a notification bar is non-disruptive, it doesn’t have to be boring to look at. A decent notification bar is designed in such a way that it stands out while remaining discreet in the overall color scheme of the website or product. Furthermore, because most notification bars are located near the website’s header, website visitors or users are automatically exposed to the announcement first.
They are not thrown out. Don’t get me wrong: the majority of useful notification bars can be dismissed. However, neither users nor visitors disregard them.
That is, they are so well-designed and non-intrusive that visitors or users do not feel compelled to dismiss them. And, without realizing it, they have the opportunity to interact with them for an extended period of time. You avoid causing users frustration, and as a result, you are able to engage with them more.
It’s a win-win situation. So, if you’re searching for a non-disruptive but attention-getting solution, a notification banner is certainly the way to go. I’m sure the next thought that crosses your mind is, “What do I put in an announcement bar?” So, let’s take a look at the different types of content that can be included in a website’s announcement bar.
What should you include in your website’s announcement bar?
There are a wide variety of ways to use a website announcement bar, and the possibilities are only limited by one’s imagination. However, there are some extremely common uses for website announcement bars. Let’s have a look at a few examples. Don’t forget to check the links which provide a free source of use.
Announcements of discounts or sales
Discount or sale announcements are perhaps one of the most prevalent uses of an announcement bar. This is likely due to the fact that sending an email promoting a discount or sale is likely to end up in the spam inbox, and any other UX pattern can be too unpleasant for users.
Instead, they employ an announcement bar, which you can be sure users and website visitors will see unless you design it horribly and put it in the most inconvenient location possible. There are just two alternatives! Announcements about changes to the terms and conditions
The most boring news you could get on any website is a change to the terms and conditions. Let’s be honest, we’ve all been hitting the “I agree” button without reading for years.
But, of course, some of us may feel compelled to read the update or, at the very least, be aware that the terms and conditions have changed.
Boom. You’re now ready to go with the announcement bar. Why not utilize it? It’s likely the best approach to educate your users about such a boring but crucial piece of news.
https://www.socialproofy.io/informational-bar/
Announcements about new features
An announcement bar is a wonderful way to introduce a new feature if you don’t need to have your users get onboarded straight away. Why do you think that is? You won’t irritate your users by pushing them to master the new function, and you’ll maintain the idea that your product is evolving and improving every day.
Furthermore, as part of contextual onboarding, you will be able to use the announcement bar as an element that will direct customers to the feature page rather than wait for them to arrive.
https://www.socialproofy.io/button-bar-widget/
“Courtesy Bar” after the Engagement
A courtesy notice bar that displays the coupon code that was previously unlocked via a pop-up promotion is another wonderful method to create urgency. A shopper, for example, enters their email address in a pop-up to receive a coupon code. By maintaining the discount code in front of the shopper throughout their shopping experience, the courtesy bar creates a sense of urgency. To increase the sense of urgency, you can add a countdown timer to the courtesy bar.
https://www.socialproofy.io/coupon-bar-widget/
Capture emails
A web banner is also frequently used to collect email addresses. While this is a terrific technique to make sure your email opt-in is seen throughout your entire website, banners have far lower opt-in rates than email pop-ups. A banner is an excellent approach to gain some extra email signups if email pop-ups aren’t in your onsite marketing strategy.
