We've discussed previously how quickly your clients decide to stay on your website (reminder, it's only a few milliseconds!). Today, we'll touch on another super important (and convenient) way to keep people on your site and increase conversions: the Announcement Bar.
If you're not using your Announcement Bar on Squarespace, you're missing out on one of the best marketing features built into the platform. Its prime location at the top of the page makes it a perfect way to get important info to your visitors as soon as they land on your site. But if you're using it as just a place to say hi, you're missing out on its powerful potential!
So, what should you be putting there?
The simple answer is a CTA (call-to-action). This gets them engaged immediately, but it's not enough to just tell them where to click.
Here are 12 better ways to use the Announcement Bar on your website:
Announce what's new and exciting. New product? Course? Service? Maybe you're launching a blog or podcast? This option is especially great for returning customers because they already know they like your old stuff and will be anxious to get straight to the new!
Share news about the company or industry. This option is especially effective if it includes a CTA button to send them to your blog about the information or some other relevant link on your site.
Include important shipping updates. Perfect for your busy seasons or launches, this lets your customers know you're thinking of them and that their time is valuable to you. They'll appreciate the quick update that hits them as soon as they come to your site (and you'll enjoy spending less time answering the same email!).
Grow your email list. Offer something valuable like free content, a short course, an e-book, or access to a content upgrade if they sign up for your list. It's a great way to catch their attention and build your list.
Share Promo Codes. Don't forget to include the expiration date, so they feel the urge to use it fast! It's an effective way to convert someone who's on the fence.
Link to Social Media. Grow your social media following by including a link to your accounts. Have an exciting hook for even more success at getting them to head over.
Countdown to ... anything! This option is often used for sales, but the possibilities are endless! Countdown to your holiday sale, the end of your current deal, and the next holiday. Be creative!
Promote upcoming events, courses, or webinars. Encourage people to check out your other content and make it easy for them to access your Sales Pages.
Book packages, discovery calls, sessions, or event tickets. Make it easy for them to find exactly what they're looking for, and you'll increase the odds that they'll follow through with the purchase. And with Squarespace, you can use the easy Eventbrite integration to link straight from your Announcement.
Announce availability, open spots, and waitlist. This option is a great way to fill last-minute openings or fill up a slow week on your schedule. It's also useful for busy seasons when everyone wants to know the next availability. Just stick it in the announcement bar and save yourself (and your clients) some time.
And there you have it—ten ways to increase conversions with your Squarespace Announcement Bar. Don't forget to change up your Announcement Bar regularly, so it doesn't become background noise for your visitors. Use it as an opportunity to be creative and engage with your audience in a new way each time.
The question you might be having now is, how do I do it? Stick around, and I'll walk you through a few quick steps to enable your Announcement Bar and start customizing.
How to enable the Announcement Bar:
Start in Marketing. If you're on the computer, this will be in your home menu, and if you're on the Squarespace App, this will be under the Settings icon.
On the computer, click Announcement Bar and select Enable Announcement Bar from the drop-down menu. In the app, tap Announcement Bar, then tap the Show toggle to turn it on.
Enter your text for the announcement bar in the field. You can also style the text and create text links here.
To make the whole announcement bar a link from your computer, enter a web address in the Clickthrough URL or click the settings icon to set up different types of links. From your app, tap Link and add the content or page you are linking to.
Click or tap Save to publish your Announcement Bar.
One last tip for you. The Announcement Bar is just one piece of the puzzle. Repetition is proven to increase conversion by nearly 50%. That's a big difference! So whatever you choose to put there, make sure your audience runs into it in other areas of your website.
If you need some help getting started, we've got you covered. Click on our Announcement Bar at the top of this page to book a FREE consultation call. We can chat about getting the most out of your Announcement Bar (and your Squarespace site in general!) See? We're using it already!
Feeling stuck or overwhelmed?
As a Squarespace Expert, I can help you navigate the world of Squarespace design. Book a free consult with me to learn more about custom website builds and my customizable Squarespace templates. I have something for every need and every budget!
You can also jump into your website build with my FREE Website Project Planner: https://alexedwards-design.com/website-project-planner.
The Website Planner is the crucial tool I use on EVERY site I create. Use it to:
Get clear on your goals.
Identify your ideal client.
Stay organized and on track with your website build.
♡ Alex E.
