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What Is an Info Bar and Why It Matters for Your Website

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How to Design an Effective Info Bar (With Examples)An info bar is a slim, attention-grabbing strip typically positioned at the top (or sometimes bottom) of a webpage that delivers concise, timely messages — promotions, updates, cookie notices, shipping alerts, or critical alerts. When designed well, an info bar improves communication without disrupting user experience. This article shows how to design an effective info bar, covers UX and technical considerations, and includes concrete examples and implementation tips.

Why info bars matter

  • They convey high-priority information quickly. Users scanning a page will see a short message immediately.
  • They save screen real estate compared with full-screen modals or large banners.
  • They can drive conversions when used for limited-time offers, free shipping thresholds, or newsletter sign-ups.
  • They support accessibility and compliance (e.g., cookie notices) without being overly intrusive.

Core design principles

  1. Clarity and brevity

    • Keep copy short — 8–12 words is a useful target for primary message.
    • Use a single primary action (CTA) or link. If you need multiple actions, prioritize and design secondary actions smaller.

  2. Prominence without intrusion

    • Make the bar visually distinct from the page but not so large it hides content.
    • Consider a sticky top bar that collapses or can be dismissed.

  3. Visible affordance for interaction

    • Include a clear close/dismiss control.
    • If you offer more details, link to a dedicated page (e.g., “Learn more”).

  4. Contextual relevance

    • Show messages relevant to user segment, device, geolocation, or referral source.
    • Avoid showing the same promotional message repeatedly to the same user.

  5. Accessibility

    • Ensure sufficient color contrast (WCAG AA or AAA depending on requirements).
    • Make controls keyboard-focusable and screen-reader friendly (use ARIA roles if needed).
    • Announce content updates when the bar appears (use aria-live polite/assertive appropriately).

  6. Mobile-first thinking

    • On small screens, reduce text length and use a concise CTA.
    • Use collapsible or multi-line behavior that doesn’t push critical content off-screen.

Content strategy: what to put in an info bar

  • Time-limited promotions: “Free shipping today only — use code SAVE20”
  • Operational updates: “Delivery delays due to weather — expect 2–3 extra days”
  • Urgent alerts: “Security incident: change your password” (use clear, attention-getting styling)
  • Legal/compliance notices: cookie consent, privacy updates
  • Re-engagement: “Sign up for 10% off” with email capture modal
  • Navigation aids: “You’re viewing the EU store — switch to US?”

Keep to one main message. If you have a complex announcement, link to a longer article.

Visual design guidance

  • Color and contrast

    • Use a high-contrast color for the bar background vs. text (e.g., dark text on light background or white text on dark background).
    • Use brand colors sparingly; prioritize readability.

  • Typography

    • Use a legible font size (14–16px baseline on desktop; adjusted for mobile).
    • Emphasize the action word or offer with bold text, but avoid excessive formatting.

  • Layout and spacing

    • Keep padding comfortable (e.g., 10–14px vertical) so the bar isn’t cramped.
    • Align text and CTA horizontally on desktop; stack them on mobile if needed.

  • Iconography

    • Use a small icon to reinforce the message (gift for promotions, truck for shipping, shield for security).
    • Don’t overload with icons — one subtle icon is enough.

  • CTA design

    • Make CTA buttons high-contrast and sized for touch (minimum 44x44px recommended).
    • Use clear verbs: “Shop now”, “Get free shipping”, “Update settings”.

Behavior patterns and interaction

  • Sticky vs. non-sticky

    • Sticky (fixed) keeps the message visible as the user scrolls — good for time-sensitive offers or important alerts.
    • Non-sticky appears briefly then hides or can be dismissed.

  • Auto-dismiss vs. manual dismiss

    • Prefer manual dismiss for critical notices.
    • Auto-dismiss after a short interval for non-critical messages, but always allow manual control.

  • Persistence and frequency

    • After dismissal, remember the user’s choice (via cookie/localStorage) to avoid repetition.
    • Show messages again when content or context changes meaningfully (e.g., new promotion).

  • Targeting and personalization

    • Use referral query strings, geolocation, or user attributes to show relevant messages.
    • A/B test messaging and CTAs to optimize conversion.

Accessibility checklist

  • Use role=“region” or role=“status” and aria-live=“polite” for non-critical updates; use aria-live=“assertive” only for urgent alerts.
  • Ensure keyboard support: close button focusable, tab order logical.
  • Provide text alternatives for icons (aria-label or visually-hidden text).
  • Ensure color contrast meets WCAG (4.5:1 for normal text at AA).
  • Test with screen readers and keyboard-only navigation.

Examples (patterns + code snippets)

Example 1 — Promotional top sticky bar (short, with CTA)

  • Message: “Free shipping on orders over $50 — Shop now”
  • Behavior: Sticky, dismissible, stored dismissal for 7 days

HTML/CSS/JS (simplified)

<!-- Promo Info Bar --> <div id="promo-bar" role="region" aria-live="polite" style="position:fixed;top:0;left:0;right:0;z-index:9999;background:#0b5; color:#032;padding:12px 16px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;">   <div style="font-size:15px;">     <strong>Free shipping on orders over $50</strong> — <span>use code FREESHIP</span>   </div>   <div style="display:flex;gap:8px;align-items:center;">     <a href="/shop" style="background:#fff;color:#0b5;padding:8px 12px;border-radius:6px;text-decoration:none;font-weight:600;">Shop now</a>     <button id="promo-close" aria-label="Dismiss promotional message" style="background:transparent;border:none;color:#fff;font-size:18px;cursor:pointer;">✕</button>   </div> </div> <script> if (localStorage.getItem('promoDismissed') !== '1') {   document.getElementById('promo-bar').style.display = 'flex'; } else {   document.getElementById('promo-bar').style.display = 'none'; } document.getElementById('promo-close').addEventListener('click', function(){   document.getElementById('promo-bar').style.display = 'none';   localStorage.setItem('promoDismissed','1'); }); </script>

Example 2 — Cookie consent (bottom, action required)

  • Message: “We use cookies to improve your experience — Accept or Customize”
  • Behavior: Persistent until user acts; links to privacy settings

Key points: Provide an “Accept” CTA and a secondary “Customize” action leading to granular controls. Use aria-live for announcement and ensure keyboard focus moves to the consent controls for users who use assistive tech.

Example 3 — Urgent site alert (top, high contrast, requires attention)

  • Message: “Service interruption in your region — View status”
  • Behavior: Use assertive announcement (aria-live=“assertive”), strong contrast (e.g., red background), show on all pages until resolved, include clear “Learn more” link.

A/B testing ideas

  • Message length: 8 words vs. 15 words
  • CTA wording: “Shop now” vs. “Get 20%”
  • Sticky vs. non-sticky behavior
  • Color variations and icon vs. no icon
  • Timing: show immediately vs. after 5–10 seconds

Measure CTR, conversion, dismissal rate, and any negative UX signals (e.g., increased bounce rate).

Implementation tips by platform

  • WordPress: Use a lightweight plugin that supports targeting and accessibility, or add theme code with the snippets above. Prefer plugins that let you set display rules by page, time, and user device.
  • Shopify: Use theme announcement bar or an app that supports segmented targeting and mobile rules. Make sure the bar doesn’t interfere with the mobile header or cart drawer.
  • Custom sites: Implement via a small, dependency-free JS component; avoid loading large libraries just for a bar.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Overloading the bar with text or multiple CTAs.
  • Using low-contrast colors that are hard to read.
  • Not providing a clear dismiss option or persisting unnecessarily after dismissal.
  • Using aria-live incorrectly (causing repeated interruptions for screen-reader users).
  • Showing promotional messages to users in contexts where they’re irrelevant (e.g., shipping promo on a help page about returns).

Quick checklist before launch

  • Message length under 15 words for primary copy.
  • Clear, single CTA with actionable verb.
  • Dismiss or persistence behavior defined and implemented.
  • Mobile behavior tested on several viewport sizes.
  • Accessibility checks passed (contrast, keyboard, screen reader).
  • Analytics events implemented (view, click, dismiss).

Designing an effective info bar is about balancing visibility with respect for the user’s attention. Use clear copy, prioritize accessibility, and iterate using data. With thoughtful targeting and simple visuals, an info bar becomes a high-ROI component of your site’s communication toolbox.

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