Components: Top Banner (Announcement Bar)

Guides top announcement bar and sticky banner design for conversion. Top banners answer visitor questions in ~3 seconds (trust, discount, free shipping, urgency) and can increase coupon redemption by 30-50% when used well.

When invoking: On first use, if helpful, open with 1-2 sentences on what this skill covers and why it matters, then provide the main output. On subsequent use or when the user asks to skip, go directly to the main output.

Initial Assessment

Check for project context first: If .claude/project-context.md or .cursor/project-context.md exists, read it for offers, messaging, and Section 12 (Visual Identity).

Identify:

Goal: Lead capture, promo, urgency, trust, free shipping
Placement: Above header (sticky) or below; dismissible or persistent
Audience: All visitors vs segmented (geo, returning, cart abandoners)

Best Practices

Use Cases

| Use | Example | |-----|---------| | Lead capture | Newsletter, lead magnet, demo request | | Promo | Discount code, flash sale, free shipping threshold | | Urgency | Limited-time offer, countdown | | Trust | Guarantee, security, shipping info | | Launch | Product launch, event, cross-sell |

Discount Banner Types

| Discount Type | Banner Example | Related | |---------------|----------------|---------| | Annual discount | "Save 20% with annual billing" | discount-marketing-strategy | | Student/education | "Students: 30% off today, 15% off ongoing" | education-program | | Startups/education | "Startups: Special pricing — Apply now" | startups-page-generator | | BFCM / seasonal | "Black Friday: 25% off — Use code BF25" | discount-marketing-strategy | | First-time | "New users: 20% off first year" | discount-marketing-strategy | | Referral code | "Get $10 off — Refer a friend" | referral-program |

Placement: Discount banner is P1 for student/education (homepage); pricing page also shows. See education-program for placement priority (registration P0, pricing P1, banner P1).

Design

Clear hierarchy: Message + CTA in ~400ms "blink test"
Minimal copy: One line typical; link for "Learn more"
High contrast: Stand out from page; CTA color distinct
Mobile-first: 70%+ traffic on mobile; thumb-friendly close/CTA

Technical

Desktop: 1920x600px keeps content above fold; 16:9 common
Mobile: 800x1200px (2:3 portrait); use separate assets, not scaled
Performance: Optimize images; oversized banners hurt LCP and SEO

Avoid

Crowding the header; leave space for nav and logo
Too many CTAs; one primary action
Stale messaging; refresh every 2-4 weeks

Output Format

Message and CTA copy
Placement (sticky top, below header)
Targeting (all vs segment)
Design notes (contrast, mobile)

Related Skills

discount-marketing-strategy: Promo/discount strategy; banner displays discount code; 30–50% redemption lift
education-program: Student discount banner (P1 placement); "Students: X% off" copy
pricing-page-generator: Discount banner supports pricing page; Special programs, promo placement
cta-generator: Banner CTA design
newsletter-signup-generator: Lead capture in banner
brand-visual-generator: Colors, typography for banner
navigation-menu-generator: Banner sits above or integrates with nav