Announcement Styles
Every announcement bar has a style that controls how messages are presented and animated. When you have multiple messages in a single bar, the style determines how visitors transition between them. You can set this in the announcement editor under Announcement Style.
The Four Styles
There are four announcement styles to choose from. Each one gives your bar a different feel and works best in different situations.
Classic
Classic is a straightforward, static display. When you have a single message, it simply shows as-is with no animation. When you have multiple messages, left and right navigation arrows appear so visitors can browse between them at their own pace.
Best for:
Stores that prefer a clean, no-distraction look
Messages that visitors need time to read (like policy updates or detailed offers)
Bars where you want the visitor to control the pace
Fade
Fade automatically cross-fades between your messages every few seconds. One message smoothly fades out while the next fades in, using opacity transitions. Visitors don’t need to click anything – the rotation happens on its own.
Best for:
Bars with 2-4 short messages that rotate in the background
Keeping the bar visually interesting without being distracting
Promotions where you want all messages to get equal screen time
Running Line
Running Line is a ticker or marquee-style animation. All your messages scroll continuously from right to left across the bar. When you have multiple messages, they are separated by dot characters (the centered dot, also known as the interpunct). The scrolling pauses when a visitor hovers over the bar, so they can read the current text.
Best for:
Displaying many messages or a long list of promotions
Creating a news-ticker feel (flash sales, multiple offers)
Stores that want continuous movement to draw the eye
Typed
Typed gives your message a typewriter effect. Characters appear one at a time as if someone is typing them out in real time. Once a message finishes typing, it fades away and the next message begins typing. This creates a dynamic, attention-grabbing sequence.
Best for:
Single, impactful messages you want to emphasize
Creating a sense of anticipation (countdown to a launch, teaser text)
Bars where you want the animation itself to draw attention
Countdown Announcements and Style
When you create a Countdown Timer announcement, it always uses the Classic style regardless of what you select in the style dropdown. Countdown timers need a stable, static layout to display the timer digits clearly, so the other animation styles are not applied.
The Announcement Style option only controls how multi-message bars animate between messages. It does not affect other design settings like colors, background style, or positioning.
Choosing the Right Style
Consider these factors when picking a style:
Number of messages – Classic works well for 1-2 messages. Fade and Typed work best with 2-5. Running Line shines when you have many messages to show at once.
Message length – Short, punchy messages suit Running Line and Typed. Longer messages are easier to read in Classic or Fade.
Store personality – Running Line feels energetic and urgent. Typed feels modern and engaging. Fade is smooth and subtle. Classic is reliable and universal.
Mobile visitors – All styles work on mobile. Running Line pauses on hover (desktop) but scrolls continuously on touch devices.
Quick Comparison
Style | Animation | Visitor Control | Works With Single Message |
Classic | None (static) | Arrows to browse | Yes |
Fade | Auto cross-fade | No (automatic) | Yes, but no visible animation |
Running Line | Continuous scroll | Pause on hover | Yes, scrolls single message |
Typed | Typewriter effect | No (automatic) | Yes |
How to Set the Style
Open the announcement editor (create new or edit existing)
Find the Announcement Style dropdown
Select Classic, Fade, Running Line, or Typed
The live preview updates so you can see the effect immediately
Save your announcement
You can change the style at any time by editing the announcement. Switching styles does not affect your message text, colors, or other settings.
Common Questions
Can I use different styles for different messages in the same bar? No. The style applies to the entire announcement bar. All messages within that bar use the same style. If you want different styles, create separate announcement bars.
Does the style affect performance? All four styles are lightweight and optimized. Running Line and Typed use simple CSS and JavaScript animations that do not impact page load speed.
Which style gets the most clicks? It depends on your audience and message. Consider using A/B testing (available on the Unlimited plan) to test different styles and see which one performs best for your store.