How to Add Banner in WordPress

Do you want to learn how to add a banner in WordPress? And want to add banners in the finest ways for conversions? If yes, then here we go!

Banners help you inform your site visitors about special offers, deals, or business updates. It’s a smart way to convert your website visitors, into potential customers.

Nevertheless, the core concern is determining the most effective way to add a banner to your WordPress website. But now, don’t be concerned anymore! We’ve you covered.

In this tutorial, we’ll guide you through several methods to add a banner to your WordPress site. That further leads you to the best conversions.

So, let’s dig in!

Why Do You Need to Add a Banner to Your WordPress Site?

Before we move ahead, let’s explore the top reasons to add a banner to your WordPress site. They are:

  • Create a focal point which is the first thing noticed on your website by site visitors. 
  • Showcase particular products or display exclusive offers. So that more users access such offerings.
  • Make use of banners to redirect visitors to landing pages, social media campaigns, or email marketing.
  • Displaying brand-new products, or top-selling items on your banner will draw users’ attention.
  • Banners with high-resolution featured images help to project an appealing appearance to site visitors. 

Hence, it’s crucial to get a website banner correctly. Since it only has a few seconds to grab a visitor’s attention. And persuade them to continue browsing the site.

With that, let’s explore various types of banners that you can add to your website.


Types of Banners You Can Add to Your Website

Adding relevant, distinctive, and interesting banners on your website is the key to ensuring the best conversions. In fact, there are several types of banners that you can add as per your website’s requirements. 

So, let’s get to know them briefly. 

i) Affiliate Banner

Affiliate banners are graphics with different sizes that are made to increase your sales. Also, you can earn commissions by advertising the goods and services of businesses. In other words, this process is also known as affiliate marketing.

For example, you can check out the website Wirecutter. On the right-hand side, you can see the Daily deals section. Here, you can find various affiliate banners added to this website. 

Wirecutter Website as Affiliate Banner Example
Wirecutter Website as Affiliate Banner Example

For most affiliate banners, you can easily copy the HTML code that most merchants supply to you. Then, add eye-catching visuals to your website and increase affiliate revenue.

ii) Advertisement Banner

Advertisement Banner is another form of the banner that’s used in the context of digital advertising. Whereby, brands can advertise their products and entice visitors to visit their websites by using banner ads.

It’s placed strategically on a website either in a static or dynamic format.  Further, helping a brand achieve its commercial objectives. Whether those objectives are to increase brand recognition, encourage more clicks, or increase traffic.

Gear Patrol Website as Advertisement Banner Example
Gear Patrol Website as Advertisement Banner Example

For instance, you can check out the website Gear Patrol. On the top section, you can find the advertisement banner for the Blundstone boots.

iii) Notification Banner

Notification Banner is another popular type of banner that precisely sits at the top of your website. 

For example, you can check out the popular WordPress theme Zakra’s official website. On top of the site, you can find the red colored notification banner.

Zakra Theme Website for Notification Banner Example
Zakra Theme Website for Notification Banner Example

It’s used to promote discounts, new features, product upgrades, and other important updates. Not to mention, notification banners are less annoying than in-app, or pop-up notifications. 

iv) Scrolling Banner

Scrolling Banner is another clever way to draw people’s attention. And further, divert them at the predetermined period.

With this banner, you can have a specific message scroll over the screen to draw attention. Whether be it for a crucial date reminder or to remind viewers of an essential product or message.

For example, you can explore one of the popular marketplace websites i.e.  Amazon.

Amazon Website as Scrolling Banner Example
Amazon Website as Scrolling Banner Example

Once you’re on this website, you’ll see a scrolling banner on the top section. That mentions its best products with the finest discount deals. This is one among the many examples of a scrolling banner. 

v) Sales Banner

Sales Banner is another popular type of banner used as one of the effective means for promoting sales. It’s widely used during sales seasons like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Or say festive seasons like Christmas and New Year. 

Nevertheless, most eCommerce store owners also use sales banners for their special hyped-up products and services. 

Dokan Website as Sales Banner Example
Dokan Website as Sales Banner Example

For reference, you can check the Dokan WordPress plugin website. On the top, you can find the sale banner used for early sale purposes.

vi) Popup Banner

Last but not least, we’ve one of the most well-liked banners used i.e. popup banner. As its name implies, these banners “pop up” on the website and present the user with a promotional message.

More precisely, you can understand a popup banner as a banner that spontaneously appears in the visual interface’s forefront. Typically in a window with a distinct boundary. 

OptinMonster Website as Popup Banner Example
OptinMonster Website as Popup Banner Example

For your reference, you can check out the OptinMonster WordPress plugin’s official website. Once you’ve been on this website for a while, a pop-up banner advertising a discount will appear. 

Consequently, you can understand that the popup banner aids in promoting sales and generating leads. That ultimately leads to high conversion rates.

Now that you know the various types of banners you can add to your WordPress site, let’s proceed forward!


How to Add Banner in WordPress? (5 Ways for Best Conversions)

There are various methods that you can use to add banners to your WordPress site.

Here, we’ll explore some of the quickest and simplest methods for adding banners for the best conversion rates.

So follow along with us as we walk you through each method. And choose the one that works best for you and your WordPress website.

Method 1: Use a Theme with Banner Space

The first approach on the list is using a theme that has banner space. It’s among the simplest ways to add banners without using any plugins.

You can simply follow the given steps below:

Step 1: Search For Themes With Banner Space

First, you need to explore themes that provide you with the exact kind of banner space you’re looking for. 

If you want us to recommend one, then we’d go for the ColorMag WordPress theme.

ColorMag Newspaper Theme Template Demo
ColorMag Newspaper Theme Template Demo

It’s one of the adaptable freemium WordPress themes built with various-sized banner advertising widgets. 

As a result, you can easily use its widgets to add adverts to your website. And further, receive payment from the advertisers. Alternatively, you can also use these spaces to put up affiliate banners or sale banners.

Step 2: Install and Activate the Theme

Now that, we’ve decided on a theme, it’s time to install and activate the theme.

For that, all you need to do is log in to your WordPress dashboard

Then, on the left-hand side of your dashboard, you’ll see the ‘Appearance’ menu. On hovering over it, you’ll find the ‘Themes’ option.  Following that, you need to click on the ‘Add New’ option on the top section of your dashboard. 

Navigate to Appearance to Add New Theme
Navigate to Appearance to Add a New Theme

Following that, you’ll see a search bar in the top right corner. There, you need to type in the theme name. As for our theme choice, let’s type in ‘ColorMag’

Install the ColorMag Theme
Install the ColorMag Theme

Once you locate the theme, hover over it. With that, you’ll see the ‘Install’ option. Click on it. 

Activate the ColorMag Theme
Activate the ColorMag Theme

Shortly after the installation process is completed, you’ll see the ‘Activate’ option. Click on it.

With that, you’ve now successfully installed and activated the ColorMag theme. 

Step 3: Import a Demo with the Banner Space

Next up, you’ll see the notification popup with the ‘Get Started with ColorMag’ option. Click on it to import the various prebuilt demo templates offered by ColorMag.

Click on Get Started with ColorMag Option to Import Demos
Click on Get Started with ColorMag Option to Import Demos

Once you find the demo with the banner space, simply hover over it and click on the ‘Import’ option. For instance, here we import the ‘Newspaper’ demo template.

Click on Import Option of your Preferred Demo
Click on the Import Option of your Preferred Demo

Once your demo is successfully imported, you can simply click on the ‘Live Preview’ option. Consequently, you can see the changes on your website.

Click on Live Preview Option to See your Imported Site
Click on Live Preview Option to See your Imported Site

Step 4: Configure the Banner Space & Save the Updates

On live previewing your imported demo, you can see the ‘Edit Page’ option on the top. Simply click on it.

Click Edit Page Option at Top
Click the Edit Page Option at Top

With that, you’ll land on the configuration page where you can customize your banner

Now, you need to simply click on the available advertisement banner space. With that, you’ll access its further settings

Click the Banner Space to Further Configure it
Click the Banner Space to Further Configure it

Here you can change the banner image, insert the advertisement URL link, and make other necessary changes. 

Make the Necessary Configuration & Click on Update Option
Make the Necessary Configuration & Click on the Update Option

Once done, simply click on the ‘Update’ option in the top right corner. And you’re all done adding the banner image to your WordPress website.

With that, let’s proceed forward to the next method to add a banner to your WordPress site. 


Method 2: Use Widgets to Add Banners

Some theme provides you with pre-built banner space just like how we used the ColorMag theme in Method 1. 

Meanwhile, there are also several other themes with no specific banner space. However, they do provide different widgets to create and place your banners.

This method is useful if you have a functioning WordPress site using some other themes. And don’t have specific banner space. 

So, let’s look into our next method which is to add banners un using widgets.

Step 1: Navigate to Appearance > Widgets

Just to let you know, widget areas are layout elements that are global and can receive blocks. They can vary depending on the theme but are usually sections like your Sidebar or Footer.

Now, all you’ve to do is navigate to the ‘Appearance’ option in the left sidebar of your dashboard. Then, click on the ‘Widgets’ option. 

Navigate to Appearance and Widgets & Choose Widget Area
Navigate to Appearance and Widgets & Choose Widget Area

With that, you’ll find several options where you want to create widgets for your banners.

So, now you need to choose from the available widget areas where you want to add your banners.  For now, let’s create one on the ‘Main Sidebar’ option. 

Step 2: Configure Your Banner Widget

Following that, you can see the plus ‘+’ icon. On clicking it, you’ll have access to various blocks that you can use to create a widget for your banners. 

Click on the Plus Icon to Access Various Blocks
Click on the Plus Icon to Access Various Blocks

Now, we’ve created a simple image banner using the Column, Image, Buttons, and Text blocks. Just as shown in the below snapshot.

Glimpse of Created Banner Widget
A Glimpse of Created Banner Widget

You can also create one for your WordPress website as per your site’s need. 

Step 3: Save the Widget & Add the Banner 

Once done, simply click on the ‘Update’ option in the top right corner. That’ll save your created banner widgets.

Click on Update Option to Save your Created Banner Widget
Click on the Update Option to Save your Created Banner Widget

Following that, you can quickly add these banner widgets where you precisely want a banner on your website.

With that, let’s proceed forward to the following method to add the banner to your WordPress site.


Method 3: Adding a Popup Banner via Popup Maker

Next up, you can use various WordPress plugins to add a banner to your WordPress website.

So, here we’ll be using one of the popular WordPress plugins Popup Maker. It’s one of the well-liked popup builder plugins to create conversion-focused pop-up banners. 

Now, follow the below steps as we guide you through.

Step 1: Install and Activate the Popup Maker Plugin

First thing first, navigate into the ‘Plugins’ section on the left navigation of the WordPress dashboard. And click on the ‘Add New’ option. 

Install the Popup Maker Plugin
Install the Popup Maker Plugin

Then, on the search field, type the ‘Popup Maker’. Once you’ve located the plugin, you need to click on the ‘Install’ button.

Activate the Popup Maker Plugin
Activate the Popup Maker Plugin

Following that, you’ll see the ‘Activate’ option. Simply, click the button to activate it.

Step 2: Create a New Popup for Your Banner

Once you’ve successfully installed the Popup Maker plugin, you’ll see the first welcome message. Also, you can find a new ‘Popup Maker’ option on the left navigation sidebar.

Click on Create your first popup Option
Click on the ‘Create your first popup’ Option

Now, you can simply click on the ‘Create your first popup!’ option to kickstart your popup banner. 

Alternatively, you can also go to Popup Maker > Create Popup Option to create your popup banners.

Insight to Create a New Popup Interface
Insight to Create New Popup Interface

With that, you’ll see a page as shown in the above snapshot. Here, you need to add your banner popup name, title, and your respective image.

Once you fill in the respective details of your banner, it’ll look just as shown in the image below.

Fill in the Respective Details of the Banner
Fill in the Respective Details of the Banner

Step 3: Configure Popup Settings & Publish it

Now, if you scroll a bit down on the very same page, then you can find further popup settings. 

Configure the Popup Settings
Configure the Popup Settings

Precisely, here you can configure:

  • Triggers: From this option, you can precisely choose the trigger condition that causes your banner popup to open.
  • Targeting: Choose a condition to tailor your popup to particular content or different audience segments from this field.
  • Display: This option helps you select how you want a banner popup to be displayed. For example, Central, Right Bottom Slide-in, Top Bar, etc.
  • Close: You can tailor the close text and close button delay from this field.
  • Advanced: Lastly, the Advanced field provides you the option to disable automatic re-triggering and accessibility features. 

Besides, it also provides various custom fields option to further tailor your popup exactly how you want it.

Once done, simply click on the ‘Publish’ button at the top right side to live your popup banner.

Click on the Publish Button at the Top Right Sidebar
Click on the Publish Button at the Top Right Sidebar

Step 4: Navigate to All Popups to Enable/Disable it

Last but not least, you can also disable your popup banner if you don’t want it after some time. And enable it again when you want it back.

For that, all you’ve to do is navigate to the Popup Maker > All Popups

Enable or Disable Popup Banner as you Wish
Enable or Disable Popup Banner as you Wish

Just beside each popup banner, you can find the enable/disable button. Simply click on it as per your website requirement. 

And there you go adding a popup banner to your WordPress site successfully.

Now, let’s proceed to the next method. 


Method 4: Adding a Scrolling Banner via Horizontal Scrolling Announcements

Similarly, are you planning to add a scrolling banner to your WordPress site? Then, be at ease! 

You can easily do so using the Horizontal Scrolling Announcements WordPress plugin. This plugin offers you a simple way to create scrolling content from one end to the other like a reel.

So, follow the given steps as we walk you through them. 

Step 1: Install and Activate the Horizontal Scrolling Announcements Plugin

Horizontal Scrolling Announcements is a free WordPress plugin. Therefore, you can quickly install it right from your WordPress dashboard. 

All you need to do is head into the ‘Plugins’ section on the left navigation of the dashboard. And click on the ‘Add New’ option. 

Install Horizontal Scrolling Announcements Plugin
Install Horizontal Scrolling Announcements Plugin

Now, on the search field, type the ‘Horizontal Scrolling Announcements’. Once you’ve located the plugin, you need to click on the ‘Install’ button.

Activate Scrolling Announcements Plugin
Activate Scrolling Announcements Plugin

Shortly, you’ll see the ‘Activate’ option. Simply, click the button to activate it.

Step 2: Add New Scrolling Announcement and Configure it

With that, you’ll see the new menu ‘Horizontal scroll’ on your WordPress dashboard. 

Navigate to Horizontal Scroll & Click on Add New Option
Navigate to Horizontal Scroll & Click on Add New Option

Simply, click on the ‘Add New’ option on the top to create a new scrolling announcement.

Add Announcement Text, Respective Link & Other Details
Add Announcement Text, Respective Link & Other Details

Then, you can add the announcement text, respective link if you’ve got any, display order, style, and other details.

Make Further Configurations & Click on Submit Button
Make Further Configurations & Click on Submit Button

Once done, all you’ve to do is click on the ‘Submit’ button. 

Step 3: Configure the Widget

Following that, you’ve to configure the widget. For that, navigate to Appearance > Widgets

Navigate to Appearance and Widgets & Click on the Plus Icon
Navigate to Appearance and Widgets & Click on the Plus Icon

Then, you’ll see the available widget areas. On clicking your preferred widget area, you’ll also find the plus ‘+’ icon. Simply click on it.

Search Horizontal Scrolling Announcements & Click on it
Search Horizontal Scrolling Announcements & Click on it

Now, on the search bar, type ‘Horizontal Scrolling Announcements’. Once you locate it, simply click on it. 

Afterward, you can give the suitable widget title name, announcement group, speed, duration, and other necessary settings.

Configure the Widget & Click on the Update Option
Configure the Widget & Click on the Update Option

Once you’re done, click on the ‘Update’ option in the top right corner.

Step 4: Insert the ShortCode on the Home Page Editor & Update it

Next up, you need to come back to your website Home Page Editor. Just below the Home title, you’ll be using a shortcode to add the scrolling banner.

For that, click on the plus ‘+’ icon and type ‘Shortcode’ in the search bar. Just as shown in the above screenshot. Once you locate it, click on it. 

Click on the Plus Icons and Search for Shortcode Block
Click on the Plus Icons and Search for Shortcode Block

To let you know, the Horizontal Scrolling Announcements plugin provides you with 2 main shortcodes. They are:

  • [hsas-shortcode group=”” speed=”2″ direction=”down” gap=”50″]
  • [hsas-shortcode group=”” speed=”10″ direction=”left” gap=”50″]

You can make necessary changes to the shortcode as your choice for speed, direction, and gap. 

Following that, you’ll need to ‘insert the shortcode’ in the box just as shown in the image below.

Insert the Shortcode and Click on the Update Option
Insert the Shortcode and Click on the Update Option

Then, finally, click on the ‘Update’ option and check on the preview of your live website. 

With that said, let’s move proceed forward to the last but not least method to add a banner to your WordPress site.


Method 5: Adding a Notification Banner via Simple Banner

Likewise, you can add a notification banner to your WordPress site using the Simple Banner plugin. It’s a free WordPress banner plugin that makes it quite simple to add a notification banner at top of your page.

So, stick with us as we walk you through the steps below.

Step 1: Install and Activate the Simple Banner Plugin

Like before, navigate into the ‘Plugins’ section on the left navigation of the dashboard. And click on the ‘Add New’ option. 

Install the Simple Banner Plugin
Install the Simple Banner Plugin

Then, on the search field, type the ‘Simple Banner’. Once you’ve located the plugin, simply click on the ‘Install’ button.

Activate the Simple Banner Plugin
Activate the Simple Banner Plugin

Eventually, you’ll see the ‘Activate’ option. Simply, click the button to activate it.

Step 2: Configure the Banner Settings

Following that, you’ll see the ‘Simple Banner’ option on the left-hand side navigation of your dashboard.

Access to Simple Banner Settings
Access to Simple Banner Settings

Also, on the right-hand side of your dashboard, you can find various banner configuration settings. 

To be precise, you can configure the font size, background color, text color, link color, and button color of your choice. Just as shown in the image below.

Configure the Simple Banner Settings
Configure the Simple Banner Settings

Also, you have the option of placing the text that you want on your notification banner.

Step 3: Save and Preview the Banner

Lastly, you’ll see the ‘Save Changes’ option on the bottom section of the configuration page. Click on it.

Click on the Save Changes Option
Click on the Save Changes Option

Once done, go to our live website to preview the notification banner on the top section of your website.

Live Preview the Website to See the Notification Banner
Live Preview the Website to See the Notification Banner

Conclusion

That’s all, folks! We’ve come to the end of our tutorial on how to add a banner to your WordPress site.

We sincerely hope that this article helps you in adding the banners that provide the best conversions. Do let us know which of the aforementioned methods you plan to use as well.

And feel free to ask any questions you may have throughout the tutorial process. We’re pleased to help you and clear any concerns.

Browse through our other similar articles. Such as how to choose the best domain name for affiliate marketing. And how to update WordPress to the latest version.

If you find this tutorial article fruitful, then don’t forget to spread the word with your friends and family.

Lastly, remember to like and follow us on our social media handles Facebook and Twitter to keep a close eye on our articles.

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