What is parallax scrolling?
Simply put, parallax scrolling is a unique scrolling method used in web design that involves making background images on a web page move more slowly compared to the foreground to create the illusion of motion and depth.
If you want a more in-depth understanding of this topic, check out the FAQ section below:
Question #1: What can I use parallax scrolling for?
Aside from creating the illusion of motion and depth, you can also use parallax scrolling for things such as:
- Showcasing the features of a product – You can use parallax scrolling to simulate animation and highlight the best features of a product as the user scrolls.
- Showing how a product works – This uses the exact same concept, but instead of just showing the features of a product, it demonstrates how a customer can use it.
- Explaining the parts of a product – This also uses the same concept, but is focused on showcasing the different parts and components of a product. You can also use it to show your customers what comes in the box when they purchase your product.
- Creatively showing before-and-after transformations – Why just post a side-by-side photo when you can ‘animate’ the transformation, right? This is perfect for fitness-, art-, business-, finance-, and real estate-related transformations. You can animate photos, graphics, charts, and graphs.
- Naturally guiding your visitors to your call-to-action buttons – You can use parallax scrolling to simulate visual effects that naturally direct your visitors to where you want them to go on your website.
At the end of the day, there is really no limit to the things you can do with parallax scrolling. You can be as creative as you would like.
To know more about the parallax website example, check this helpful page.
Question #2: What are its advantages?
The biggest advantages include:
It helps your website stand out. Websites that use parallax scrolling have more visual appeal than those that do not—especially if the technique is used to do the things we saw in the previous section instead of just creating the illusion of depth.
It helps keep your visitors engaged. Websites that use parallax scrolling are simply more fun and interesting to use than those that do not.
It makes your visitors want to stay longer. When your visitors enjoy using your website, they stay longer, ultimately reducing your bounce rate.
It helps your visitors find the content they want more easily. As we have seen in the previous section, you can use parallax scrolling to guide your visitors to specific sections of your website.
It can help you get your point across better. We also talked about this one in the previous section. Instead of just talking about the features of your product, for example, you can use parallax scrolling to showcase them.
Question #3: How will it affect SEO?
Parallax scrolling does not directly affect SEO. Instead, it makes visitors more likely to stay longer, explore more, come back, and tell other people about your website. This, in turn, makes your website appear more valuable, interesting, and relevant in the eyes of Google, which ultimately helps increase your odds of ranking in search.
Question #4: Do I need to use parallax scrolling?
The short answer is no. You can use it but only if it would actually help enhance the overall user experience of your website. Do not use it just for the sake of using it. Instead, your primary goal should be to create a user-friendly website that has the content that your target audience would find valuable, interesting, or both.
At the end of the day, an easy-to-use website with great content does not need parallax scrolling to do well. In contrast, a website with terrible usability and garbage content will still fail even if it uses parallax scrolling to its full potential.
Also, keep in mind that while this looks good and can definitely be a useful tool if you use it incorrectly, it can end up ruining the user experience.
For example, a customer who wants to quickly find out the specs of a new smartphone probably would not appreciate having to scroll all the way down just and wait for your parallax animation to finish just to get them. You need to make sure that you also give them a quicker alternative way to get the information they want.
The goal, then, is to use parallax scrolling not only when it would actually add something to your website, but also when it would not take something away from it.