Website animation: the pros and cons

Catching the attention of would-be customers is vital in today’s fast-paced and attention-grabbing online world. Having a stale, static site staring back at you may convince you to introduce some energy into your website’s homepage through animation, but moderation may be key in making your website stand out.

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Pros

Our brains are hard-wired to seek out differences in our environments, primarily movement. Consider our ancestors, traversing an open field and spying a rustling patch of grass in the distance. This awareness could have been the difference between getting dinner and being dinner. Today, it is the difference between dissuading or engaging your customers, which is not a bad evolutionary trade-off.

A striking image alone can capture your attention, so imagine what a moving image can do: visual summaries, interactive games, personalised visuals, or anything else that suits your brand. You can find inspiration here.

Animations can draw customers to your products or services or simply spice up an otherwise bland paragraph. Of course, it is difficult to create these animations with no prior experience; however, agencies that provide expert website design Surrey, such as akikodesign.com/design/web-and-digital, can help.

Animation can guide users through your platform, signposting your most valuable services and funnelling customers to points of interest. Don’t limit yourself to a flashy homepage, as animations can tell your story just as well as your words. If another story or scene is needed in an already crammed area of text, a smooth animation can summarise and streamline your content.

Cons

There is a fine distinction to learn between captivating your customers and distracting them. Too many lights, colours, flashes, and movements quickly become overwhelming, and your customers may end up feeling lost rather than guided.

If your animations start slowing down your website, you can wave goodbye to the customers who were originally interested.

It can be easy to get carried away, but remember that animation should be functional and benefit your customers. Going overboard is where animations lose their impact, as any gratuitous PowerPoint transition will show you. Remember that if everything is trying to stand out, nothing will.

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