Although it has gotten a bad rap over the years, scrolling web design is not the epitome of evil as some web design companies have come to believe. Scrolling that may have been cumbersome in the past is now a new wave in website design.
With the use of mobile devices skyrocketing, web design services shying away from scrolling design should take a closer look. What was once taboo in the design community has now become not just trendy but actually more efficient for developing functional, user-friendly mobile-ready websites!
To Scroll or Not to Scroll - Disadvantages
To scroll or not to scroll is always the question. The idea behind scrolling web design has always been a good one; it is an ongoing page that keeps the information flowing. Yet it faced a number of problems when used.
Information is not above the fold!
The first complaint voiced from web design companies is the entire "above the fold" notion that suggests scrolling pages remove the ability to keep certain content at eye-level.
Page loading speed is slower than molasses!
The other main complaint about scrolling is that it drastically slows page loading speed since the data just keeps loading.
To Scroll or Not to Scroll - Advantages
As valid as these points used to be, web design services who have already jumped on the scrolling bandwagon are finding them to be now invalid. Why?
Loading speed is no longer a problem!
One reason is that as mobile technology has improved, mobile use has increased, and high-speed internet is more widely available. Therefore, page load time is not the problem it once was.
Scrolling is ideal for mobile usage!
Additionally, with the scarcity of screen space on mobile devices, something had to give, somewhere. Scrolling has become one of the best methods to get more information into smaller areas.
Mobile users expect and prefer to scroll!
Add to this the fact that mobile users are now so accustomed to scrolling that they expect and prefer it, so there really is no longer a reason to avoid it
Scrolling Web Design - Use It!
In today’s mobile-oriented world, web design companies can recognize some important advantages with scrolling design such as the following:
- Faster Websites - With slower page loading not such a concern, scrolling actually is faster and more convenient to use.
- Responsive, User-Friendly Design - Scrolling works well with responsive web design, producing a site that can move from desktop to mobile while being easier and more enjoyable to use.
- Natural Gesture Control - Based on how users prefer to access their phones, scrolling works well with known gesture controls to provide easy site usage.
- Enticing, Interactive Layouts - Scrolling encourages more user interaction and longer time spent on a website with its easy interface, simple navigation, and more information on the site.
Scrolling Web Design - Don't Use It!
Of course, with all advantages there are always some disadvantages that web design services should weigh when considering scrolling design:
- Slow Loading for Heavier Pages - Overall, page load speed is nowhere near the problem that it used to be. Still, image-heavy pages and those with videos or other media may still load slow enough to make scrolling restrictive.
- SEO Concerns - When using a single-page scrolling layout, there may be some reduction in SEO. Fortunately, there are techniques like parallax scrolling and other creative layout methods that can alleviate this issue.
- Navigational Concerns - Finding previous content on infinitely scrolling pages can be difficult and the lack of a bottom navigation bar confusing. Persistent top navigation bars and sticky footer bars are great remedies for these issues.
- Can Be Disorienting - Somewhat related to the navigation issues, some users who are not as accustomed to or dislike scrolling could become disoriented by the endless stream of content rolling down their screen.
Web design services looking for creative and efficient ways to develop fast, fun, and informative websites can find many benefits to scrolling web design. No longer the taboo idea that it was in the past, scrolling layouts are more efficient when properly developed to get around the few disadvantages.
As most users are accustomed to scrolling at this point and even prefer it when mobile, there is no reason for web design companies to avoid this design trend any longer!
