Now you may have checked out the above link, or seen a parallax scrolling website and said “I want that, what’s the next step.”  Hold on. Looks can be deceiving, and Parallax scrolling websites are not for everyone.  Below are a few things to know before you implement a parallax scrolling web design.

Have access to high quality photography.

Photography plays a major role.  If you do not have access to a photographer, and I don’t mean your uncle, or friend of the family business who owns a DSLR, parallax scrolling may not be for you.  Let’s face it, what makes a lot of these types of sites impactful is the photography mixed with the technology.  If you have a low budget for photography, or are using your iPhone for your website, parallax scrolling may not be for you.  That does not mean you cannot move forward, it just means that your site may have a less than desired result.

You plan on running a strong SEO campaign.

If ranking high on Google is important to you, and you plan on hiring an SEO ninja to optimize your site, you may want to reconsider parallax scrolling.  Parallax scrolling websites contain a lot of imagery; this can increase page load time.  From what I have been experiencing, Google is not taking into consideration page load times when indexing your website.  Google frowns on slow sites, and to be frank so do visitors.

Most parallax scrolling websites are only 1 page websites.  By keeping your website only page, you are limiting the way your site is indexed.  You will lose the advantage of multiple title tags, meta descriptions, and keyword optimization.

Parallax sites need a storyboard.

If you’re not willing to invest in time or money to have a storyboard created, and plan your content writing around this story to meet end goals, I would not recommend a parallax scrolling website.  You can have great looking photography, a great looking website, but if it doesn’t flow or make sense, your missing out on the big picture.  Visitors do not want to try and figure out the message you are trying to tell and will most likely leave before they come back.  Unless your end goal is for visitors to say wow this is cool, and not convert? I would not recommend a parallax scrolling website.

Parallax scrolling does have its place in the market.  I have seen brands such as Nike, Honda,  Activate water, and many creative agencies leverage parallax scrolling to their benefit.  It may even be a good fit for you.  Just make sure you consult with a professional to access your needs and end goals.  A Visual Identity consults all of its clients, to make sure they are getting a design that fits their budget, meets there goals, and in the end is a success.

What I enjoy most about being a Creative Cloud subscriber, is the upgrades. Adobe has been consistently updating their software, every year and a half.  I remember purchasing Adobe CS3 in late 2007, and feeling a bit gypped after an upgrade came out a year later, at a substantial cost.   If I wanted to take advantage of the new tools, Adobe was providing, I would be forced to upgrade.  Creative Cloud now gives me all the access to the updates at now upfront cost.  This is appealing.

Another aspect of the Creative Cloud I really like is collaborative file sharing, and license management.  Adobe gives CC users 2 GB of personal cloud space and allows you to license not only your work machines, but your home machines as well.  While this is not a new concept, I do like that I am able to work on a file at work, save it to my CC folder, and continue working on it when I get home.  I can also setup team sharing, so other teammates can jump on and work on the file.   Along with these features comes a new set of syncing capabilities, including desktop settings.  For example if you are working at a clients office, using their machine, login to your creative cloud account.  Your presets and settings will be migrated to the client’s machine, tailoring to your workflow.

While some say the move to the cloud is intended to curb piracy, others are saying it’s a way to lock you into the new pricing structure.  Either way you look at it, it’s a smart move for Adobe.

While some say the move to the cloud is intended to curb piracy, others are saying it’s a way to lock you into the new pricing structure.  Either way you look at it, it’s a smart move for Adobe.  At 19.99 a month you can download a standalone version of your favorite program and receive support and upgrades at no cost.  If you are upgrading from a hacked version you received from your neighbor, you can now feel safe and ethical, no longer wondering if the FBI is going to bang down your door and fine you $250,000 for Piracy.  If you are a design professional at $49.99 a month you can have access to the entire collection.  That’s approximately $600.00 a year, plus all the added features and upgrades.  That sure beats $2500.00 for software that will be quickly outdated.

Adobe CC is full of upgrades, tools, mobile apps, etc… and is set to officially launch June 17^th.  Let us know what you think of Adobes move, will you be upgrading to CC?  What are your favorite or least favorite features?  As always we love reading your comments!

A website has between 5-15 seconds, to entice a new visitor, to make an action, and that’s being a bit generous.

A website has between 5-15 seconds, to entice a new visitor, to make an action, and that’s being a bit generous.  Some would say between 3-5 seconds.  I typically stay on for about 10. Most homepage image sliders rotate at 5 seconds, and have between 4-6 slides.  By doing the simple math, and looking at your experience in clicking sliders, you can pretty much bet slides 4-6 get zero exposure.  So that leaves slides 1-3 to convey the message you want your visitors to see.  The question is, do they really see that message?

These types of messages often get lost by using bad imagery, and over the top slide transitions.  The messages often do not connect, and are run almost like string of horrible banner advertising.  So why would you put one of these on your homepage?  Maybe it’s because so many websites are using them, you feel you would be losing out.  I mean if everyone is doing it, it must be right? Wrong.  Here are some of my alternative recommendations to using an image slider:

Spend time creating a clear single message.

Instead of using an image slider, try having your creative team or graphics guy/gal, create a hard hitting full width, message on a single graphic.  Keep the message clear and to the point, supporting your websites end goal / objective.

Keep it simple.

It’s easy for visitors to get overloaded with information.  So keep your message to the point, and as simple as possible.  If there are elements on your graphic that do not need to have purpose, remove them.  If the copy is longer than 2 sentences, try re-writing the copy.  Visitors appreciate a clear single, simple message.

Be witty.

I cannot stress this enough.  When putting together your single message, find creative ways to be impactful.  Be witty, have fun.  It will make your message that much stronger, giving more of a reason for a visitor to make an action on your website. Plus who doesn’t appreciate witty, it shows you actually spent time crafting your message.

Tell a story.

If you’re set on an image slider for the web site, and there is no convincing you otherwise, do your best to be purposeful with your slides.  Try telling a story.  Use each slide as a lead to the next.  By doing this you can tie 2-3 slides together, making the visitor actually want view your slideshow.  Use all 3 slides to convey one simple message and you’ll have a really good chance at winning your visitor over.

My question to the reader is, do you know of a company or individual who is using an ineffective image slider? Or maybe you have had nothing but positive experiences with generating clicks through image sliders.  Either the case be, post your feedback below.  I would enjoy reading and commenting on your thoughts.