Out of all website design trends, it seems the one that has the most legs is parallax scrolling. You're starting to see it employed virtually everywhere now, and it's no surprise why. With a fixed background layer superimposed with a moving foreground layer, you can create a 3D effect when scrolling occurs. But some variations have taken place lately in parallax scrolling that may or may not correspond to how you want to design your site. You also have some thinking to do on just how much information you want to provide in the scrolling process while still giving an element of surprise.

The Immediate Benefits of Parallax Scrolling

You should consider using the basics of parallax scrolling just to give some interesting visual flair to your site. It's a mostly simple concept that wows people every time, even if different effects can be created depending on how many layers you use. The immediate benefit, though, is being able to convey heavy amounts of information about your company that otherwise would look boring and crowded all on one page. Parallax scrolling allows you to keep conveying pieces of information as a user keeps scrolling down.

You also have the option of using infinite scrolling that helps you be able to convey further information when you have to convey something detailed. The information automatically loads on the screen as you scroll down, hence bringing some real usefulness, particularly when viewed on a mobile device. Regardless, it also has one possible issue that could be fixed with a little bit of ingenuity.

Should You Let Users Know to Keep Scrolling?

The above issue with infinite scrolling is that some users may not know they're supposed to keep scrolling to find more content. This can pose a creative dilemma because one of the best aspects of parallax scrolling is surprising people with content the more they scroll down. If you have to tell them to keep scrolling, it might ruin the element of discovery. At the same time, if you don't, they may not keep scrolling and miss out on vital information you need to show your audience.

A compromise may be to use a graphic indicating to keep scrolling without giving away any hints at what they'll see.

Should You Use Horizontal Scrolling?

A variation on parallax scrolling is scrolling horizontally. This is becoming a popular option when you want to create landscape graphics across a screen rather than the feeling of going into the depths of an ocean. It can create a fun experience, especially in the art of discovery of what's beyond the screen's border. The 3D effects can also be a lot of fun, including multiple layering possibilities to create complex ideas.

This also has the dilemma of users not knowing to scroll over if they aren't told. Using an arrow graphic or some kind of subtle indicator would help to indicate more is there without ruining the sense of discovering something new.

Here at Forsefield Inc., we can help you incorporate smart parallax scrolling and other web design trends easily into your own business site. Contact us for FREE Quote so we can get started working with you and to show you how comprehensive we are as a marketing firm. We can cover every marketing and creative angle for you with an expert team and a recent emphasis on the retail market.