When designing or redesigning your company website, you have probably put a lot of thought into the above the fold content. This is the content that will load first, and be responsible for pulling users into your website. So it needs to be perfect. Using a hero image that utilizes most of the screen above the fold has been a popular and effective technique for many companies. But this only provides the opportunity for one image to stand out. With a hero slider, companies can choose several images to display in this position, rotating the images through a carousel. But is this not distracting for users? And what are the important considerations for hero sliders in web design? Well, here at Pumpkin Web Design Manchester, we are Manchester’s leading web design experts. We work with companies and businesses across Manchester, and the surrounding area, including Wigan and Southport, to provide web design solutions that can help businesses grow. As a result, we have produced this guide to everything you should consider when using hero sliders in web design.
What are the most important considerations when using hero sliders in web design?
To make sure your hero sliders are effective and useful for users, there are a several things you should consider. These can be split into two distinct categories:
- Functional and practical considerations
- Design and visual considerations
Functional and practical considerations for hero sliders in web design
Functional considerations regarding hero sliders in web design are all about the user experience. You want your above the fold content to attract attention, but you don’t want users to be distracted by moving images at the top of the screen. Finding the right balance might require some trial and error, and testing with different website users. You should consider:
- Pacing the image change correctly- you need your users to be able to take in the content, before it moves. But you also need it move before your users scroll down the page, otherwise they could miss the other slider images completely. Currently the Samsung website uses a hero slider set with 4 seconds for each image.
- Adding user controls- user controls allow your audience to pause or stop the image rotation, and to skip ahead or back to the previous slide. This is important as it allows users to take control of the website, and make this design choice work for them.
Design and visual considerations for hero sliders in web design
You will also need to consider the visual and aesthetic appeal of the sliding images, as this is what will draw users into the website. You should:
- Use professional imagery- whether you’re showing off your products or services, or highlighting key points about your company, your hero slider needs to be eye-catching. And this means that professional imagery is a good option. This will also show your company in a professional, reliable light.
- Use as little text as possible- keep the text to a minimum. Just choose one key thing to highlight on each slide. This will make it easier for your users to read, and help prevent distraction.
For more information, or professional web design support, get in touch with the experts today, here at Pumpkin Web Design Manchester.