Disadvantages of parallax websites

As we know, any technical or visual innovation on the site has both pros and cons. Moreover, shortcomings can appear where they were not expected at all. For example, in terms of SEO optimization or conversions.

While the new tricks are alluring, you need to be careful when designing your website. It serves as a window to the world for your business 24/7. Your ideas about the parallax website should be really new and attractive, and not just copied from competitors "because it is so trendy."


Do I need parallax scrolling?

The essence of the parallax effect is to offer the user a special scrolling with a 2D effect, in which the foreground images move faster than the background image. It is also called "asymmetric scrolling".

Overlaying speeds as the user navigates through the site provides an immersive experience, ultimately causing them to linger and move on. Parallax is relevant when you have long scrolling content. The extraordinary visual effect is addictive.

HTML and CSS3 elements are used to create this animation magic. The technical components of parallax design are minimal and the effect is easy to implement on any web project. But is it worth it for you?

SEO parallax perspective

Your site will never be seen by the target audience if the search engines do not like it first, that is, it is not SEO optimized. When adding the parallax effect, make sure it's useful (or at least safe) in terms of SEO.

As we said, asymmetric scrolling is ideal for a web page with long content.
  • If the page is smaller, less content fits on it, which means we will have to use fewer keywords. This can lead to the site falling down the SERP ladder.
  • If the page is longer, it takes longer to load. This will inevitably affect the bounce rate and conversions, as well as cause a mixed reaction from the search engines.
  • But don't worry. Many parallax scrolling sites are at the top of the search results. This suggests there are some secret ingredients, although in general SEO experts don't like parallax very much.

Page load time

We've already discussed: the longer the page, the longer it will take to load. This is especially important for mobile users.

Loading a site for more than 3-4 seconds dramatically lowers conversions and makes your user experience ineffective. And waiting times over 10 seconds actually rob you of traffic. This is the harsh truth of the Internet world.

If a beautiful parallax effect gives a site aesthetic power, then inept implementation of this technique takes patience from people. To make it’s recommended to hire web app developers.

Two conclusions follow from this. First, heavy components (high-resolution images) should be severely limited. Second, the structure of these elements needs to be thought out in such a way that people agree to wait.

You will need competent developers and a top-class web designer. So that all this beauty does not affect the performance and statistics of your site, it is advisable to switch to a fast and reliable dedicated server.

Usability factor

Don't underestimate the power of parallax scrolling when it comes to communicating your business. While the user is enjoying a fresh experience, the content flows smoothly and confidently into his mind.

The parallax effect is ideal for projects that try to spread a new idea or message. But this approach doesn't sync up with traditional online retailers that sell well-known products or services. When a customer wants to read more about your product, they only need content. Simply designed, maximally informative, and fast loading. In such cases, parallax is not beneficial to the site, but rather annoying.

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