2.10.2015

How Can Infinite Scrolling Make Or Break Your Website?

Remember the time when searching for images on Google, we used to click on page 1, page 2 and so on and then suddenly we used to forget on which page we found the suitable image. Yes, the same thing happens on many websites, especially on ecommerce websites.

Infinite scrolling is the hottest trend in website design industry, which provided perfect solution for the above mentioned problems. This is a new navigation style where content keeps loading with scrolling. Some ecommerce websites, Twitter and Pinterest are some of the best examples of infinite scrolling.

The question here is, 'can everyone opt for this style?' Is infinite scrolling equally beneficial for every website? Does a website designing company need to analyze feasibility of infinite scrolling for every project or just implement it directly? What are the factors behind growing popularity of this design technique?

There are many such questions, which should be answered before opting for infinite scrolling style for your website. This can be done best with the analysis of its pros and cons. Find the answers to your questions here:

ADVANTAGES:

Increased engagement: This website patterns minimize time killing activities in loading pages, which take a lot of time. Audience enjoys scrolling the page and finding new content with every scroll, rather than clicking on 'next page' and waiting for it to load.

Perfect for lengthy website: This technique is a perfect solution for lengthy websites with a number of products or content. Ecommerce websites with hundreds of products find it great to display these through infinite scrolling than viewing 20-30 products on each page.

Right choice for touch screens: In today's technologically advanced world, where most of the users surf net on smart phones and touch phones, it has become mandatory to look for touch optimization techniques. Infinite scrolling is one of the solutions for touch screens. Reading content is much more convenient on mobile devices, if this technique is used.

Visually effective: Everyone gives priority to websites with high quality images as these speak more than content. Infinite scrolling proves to be the best way to design image-heavy content in effective way.

Best for creative minds: Infinite scrolling is best for creative minds as it gives them more opportunities to show their creativity. Creative people turn this interesting and useful technique into fun by creating amazing visual storylines via scrolling.

DISADVANTAGES:

After looking at so many features of infinite scrolling, you must be planning to ask your website development company to use the same technique in your website. Wait!! First have a look at the disadvantages and then only take the final decision.

Navigation: As per basic UX principles, the website user must know where he/she is on a website. Site map is given to decide this. But this rule is almost broken in infinite scrolling, as users rarely know where they have come while scrolling and even if they want to go back to particular pages, it gets difficult. They are taken at the very top of the page feed.

Lengthy process: In paginated content, you can directly skip on the desired page, but this is almost impossible in infinite scrolling.

Advancement in technology is good only if used properly and the same thing goes for infinite scrolling. Use of the technology depends on goal of the website and the user experience. Infinite scrolling is not made for a goal-oriented website, as it might confuse the user and stop them from taking desired action.

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