The Pros and Cons of Using Sliders on Your Website (and some Great Alternatives)

First impressions are crucial in web design, and one common feature you might encounter on home pages is a slider or carousel. These elements can showcase multiple images, messages, or products within a single, dynamic space. But are sliders really the best option? Let’s dive into the pros and cons, and explore some effective alternatives.

Pros of Using Sliders

1. Visual Appeal – Sliders can make a website look modern and dynamic. They offer a visually engaging way to showcase various products, services, or promotional content.
2. Space Efficiency – By rotating through multiple messages and/or images, sliders can convey a lot of information without taking up excessive space.
3. Immediate Relevancy – Rotating multiple key messages at the top of your home page can help audiences quickly determine if your website has what they’re looking for.
4. Interactivity – Sliders encourage user interaction, allowing visitors to explore different facets of your offerings.

Cons of Using Sliders

1. Performance Issues – Sliders can slow down your page load times, negatively affecting the user experience and increasing bounce rates. The more slides in your slideshow, the more likely it is that you’ll have performance issues. 
2. Usability Concerns – Many users find sliders confusing or annoying. Important content might be missed if users don’t stick around long enough to see all the slides. In addition, many sliders can be difficult to navigate for people who utilize screen readers due to visual impairment. This can negatively effect the accessibility of your page, and by extension your search engine rankings.
3. SEO Impact – Slower load times, as well as potential issues with how content is displayed, can hurt your search engine rankings. If your business relies on your site’s ability to rank higher than your competitors on Google, a problematic slider could be diminishing your success.

An Opportunity to Create More Compelling Pages

While sliders can be useful in some contexts, such as highlighting multiple featured products or showcasing a series of client testimonials, we’ve also found that moving the compelling copy, videos, and imagery from within sliders to other relevant areas of your site can add visual appeal and improved user experiences. Think of it as a glow-up for your site!

Here are some examples of the new opportunities you have when relocating slider content:

1. Hero Images or Videos – A single, compelling hero image or video is hard to miss and can have a powerful impact without the downsides of a slider. We can help you ensure it’s visually compelling, and relevant to your key message.
2. Static Content – Static content is straightforward and effective. You can consider pulling a single slide from within your slider and adding it to relevant locations on your site. Unlike a dynamic slider, static content will deliver a clear, focused message without the risk of important content being overlooked due to a user’s technical limitations or limited attention span. Often a slider’s content can be used throughout a site to improve the user experience on multiple pages.
3. Content Sections or Grids – Organizing slider content into sections or grids can make your site easier to navigate. This approach allows users to find what they’re looking for quickly and efficiently.
4. Interactive Elements – Incorporate call-to-action buttons, interactive infographics, or animations to engage users. These elements can guide visitors to explore further without overwhelming them.
5. Storytelling Sections – Sequential storytelling through scroll can be a highly engaging way to present information. This method keeps users interested as they move through the narrative.

While sliders can be visually appealing and deliver messaging efficiently, their drawbacks in terms of performance, usability, and SEO could outweigh their benefits, depending on how they are used. Exploring alternatives like a singular hero image, one powerful message, static banners, and interactive elements can possibly lead to a more user-friendly and effective website.