How to Use a Webflow Carousel to Create an Engaging User Experience

When to Avoid Carousel on a Website

Carousels may have their merits, but they should be avoided in situations where the user experience is paramount.

• Homepage’s hero section:

When used in the hero section at the top of a website, the carousel can often cause distraction and confusion. People naturally tend to pay attention to moving objects, so multiple items displayed all at once dilutes the user’s focus and may result in them not noticing what’s really important.

Furthermore, deciding how long each item should rotate onscreen can be challenging to make — visitors may experience fatigue if too long. At the same time, a shorter duration might feel too abrupt.

• In articles:

carousel sliders have become increasingly common on websites, particularly with sites that tend to churn out clickbait-style articles. While they can effectively break down content into easily digestible chunks, they should be used cautiously. In particular, carousels should not be used if each article in the series is too long or dense. Furthermore, if users cannot reasonably read through an article within the allotted screen space, then the carousel fails to provide any real benefit and can cause confusion instead.

• When it’s for the company:

The carousel slider of Webflow often appears when developers create a website that prioritizes business interests over that of the user. Carousels are typically requested from stakeholders who have difficulty prioritizing between the needs of their users and those of their company. Therefore, it’s essential to clearly explain why the carousel is being added in order for it to be successful.

If the point for including a carousel only serves to benefit internal metrics such as ad views, then it is unlikely to yield beneficial results. Instead, web developers should strive to find an intersection between user needs and business needs, allowing for a more meaningful product outcome.

How to Create a Webflow Carousel

Creating a Webflow Carousel is surprisingly easy! To get started, click any slide element, and you’ll be taken directly to the Element Settings Panel. From here, simply press the plus sign to add custom fields and additional slides. If two slides simply aren’t enough, then right-click on an existing slide and choose ‘duplicate’ to instantly create a third one. That’s all it takes – before you know it, you’ll have a fully-functioning carousel on your amazing Webflow websites!

Best Practices for Using Carousels on Your Website

Regarding carousel website design, companies can follow a few best practices to ensure their web pages are informative and user-friendly.

1. First and foremost, always make sure it’s not autoplay. Autoplay carousels often create confusion, which could result in visitors leaving a page before even looking at the content.
2. Additionally, give people control over the slider to control when and how the pictures or information slides change.
3. Consequently, use short and clear text on each slide – long paragraphs take away from the effect of a carousel!
4. Be sure not to duplicate H1 tags for search engine optimization purposes as well,
5. Lastly, test that carousel experience on mobile devices, so it’s touch-friendly.

Following these simple steps will ensure an optimized experience for website users.

Wrap Up

Using a Webflow Carousel is an effective way to improve user experience on any website. A carousel will provide viewers with an eye-catching, yet unobtrusive display of multiple images or content blocks that can easily be cycled through with simple user interaction. Images and content are organized into efficient slides, allowing viewers to access the desired material quickly.