The Impact of Animation on the Time a User Spends on the Site

In modern times designers use loads of influence factors to encourage users to stay on a website. In this article, you can find out how animation can help with this goal. The animation is not only bright and colorful videos or cartoons. It can be integrated into the website in multiple options, including some links or informative icons or explainer videos etc.

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Today, you can hardly imagine a website without any animation object. The plain text is a rare case and it always looks dull making users close the window or surf further on the global web. 

The interaction of users with modern websites is heavily tied to animation. It is able to report on certain states of the page, direct user’s attention. Animation helps the user see the result of his actions and can influence his behavior and, as a result, impacts on the time the user spends on the site. What is the impact the animation has on the time factor?

First of all, applying animation correctly helps users build a mental model of how the system works and speed up the interaction with it. The animation is important precisely for enhancing the user experience, not just as a way to fill the time it takes to load. However, the last function can be very useful, especially when developing mobile versions of a page.

Why use animation on websites? How can animation keep a user on a website?

There are two sides to this coin. Animation, on the one hand, allows users to perceive information faster, and on the other hand, it can increase the time spent on your site.

If you need your website to detain a potential client, the animation should be at once:

  • Attention-grabbing,
  • Interesting,
  • Informative.

In addition, it is important not to go too far here. Too many animated elements can lead to sensory overload for the user, which means that he simply cannot focus on your messages and will most likely leave the page.

The same goes for animated web design elements, which often serve as a distraction to allow the site to load all the content fully. They should not drag out the pause too long so that the user does not have time to get bored because he came to your site with a specific purpose not just to see some animated entertainments.

Explainer videos are a good example of animations that increase user time on a site. They usually have a small timing, contain the maximum of useful information, and at the same time, they help the user to navigate and continue his searches on your site. And if you approach the creation of such animated videos with creativity, create them in series and announce the release of each in social media, you can ensure an influx of visits because users will visit the site for interesting content more often.

Read more: Top Web and Mobile App Development Trends 2021-2022

How Does Animation Help Website Usability: Saving User’s Time

There is another side to how animation works on any website. It helps save the user’s time and focus on what matters most.

This can be expressed in several functions that animation performs from a usability point of view.

User behavior management. If you, with the help of the animation, show the user the best algorithm for his actions on your site, with the help of which he will get the result he needs, this will help him get the service and make a purchase faster, and, at the same, time increase his loyalty to you.

User feedback with animated elements can also save time. If the user does not really understand which menu item he needs, animated hints can come in very handy. The result is quite logical: your user gets what he wants, you get points in his favor in his eyes because you saved his time.

Animation of interactive elements, for example, links to the purchase of a certain product, a subscription, the transition to a useful section more actively attracts attention than a static element. And the user will find it and use it faster.

An animation is a powerful tool of modern digital marketing and web design. With its help, you can cardinally change the attitude of users and impact their behavior on your webpage. It can both enforce the user’s attention and stick him to the screen or make his navigation easier saving his time and increasing conversion. Both options can be used as separately so in a combo to provide usability and informatively of your website.