1. Gradually Loaded Content
This is one of the more common but often overlooked techniques to make your website more engaging. In an attempt to convey a fast load-time, most websites like to display the entire content of the webpage immediately the page loads. More engaging websites load the main section first (usually the hero section) and then the rest of the webpage is exposed to you as you scroll or interact with items on the page. Fade-in animations, text animations, orientation switching, etc. are techniques you can use to load your content gradually. Combining these techniques with lazy-loading can keep your users more invested in your site journey without sacrificing performance.
2. Gamification
If you frequently get hooked while playing a mobile or computer game, you realize that the game is designed to keep you playing. Game designers spend a lot of time researching ways to keep you immersed in the gaming experience. Applying some of the techniques used in games in your website can significantly increase user engagement. Implementing the complex graphics and controls used in games in your website will have performance consequences, however, you can adopt some of their techniques in making your site more engaging. Most popular stores and social media platforms already use some of these techniques to keep users glued to their sites. A good example of a gamified platform is the Shein mobile app. Interactions are incentivized with a reward system. Rewards can include a fun animation when a button is clicked, progress bars/count, mouse interactions, scroll animations, sound feedback, etc. For example, the progress bar and scroll animations in The Avenging Lama are designed to guide you to the end of the webpage. These techniques should only be used where applicable and should be applied very subtly to avoid confusion and fatigue.
3. Multi-dimensional Content
Where you can, you should use 3D objects, icons, media, animations, etc. Using 3D items gives your users a more physical experience of your site, which feels more realistic. By 3D, I don’t necessarily mean the blender-like animations like those in this site – NationalGeographic(into the Amazon), instead I mean a multilayered animation, manipulating text and other items using shadows and size to convey depth. An example is Trupaste
4. High Quality Media and Content
This one sounds pretty obvious, right? But a lot of websites still miss the mark in using high quality media in their websites. Sometimes, the difference between a basic website and a top-notch ‘classic’ website is in the quality of their images, videos, font, animations. For example, The Louis Vuitton Website has a very basic webpage and would be relatively easy for a web developer to recreate. However, by using high quality model/product pictures, fonts they are able to convey class and relate with their users on that level. Site owners should invest in high quality content which is way cheaper with new image-generating AI tools like Google lab’s Image FX. By using lazy loading, conditional rendering, and other techniques you can ensure performance is not significantly diminished.
5. Tell a Story
From the hero section to the footer of your webpage, through the different pages and interaction, there should be an intertwining story you are trying to tell. This helps users connect better to your brand or company. Videos, text write-up, CTA’s, etc. are all opportunities to direct the flow of your story. Your story can be in form of an underlying theme, tone of message or an actual story —You decide! It’s your story.
Conclusion
Making your site immersive and memorable is important if you want to retain your users. Highly engaged users are more likely to return to your website and more likely to convert. Crafting a compelling web experience requires the application of delicate web-development techniques. Using the techniques listed in this write-up and others across the web, you will be able to draw your users into the impactful experience that is your website. Thanks for reading!
FAQs
Q: What are some techniques to make my website more engaging?
A: Techniques like gradually loaded content, gamification, multi-dimensional content, high-quality media and content, and telling a story can be used to increase user engagement.
Q: How can I use gamification on my website?
A: You can use gamification by incorporating techniques like progress bars, rewards, and interactive elements to keep users engaged.
Q: What is multi-dimensional content?
A: Multi-dimensional content is the use of 3D objects, icons, media, and animations to give users a more physical experience of your site.
Q: Why is high-quality media and content important?
A: High-quality media and content is important because it can convey class and relate with users on a higher level, making them more likely to engage with your site.
Q: How can I tell a story on my website?
A: You can tell a story on your website by incorporating elements like videos, text write-up, and CTA’s to direct the flow of your story.
