In today’s eCommerce landscape, delivering a visually engaging and user-friendly experience is paramount. Among the many tools available to online store owners, sliders or carousels stand out as one of the most popular and visually appealing elements. However, their implementation is not without challenges, especially when performance and SEO considerations are involved. Let’s explore these issues and discuss how the newly released “Responsive Slider for PageBuilder” extension addresses them effectively.

The Problem: Sliders in Modern eCommerce

Popular but Problematic

Sliders are widely used in eCommerce stores for showcasing products, promotions, and brand visuals. They offer a dynamic way to highlight multiple pieces of content within a limited screen area. When done right, they can significantly improve user engagement.

However, sliders are often the most complex and resource-heavy components on a webpage. They involve animations, high-resolution images, and JavaScript functionalities that can significantly impact page load speed.

Performance Challenges and Core Web Vitals

Core Web Vitals, introduced by Google, place a strong emphasis on page performance metrics. Slow-loading sliders can increase Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), delay Time to Interactive (TTI), and contribute to Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS). These factors negatively affect both user experience and search engine rankings.

Magento PageBuilder and Its Limitations

Magento’s PageBuilder is a powerful content editing tool that empowers store owners and marketers to create rich, visually appealing pages without developer assistance. While PageBuilder includes a native slider component, it has its shortcomings:

• Load Times: The native slider often contributes to slower page load times due to inefficient asset handling.

• SEO Impact: The standard slider’s performance issues can lead to suboptimal Core Web Vitals scores, affecting rankings.

• Admin UX: Not the best image cropping and alignment with responsiveness may not meet the unique needs of modern eCommerce stores.

The Solution: Responsive Slider for PageBuilder

Overview of the Extension

The “Responsive Slider for PageBuilder” extension, available on the Adobe Commerce Marketplace, is designed to address the limitations of the native Magento slider. This extension introduces a feature-rich, performance-optimized slider component that seamlessly integrates with PageBuilder.

Key Features

1. Enhanced Responsiveness

   • The slider is fully responsive, ensuring optimal display on all devices, from desktops to smartphones.

   • It supports modern design principles, making it adaptable to various screen sizes without compromising visual appeal.

2. Performance Optimization

   • Use of more modern slider/carousel library for minimal impact on page load times.

   • Lightweight design helps maintain a good LCP score, reducing the risk of slow-loading pages.

3. SEO-Friendly Implementation

   • The extension minimizes the use of heavy JavaScript libraries, contributing to faster interactivity.

   • SEO-Optimized Markup with Semantic use of <img> tags aligns with best practices for search engine optimization (SEO).

4. Customizable Design

   • Offers extensive customization options to align with your store’s branding and visual requirements.

   • Supports various animation styles, autoplay settings, and navigation controls.

5. Seamless Integration

   • Fully compatible with Magento’s PageBuilder, making it easy for marketers to add and configure sliders without technical expertise.

   • Support of the popular Hyva Theme to make your online store even faster

To demonstrate the impact of the “Responsive Slider for PageBuilder,” let’s compare it with Magento’s native slider component using the same website.

The number don’t lie:

• +14 points to desktop performance score
• +14 points to mobile  performance score
• Largest component (slider) load time on mobile – 4.2s vs 11.3s (almost 3x faster!)
• Largest component (slider) load time on desktop  – 0.9s vs 2.5s (over 2.5x faster!)

Want to check yourself?

Here is the link to Magenable Responsive Slider for PageBuilder –  demo link

A page on the same sandbox website with Magento Standard PageBuilder slider – link 

Note that Magenable Responsive Slider for PageBuilder page has three sliders now, not one like standard and still performs much better!

Conclusion

The “Responsive Slider for PageBuilder” extension is a valuable addition to any Magento or Adobe Commerce store looking to enhance its visual appeal without compromising performance. By addressing the limitations of the native slider and providing a feature-rich, SEO-friendly solution, this extension helps store owners deliver a superior user experience while maintaining strong search engine rankings.

For store owners, managers, and developers seeking a high-performance, responsive, and customizable slider solution, the “Responsive Slider for PageBuilder” is an excellent choice. Visit the Adobe Commerce Marketplace to learn more and purchase the extension today.