This sponsored article was created by our content partners, BAW Media. Thank you for supporting the partners who make SitePoint possible.
Animation isn’t like other web design trends that come and go. For the last few years, this trend has demonstrated how useful it is in improving the user experience. From engagement to entertainment, there’s a lot that can be done with animation on a website.
Web designers currently have a number of ways to animate WordPress websites, like CSS animations and embedded GIFs. So why has BeTheme added a new Lottie animation feature inside its BeBuilder?
There are many advantages to creating animations with Lottie over other methods. In this post, we’re going to explore why Lottie is the best way to create attractive and engaging animations today and how its integration with BeBuilder and BeBuilder has made it even more accessible to WordPress users.
Why Lottie Animation is the Best Way to Animate WordPress Websites
Lottie is one of the newest and most effective ways to create animations for your WordPress sites. What exactly makes it better than other animation methods? Let’s have a look at the core benefits of Lottie animation.
1. No code is needed to work with Lottie
You’d never know by looking at it, but you won’t have to write a single line of code in order to create Lottie animations. For example, here’s what Lottie animations look like on the BeLottie pre-built site.
For starters, you don’t need to know how to use Adobe After Effects to create or edit Lottie animation files. You can get premade Lottie animations from sources like LottieFiles and IconScout.
Once you have your Lottie animations, BeBuilder makes it easy to add them into your WordPress site.
Simply locate the Lottie element from the list of UI elements. Drag-and-drop it into the visual builder. Then, use the Content settings on the left to either upload the Lottie file to your WordPress media library or pull in the animation from an external link.
There’s no need to learn HTML, CSS, or After Effects in order to create advanced animations for WordPress. BeBuilder’s no-code page builder and the Lottie animation feature make it easy to create animations using intuitive tools for designers and non-designers alike.
2. Lottie animations are easy to customize
There are a number of reasons you might want to customize your Lottie animation. For starters, you want the animation to match your website’s branding.
If you get your Lottie from LottieFiles, it comes with an editor that enables you to customize:
- animation speed
- background color
- layer colors
- interactivity
So you can edit the content of the Lottie animation right from the source.
In addition, you can use BeBuilder’s settings to customize how the Lottie animation works. For instance, you can adjust settings related to:
- animation trigger
- start and end point
- forward or backward direction
- alignment
- background
- responsive visibility
Lottie has become just as easy to edit as all of the other UI elements inside BeTheme.
3. Lottie is better for performance
Sometimes when we animate websites, we have to do so at the cost of something else.
For instance, some animation methods are resource-intensive and cause web pages to load more slowly than they would otherwise. Other animation methods may lead to glitchy or grainy-looking animations, which compromise the overall appearance of the website.
Lottie is a JSON-based animation file. It’s a lot like SVG in that both are vectorial file formats — small in size and weight while also being fully scalable. This makes Lottie the ideal animation file format for performance.
Let’s look at a quick example. This is a JPG “Download” button available on a free resources website.
A similarly designed button can be found on LottieFiles, only it’s animated.
The difference between these two files goes beyond aesthetics. The JPG from Vecteezy is 57KB. The JSON from LottieFiles is 15KB.
Of course, other factors impact how large a file is, like the output size. However, these are similar graphics and, despite the animation in the Lottie, it weighs significantly less.
In addition, Lottie seamlessly integrates with BeBuilder, the fastest page builder for WordPress. So you won’t have to worry about a slow theme or page builder plugin interfering with Lottie’s native speed and quality when you use the two together.
4. Lottie is fully responsive
Although BeBuilder gives users the option to hide their Lottie elements on certain devices, this is a setting you won’t need to use.
Lottie files are vector-based, which means they’ll scale to any size screen. For instance, let’s say we embed a walking taco Lottie into the home page for BeFoodTruck 2.
When we open up responsive mode and switch the view from desktop to tablet to mobile, the animation file responds accordingly to the new screen size. No adjustments are needed on your end to resize or reposition the Lottie.
Considering how important responsive design is to today’s brands and consumers, Lottie is an extremely useful animation tool in responsive design. When you pair it with BeTheme’s responsive pre-built sites as well as BeBuilder’s responsive page builder, you’ll have the complete responsive powerhouse for WordPress at your disposal.
5. The Lottie/BeTheme combo elevates the user experience
A walking taco animation sure is a lot of fun to look at, but we can do much more with animations than just entertain visitors. By programming microanimations to respond to visitors at the right place and the right time, we can inspire them to take action.
Let’s use the call-to-action block on the BeCarRental3 website as an example.
There’s a green car/smiley face icon next to the words “Customer friendly company”, just above the call-to-action button. While this trust mark is eye-catching, some visitors may scroll too quickly past the entire static section to notice it.
What you could do is add motion to the section. One option would be to swap out the Book a car button for an animated Lottie. This microanimation would draw visitors’ attention directly to the button and get more of them to stop and consider the invitation to “Book a car”.
Another option is to replace the trust mark with a scroll-triggered Lottie graphic.
Here we see what happens when the car insurance offers loading page animation is repurposed for our call-to-action block.
Instead of the Lottie playing on a loop, the animation slows down and moves in sync with the visitors’ movements. We were able to do this by changing a single setting inside of BeBuilder, updating the Trigger from default to on scroll.
While the button remains unchanged, the addition of movement to this section — and directly above the button — will help increase engagement.
Lottie Animations are Just One More Reason to Make BeTheme Your Go-to WordPress Theme
Lottie is a serious game changer when it comes to website animation. And that’s just on its own.
When you integrate Lottie with BeTheme and BeBuilder, you’ll have all the tools you need to take your designs — and user experiences — to the next level. What’s more, you won’t have to increase the cost, time to launch, or effort required to animate your BeTheme websites. Everything has been made as intuitive and seamless as possible for you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about BeBuilder and Lottie Animations
How does BeBuilder compare to other WordPress website builders?
BeBuilder stands out from other WordPress website builders due to its user-friendly interface and extensive customization options. It offers a drag-and-drop feature, making it easy for users with no coding experience to create professional-looking websites. Additionally, BeBuilder provides a wide range of pre-designed templates and elements, allowing users to create unique and personalized websites. Unlike other builders, BeBuilder also supports Lottie animations, adding a dynamic and interactive element to your website.
What are Lottie animations and how can they enhance my website?
Lottie animations are a type of animation created using Adobe After Effects. They are small, scalable, and can be manipulated in real-time, making them a versatile tool for enhancing the visual appeal of your website. Lottie animations can be used to create engaging user interfaces, interactive buttons, and dynamic loading screens, among other things. They can significantly improve the user experience on your website by making it more engaging and interactive.
How can I add Lottie animations to my website using BeBuilder?
BeBuilder makes it easy to add Lottie animations to your website. Simply drag and drop the Lottie widget onto your page, then upload your Lottie animation file. You can then customize the animation settings, including the speed, direction, and trigger. This allows you to create a truly unique and interactive website without needing any coding skills.
Can I use BeBuilder if I have no coding experience?
Absolutely. BeBuilder is designed to be user-friendly and accessible to users of all skill levels. Its drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to create professional-looking websites without any coding knowledge. Additionally, BeBuilder provides a range of pre-designed templates and elements, allowing you to create a unique and personalized website with ease.
What kind of websites can I create with BeBuilder?
BeBuilder is a versatile tool that can be used to create a wide range of websites. Whether you’re looking to create a blog, an online store, a portfolio, or a business website, BeBuilder has the tools and features you need. Its extensive customization options and support for Lottie animations allow you to create a unique and engaging website that stands out from the crowd.
How does BeBuilder compare to BeTheme?
While both BeBuilder and BeTheme are powerful tools for creating WordPress websites, they each have their own strengths. BeBuilder offers a more user-friendly interface and more extensive customization options, making it a great choice for users who want to create a unique and personalized website. On the other hand, BeTheme offers a wide range of pre-designed templates, making it a good option for users who want to create a professional-looking website quickly and easily.
Can I use Lottie animations on mobile devices?
Yes, Lottie animations are fully responsive and can be used on both desktop and mobile devices. They are small and scalable, ensuring that they load quickly and look great on all screen sizes. This makes them a great tool for enhancing the user experience on your website, regardless of the device your visitors are using.
What are the benefits of using BeBuilder for my WordPress website?
BeBuilder offers a range of benefits for WordPress users. Its user-friendly interface and drag-and-drop feature make it easy to create professional-looking websites, even if you have no coding experience. Additionally, BeBuilder offers extensive customization options, allowing you to create a unique and personalized website. Its support for Lottie animations also allows you to add a dynamic and interactive element to your website, enhancing the user experience.
How can I customize my website using BeBuilder?
BeBuilder offers a wide range of customization options. You can choose from a variety of pre-designed templates and elements, or create your own from scratch using the drag-and-drop feature. You can also customize the layout, colors, fonts, and more to create a truly unique website. Additionally, BeBuilder supports Lottie animations, allowing you to add a dynamic and interactive element to your website.
Can I use BeBuilder with my existing WordPress theme?
Yes, BeBuilder is compatible with most WordPress themes. This means you can use it to enhance your existing website, adding new features and functionality without needing to change your theme. However, for the best results, it’s recommended to use BeBuilder with a theme that has been specifically designed to work with it, such as BeTheme.