Some web designers and marketers claim that adding a visible element that shows that the site is loading, especially in cases where this is supplemented by information about what is loading (for example, “we are creating your profile”, “adding your photo”, “checking if you have friends on our platform”), increases the user’s patience. Whether this is so or not is the task of other people to confirm or deny. However, we can be sure that it is pleasant for each of us to know what is happening and that the system is not frozen and we will get what we want, as long as we are patient enough.
Demonstrating what is happening away from the user – on the server and in the databases, even if it does not directly reflect the truth (that is, it does not show the exact moment, the exact action), is a form of valuable communication between your site and its users.
Especially in cases where one or another action takes longer, this communication is important. The site tells the user where they are and what they are doing. In fact, according to the Nielsen Norman Group, visible progress indicators make slow systems more acceptable.
Visible indicators
It is important to clearly show users what content is loading or changing. We achieve this by using text that appears below, in, or near the progress bar.
As mentioned above, the standard “Loading” message is not enough. Let it be a form of fallback, while the main ones are “Adding your contacts”, “Synchronizing your emails”.
Give customers enough time to read what you are doing, even if it slows down progress by a few seconds. Make sure they are able to understand what is happening. Otherwise, your efforts will be completely in vain.
While the progress bar is visible, it is good that nothing else is interactive, that it is hidden or at least placed under a semi-transparent and inactive layer, which makes the bar and its explanatory texts stand out.
If desired, you could add icons that show that something is happening. For example, moving gears as an illustration or an icon that will enhance the effect, demonstrating that something is happening.
Keep in mind, however, that people expect to get everything here and now. No matter how interesting the process is, if it is too long, it can discourage people from waiting. Try to shorten the process, and use the progress demonstration only if there is no way to speed up the system.
