I came across a couple of sites recently where before anything constructive happened; a splash page appeared on my screen and got to thinking about whether they are a good or bad thing.
Quite simply, some like splash pages and some don’t; it all boils down to personal preference, but if you’re going to have a splash page on your site there are a few things you need to consider.
The good thing about splash pages though is their fairly fast loading times; any information is almost immediate and hits you in the face without the need to scroll, although one downside is that they prevent instant access to the website in question; something which may drive a significant number of visitors away if they have to click again to get where they want to be.
A splash page often gives visitors the choice of which version of the site to enter as well. For example; I know of a site that used to offer the entry options ‘conventional site’ and ‘unconventional site’, the titles of which are self-explanatory. This particular site’s splash page was very, very quick and didn’t deter me from revisiting, but that’s not always the case with other sites which can vary enormously.
Splash pages are perhaps a good way of showcasing a web designer’s skills especially if they are interesting as well as containing useful information but once seen is usually enough for any visitor, and their return to the site could be out of the question if there is no ‘skip’ button in place.
There could also be an issue with search engines as well because they won’t have a lot to optimise if the splash page contains only Flash animation; something that could also have a knock-on effect with access to other pages of the site.
All in all, splash pages aren’t the worst thing in web design but they do require some thought as to how they are presented and how they could affect visitor numbers and consequently your business.
Until next time.
