To splash or not to splash?

augenauf · #1 (**permalink**) 11-14-2007, 12:46 PM

Are splash pages cute and awesome-looking or irritating?

Part of me thinks they're pretty cool, the other part of me thinks they are kind of silly and unprofessional looking.

What do you think? O:

lisa · #2 (**permalink**) 11-14-2007, 02:38 PM

I think it depends on the purpose of the page, how well it's done, the audience, etc. There are many savvy PPC marketers who create splash pages for their campaigns. It's a quick attention-grabbing page they use to entice people to give an email address (sometimes in exchange for something free) So the whole purpose of the page is to collect the email for further marketing.

I believe a splash page can be very useful with some clever marketing, but it's never been a method that has worked well for me.

But I do agree some of them look down right cheesy and cheap and that's where the savviness of marketing comes in.

rooney · #3 (**permalink**) 11-14-2007, 03:41 PM

I cam across the worst splash page today. I am registered as a Microsoft developer so I get free software to test and play around with. And I got an email this morning about new development software in beta. So I clicked the download link and I was brought to a splash page... but the splash was made with Sliverlight so I had to wait and download Sliverlight, then restart my browser before I could see the splash then get to the download.

Splashes can really make a site look well, but when it is abused with over sized Flash or billboard adverts its not nice at all. Hotels.com have a nice splash page when you search for availability from there home page. Check it out its really well made and implamented!

TechieGuy · #4 (**permalink**) 11-14-2007, 07:59 PM

I find splash pages rather annoying. I always look for the skip intro button/link so I can click it. I hate those pages that don't allow you to skip to the main site. I don't see what real purpose they serve.

augenauf · #5 (**permalink**) 11-14-2007, 10:09 PM

XD A spalsh page doesn't have to have anything flash on it. It can just be a "CICK HERE TO ENTER" sign.

TechieGuy · #6 (**permalink**) 11-15-2007, 06:13 PM

Up here in Canada many of the Canadian web sites use a splash page. The reason for this is because we are a bilingual country and the splash page usually has the option of navigating to the English or French Web site of the company.

jazzguy · #7 (**permalink**) 12-07-2007, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TechieGuy

Up here in Canada many of the Canadian web sites use a splash page. The reason for this is because we are a bilingual country and the splash page usually has the option of navigating to the English or French Web site of the company.

That's what I was going to say. Living in Montreal, a few of the client sites I work on are bilingual so sometimes there is a need for a splash page. However, I am of the mind that less clicking is better so I usually just add an English or French link/button in the navigation and if someone lands on either page at least they have the option of switching to the appropriate language. And I always "skip intro" on a splash page...I usually find that they serve no purpose other than to say "Hey, look what I can do!"...

That being said, the bottom line becomes whatever the client wants so I may not always get to practice what I preach.

augenauf · #8 (**permalink**) 12-11-2007, 01:15 PM

I actually think I'll use my splash page eventually for a Mobile and Computer version...

PosterBoy · #9 (**permalink**) 12-12-2007, 01:34 PM

I personally find flash pages really annoying. I hate sites that use them. Wherever possible I'll try and click 'skip intro' if possible to get past the splash page.

I agree that they look really cool and it's great to display your artistic capabilities, however, they serve little practical purpose.

augenauf · #10 (**permalink**) 12-12-2007, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PosterBoy

I personally find flash pages really annoying. I hate sites that use them. Wherever possible I'll try and click 'skip intro' if possible to get past the splash page.

I agree that they look really cool and it's great to display your artistic capabilities, however, they serve little practical purpose.

but I don't actually have an intro... xD

MentalClinic · #11 (**permalink**) 12-12-2007, 08:38 PM

As far as I have read from various sites, Splash page is death to SEO site. Especially if it a site with many pages and a lot of content. I guess it wont matter if you placed a splash page on one of these "I will sell you a book that will instantly make you 834 Million dollars - look at my bank account, it is NOT photoshopped, ...NOT! - I'm a freaking multi-millionaire, but I sell books for 1.50$ on the internet that will just waste readers time." sites (sites with only one content page)

If you really want to use a splash page for some reason then some people recommend to put a lot of data in that splash image, and link to site-map somewhere on splash page. Also some people recommend to put a small, content and keyword rich article on same page

augenauf · #12 (**permalink**) 12-18-2007, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MentalClinic

As far as I have read from various sites, Splash page is death to SEO site. Especially if it a site with many pages and a lot of content. I guess it wont matter if you placed a splash page on one of these "I will sell you a book that will instantly make you 834 Million dollars - look at my bank account, it is NOT photoshopped, ...NOT! - I'm a freaking multi-millionaire, but I sell books for 1.50$ on the internet that will just waste readers time." sites (sites with only one content page)

If you really want to use a splash page for some reason then some people recommend to put a lot of data in that splash image, and link to site-map somewhere on splash page. Also some people recommend to put a small, content and keyword rich article on same page

Not SEO either, but this information will definately come in handy for other sites in the future that will be. =)

Newport · #13 (**permalink**) 12-18-2007, 04:49 PM

I think splash pages tend to weed out those just looking from actual customers who buy. Those willing to go through them will probably be more likely to buy. The ones who navigate away from the page probably aren't worth it anyway.

Just my two cents.

PosterBoy · #14 (**permalink**) 01-04-2008, 03:29 PM

I think splash pages tend to eat up much more bandwidth. This may not be a concern if you have only a handful of visitors each day, but if your site grows and you have thousands of visitors a day then this may become a concern.

Then again, bandwidth costs seem to be going down, so it may no longer be an issue.

Rob · #15 (**permalink**) 01-04-2008, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MentalClinic

look at my bank account, it is NOT photoshopped, ...NOT! - I'm a freaking multi-millionaire, but I sell books for 1.50$ on the internet that will just waste readers time." sites (sites with only one content page)

Theres so many of them these days claiming to make you millions if i was a millionaire I would not be sat on my basic PC talking about how i made it I personally would keep my mouth zipped and carry on my wealthy lifestyle, people who fall for those traps really need to get a taste of reality.

Splash pages are just a waste of the users time, when i visit an information site i want to be flashed with the exact page i want not a silly logo or graphic inviting me into there "secondary" home page or whatever; pointless full stop.

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