What's a Flash Intro splash page and should I use one?
Click here to enter site
When you click on the link to some websites, rather than taking you to the homepage of the website, they take you to a page which is almost blank, it just has a logo and it says something like 'click here to enter site'.
That's a splash page, and you most certainly should not use one.
Here's why:
The user just clicked on the link to your website. If that's not evidence enough that they want to enter your site, I don't know what is. Essentially, they've said "Show me your site, please" and you've replied by saying 'Wait a minute! Do you want to see my site?". This is irritating to say the least.
People on the Internet are impatient - they want the information and they want it yesterday. People are always citing studies that show that every extra click a user has to make vastly decreases their interest and if they haven't got what they want within one or two - they'll give up and go somewhere where that will give them what they want faster.
Presumably you have a website because you want people to visit it, so why ruin your chances by deliberately obstructing those who do want to visit it?
But my splash page has a fancy Flash animation that gives a presentation about the favourite bits of my company!
This is much, much worse.
Firstly you'll immediately cut out any users on slow connections as their computer hangs as they try to download the huge Flash file.
Secondly, search engines will shun your site - they will index the flash page instead, which Google hates because there's no content at all as far as it can see, and it can't find the link to the rest of your site. It's like putting up a big brick wall and saying "Nothing to see here!"
But the main reason it's a bad idea is that even if someone does manage to find a link to your site, research has shown that 25% of visitors faced with a splash page will immediately click the back button and not bother with your site at all. Even if there's a 'skip intro' button. So if losing 25% of your potential visitors appeals to you, go right ahead. However, if you actually want them to see your site - ditch the splash page.
Here is a great quote from Jared Spool of User Interface Engineering at Macromedia, which illustrates the point rather beautifully:
“When we have clients who are thinking about Flash splash pages, we tell them to go to their local supermarket and bring a mime with them. Have the mime stand in front of the supermarket, and, as each customer tries to enter, do a little show that lasts two minutes, welcoming them to the supermarket and trying to explain the bread is on aisle six and milk is on sale today.
“Then stand back and count how many people watch the mime, how many people get past the mime as quickly as possible, and how many people punch the mime out.
“That should give you a good idea as to how well their splash page will be received.”
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