Original Spirit Design

Recently I’ve had many requests for splash pages on websites which got me thinking…

Why do people need to be told to enter a website? Splash pages used to be a big thing a while back but seem to have been phased out as they don’t do very much for your website. However many people believe that it’s important to have your logo spread across the screen or an intro animation which describes your company. Some may give you the option to choose between viewing the site in flash or html but others are purely there just waiting for you to bypass them.

In this fast paced world we live in, people want instant gratification. They want to arrive at your site, see who you are, what you do and how you can help them. They want to be able to head straight to your menu bar and pick the option they are after. They don’t want to have to “skip the intro” or “enter the site”.

It’s like walking into a store. You can either wait outside until the shop attendant gives you the key and says enter or you can walk right in, get what you want and leave.  Imagine for a minute that every time you went grocery shopping you would have to wait while the shopping attendants stood at the door and sang you a song about the products they had while you impatiently searched for a way around them.

That’s ultimately what you are doing to your visitors with a splash page. Wouldn’t you prefer that they purchase your product rather than running in the other direction to a store which didn’t make them wait? Your website is an advertising tool which is meant to help your brand, and by irritating your clients as they arrive on your site you’re driving them away. Studies show that 25% of visitors left a site right after seeing a splash page.

What are your thoughts on splash pages? Should they stay or is it time to toss them in the trash?