The Pros and Cons of Using Website Splash Pages

Splash pages can serve many useful purposes as well as add a level of professionalism and nice design to a page.

Some of the Pros of a splash page include:

Allow the ability to create a detailed and graphically pleasing introduction to one's site.

-Can be used to announce important site related news, disclaimers, and so forth while insuring this information is presented directly to the site visitor before entering the site. (This is especially handy for adult sites which must confirm visitors are 18 years of age.

Sites that represent adult beverages also benefit from the splash page and even bands get in on it by using the splash page to display new CD releases and such.)

-Excellent for teasers such as advertising a new site, showing a movie trailer, or announcing only some details of a big event coming up relevant to your product, act, or site.

Some Cons of a splash page include:

-Slow loading times. If your splash page features elaborate flash or quicktime type graphics this can slow down entry to your site leaving some visitors frustrated.

According to the site HTMLGoodies.com the average person determines everything they need to know about if your site is worth their time in under 30 seconds. A slow loading page can cause them to leave without seeing your site fully.

- Bad coding. If you don't code your splash page properly you may not be giving easy access to the rest of your site, you may make your site incompatible with certain browsers, or you may cause a slower computer to freeze up by having too much loading on the splash page.

When used properly splash pages can convey everything from warnings and disclaimers to mysterious details about a new product or site to simply showing a 'splash' of artistic value to the first impression of your site.