From Apply Now,
Your Guide to Web Usability.
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Splash pages are often graphically rich and appear before the first page of the site to entice users to view more. They’re normally used to showcase a brand or skills in tools such as Flash; and are considered by some as a doorway to the site experience. This article explores these pages with a list of pros and cons that investigate their usability.

Pros:

• Showcases a brand or creative / technical skills
  Splash pages are an opportunity to display eye catching and interactive designs to visitors; often in an attempt to represent a brand or to illustrate a companies’ creative and technical capabilities.


• Technology choice upfront
  Some splash pages allow users to choose how they view the site, for example if they would like to see it in Flash or not. It can also indicate the requirements of the site such as the technology needed, browser specifications and more.

Cons:

• Download Speed & Time
  Splash pages can be graphically intense and slow to download and often users have to wait for the page to load before they can view it. This delay can be damaging as it forces users to wait and places a barrier between them and the content they seek – which is enough reason for visitors to leave.
  
  A way to improve their usability is to include links such as ‘Skip Intro’ or ‘Click Here to Continue’ to allow users to bypass the Splash page and go straight to the content. Alternatively, cookies could be used to remember visitors so that when they return they skip the opening of the site.


• Reduces Search Engine Rankings
  Search engine algorithms rank pages according to where they are in the site hierarchy, therefore homepages get more prominence as they sit on top of the tree. However, Splash pages often don’t contain information which makes it impossible for spiders to index and this affects their ranking in search results.


• Impacts the websites credibility
  As Nielsen claims "In reality, splash screens are annoying and users click off them as fast as they can” it’s more usable to use content that “tell[s] users where they are and what the site is about". Therefore, to prevent visitor drop outs and to improve the credibility of the site it is best to provide users with information they need so as not to waste their time.


• No clear instructions of use
  Some Splash pages do not include clear instructions for entering the site which can leave users unaware that they have to click an image or link to move on. This is a usability faux pas as websites should always be intuitive and easy to use to improve the user experience.

In conclusion, splash pages should always be carefully considered before being included on a site. There are many disadvantages associated with them but if it is necessary to communicate a brand or message then they should be made as user friendly and intuitive as possible.