A splash page’s, also called a splash screen, main function is to entice and direct a user to a view the remainder of a company’s website. They may accomplish this by: including graphical elements or logos, inserting sound, utilizing animation or flash technology, including an option of how a user would prefer to enter the site, requiring an age restriction to view/purchase alcohol or pornography, creating a country or language option, informing what browser and/or software they will need in order to view the site and creating bandwidth options.
The main downfalls of utilizing a splash page is that they are not typically user-friendly, being that they usually require an extended load time and frequently have little or no navigation options.
Splash pages are mainly used by designers utilize splash pages to impress potential clients and company’s to promote their latest product and/or service.
According to Smashing Magazine, these are 12 common reasons for using a splash page:
- Splash pages display disclaimers or warnings that are supposed to restrict access to content, such as pornography, advertising or gambling (as is required by law).
- It is necessary to draw visitors’ attention to an important message, such as an approaching deadline, critical update, latest release, news, slogan, etc…
- To direct users to the appropriate version of the site. Visitors can select the language they want to use or the country they are visiting from.
- Visitors can choose between a low-bandwidth version (HTML — Dial-Up) and high-bandwidth version (Flash — cable, DSL). Sometimes one can also choose the “accessible” version containing only text without images.
- The designer informs visitors about site requirements, such as used browsers, screen resolution as well as used Flash, Java, Quicktime etc. and suggests choosing the “right” configuration and downloading plug-ins for “optimal” site presentation.
- Visitors can select the preferred view mode, for instance standard mode or full screen mode.
- Multiples sites share the same domain or a large site tries to communicate its most important sections directly.
- The inclusion of hints for browsing the site and explanations of the main sections.
- Designers use splash page trying to awake excitement for the actual content of the site.
- Sound is announced. Visitors are asked to turn on their loudspeakers to enjoy a Flash show or Midi experience.
- Splash pages are used as an additional form of advertising.
- The decision to use a splash page is design-driven and realizes some designer’s idea.
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