Splash Pages and Intros to Keep and Avoid
Updated on July 28, 2007
They look oh so fancy. It's a big presentation, a curtain rising, a teaser. Some website do benefit from intros and some should avoid them.
The One Purpose Theatrical Site
If your website is just an online movie, video, or game, then an intro would be a good thing. Let's say you made a movie and your URL is myamazingmovie.com. The moment somebody goes to your URL they are there only to watch the movie, nothing else, not even other movies. In this case, an intro would be an awesome idea, like the opening of a movie in a theater.
The Artistic Site
You're an artist, and your website is an extension of your art. In fact your website is all about you and your art. In this case, an artsy introduction would fit, and it would probably impress your visitors. Just make sure that you gives your visitors (especially return visitors) an option to skip the introduction to see the content on the rest of your site. You may even want to consider using cookies to keep return visitors from having to even see the introduction in the first place, so they won't have to trouble themselves with skipping it.
All Other Sites!
If you site does not fit into one of the above categories, an intro is probably not a good idea. Visitors are coming to your site because they want to get to information or options now. They don't want to wait through your introduction no matter how beautiful it is. If you absolutely must have something flashy, put it in a designated area within your home page, so visitors can watch it if they want or ignore it if they wish.
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