Why we Should Ban Splash Pages
Filed Under Design General
Splash pages often appear on every SEO and web designer’s “#1 No-No’s” list. Why?
Splash pages lack content, a primary ingredient in SEO. They usually link to your “real” home page, and to the homepage only. Do you really want google thinking your most important page is related to “click here to enter” (often the only anchor text on a splash page)?
Splash pages lack navigation. internal site linking and site structure are critical to SEO, not to mention the poor usability of a site that returns you to a splash page every time you want to get back to the homepage; the frustration is libel to cause ‘office rage“.
Imagine if you have to view an ad before being able to get to your content – then imagine your competition ’sans-ads’. Who gets the customer? Think of splash pages as ‘ads’. (In fact, this is the only time someone should use a splash page – if you require your user to view an ad before entering, and they are willing to do so for content they otherwise couldn’t get elsewhere – think forbes.com or NYT.com).
First impressions are lasting impressions. Or, to be more specific, the last impression your client will get before going to someone else’s site when the first thing they see is a splash page. Studies show reports of analytic funnels showing 25% of traffic immediately leaving the site when they are presented with a splash page. When attempting to provide users with the info they are looking for, why make it more difficult for them?
Feel free to comment if you feel that you have a legitimate excuse reason for a splash page.
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5 Responses to “Why we Should Ban Splash Pages”
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You should have a splash page on certain sites for example http://www.UPS.com or DHL.com to distinguish the country your client is coming from, and perhaps direct him or her to a more appropriate site.
Other than that I tell my clients who want splash pages to leave the splash at the pool.
yeah, splash pages are definitely counterproductive.
we just hit the skip button anyway
when are people going to learn?
I had a splash page up a few years ago and the bounce rate was horrible.
I actually like splash pages becasue when I want something I want it now without all the bells and whistles I DON’T NEED. If I am trying to buy something – BAM – let be make a purchase without clicking a hundred times.