random Splash page coding

[sai digitalle]

Does anyone know where i can get information on learning how to code a splash page to come up everytime a user visits the site. I'm thinking of having about 5-10 different splash pages. or should i template and have random images...?

Thanks fellas

[TheDoctor]

Why do you want splash pages? Are you aware that splash pages tend to drive visitors away? Even if they don't they prevent visitors from getting to the main content of your web site.

Have a read of Vincent Flanders Son of Web Pages the Suck.

[sai digitalle]

With all due respect Doctor. I don't fully agree with the person who authored that site. He has pointed out some obvious truths of course. But you have to evaluate your audience and the purpose of your own site and compare them to the examples he used.

For instance, he used a Walt Disney site that has a lengthy intro on the splash page. Then once the splash page is fully revealed and active, you have to FIGURE OUT how to enter the site! now that's rediculous lol! and based on an example such as that, i completely agree and understand his view.

But in my case, i strongly disagree. I'm a professional photographer. And much like anyone else's site, presenttation and placement is very important. For example, when a bride-to-be comes to my site and the first thing to hit her eyes is an immaculate portrait of beautiful bride, along with a NOTICIBLE text stating "Bridal Portaits by My company name- Click here to enter." will have an ENORMOUS EARLY IMPACT.

In my case, It's direct, RELEVANT, and none obstructive to the RELEVANT USER. And it's concise. The user will breifly be hit with an immediate example of a service they desire and or an example of the quality of my service.

......anything outside of the before mentioned would...as your referened link would say...SUCK! lol.

[TheDoctor]

I accept, of course, that you know your audience and, now that I have more information, that you have thought about the need for a splash page.

I'd still suggest that it might not be what you need. In the case of your web site, random pictures might be a good idea. But why not include them as images on an more complete entry page? You could control them with server-side script.

The Disney web page you cite also illustrates another problem with splash pages. Flanders, BTW, sort of defends the use of a splash page in this situation, but the problem is that it needs the latest version of Flash to work. If the visitor doesn't have that then the splash page doesn't work.

With a server-side script and high quality images it doesn't matter what the user has - apart from a browser that shows pictures. ;)

[BlobFisk]

Personally I don't like splash pages, however one thing that I would take into account here is the number of recurring visitors.

Encountering a splash page once is ok, but if a site expects high repeat visits then all you do is make your content 1 click further away.

sai_digitalle, on a photographers website I can certainly see the benefits of this. How about setting a cookie on the page so that first time visitors see the splash page but not on any subsequent visits (you can have a link to the splash page).

HTH

[sai digitalle]

Awesome idea Blob! i thought about that too man! I would definately like for first time visitors to by-pass the splash and go to the main page if they've previously visited the site. Also, random splashes would be an alternative to the cookie ONLY if i want them to see a different service in a showcased fashion.

but i definately like the idea of the cookie setting. Where do i get info on how to program that?

[sai digitalle]

Oh and Doctor, thanks for the advice about server side script. what type of script do you recommend?

[BlobFisk]

You can set (client side) cookies using JavaScript. Check out the Javascript Forum [webmasterworld.com] or use your favourite search engine to search for "javascript create cookie" or something like that!

HTH

[sai digitalle]

cool beans!

[TheDoctor]

As far as server-side script is concerned, if you're going to embed a randomly-chosen image into HTML, then I think the best bet would be PHP. Don't rely on my advice as regards PHP - have a look around the PHP forum [webmasterworld.com].

If you go for embedding an image in an introductory page, rather than a splash page, then there are a couple of tips to optimise the "visitor experience".

First, make sure you specify the size of the image in the HTML. This means that the page can layout before downloading the image.

Second, put the image at the bottom of the HTML. Ties means that the text content will load first. You then use CSS to position the image at the top of the page. This way, the first thing to grab the attention of the new visitor will be your picture, whilst regulars, who know where they want to go on your site, can scroll down to the content without waiting for the image to load.

You may find that you don't need to use cookies if you use this approach, or you may find that a combination of this approach and cookies gives you even more options.