What is the purpose behind a delay on index page?

The index page is then routed to another page that holds all the content

[england921]

Hello all: My dad (former moderator on webmasterworld - DaveIFG) passed away a year and a half ago. I am just now getting around to working on his web site. He has google advertising that is generating monthly revenue. My intention is to keep the site up and running and I would like to increase the revenue. Traffic levels are steady although the overall numbers are down.

When you go to the url www.example.com the index page has an 8 second delay before it sends you to the real home page www.example.com/consumerhome.html. I am trying to figure out why my dad did this and should I just leave it as is? Seems cumbersome to the end user. Any advice on SEO would be helpful. I am going to read Brett's 26 rules now...

[edited by: phranque at 6:39 am (utc) on Feb. 20, 2008]
[edit reason] examplification [/edit]

[phranque]

welcome to WebmasterWorld [webmasterworld.com], england921!

although i hadn't met your father, i know he was highly regarded and well respected here at WebmasterWorld [webmasterworld.com].
my condolences to you as well.

perhaps it would be best to hear the word directly from your father.
a classic:
[webmasterworld.com...]

and a couple of relevant comments:
[webmasterworld.com...]
[webmasterworld.com...]

you can search WebmasterWorld [webmasterworld.com] or elsewhere for kewords like "meta refresh" and "interstitial page".

[edited by: phranque at 6:03 am (utc) on Feb. 21, 2008]

[england921]

Thank you so much for the information. It's nice to read my father's own words!

[mack]

Hi england921,

Trust me if SEO runs in the family, you will have the revenue doubled in no time.

Your dad was certainly a very well respected member and moderator over here.

Mack.