11 replies to this topic

[Gary]

Hey there everyone. I am writing this topic as I might be creating a splash page for my own group of sites. I want a splash page in order to organise all of my projects and make them accessible by the public in one place, rather then having links here and there everywhere. I am unsure on the history of splash pages and what is the better setup or what not, but am I able to have a structure such as:

• Have a main splash page located at 'url'
  
• When clicking one of the sites, it redirects to 'url' of the site

Is the above structure possible? Or is it better to run on the one domain and separate each site in a different folder?

I currently have three projects set up, and wanted one site to act as the main focus of the splash page and the other two sites to act as sub links; unsure how to explain it any simpler. If you don't know what I mean then please ask me and I'll try my best to elaborate.

I want peoples opinions as you are all my audience. Is there a better place to get an answer? I think not. If this topic has been created before, then please do not close it. This topic is original and I am speaking about a customised splash page, not one in general.

Thanks everyone and please get back to me with your opinions. Please vote as well. If you would like more information regarding my projects, the splash page or anything else then either post it below or PM me...

Regards,
Gary

[Archangel]

When I first got into web development splash pages were all the rave...everyone had one. Now they are becoming the not-norm for a very simple reason...if not used correctly they are very, VERY annoying. Imagine if every site had a splash page that pretty much just had a "Enter Here" button. No thanks.

However...what you are talking about using a splash page for, I feel, is a perfectly legitimate and appropriate reason. But it also depends on what you want the people's experience to be.

Is your purpose wanting viewers to know and see everything you've done? Then your suggestion is good.

Is your purpose simply to run three completely separate sites and don't care if they visit them...then I would kinda wonder what the purpose is of having the splash page. Just for redirection? Drop an extra $20 for 2 more domain names and just run them individually.

Just my take...but then...who am I.

[rc69]

http://www.pixel2life.com/forums/index.php...5&hl=splash

[Gary]

My purpose of having the splash page not only will be to show everyone what I have done and the services I provide, but also to act as a base for everyone to easily navigate to each of my projects. I currently have three projects that I want to add to this splash page for the time-being; The Freezing (a hosting service owned by myself), Studio Blueprint (an architectural community) and a Habbo Hotel Australia fan site that I will be creating. I own domains for all three projects (in some cases both .com and .net domains) so it's not like I'm not serious about everything.

I just think that having them meet up in one place will help myself and the audience. The splash page, I think, will be loaded once you go to the URL. Is this a good idea or will I be losing customers? Is it better to just have all three ideas separate and using the normal methods of advertising and organisation?

Thanks for your reply Archangel, and I read that whole topic too rc69.

[bobbobicus]

splash pages - waste of design and development time, waste of hosting space, waste of life.

They are a complete waste of time and energy, i hate them, used to have them a long time ago, when i first got into web design and development they were everywhere then people started to get clued up that they were just distracting users away.

[Gary]

Ok, thanks for your opinion bobbobicus, it is much appreciated. It looks to me like most people are disliking the whole fad of splash pages...

More comments encouraged.

[Jacorre]

I think it depends on what you're working with. For example, My website is broken up into three different areas, a Design Studio, a Sound Studio and a blog. So the main page of the site is technically a splash screen for the visitor to decide where they would like to go. It would be difficult to present all main navigation links as well as content on the homepage. It would be a little too overwhelming.

If, however, I had just the design studio, then a splash screen would be pointless because there are no decisions to be made in terms of where to go. I can present the main navigation and content on the homepage.

I think some sites that use Flash intros are nice, but many visitors are just looking for content. Also, if the Flash splash page contains no real text on the page, search engines will not index the page and the site would be more difficult to find.

Hope that helps.

[Gary]

This does help indeed, and if I was to use a splash page then your own splash page would be a very good example of how one should be set up and/or have a similar structure. Your sites are great as well! I checked all three of them.

Thanks for your opinion Jacorre!

[Osmosae]

For your particular setup i dont see the point of a splash page, a hosting service, architectural community and a hotel fan site. Whats the link between the 3 ? What i mean is your going to have few visitors choosing where to go between the 3. They're not sub sites of each other, i would recommend 3 seperate sites and normal routes of advertising. Jacorres setup above would be an example of a good splash page implementation.

[Gary]

Understandable, thanks for your reply Osmosae.

That's what I thought about as well. In Jacorre's case, a splash page works extremely well. I just thought that having all the websites I own found in one place would be good for me and for my audience... That is the only reason why I thought that having a splash page would be of an advantage to me.

I am beginning to think otherwise though.

Thanks again.

[Osmosae]

If your trying to put together a portfolio i could see y youd be linking for the 3 sites, but again that wouldnt be done with a splash page itd be done throughout the actual site. Is it that your trying to set up a portfolio ? Other than that reason your audience would be the people viewing each individual site. Linkage not really needed. Merely my personal oppinion, one thing ive come to realise is that youll never please every1 (unless your name is 2advanced.net lol)

[Gary]

No, I'm not putting a portfolio together. I just thought that having all three of my websites accessed from the same place would improve hits and show people that I do own three completely different websites.

The points you have raised are fair enough though and I understand why it isn't a good idea unless I do have a portfolio, like Jacorre's website's for example. Your personal opinion is honest and I thank you for that Osmosae.