Yet Another Reason Not To Have A Splash Page On Your Site

Someone sent me a link to Three Alarm Cellars which I happened to get while I was away from my computer.  So, I used my iPhone to visit the site.  This is what I saw:

This is what the iPhone's Safari web browser displays when it can't figure out what plug-in to use to display the page content.  I've run into this same problem while out wine tasting with friends and trying to get winery information using my iPhone.

The Three Alarm Cellars Web site has a Flash-based "splash page" (basically a zoom-up of the logo, accompanied by fire alarm/truck sounds), which looks like this when Flash is available.

The problem is that because iPhones don't understand Flash (a licensing issue between Apple and Adobe, not a technical one), an iPhone-based visitor can't see the splash page.  Worse, because the web designer didn't provide either a "skip this" link or a timeout, the iPhone-based visitor is stuck.  The funny thing is that the rest of Three Alarm's site is standard HTML, which works fine.

Moral of story: with the growing ubiquity of smart phones, you need to experience your winery Web site using one.  The new iPhone 3G sold over 1 million units during its first weekend of availability, many of them purchased by the affluent, tech-savvy wine drinkers you want to attract to your Web site (the original iPhone has sold over 5.7 million units). 

In addition to the iPhone, check out your site using a Palm-based smartphone like the Treo or Centro, a Windows Mobile device like the Samsung Blackjack, and a Blackberry device like the Perl or 8700.  You don't need to work too hard to check your site on various phones:  this is why God invented phone stores.

Smart companies are designing simplified versions of their site especially for mobile users (Inertia, eWinery Solutions, Cultivate: are you listening?).  If your site is usable on smart phones, you should let your customers and friends know (e-mail, newsletter, shipping insert).

Remember, no matter how cool your splash page is, your site visitor didn't come there to see it.  It's just another obstacle to them doing whatever it is they came to do, and I can't recommend having one, ever.  If you absolutely must have a splash page (Flash-based or not), then please (a) have a "skip this" link, (b) have a timeout (5 seconds max) which takes the user to your home page, and (c) don't give the splash page to returning visitors (this takes a little "cookie" magic).

If there's a good reason for a splash page on your site, I'd like to hear it.

Comments

[Paul Mabray]

Mike - we are listening.

[Mike Duffy]

Somehow, I knew you would be. :)

[Andrew Kamphuis]

Mike,

In your opinion would a winery redesign their site for a mobile experience, or would they just ensure their website works on a mobile phone.

(Lots of sites like Google Reader have an 'iphone' version of the site, but I'm not sure that's the answer for the majority of wineries - I don't think ecommerce is that prevelant from a mobile phone in North America - not like it would be in Japan).

Andrew

[Rexibit Web Services]

You couldn't be more true. Back 5-7 years ago splash pages were a great way to differentiate yourself. However, that was before phones and other mobile devices because a common way to get quick information. Your site should be accommodating to the largest type of audience. If you aren't you are loosing people who visit when they do get to a computer because they remember that experience.