Published Date: January 02, 2025
Do not underestimate the power of a high-performing website. But what exactly is required to build one?
It acquires a blend of technical and creative strategies to ensure visitors are attracted to a website, have a cutting-edge user experience, and are ready to convert into business favor.
In the web world, the first impression is everything, so if you are running an online business, you can leverage the opportunity to make a great first impression with the help of a splash page. This page is designed to welcome visitors as they land on your website, give them a disclaimer, or make special announcements.
In this blog post, we have explained the splash page, its benefits, and how it differs from a landing page.
A splash page is part of a website and appears as the welcome screen or at the forefront of any web page. Think of the splash page as a product or service teaser on the screen before visitors access the home page or any other page. The purpose of a splash page is not only to introduce a new launch; it could also be used for multiple purposes, such as displaying special offers, data verification, making special announcements on a website, etc. It usually appears when the user arrives on the website, after a few seconds, or when the user takes a specific action.
A splash page is a temporary barrier that delays the user’s access to the main content while ensuring that a specific message is conveyed to the user first. It may appear as a pop-up that disappears when the user meets the instructions or as a giant window overlay that the user has to click through to interact with or exit to access the content behind. A splash page can be a helpful tool in your digital marketing toolbox to build a great first impression on the visitors who land on your website.
We don’t see many splash pages out there, as sometimes businesses consider not incorporating a roadblock between users and the main content. But if you have a good reason to break through the noise or have a compelling offer to benefit the user, you can create a thoughtful and valuable splash page.
A splash page does not necessarily ask the visitor to enter their contact details; instead, it is built to inform visitors about some specific happening or just to give them something valuable to read. Depending upon the purpose for which you are using it, it may also contain a particular CTA, like the splash page used by Craft Beer Market to promote a discount offer.
We already know that not every splash page is built with the same intent, so their design and content will vary significantly depending on the purpose for which they are made. A splash page usually comprises some of these critical features, including:
Visual content: Graphics, animation, or stunning visuals that grab visitors’ attention and promote the offer. The visual content should be relevant to the product, service, update, or page promotion.
A compelling headline: We don’t usually see much content being put on a splash page, so a killer headline that immediately delivers value is a must on a Splash page.
Body content: A compelling copy of the product or message that you want to deliver to the visitor. This central text persuades the visitors, so it should be short, sweet, relevant, and action-oriented.
Catchy CTA: A specific yet intriguing CTA to encourage visitors to take a particular action. The CTA should match the content being promoted through the splash page.
Exit option: Give users the chance to exit the splash screen if they don’t want to spend time reading the content or take the action on the splash page. With a clear option to exit, the users can close the splash screen without closing the website and go to the webpage.
Minimal navigation: A splash page has limited to no navigation as its purpose is specific. However, if more information needs to be conveyed, a simple ‘Learn More’ or ‘Continue’ button works effectively.
Branding elements: Since a splash page is part of your website, it should match your website’s branding including logo, color scheme, typography, etc., to deliver a cohesive user experience.
Features list: If the splash page promotes a product, it will include a bulleted list of its prominent features.
Countdown timer: A splash page may contain a countdown timer in case of a new product launch or to show the expiry time of a discount or promotional offer.
Dropdown menu: The splash pages that verify visitors’ age or ask them to enter their location and language may contain a simple dropdown menu.
If you are running an online business and have something exciting to share with the visitors or just want to announce a product launch to excite potential shoppers, what would be the better way to do so?
Or think of an alcohol business that requires age input from the user to proceed with the content. A splash page can highlight the product launch and act as an age verification gateway respectively in both cases.
A splash page is not like a landing page but is a descriptive page and your OG partner that you can use in multiple ways such as for brand introduction, promotion, or announcements, etc. It is not an integral part of a website, but having it by your side can help you substantially impact your visitors and effectively advertise your business offerings to your targeted audience.
A splash page can be used to achieve the following benefits:
If you are a creative professional, there are endless possibilities for you to represent your creativity on the splash page. You can display your artwork, photographs, or designs to attract visitors’ attention or make them want more of your creativity prowess. This gives them a taste of your work and sets expectations of what they will get from your services.
If you are introducing a new feature on your website, or in your software, web application or mobile application, adding a new service or product to your stack, or just want to highlight best-selling products on your store, a splash page can be used to promote whatever you want in a catchy way. Making special announcements via a splash page leaves a memorable impression on the visitors’ minds. Moreover, you may also add a product page link on your splash page to promote more purchases. Add a countdown timer to entice visitors if you are launching a new product or running limited-time promotions.
If your website deals with sensitive or age-appropriate content, you may use the splash page to show a disclaimer. For example, if you run an online alcohol store, you can use a splash page as age verification to ensure that only visitors of legal alcohol-drinking age access your website.
Moreover, if a website has sound, the splash page can specify it and ask users to wear headphones to access the audio content. Also, if your website is translated in different language for different geos, you may ask the customer to choose his preferred language on the splash page, so he access the content in his preferred language. By using splash pages in any of these ways, you can ensure an improved user experience on your website.
When a product or service is marketed using a splash page, the marketing team can analyze the splash page reaction data to analyze how customers respond to the product/service being marketed. They can evaluate how many visitors showed interest in the product/service page after encountering it via the splash page.
We said it earlier, and we are repeating it: A well-crafted splash page can leave a pleasant impression on visitors. The visuals and message displayed on the splash page can instantly connect with visitors by delivering a brand-specific message.
For example, the splash page of a skincare brand contains a skincare fact, a tip, or a simple welcome message with a serum bottle in the background. When a new visitor lands on the splash page, instantly connects with the skincare brand and becomes excited to explore the website.
Sometimes, a website takes time to load, especially if it is content-heavy. In this case, a splash page can show the loading bar to tell visitors the remaining time until the screen loads. You can add any creative element on the splash page to keep visitors engaged so they do not leave your website.
There is not one type of splash page, but there are different ones used for different purposes, such as:
The disclaimer page tells visitors that the website contains age-restricted content and warns underage individuals not to browse through the website. This type of splash page serves as a warning for visitors and keeps them informed and safe.
We love this type of splash page, and it is also a favorite tool in the marketer’s arsenal. Marketers use this space to entice visitors about the upcoming launch of a new product. The teaser page creates hype about the product even before its launch in the market, and people start looking forward to it. The teaser page contains the product’s teaser image, a short detail, and an option to learn more about the product.
These pages are typically created to give visitors popups offering special discounts, free shipping, free product samples, etc. These splash pages often ask visitors to sign up for the newsletter to receive new offers or discounts or to be informed about special deals. The offer pages effectively encourage visitors to become customers while enhancing their trust in the brand.
This type of splash page is used to make special announcements on the website. Whether you have launched a product, a discount is coming, a Holiday/Christmas sale is about to begin, or you are organizing a special event, the announcement page can be used to promote it to your targeted audience. It may guide visitors toward important information or a separate page.
As the name indicates, the purpose of this most popular splash page is to welcome new website visitors. The welcome page makes visitors feel valued and leaves a positive impression that encourages them to explore the website. Users may typically see the Welcome page as they land on a website, start their trial, or download the app. It is designed to welcome people to a new place and trigger the excitement of exploring it.
Sometimes, a splash page, like a lead capture page, is used to capture lead data in exchange for a discount or a free offer. The page may include a form with a CTA at the end, while at other times, it may display its value proposition and ask visitors to join the community. You can use the lead capture page to accelerate conversions by highlighting your offerings.
As you can see, there are many types of splash pages, each serving a specific purpose. Here, we have listed a few of our favorite splash pages as examples, so if you are thinking of creating one for your business, you may take ideas from these. Just remember to add your creative touch to it.
Upon entering the website of Spritz Society, you will be welcomed with a splash page for age verification. The website has very colorful and vibrant vibes, and the same colorful aesthetics are used in its splash page. It has a very minimum content just asking visitors to verify if they are above 21.
With the alcohol business on the rise today, it is more than ever required for businesses to ask verification or provide legal disclaimer on their websites. If you are also running an alcohol, tobacco, or other age-restricted business, consider adding a splash page like Spritz Society.
The GAP splash page offers a 15% discount to the visitors upon entering the email address. This is quite a great lead capture splash page example as it represents the branding elements of the website and has a very interactive yet minimal interface, making it perfect for e-commerce businesses. The value proposition is effectively conveyed through the heading and then the CTA, making it a perfect lead capture.
Zara is a global retailer known to every fashion enthusiast and e-commerce fanatic. Since it operates in almost every part of the world, its splash page has a clean design asking visitors to choose their location and language. Zara’s splash page has a tranquil design with a striking background image, bold typography, and two drop-down menus for country and language. The aesthetics of Zara’s splash page are almost similar to the rest of its website and give visitors a welcoming experience.
A visitor’s first impression of this splash page is a picture-perfect moment that goes well with the rest of the website. It has a beautiful background and a short form asking visitors to enter their email addresses to receive delicious meal recipes. This is a perfect example of a concise splash page to build email list where the visuals and the content complement each other in every possible way.
No, it isn’t!
Usually, a splash page is easily confused with a landing page, but they are inherently different. While a splash page is created for user engagement, the primary purpose of a landing page is to drive conversions. A landing page is a standalone page that may or may not exist with a website and is explicitly curated for marketing campaigns. Both splash and landing pages are critical elements in digital marketing and support business growth in several ways.
The landing page is where a user lands upon clicking on a link through email, ads, or social media. A strong CTA encourages the landing page visitor to conversion and helps businesses achieve specific goals. While a splash page works as a gateway, the landing page functions as a conversion machine.
Related Read: How to create a landing page
Look at the comparison below to understand how they both differ from each other.
A splash page has very brief content that delivers purpose directly without overwhelming visitors. It has a simple yet informative headline followed by a concise description, visuals that resonate with the splash page’s purpose, and branding elements. For example, the splash page created for a featured product includes a headline, a short list/description of product features, a relevant visual, and a CTA for people to visit/purchase the product.
On the other hand, the content on the landing page is detailed around specific offers. The content comprises comprehensive information about particular products/services, branding elements, high-quality visuals, a strong CTA placed at the top and anywhere inside the content, testimonials, and an FAQ section. The content on the landing page encourages visitors to take the required action. For example, the landing page of a tool promotes its benefits, displays its usage and testimonials, and has a sign-up button to start a free trial.
The splash page is built to introduce visitors to the website, offer, product, service and welcome them with a single yet captivating message. Different splash pages can have different goals, such as welcoming new visitors, making special announcements, giving a teaser of the latest launch, age verification, or asking visitors to select their preferred language and location.
The landing page is crafted to maximize conversions. It is a lead generation tool that collects leads’ data to nurture them further. The landing page may ask visitors to enter their contact details to access a free demo, eBook, or webinar. It can also be used to collect visitors’ feedback by creating polls or surveys and to promote an event to visitors.
The duration of a visitor’s stay on a splash page is typically shorter. Since the splash page quickly delivers an important message or information to the visitor, it appears temporarily between the user and the main content. Sometimes, visitors rapidly exit the splash screen to access the main content, and sometimes, they must input specific credentials on the splash page to access the site. The age-verification splash page of Sprtiz Society is an excellent example of a short yet necessary interaction of users on the splash page.
Unlike splash pages, landing pages keep visitors engaged for longer. Since their purpose is to captivate the user’s attention and compel them to convert, the user spends more time on the landing page. This comparatively longer attention duration helps build user trust and increases the chances of conversions.
Since splash pages have minimal content, usually without internal links, they do not strongly impact a site’s SEO. Due to the lack of targeted keywords, links, and search-engine-focused content, search engines do not rank splash pages.
On the other hand, landing pages substantially impact a website’s search engine ranking. These are optimized for search engines under best SEO practices. They are strongly targeted for specific keywords that drive organic traffic and improve the site’s ranking on search engines.
While a splash page appears as an overlay on the main content for a temporary chunk of time, it doesn’t have its own URL and is not a part of website navigation. It appears on its own when a visitor lands on a website/webpage, or upon a specific action. There is no navigational link inside the website from which you can directly access its splash page, which means there is no direct integration of the splash page into the main website’s structure.
The landing page, on the other hand, is completely integratable into the website. A landing page has its own URL, is a part of a website structure, designed to be a practical part of a visitor’s journey on your website. It encourages visitors to move to other parts of the website which makes it an integral part of a website’s architecture.
Look at the table below to get a clear idea of how a splash page differs from a landing page.
| Splash Page | Landing Page |
|---|---|
| It introduces visitors to a site, displays special announcements or offers, or asks visitors to verify their age. | It attracts potential customers and encourages them to take a specific action. |
| It has concise content, usually containing a headline, visuals, and a CTA. | It has descriptive content, usually headlines, body content, CTA, features, testimonials, and FAQs section. |
| The user interaction on a splash page is very minimal. | The user interaction on the landing page is extensive. |
| There is no specific navigation on a splash page. | The landing page has straightforward navigation to guide visitors in taking further steps. |
| Splash pages are typically used on special occasions or for mandatory verifications. | The landing page is a staple in digital marketing campaigns and is used more frequently. |
| Splash pages do not have a substantial impact on SEO. | The landing pages strongly impact the site’s SEO. |
It’s not about choosing between the splash page and landing page but using the right one at the right time. Since they impact the user experience, you should create effective marketing strategies around both pages.
It is evident now that,
You should use a splash page if:
You should use a landing page if:
While it is easy to differentiate between splash and landing pages, you cannot prioritize one over the other. By using them together, you can enhance user experiences on your website, understand the behavior of your targeted audience, and evaluate your conversion rates. Each page should appropriately guide visitors to take specific actions, so it is essential to craft these pages carefully.
A splash page can be an essential tool to improve user experiences on your website, but it adds an additional step for your visitors to access your site. In fact, many of the visitors leave a website after a splash page pops up as they don’t want to get into knowing or verifying anything at this moment.
If not crafted optimally, it can bring certain drawbacks, such as:
A user enters a website to learn about the business, but the splash page is an obstacle preventing him from accessing the content. Although this barrier appears for a small moment, it can sometimes annoy users. Suppose a customer enters a store, and someone interrupts him at the entrance by promoting the store right at the entry gate. The whole experience can go against the store’s favor if the customer gets annoyed and returns from the store even before exploring it.
Same is the case with splash page. It can be tedious, especially for visitors who don’t like even the small interruptions. This eventually increases the bounce rate and negatively impacts the user experience.
A splash page is truly not made to impact your site’s SEO. In fact, a poorly crafted splash page can prevent search engine bots from crawling or indexing your site. The bots don’t understand the website content if the splash page is blocking it. The content on the splash pages is often not very search engine friendly, and most of the time, it contains a graphic or animation. Due to the lack of substantial content on the splash page, they do not get enough attention from the search engines.
Although the visitors don’t have to spend a lot of time on the splash page, it can be seriously annoying and time-consuming for the returning visitors who have already entered their preferences, are verified, or have completed a specific action. When a visitor returns to your website and interacts with the splash page again, it might prevent him from taking the desired action.
If the splash page contains animations, graphics, or visual-heavy content, it takes considerable time to load, slowing the website’s loading time. Adding an additional page to your website infrastructure requires more resources. This extra burden leads to slow loading that eventually frustrates visitors and forces them to leave the site.
A well-made splash page can help you gain more customers and boost your brand’s online presence. These tips can help you create a splash page that stands out.
Splash pages are built to make the visitor notice or do something, so when you create a splash page, make sure to highlight that, for example, specify the action so that when the user comes across it, he knows what action to take.
A splash page is not the right place to brag about your business or elaborate on your product offerings extensively. It is not a landing page but an overlay window that welcomes visitors and informs them about something specific. So, keep it simple, short and to the point that people can easily understand, and engage with.
When building a splash page, follow the fonts, color palette and other branding elements of your website to give users a consistent user experience.
Don’t forget to add an exit option on the splash page so the visitors who immediately want to enter your website and don’t want to engage with the splash page can easily exit the page. You may add an ‘Exit’ button or an opt-out option to help visitors bypass the splash page.
Visuals say more than words. Since visuals are easier to communicate with, you may consider adding high-quality images or videos that grasp the visiotrs’ attention and easily communicate with them regarding your brand.
More than half of website visitors visit from their mobile devices, so when creating a splash page, ensure it is fully responsive and looks great across all devices.
Ensure that when the visitor lands on your splash page, it offers them something valuable. If the visitors cannot find a vital piece of information on the splash page, there is no point in creating it. you may add value in any form, such as a piece of information or a mindful quotation, a discount code, a countdown timer, highlighting free product samples or free shipping, or anything that could entice the visitors and they enter your website with a pleasant mood.
If the purpose of your splash page is to capture lead data through forms, ensure that your forms are short. Only place the necessary fields on the form and avoid adding extra fields so the visitors don’t feel bored or annoyed by the extensive data input. By only asking relevant details, you can increase the chances of filling out the forms.
Add social media icons on the splash page and link them to your relevant social media accounts. By doing so, your audience can easily find you on social media and stay aware of your business’s latest ventures.
By following this winning combination, you can build a splash page that stands out and helps you capture visitors’ attention positively.
In the digital marketing world, the user experience is everything. The more you make your potential customers feel valued, the more conversion chances you can grab from them. A splash page is a specialized page created purely for the visitors. From welcoming visitors to pleasing them with special discounts and promos to asking them to join your community or making them verify their age – a splash page helps you build a connection with the visitors in several ways.
With the ongoing debate about choosing a splash page or a landing page, picking one over the other is complicated as both serve different yet significant purposes. A splash page is the entry point into a website, while a landing page attracts leads and encourages them to convert. The decision to pick one entirely depends upon your website objectives and the impact you want to achieve with your marketing strategies.
No, the splash page and landing page are not the same. The splash page primarily builds a first impression on potential customers by announcing a new product or service, while the landing page converts visitors into paying customers. A splash page has minimal content and is created with the goal of engagement. The landing page, on the other hand, has detailed content with a CTA and is created to drive conversion.
Multiple types of splash pages include disclaimer pages, announcement pages, teaser pages, offer pages, welcome pages, and lead capture pages.
A splash page usually comprises a headline, descriptive body content, high-quality images, a CTA, and branding elements. Sometimes, it may contain a clear exit option, or the user may have to fulfill the requirement specified on the splash page to access the website content.
A splash page is a temporary page that welcomes the visitor when he lands on a website or asks them to verify their age, select their preferred language/location, or showcase special offers or product teasers. On the other hand, a Home Page is the first introduction of the visitor to a website where they find a complete overview, comprehensive navigation, and everything the visitor might need to know about the website.
A good splash page should be relevant to your business website in terms of its branding elements and should deliver compelling information to keep visitors engaged. A simple message and high-quality visuals leave a long-lasting impact on the visitors. Don’t use too many colors or animations, as they can negatively impact the user experience and slow down the page loading.
Splash pages and popups are related, but they are not precisely the same. However, in many cases, they serve the same purpose.
The splash screen usually appears as a full-screen page, while the popups always appear as a smaller window. A splash page is used to welcome visitors, make announcements, and capture email addresses, while popups are purely used for promotional purposes, surveys, and collecting email addresses. While a splash page usually appears immediately as the visitor lands on a website, a popup appears as the user takes a specific action.
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