The world of e-commerce is teeming with innovative ways to connect with potential customers and improve the user experience. Amid a plethora of terminologies, two distinct terms often cause confusion: the landing page and the splash page. Let's explore the splash page vs landing page debate, clarify what is a splash page, and learn how to build a splash page that makes a positive impact.
Splash Page Definition: What Is a Splash Page?
A splash page is a standalone web page that users see before they access the main content of a website. It can be thought of as a welcome or 'enter website page'. Unlike a landing page, the splash page doesn't usually serve a specific conversion goal, such as lead generation or sales. Instead, it sets the tone for the user experience and offers a sneak peek into the product or service.
Splash pages are often used to:
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Verify Their Age: Commonly used by businesses that sell age-restricted items.
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Gather Contact Information: Like an email address for newsletter subscriptions.
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Promote Special Offers: Announcing a sale or a new product line.
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Highlight Social Media: Directing visitors to the brand's social platforms.
Splash Page vs Landing Page
While a landing page is designed with a specific conversion goal in mind - be it a product purchase, sign up, or form submission, a splash page serves as more of an informative or transitional stage in the website visitor's journey.
Splash pages are typically full page, eye-catching, and brief. They may contain a simple message, a call to action (CTA) to proceed to the website, or offer choices on how to navigate the site. In contrast, landing pages are often rich in content, providing detailed information about a product or service and coaxing the site visitors towards a conversion.
How to Create a Splash Page
Building a splash page is relatively straightforward, particularly with website builders offering drag and drop functionalities. Here are some steps on how to make a splash page:
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Identify the Purpose: Determine what you want your splash page to do. This could range from age verification, directing users to different sections of your site, or highlighting an ongoing promotion.
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Choose a Design: The best splash pages are simple yet compelling. Ensure that your splash page design aligns with your brand identity.
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Add Content: Keep it brief and direct. The goal here is not to provide exhaustive details but to offer essential information and guide users to the main website.
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Include a CTA: Even though the splash page doesn't aim for a conversion like a landing page, you should still have a clear CTA such as 'Enter Site' or 'Subscribe Now'.
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Test: Ensure your splash page works seamlessly across different devices and browsers. It's important that the splash page enhances, rather than disrupts, the user experience.
Splash Page Examples
There's a variety of splash page examples out there, and the best splash pages often share common features - they're visually appealing, communicate a clear message, and guide users to the next step seamlessly.
Whether it's a 'cool splash page' showing off a bold design or a 'simple splash page' with minimalistic aesthetics, the key lies in understanding your audience and what would appeal to them. You can find many website splash page examples online to draw inspiration from for your splash page design.
In Conclusion
So, what's a splash page? It's a valuable tool that can enhance the user experience by providing essential information or setting the tone for what's to follow. By understanding the difference between splash page vs landing page, e-commerce shop owners can better decide what web page type will best serve their specific needs.
Whether it's a splash landing page to make an impactful first impression or a conversion-focused landing page, the choice depends on your marketing objectives and the message you want to convey to your website visitors.
