writen by:  Ray Gulick, from his “why bad websites happen to good companies” article  [ original can be found here ]

Splash pages represent a fundamental misunderstanding of the online medium. Often, they come from a print perspective (”books should have a cover”), or sometimes from a broadcast perspective (”a show should have an intro”). In user surveys, splash pages consistently rank as one of the most annoying things on the internet, but there are still splash pages out there, and most are attached to company websites (or print designer portfolio websites). A simple Google search reveals the many problems with splash pages, so we won’t address that here.

If the problems with splash pages are well known, why do they still exist, and in fact, continue to show up on new or redesigned sites?

• Ego, part one: the designer wants to show off his/her creativity or flash/illustration skills.
• Ego, part deux: the CEO or marketing exec is under the mistaken belief that a “cool” splash page is…um… “cool.”
• Money: the designer can charge extra for the splash page flash or illustration, and maybe more for the “concept.”

Websites with splash pages are inherently brochure sites (has anyone ever seen a splash page on a website that engages its audience?). The underlying assumption with splash pages is that “the market” wants/needs to see/hear the company’s “big message.” That, my friends, is so “brochure.”

Designers who push splash pages either misunderstand the web medium (perhaps they’re primarily print designers who only design an occasional website and don’t understand the differences?), or they’re making design decisions based on what’s best for them rather than what’s best for their clients.

Clients who insist on splash pages (I’ve had one of those in 9 years) are either uninformed, or they don’t care about their users (”it’s our website, not our customers’ website”). If they still insist on a splash page after you attempt to educate them, take their money if you need to, but realize that you are on the “brochure website” path on that website.

Business is changing, the print advertising world is crashing. When was the last time you opened the phone book to find a business? When was the last time your customers opened a phone book to find YOUR business? Your customers have already moved to the internet and are now starting the shift to the mobile internet. If your business is not aggressively reaching out to learn how to complete in 2009, you may be reaching for something else; a going out of business sign.

The fundamentals of web marketing have changed. No longer is putting up a brochure style website a viable option. The key to web success today is creating a destination full of fresh & engaging content that your customers will come back often to see what’s new.

If your current business model is selling products at the retail level, show your customers why they need to purchase your products, Produce videos that show them in action.

S collective is an austin web design firm, that can show you how to create an an engaging website using interactive & social media solutions, that will help your business grow.

Holidays are few and far between at S Collective. Our dreams are woven by pixels, not pixies, and the word ‘resolution’ conjures an image perhaps more technical than most. However, 2008 was busy enough for us that every week, hell every day, was goal oriented. Now that we’re caught up in a New Year state of mind we’re all about the auld lang syne… A cluster of national works steadily progressing, culminated in these past twelve months to make 2008 a newsworthy 365 viz. the democratic success of the presidential election, the corporate rise of sustainability, the Beijing Olympics, and of course the release of Grand Theft Auto 4. But we won’t let these events overshadow the growing presence of web design and marketing in our daily life. Even with economy anxiety we’ve found that there is an increasing demand for business development through the web, and we’re here to congratulate our clients who have utilized it towards their success. Austin entrepreneurs seemed to have realized early on that web design would help their business through 2009. At this time we want to thank you for referring your friends to S Collective, praise you for your accomplishments past and in the year to come. We look forward to working with you Austin.

2008 was a great year for us at “the” collective. We have met many client, and became friends with many along the way. The greatest thing about my job is I deal with people who are excited about launching their new business or launching a new product. The time I spend with clients is during their most exciting times. When their business is taking of, or they are investing back into the business to revamp it. I simply couldnt ask for a better job!

The greatest reward is looking back to the first time you sat down with a client when all they had is an idea, and you compare that to 6 months later and you’ve seen how they have used our product to create their own success.  As the benefits of working in cooperate America  are getting thin, I still see the magic of business everyday. I am very passionate about supporting small business, and anytime I can help someone reach the next level its a great reward.

Marketing experience? Many web designers are simply that — great web designers. They can make your site sit up and bark and run around in circles, if you like. However, the newest, coolest, showiest and flashiest technology is oftentimes NOT what you need to bring you the most traffic, get your site found in search engines, and convert prospects to customers. Don’t fall for the glitz and glam that you see in a designer’s portfolio. The best site for you might be a simpler site with a clean design and distinct marketing elements, with a clear call to action.

Asking your developer about the ROI for their clients is very important. In reality, what you’re doing is determining their longevity (will they still be in business tomorrow), as well as their followup strategy in terms of staying in touch with clients to see how their businesses are doing. We  are commited to your success.

eric@s-collective.com

I wanted to take a minute to promote our partner company Communireach here on our blog.  The marketing and development team has been doing a great job putting this together.  Please check it out and if you have any questions about email marketing, sms ( text message marketing ) or what they can do for your business, contact me directly at

eric@s-collective.com

Austin has been so great to us, I could not think of a better place to start a new business. Not because of the great networking events, or the organizations out there to help start-ups. Not because of the amount of venture capital concentrated in one area, but because Austin offers such great support from austinites who reach out to shop small business first. There is so much pride in choosing local. Many thanks to those who keep supporting independent local companies!

Whenever I can, I reach out to support local businesses first! It just makes so much sense running a local web design / new media company. If you can help stimulate your local economy, that money will cycle back to you.

We’ve been waxing and waning here at S Collective. Well, actually more like red-bulling and burning the midnight oil. But, thats what we do best! Building strong content, that has the appropriate aesthetic wow-factor coupled with a rock-solid marketing strategy doesn’t happen overnight, but we’re actively working on a solution for that! In the meantime feel free to check out the site redesign and see whats been keeping us bees buzzin’ along.