I went to your site this week, and I would say yes... so long as it is a super fast loader. (I hate it when it takes forever to load and all it is is a splash page.) I was looking for your blog, and it took me a minute or so to find the link, so it could have been helpful.
Yes, it's important for SEO stuff... it's the only reason I have one. Photobiz has some great tips on how to set one up as well as general SEO optimization, so I just followed their suggestions.
From what I've read, splash pages are great for helping search engines recognize your site better, as they supposedly don't read flash very well. I've been diving into SEO bigtime in the past few weeks, and I haven't seen anything to tell me otherwise yet. So...I use my splash page. I hope it's not slow!
Don't forget to title your images, even on the splash page. My 2 splash image files are titled pretty much my SEO keywords. "Nashville-wedding-photography.JPG" (and variables)
Canon 5D MK IV | 24-70 2.8L USM | 50mm F1.4 USM | 70-200mm F2.8L | AB 800 light | 430EXII speedlight (x2) | Lowel iLight | Cybersync remotes | bag of trail mix | My Weddings Website • Blog •
Never needed one. If someone's computer is so ghetto / slow they can't do flash, they probably can't afford me. :-P
=Matt=
Never heard of an iPad? Also there's SEO reasons.
I've gone totally over to wordpress for mine, which isn't as pretty as a flash site, but it's much better for SEO and I think having lots of regularly updated content makes it more interesting to the client. I think it's especially useful if you work from home as it gives potential clients a feeling of security if they can see that you have regular work and that your quality level is consistent and you're getting nice feedback from clients in the comments.
From what I've read, splash pages are great for helping search engines recognize your site better, as they supposedly don't read flash very well. I've been diving into SEO bigtime in the past few weeks, and I haven't seen anything to tell me otherwise yet. So...I use my splash page. I hope it's not slow!
Don't forget to title your images, even on the splash page. My 2 splash image files are titled pretty much my SEO keywords. "Nashville-wedding-photography.JPG" (and variables)
So the reason I am thinking about one is because I am thinking about splitting my business into weddings & babies .... hence I'm thinking about 2 separate websites .... the one I have is a bit too full with information right now .... and beside this I also wanted it to be easier to navigate for my clients (not because my website is loading too slowly) ... but THEN ... I don't want them to automatically go onto my blog (which is what I do when I enter a splash page) .... soooooo .. anyway ... just a bit torn about the whole thing, but the SEO is a GREAT point + thanks for the image-keyword idea ... didn't think about that (for the splash page). Great idea!
I find them annoying when looking at other photographers work (one more click) and I believe the google and most search engines now move right past all of those keyword loaded splash pages. I axed mine over a year ago and have no regrets.
Never needed one. If someone's computer is so ghetto / slow they can't do flash, they probably can't afford me. :-P
=Matt=
But what if they're viewing your page from an iPad/iPhone?
(ok granted I have flash video on my homepage, so this is me totally playing devil's advocate and I like the way you're thinking about them being able to afford you in the first place, lol)
But what if they're viewing your page from an iPad/iPhone?
(ok granted I have flash video on my homepage, so this is me totally playing devil's advocate and I like the way you're thinking about them being able to afford you in the first place, lol)
I have an mobile compatible page ... most "website-creating-sites" offer that version, you might want to look into that ...
I have an mobile compatible page ... most "website-creating-sites" offer that version, you might want to look into that ...
They are generally terrible though. I just tried yours on my iphone to check and it's nothing like your main website, and quite buggy to use. Mine was similar when I was with ShowIt. Not saying having a flash page is wrong, just that the mobile page that they produce is very poor, so your site is almost useless to somebody on an iphone or ipad.
From what I've read, splash pages are great for helping search engines recognize your site better, as they supposedly don't read flash very well. I've been diving into SEO bigtime in the past few weeks, and I haven't seen anything to tell me otherwise yet. So...I use my splash page. I hope it's not slow!
Don't forget to title your images, even on the splash page. My 2 splash image files are titled pretty much my SEO keywords. "Nashville-wedding-photography.JPG" (and variables)
Most flash hosts these days are SEO friendly, but you do have a point. A splash page commonly has tons of links at the bottom for SEO purposes. Touche, indeed.
I've gone totally over to wordpress for mine, which isn't as pretty as a flash site, but it's much better for SEO and I think having lots of regularly updated content makes it more interesting to the client. I think it's especially useful if you work from home as it gives potential clients a feeling of security if they can see that you have regular work and that your quality level is consistent and you're getting nice feedback from clients in the comments.
But what if they're viewing your page from an iPad/iPhone?
(ok granted I have flash video on my homepage, so this is me totally playing devil's advocate and I like the way you're thinking about them being able to afford you in the first place, lol)
Touche! Exept, my particular flash host does allow a mobile site design, which I need to get a move on. Dang!
They are generally terrible though. I just tried yours on my iphone to check and it's nothing like your main website, and quite buggy to use. Mine was similar when I was with ShowIt. Not saying having a flash page is wrong, just that the mobile page that they produce is very poor, so your site is almost useless to somebody on an iphone or ipad.
My (showit) mobile page is also incomplete, but when finished it will mostly just have a couple images and a link to my blog.
A lot of replies so far talk about SEO and the importance of a blog, but I don't see why having a blog requires having a splash page. I get plenty of SEO (when I blog regularly lol) even though I don't have a splash page, and anyone viewing my main site on a mobile device should have no trouble clicking directly over to my blog.
So the reason I am thinking about one is because I am thinking about splitting my business into weddings & babies .... hence I'm thinking about 2 separate websites .... the one I have is a bit too full with information right now .... and beside this I also wanted it to be easier to navigate for my clients (not because my website is loading too slowly) ... but THEN ... I don't want them to automatically go onto my blog (which is what I do when I enter a splash page) .... soooooo .. anyway ... just a bit torn about the whole thing, but the SEO is a GREAT point + thanks for the image-keyword idea ... didn't think about that (for the splash page). Great idea!
Thanks for your inputs, everybody!
See, now there's a VERY GOOD reason to have a splash page. But then again, if the whole reason of having separate pages dedicated to weddings and babies so that there isn't brand confusion, having a splash page still fails to separate them, because people still see that you shoot BOTH.
So, I would either make the "splash" page part of your actual website front page, and just have links to galleries / pages dedicated to each service you offer, ...OR... I would simply create different websites and link directly, so people just see that one part of your business.
I used to believe that it was really taboo to connect different genres of photography like that, because as the rockstars all tell us, if we don't specialize then we're watering down our brand image. HOWEVER, I've recently seen / met countless successful pros who are still doing great with the "lifestyle" photography business model. Meaning they shoot weddings, babies, families, seniors, etc. ...and they strongly argue that it's the only way to go from a perspective of profits and business security.
So I would feel just fine simply having your front page include a selection of both. (maybe not in the same slideshow, but maybe just image with links.) Or, if you're going the blogsite route which is a good idea too, ...you can simply create two different blogs and link between them in the menu banner, OR you can simply blog an equal number of both types of work, and have categories / galleries dedicated to hosting portfolios of each. (ProPhoto 3.0 is a great template for Wordpress that allows you to have slick looking "portfolio" slideshows and galleries, to make up for the static feel of a vertical scrolling blog.
A lot of replies so far talk about SEO and the importance of a blog, but I don't see why having a blog requires having a splash page.
If your main site is a blog I don't think there is much need for a splash page. But it might be beneficial if you have both a blog and flash page, so non flash users don't get faced with something horrible.
I wanted to go completely blogsite but i changed my mind. Website is a website, it's your business front. Blog? Not so much, it's great for SEO no doubts, but it's more of a sidekick for your biz page then anything else. I have A blog which is linked from my SPLASH page, work just fine for me.
Ok, so I went back to see what happened last time.... and I think I must have just been distracted by all the incredible photos in your slideshow and didn't see the "click for menu" button for a while. It IS pretty easy.:D
Great photos on your site...maybe it is just me but I don't want to have to click a link just to open a menu to click another link. I'm weird though.
To each their own and I wouldn't worry...your site is very nice!
Point taken I actually had a slide show at the very beginning (which I just changed). It's just a photo now ... so NOW I need to figure out if I can have the menu be already open when you go to my page. I hope I'll be able to change that, you know how it is with those template sites
I say try it out and see if you like it. There are SEO advantages. Keep it simple so it loads fast. Yes it's one more click for visitors, but it is only one more click. Try it out and monitor traffic with Google Analitics, if you see a dramatic decrease in traffic it may because of visitors are frustrated with the extra click and not visiting. If that happens just take it down.
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Hm, that kind of surprises me, I thought it's quite easy to get to, haha! Oh well ...
Yeah, I'm thinking it might make sense
www.intruecolors.com
Nikon D700 x2/D300
Nikon 70-200 2.8/50 1.8/85 1.8/14.24 2.8
=Matt=
My SmugMug Portfolio • My Astro-Landscape Photo Blog • Dgrin Weddings Forum
We need Like button!
www.intruecolors.com
Nikon D700 x2/D300
Nikon 70-200 2.8/50 1.8/85 1.8/14.24 2.8
Don't forget to title your images, even on the splash page. My 2 splash image files are titled pretty much my SEO keywords. "Nashville-wedding-photography.JPG" (and variables)
My Weddings Website • Blog •
Never heard of an iPad? Also there's SEO reasons.
I've gone totally over to wordpress for mine, which isn't as pretty as a flash site, but it's much better for SEO and I think having lots of regularly updated content makes it more interesting to the client. I think it's especially useful if you work from home as it gives potential clients a feeling of security if they can see that you have regular work and that your quality level is consistent and you're getting nice feedback from clients in the comments.
Great point!!
Thanks for your inputs, everybody!
www.tednghiem.com
But what if they're viewing your page from an iPad/iPhone?
(ok granted I have flash video on my homepage, so this is me totally playing devil's advocate and I like the way you're thinking about them being able to afford you in the first place, lol)
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I have an mobile compatible page ... most "website-creating-sites" offer that version, you might want to look into that ...
They are generally terrible though. I just tried yours on my iphone to check and it's nothing like your main website, and quite buggy to use. Mine was similar when I was with ShowIt. Not saying having a flash page is wrong, just that the mobile page that they produce is very poor, so your site is almost useless to somebody on an iphone or ipad.
My SmugMug Portfolio • My Astro-Landscape Photo Blog • Dgrin Weddings Forum
Touche! Exept, my particular flash host does allow a mobile site design, which I need to get a move on. Dang!
=Matt=
My SmugMug Portfolio • My Astro-Landscape Photo Blog • Dgrin Weddings Forum
A lot of replies so far talk about SEO and the importance of a blog, but I don't see why having a blog requires having a splash page. I get plenty of SEO (when I blog regularly lol) even though I don't have a splash page, and anyone viewing my main site on a mobile device should have no trouble clicking directly over to my blog.
My SmugMug Portfolio • My Astro-Landscape Photo Blog • Dgrin Weddings Forum
So, I would either make the "splash" page part of your actual website front page, and just have links to galleries / pages dedicated to each service you offer, ...OR... I would simply create different websites and link directly, so people just see that one part of your business.
I used to believe that it was really taboo to connect different genres of photography like that, because as the rockstars all tell us, if we don't specialize then we're watering down our brand image. HOWEVER, I've recently seen / met countless successful pros who are still doing great with the "lifestyle" photography business model. Meaning they shoot weddings, babies, families, seniors, etc. ...and they strongly argue that it's the only way to go from a perspective of profits and business security.
So I would feel just fine simply having your front page include a selection of both. (maybe not in the same slideshow, but maybe just image with links.) Or, if you're going the blogsite route which is a good idea too, ...you can simply create two different blogs and link between them in the menu banner, OR you can simply blog an equal number of both types of work, and have categories / galleries dedicated to hosting portfolios of each. (ProPhoto 3.0 is a great template for Wordpress that allows you to have slick looking "portfolio" slideshows and galleries, to make up for the static feel of a vertical scrolling blog.
Good luck!
=Matt=
My SmugMug Portfolio • My Astro-Landscape Photo Blog • Dgrin Weddings Forum
If your main site is a blog I don't think there is much need for a splash page. But it might be beneficial if you have both a blog and flash page, so non flash users don't get faced with something horrible.
www.intruecolors.com
Nikon D700 x2/D300
Nikon 70-200 2.8/50 1.8/85 1.8/14.24 2.8
Facebook: Friend / Fan || Twitter: @shimamizu || Google Plus
www.pictureyourworld.net
http://pictureyourworldphotography.blogspot.com/
http://www.onedayonepicture.com
To each their own and I wouldn't worry...your site is very nice!
<Insert some profound quote here to try and seem like a deep thinker>
Michael Wachel Photography
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Point taken
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