One of the biggest perks of being a Gold or Platinum subscriber to CPA Site Solutions is the availability of Splash Pages for your accounting firm’s website. You may have heard them referred to as a “Splash” page, a “Graphic Introduction” page, or a “Landing” page.

The purpose of these pages is to offer the visitor a quick glimpse of what your accounting firm’s website offers, while simultaneously drawing them in with something attention-grabbing. In other words, it caters to the attention spans and behaviors of typical web surfers.

One way in which web-designers have typically accomplished this is through the use of Flash animation. Flash animation is very popular for designers and their clients alike. Designers like it because it makes their clients happy. It is a very easy method of creating impressive, “Ooh-factor” animations.

Clients love it because they feel it lends professionalism and pizzazz to their website.  However, since the explosion of Flash content onto the internet, savvy web-developers have been moving away from the Flash animation Splash page, and using some creative alternatives.  Here’s why:

1. Flash can be slow-loading.  One of the primary missions of any good web developer is accessibility.  This means keeping file sizes low enough so that someone with a slow connection can load your pages in a reasonable period of time. If your Splash page doesn’t meet this criteria, it’s not really accomplishing its stated purpose; to give the visitor a quick preview and draw them in.  If they have to wait around forever for the page to load, they are more like to click the “back” button.
2. Flash animation isn’t search-engine friendly.  A flash intro can be a great way to direct human visitors into your accounting firm’s website, but it does nothing to guide search engines.  Like a human visitor, search-engine spiders (programs that index your content for web searches) see your Splash page first. However, unlike human visitors, they don’t see anything that’s inside the Flash animation. It’s a big blind spot for them. If you are placing your five or six most important links on the Splash page, it’s important from an SEO standpoint that spiders are being directed straight to those pages.
3. 

   Extreme example of overuse of Flash (warning - may freeze up your browser!)

   Does it serve a purpose? Just because you can do something doesn’t necessarily mean you should. Flash animation has its place, but frequently, it serves as more of a distraction than an asset. When deciding on whether or not to use a Flash intro page, ask yourself if it contributes anything meaningful to your site. If it doesn’t, and it’s the first thing a visitor sees, what does that tell them about the relevance of your accounting firm’s website to them?

It’s a fine line to walk. Visitors looking for a CPA don’t really want to be entertained or distracted by something overly flashy, but they also don’t want to have to read a lot of content if they aren’t positive it’s relevant to them. At CPA Site Solutions, we’re well aware of the dilemma, and have been busy creating Flash-alternative Splash pages to address exactly these concerns. These new CPA Website Designs feature eye-catching graphics, dynamic content, and pure html layouts that will draw in visitors and search engines alike.

Style 280 features creative javascript rollover effects, descriptive content, and attractive imagery.	Style 299 features a load of descriptive content, functionality, and inviting imagery
Style 301 features a clean, attractive layout, and large, inviting navigation links.	Style 307 features multiple navigation options, a contemporary layout, and eye-catching imagery

If you are interested in any of these new CPA Website Designs, or if you just have questions about the merits of Flash versus its alternatives, give a call at 1.800.896.4500, or email support@cpasitesolutions.com.

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