brady.k — Fri, 22 Oct 2004 21:03:28 +0000

(this is an old thread, btw)

sumeiko — Fri, 22 Oct 2004 20:35:47 +0000

Are flash intros worth it?
In my opinion, flash intros are, and continue to be, one of the biggest mistakes Web designers choose to interpret in their Web site. Although most people now expect to find such introductions in movie Web sites, I think we still need to reflect their uses with the real world. It would be rather unconvinient to be forced to watch a 30 second introduction film before you enter the Warehouse!

How long should a flash intro be?
Probably no longer than 10 seconds, although I wouldn't choose to have one at all.

Zandahar25 — Fri, 22 Oct 2004 17:48:12 +0000

Flash intros are usually a waste in m opinion. I always skip them if I can. But if you want to jazz up your site trying using some small bits of Flash mixed in with your regular layout. (Remember, Search Engines don't recognize Flash, so it's not helping your rankings either.)

cordedpoodle — Fri, 06 Aug 2004 18:23:20 +0000

1. Are flash intros worth it?

It depends on what your goal is. In general NO. On the rare occasion yes. For instance if your site is primarily visited for information NO! You'll drive your clients angry even with a skip intro button if all they are trying to do is find your phone number. Web surfers have no tolerance for delays.

If the site is entertainment... maybe. People might only go to it once. Similar to going to a movie once.

Think client here. What are they visiting your site for? Information? Boredom? Entertainment? To many designers design with only how "cool" a site looks in mind. You can tell a poor designer almost instantly if they use an extremely small font with no way to enlarge it. Billions of dollars in sales are lost to that kind of design.

2. What makes a good flash intro (technically, artistically and content-wise)?

Somewhat subjective. Does it WOW the client? Would people tell other people about it? Does it enhance the sellers image?

3. How long should a flash intro be?

Again subjective but given most web surfers short attentions span, mostly very very short intros.

4. Are there any flash intros that you really like/dislike and why?

There used to be a company called DennisInteractive that had the best Flash site I've ever seen. Very minimal and neat. Very informative. Very high tech looking. They are no longer around. Bought or went out of business.

I intensely dislike any without an skip intro button. Nothing pisses me off more than sites that resize the browser window so that it takes up my whole screen. Who are they to decide how big I want the window? Arrogant bastards. Making the window a bit smaller doesn't bother me so much. But there should be a good reason for doing it.

KarenArt — Wed, 04 Aug 2004 20:35:41 +0000

I've seen some fabulous flash intros and quite a few really horrible ones.
The bottom line is even if your intro is the best one anyone could ever dream of, repeat visitors to your site are going to skip through it after the second or third viewing.

A flash intro is only good for catching the eye of a first time visitor.
Content will always be the most important thing for any website!

ethan — Wed, 04 Aug 2004 19:57:57 +0000

A skilled Flash designer can create a modem-friendly, exciting, and interesting Flash piece. They can definetely be the selling/drawing point to your site. Though, there are too many designs that detract from the site...as im sure you've seen.

To wit. You can't tell me that http://monkeyclan.com/ could have been more effective in html/css. And if http://www.gabocorp.com/gc/ is not sexy, i don't know what is. I've shown people that site before, and look how much exposure it is getting on this forum.

SO! A think a well-done one can be huge for a business.

Timster — Sat, 31 Jul 2004 15:53:48 +0000

Im new and not chure if its splash but heres a intro i love cw.envy.nu
try it out!! p.s. its not mine but 1 of my friends bros

VLD1 — Thu, 09 Oct 2003 02:35:48 +0000

I would like to thank everyone who answered for their comments. If I would like to use any quotes, I will contact each of you directly. I'll also pop a link on this board when the article finally goes live sometime in November. The article will also have a short list of five to ten examples of effective flash intros. If you have a site or would like to nominate one, please post the link.

Thanks again.

Abhishek Reddy — Sat, 04 Oct 2003 02:11:19 +0000

Imo, good, brief, informative (to an extent), usable, useful, Flash intros are acceptable. And that too only if stopping access to content is justifiable (site may be personal/entertaining). 'Skip intro' links are a must.

fiesty_01 — Fri, 03 Oct 2003 21:41:14 +0000

Your welcome Megan, and I think it's VERY effective as the Flash on the pages simply run really quick (as the pages load which, btw, also occurs quickly even on my slow connection, LoL), then they're finished and a visitor can move "forward" with the site content, rather than sitting there waiting for some "movie" to finish playing.

I guess one could say you made it a little spicy, but not too spicy (just spicy enough, in other words). It's not an actual movie-style Flash like many seem to be, but simply (and very nicely) "rolls" the next content a visitor wants to see onto the screen . . . then it's finished.

For me, while watching some long, drawn-out Flash movie at the beginning of a site (that didn't ask me if I wanted to see it first), I'm basically thinking something like don't we have DVD's and VHS's for that (if it's movies we want to see)?

P.S.: I don't think Andy??? was the one with the bartender site. I don't remember who it was, but it had an actual intro that was nice (and short), and it didn't require a "skip intro" link on it because it was over before you knew it . . . a good thing.