reggie.... I'd loose the splash page untill the site is a household name.... I wouldnt join a site without being able to see the content. Just a thought.
Yes. I am on facebook and I joined it from a splash page... because I knew the content of the site before hand (facebook is a household name).
It's like shopping.... If you are can not see what is in the window you are not likely to go into the shop.
The blurb on a splash-page may tell me how great the site is... but unless I can see the content of the site before joining how do I know its not rubbish? All I have is the word of the site owner, and his oppinion of his site will always be a see more good one.
Is it not best to show a potential customer exactly what you have to offer him before he joins? Show him the unique features of your site that WILL make him WANT to join - but do not point him to a splash page that no-one has ever heard of.... it is VERY bad business practice unless you happen to be Twitter, facebook or Apple.
Our site is amost ready - 6 weeks from launch. We have invested VERY heavily in UNIQUE features. We have a beta of what is, by far, the best contest on any dolphin site installed and being tested. It has a league / results table to make it VERY competetive and a promotional scroller to bring in extra income revenue.
From our front page It is CRYSTAL clear exactly what our site has to offer. This way interested visitors can see what they are getting if the join, and the features are there to entice them to join.
It's like shopping.... If you are can not see what is in the window you are not likely to go into the shop.
The blurb on a splash-page may tell me how great the site is... but unless I can see the content of the site before joining how do I know its not rubbish? All I have is the word of the site owner, and his oppinion of his site will always be a see more