Splash Page

[Devil's Angel]

Hey everyone!

I'm stuck and I'm not sure what to do. The web site for a realty company I maintain is in need of an over-haul. I have most of a design finished but a wrench was just thrown into my plans. This company recently opened another branch office and would like their properties on the website as well but separate from the main office.

The site has a splash page that, up until last night, had the main navigation at the top and a graphic under it. As of last night it is only the graphic and two image links. I don't like it but it had to be done ASAP and I didn't have any time to design anything.

The new site I almost have finished was designed before I was told there was a new branch. My delema is how to design the main page so visitors can pick between the different offices.

In the new design I made the main page with more information not just a splash page. I added featured properties and other information. I still want to have the main page for each site informational.

Do you think it would be too much to have a splash page with a graphic and the choice of either branch. Once a branch is clicked to go to the main information page for that office and then let them navigate from there? I'm concerned it would be too many clicks to get information. In each site I'll offer the option to view the other office site as well but I'm more thinking of the main page first.

Any thoughts? I hope this made sense.

[Pretend]

I'd say do that...it's about the only thing I can think of...

[LazyJim]

I say do that.
If your clients don't like it, tell 'em you can't read minds so didn't allow for the new branch in your design, and that the quick fix you came up with is the ebst they're gonna get unless they want to employ you for a re-design, or pay extra to have you fix it.

[Devil's Angel]

Originally Posted by LazyJim

I say do that.
If your clients don't like it, tell 'em you can't read minds so didn't allow for the new branch in your design, and that the quick fix you came up with is the ebst they're gonna get unless they want to employ you for a re-design, or pay extra to have you fix it.

If I want to redesign again I can...thats not a problem. I'm just not sure what else to do other than splash page then intro page for each different office site. I'm also thinking of making each different office site a different colour so people know the green site is office one and the blue site is office 2.

[LazyJim]

good idea on the colour indicating which office your in.
This can be related to real offices, which often all look the same, although most may say it is obvious what building you're in, I say a visual clue throughout the building is a great way to make the bulding users more comfortable - especially when they are new to the site.

While this building thing has no relation to your site, (other than your colour idea), it does highlight this:

Designers should not assume users know what the designer knows.

[Rick]

Hopefully you're getting paid by the hour and not per job. This sounds like a lot more work. One thing you can do is make the main page very non-specific (i.e. no properties displayed), and then users would click on a branch to see the properties. This would give more of an integrated look and feel, while still keeping things separate. Also, it would eliminate the dreaded splash page. If they do want it all separate, I'd suggest putting the second office on a different domain (or subdomain). Shout out with a link, if you get a chance.

[Suspicious]

You could also do what winamp similarly did by putting a link in a top corner somewhere that you graphically know is different from the current site (by either base design or color, I like the complementary color idea so people can feel where they are) and put in something like "click here to visit our other branch!".

[Devil's Angel]

Thanks for the ideas!

I am getting paid by the hour

I am planning on adding a link at the top...or somewhere on the page noting that if they can't find what they're looking for to check out the other office's site.

[LazyJim]

"noting that if they can't find what they're looking for to check out the other office's site"

You saying you actually tested on them?

HOORAY!!!

Well done, I know your audience is limited and you have access to them, which makes it easier. But everyone should at least observe people using the web sites they make.
Importantly we shuold test the sites we make on the users we intended to use our site. - We cannot do this unless we decide who the target audience is before we start designing!

[ATLien]

I would probly just do the flash, I would make it a really spectacular splash though maybe have flash, but don't interfear with the links to the branches, you have like a mopvie that does like a 3d walk through a house, something that will make the people want to see the slash not just have it as a intro page, don't put the buttons after the flash though, make them come up and stay up as the movie plays.

[Devil's Angel]

Originally Posted by LazyJim

"noting that if they can't find what they're looking for to check out the other office's site"

You saying you actually tested on them?

HOORAY!!!

Well done, I know your audience is limited and you have access to them, which makes it easier. But everyone should at least observe people using the web sites they make.
Importantly we shuold test the sites we make on the users we intended to use our site. - We cannot do this unless we decide who the target audience is before we start designing!

I never actually tested on this. I just assume if you have more than one office and people don't find what they're looking for on one office site they may (if they knew there was another office) want to check and see if the other office has what they're looking for. The more options people have the easier it is for them to find what they're looking for.

[LazyJim]

yup good (with limits - too much will overwelm and over-complicate)