How to Design an Engaging Splash Page with Practical Examples

What is the idea behind a splash page? It’s a temporary landing screen that appears when someone first arrives at your site. Its purpose is to make an immediate impact, introduce your brand, or direct users to specific content.

But here’s the challenge: designing a splash page that’s both captivating and user-friendly isn’t easy. You want to make a memorable impression, but not at the cost of slowing down or frustrating visitors who are ready to explore your main content.

In this article, we’ll explore how to create an engaging splash page design, plus practical design tips and inspiring examples you can apply to your own b2b SaaS marketing​ projects.

What is a Splash Page?

A splash page is an introductory page that visitors see before accessing the main content of a SaaS website design. It acts as a gateway to deliver a specific message or prompt an action, before users proceed to the homepage or other sections of the site.

Splash page websites are versatile tools used for various purposes like announcements, age verification, language/region selection, or brand introductions. 

We’ll take a closer look at these use cases in the next section!

4 Common Splash Page Examples

Splash pages are typically used as brief, full-screen introductions that appear before users access the main content of a website. While they can serve various goals, their primary purpose is to guide or inform users at a critical entry point. Here are 4 common splash page use cases:

1. Age Verification

Websites that promote or sell age-restricted products—like alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, or adult content—often use age verification splash pages. These act as digital “gates,” prompting visitors to confirm their age (e.g., “Are you 18 or older?”) before proceeding. This helps businesses comply with legal requirements and prevents access by underage users.

For example: When visiting the Heineken website, a splash page immediately appears asking users to enter their birth date. If you’re underage (typically under 18 or 21, depending on the region), you won’t be allowed into the site.

2. Region and Language Selection

Global brands often use splash pages to determine a visitor’s region or preferred language. This ensures users receive a localized experience tailored to their location, including accurate pricing, local shipping options, legal disclaimers, taxes, and translated content.

For example: Upon landing on the Best Buy website, a splash page prompts you to choose between visiting the U.S. or Canadian version of the site. Your selection determines the currency, products, and policies shown throughout your visit.

3. Segmentation

Some splash pages are designed to segment users based on their needs, preferences, or roles—such as individual vs. business, beginner vs. expert, or industry-specific options. By guiding users to the most relevant content from the start, companies can improve personalization, reduce friction, and increase conversions.

For example: On the ConvertFlow homepage, visitors are prompted to select their industry or use case. Based on this choice, users are directed to a version of the site tailored to their specific needs, streamlining their journey.

4. Announcements & Promotions

Splash pages can be an effective way to communicate time-sensitive updates or exclusive promotions before users dive into your main site. These pages often highlight limited-time offers, new product launches, or important updates, and typically include a call to action like registering, signing up, or clicking through to a dedicated landing page.

For example: When visiting a fashion retailer’s website during a sales campaign, you might first land on a splash page announcing: “24-Hour Flash Sale!” The page features a countdown timer and a “Shop Now” button, creating urgency and encouraging users to take immediate action before the sale ends.

Pros and Cons of Using Splash Page Design

At its core, splash pages offer your website a valuable opportunity to make a strong first impression and convey key information right at the beginning. However, they also come with potential drawbacks. 

Let’s explore both the pros and cons to help you decide if one suits your site.

Pros of Using Splash Page Design

• Create a strong first impression: A web splash page instantly captures attention with bold visuals, setting the tone and personality of your brand. It immerses visitors, making your brand memorable from their very first interaction.
• Grow your email list efficiently: A splash page is a great way to present a compelling offer upfront (e.g., a newsletter sign-up or exclusive content). This direct approach encourages visitors to share their contact information right away, significantly boosting your lead capture efforts.
• Highlight important messages or promotions: This splash page for website​ is an unparalleled tool for ensuring crucial announcements or limited-time offers never get missed. It acts as a dedicated, unmissable space to draw attention to new products, or sales, boosting engagement with your SaaS business promotions.
• Provide legal or informational guidance:  A splash page is vital for websites in regulated industries (e.g., alcohol, online gaming, pharmaceuticals). It prominently displays essential legal disclaimers (like terms of service, privacy policies), performs age verification, or presents crucial notices. This ensures compliance and informs users upfront, preventing potential legal issues.

Cons of Using Splash Page Design

• Increased bounce rate: Adding an extra step before visitors access the main content can lead to frustration, prompting some visitors to leave right away. This interruption can significantly increase your bounce rate and reduce overall engagement.
• Negative impact on user experience: Splash pages can disrupt the natural flow of browsing, especially for returning visitors. This interruption may make your site feel less intuitive and hinder a seamless user journey.
• Slow down website loading speed: Heavy visuals or animations on splash pages significantly increase load times. This slows down your website, deterring users who abandon slow pages and negatively affecting search engine performance.
• Reduce SEO performance: Splash pages can prevent search engines from effectively crawling and indexing your main content. As a result, your website’s visibility and rankings may drop, which negatively affects organic traffic.

Tips for Designing a Good Splash Page

Designing an effective splash page is all about striking the right balance between making a memorable impression and ensuring a smooth user experience. 

Here are some tips to build the best splash page designs​ that engage and perform well.

1. Consider using overlays or pop-ups 

Instead of a full-page interruption, sometimes an overlay or pop-up appearing over your main content can be more effective. This method lets users see part of the site behind, making it less disruptive while highlighting key messages (e.g, lead magnets, urgent announcements) without interrupting the browsing experience.

2. Ensure seamless responsiveness

Since users visit websites from various devices, your splash page must adapt smoothly to different screen sizes and resolutions. A responsive design makes sure that all elements (e.g., images, text, buttons) display properly and remain easy to use on all devices. This approach improves accessibility and keeps visitors engaged no matter what device they use.

3. Guide users to their destination

A splash page should serve as a helpful gateway rather than an obstacle. Provide clear CTA buttons that direct visitors quickly to your main site or key sections. Avoid confusing layouts or hidden navigation paths. The goal is to reduce any friction and make it easy for users to reach their desired destination.

4. Create a clear and simple layout

Simplicity is essential for an effective splash page. Limit the amount of text and focus on strong visuals combined with a prominent call-to-action. This clarity helps users immediately understand the purpose of the splash page and encourages them to continue exploring your site.

5. Monitor performance with analytics

Your Splash Page design process doesn’t end at launch. Monitor performance with analytics to truly understand how your splash page is functioning. Track key metrics like bounce rate, conversion rates (if applicable), and user engagement. This data provides invaluable insights, allowing you to identify areas for improvement and continuously refine your splash page for optimal effectiveness through A/B testing.

Conclusion

A well-crafted splash page does more than greet your visitors—it sets the tone, conveys key messages, and acts as a strategic gateway to your brand. When done right, it can create a positive first impression that drives user engagement and reinforces your brand identity.

Looking to create the best SaaS landing page for higher conversion? At Lollypop, we specialize in designing user-centric SaaS experiences backed by design thinking and real-world results. As a globally recognized SaaS design agency specialized in UX Design, we help businesses transform ideas into scalable SaaS software solutions that bring a seamless experience to users.

Book your FREE consultation today and discover how we can turn your landing page into a powerful growth engine for your SaaS product.

Read more: Squeeze Page​ Design – Best Practices for Creating a Lead-Generating One

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

1. Splash Page vs Landing Page: What Are the Differences?

While both aim to capture attention, a splash page is an introductory screen before users access your main website content, often used for announcements, promotions, or age verification. A SaaS landing page for SaaS, on the other hand, is a standalone page designed for a specific SaaS marketing campaign, meant to drive conversions (e.g., sign-ups, purchases) and is often accessed via external links like ads. 

2. Is a splash page a pop-up?

A splash page is not the same as a pop-up. A splash page is a full-screen page that appears before visitors reach the main website content and often requires them to take action before continuing. A pop-up is a smaller window or overlay that appears on top of the current page and can usually be closed or ignored. Pop-ups are often seen as a form of splash page when shown on arrival, but they engage users in a less intrusive way and disrupt browsing less than traditional splash pages.

3. Splash page or Overlay Popup: Which to choose?

The choice depends on your goal and how much disruption your users can tolerate. A splash page is perfect for delivering important messages or branding before visitors explore the site, such as during a product launch or special event. An overlay popup is generally less intrusive, often preferred for lead generation (e.g., email sign-ups) or less critical announcements, offering a smoother user experience. Consider user experience and the necessity of the interruption when making your decision.