John

Research I've read suggests that 6 seconds is the optimum wait time before
your page is clicked into oblivion. That need not be a full load but the
viewer wants to see something substantial happening in that time.

Why have a graphics heavy opening page? Does the client just have one
message? Can't some be moved to other areas of the site?

If all else fails tell the client to email me - I'll give him a kick in the
pants for you.

This proves that the world really does need copy-editors, not just
programmers and graphic designers and perhaps we should add in some
marketing and advertising expertise as well. Those opening moments when a
stranger opens the site are vital - in just the same way that we make up our
minds about a person in those first few seconds of meeting. Impressions
gained then are very dificult to change. You either like what you see, or
you don't and 35 seconds is too long to wait. I'm off into the ether before
your great page appears.

Trevor Lockwood
http://www.author.co.uk
co-author with Karen Scott of 'A Writer's Guide to the Internet'
Publisher of 'Directory of Writers' Circles'

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