There are many exciting scripts and gimmicks that you may feel tempted to use on your site, such as Java scripts and Flash animations. Always think of both your page loading time and your visitors’ experience when deciding whether to use them. Certain scripts may be useful, such as a source code encrypter to protect your HTML code. Others may be fun, but create huge file sizes, like applets that make the water in your photos ripple. It’s best to avoid those if they don’t directly deal with your site content (such as a site dedicated to visual water pleasures).
When you find a script you want to use, consult the site where you found it, and check its functionality. If it is only promised to work in Internet Explorer 6 onwards, think carefully if you want to use it. Many people still surf with older versions of the browser, not to mention whole other browsers.
Flash animations make great visual tutorials, and they are indeed recommended for that purpose. However, if your flash animation consists only of the company logo moving up and down and finally fading to the background, is it worthwhile to clog the page with a large file? Nevertheless, if you decide to use a Flash animation for example on your entry page, always put a visible link to “Skip” beside it.
Think like a visitor
When you do your web design thinking of your visitors, you will rarely go wrong. Many website counters offer detailed information of the visitors, such as the browser used, so utilize that wisely. The style and topic of your site count, too. If you have a Barbie dedication page, a few animations probably won’t make your visitors turn away, but if you have a business site, they might. The most important thing is that as large and varied group of visitors as possible can enjoy their visit and are willing come back again.