Now, that I’ve visited about 400 search engines and about 100 web apps, let me offer some tidbits of advice for your web startup page & site:

a) It’s 2007. Make sure all your copyright, trademark notices all read 2007.

b) Typos. SPELL CHECK. There was a site with about 25 words on its front page, one was spelled incorrectly.

c) It’s fine to use FLASH on your front page but ask people POLITELY to turn on Flash or to ask POLITELY to download a newer version BUT do not just make it an advertisement for Flash.

Do NOT do what the people at GLIDE have done – present a white page with some words demanding people to download FLASH before they can do anything else. Is that really the point you want to convey to people stopping by your “storefront?” That you are a shill for Adobe’s Flash? Now, if you are part of the Adobe family, that’s perfectly fine or if Adobe is paying you to put up a velvet rope in front of your potential customers – great but why would you go out of your way to block potential customers? You work so hard to get people to your site, don’t follow GLIDE’s example, just telling you to go away unless you do EXACTLY as they say?

Other than a logo and quotes about how great they are, this is essentially all you see at GLIDE (text quotes appear in middle of page – not in screenshot):

Now, if you’re a well establish company or you don’t want casual people to drop in – maybe, but why would waste an opportunity to brand? Not a photo, illustration or a mission statement? Nothing? … But just a demand and some quotes? What do we know about this company other than they really, really like Adobe Flash? Not much.

And frankly, are you enticed to explore further? I’m not.

So make sure if you are using Flash as your front gate, what does your site look like with Flash turned off or if the potential customer hasn’t upgraded, do you want to turn them away as unworthy?

d) Unless it’s obvious in your name “JOHN’S BAKERY” or “ALISON’S TIRES,” it’s best to put an explanation of what you do right there on the front page.

You don’t have to be fancy or get carried away – At JOTLET, this is right on the front page:

“Jotlet Calendar is an online calendar that helps students, families, and small groups manage and share their schedules online. It