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Pictures and movies flying across a computer screen are very cool and they really show off a web designer's talent, but they aren't always great for your search engine rankings. The problem with Flash is that they are essentially pictures and search engines don't usually index pictures very well.
The Bad Points of Flash
- Search engines are unable to index flash and it's contents effectively
- The flash and the page content as well as the navigation system for a flash site is essentially invisible to search engines. •People may see the flash and watch it for a short period of time, but if there is an important message involved they will most likely miss it.
- A lot Internet users are still on dial-up. Flash takes a long time to load on dial-up.
The Good Points of Flash
- Flash is neat, and it looks cool.
- Flash is a great way to liven up a static page.
- Most people will ignore the top 1/5 of a website, Flash can grab their attention.
Tips On Using Flash Effectively
The first and most important tip is that the Flash should not take up a large majority of your page. If you are going to be using Flash then you do not want it to take up more than the screen. It should also be on the left side of the page. There are many reasons to place your Flash in this area.
One is that many people need a minute to orient themselves on a new web page. They will scan the whole site and then fixate on the top left of the page. The second tip is that you should use Flash to complement the site. If you are selling a product, use the flash to highlight certain points of the product. Leave the important information in the HTML portion of your site.
This benefits you because search engines read HTML and will pick-up that important information. So don't tell the whole story in Flash, but use it as an enhancement.
Talk to your web designer about externalizing your Flash code. This can help the speed at which your page loads as well as improves the ability of the search engines to index your site. You can use a code that is used to externalize JavaScript, but embed the HTML needed to display the flash.
Make Your Flash Good
Your Flash doesn't have to be all-bad and you can make it work as an excellent accent to your site. Just be certain that you don't go Flash overboard and use it properly. Keep it from occupying too much of the page and keep the download time low. Use Flash as a complement and you can still have a cool page.
Action Steps For Using Flash
1. Determine how much Flash is really necessary for your website. Would less be more?
2. Determine what type of features you would want to highlight in Flash and provide that information in HTML as well.
3. Consult with your web designer on externalizing your code and make your Flash site search engine friendly.
Important About Using Flash
- People will not typically watch a whole Flash movie. Provide a Skip This link so that they can move on. Or, keep the movie short.
- Place your Flash where it will be seen and not in places that aren't worth advertising.
- Don't put too much of your important message in the Flash.
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