Which do you rather use? Flash designs or Images and buttons? For me, I believe if you want to be more professional, I would use Flash. Flash takes the user into a whole different dimension. It's quite awesome, I believe.

Which do you rather use? Flash designs or Images and buttons? For me, I believe if you want to be more professional, I would use Flash. Flash takes the user into a whole different dimension. It's quite awesome, I believe.

 

Well in my opinion it's all well and good using Flash - as it has great possibilities with design and functionality - but it all comes down to who's making it. For instance, I would much rather have a very well designed image than a poorly designed Flash animation, also it depends on the file size aswell.

 

Correct me if I am wrong, but a site entirely designed on flash is not picked up on search engines as well as good ol' HTML

That would be understandable, paperclip. The search engines... aren't they based upon HTML. HTML... one of the oldest web languages out, I am sure search engines pick those up before a new product, flash.

That would be understandable, paperclip. The search engines... aren't they based upon HTML. HTML... one of the oldest web languages out, I am sure search engines pick those up before a new product, flash.

 

No John, they don't pick HTML up because it is the oldest language. They pick it up because search engines, as blind people, cannot "read" images. If you want good SEO results you will not use flash. Or if you must use flash, don't create the whole page in flash. Make a header and the rest HTML. And provide a good image description.

I agree with Pamil Visions - a hybrid site is the best compramise, but ideally don't use flash at all if SEO is your main priority.

No John, they don't pick HTML up because it is the oldest language. They pick it up because search engines, as blind people, cannot "read" images. If you want good SEO results you will not use flash. Or if you must use flash, don't create the whole page in flash. Make a header and the rest HTML. And provide a good image description.

 

Thanks for correcting me Pamil Visions. But why have I seen whole flash pages on the top 5 of the search engines.

Thanks for correcting me Pamil Visions. But why have I seen whole flash pages on the top 5 of the search engines.

 

That's because they have many inbound links and they are probably very powerful inbound links. And it also depends on what search term you were using. Was the whole page in flash? For example, if you type in Gershwin, The Official Website of George & Ira Gershwin comes in first. But that's becuase they have about 163 backlinks and the domain name is www.gershwin.com. If you take a look at the page you'll note that it has unsurpassed quality. Flash is very good for entertainment purposes, not for business sites (or not for business sites with low budgets). The main purpose of a business site is to provide accessible information, easy to find. Flash is really difficult to optimize for the SE. And it's really not accessible for all users.

 

Personally I like Flash, but as Eskymo said (and she is an experienced Flash designer!) if SEO is the main purpose, forget Flash. Simple HTML loads faster and is scanable (can be read by the SE and special software).

Thanks for correcting me Pamil Visions. But why have I seen whole flash pages on the top 5 of the search engines.

 

Hi, when you say image description, what does that mean? Is it the title of the image file or do you place a description some place on the page? Thank you for the help.

It can be both spieler. If the image description is with the tag, then that is different than meta tags. Right now, we were basically talking about meta tags and search engine pick-ups.

It can be both spieler. If the image description is with the tag, then that is different than meta tags. Right now, we were basically talking about meta tags and search engine pick-ups.

 

Yes. You are right. And: if you have a site 100% Flash it's a good idea to create a simple - text only - html version of it. This could be used by surfers that disable images and Flash in their browsers. Just make sure you place a visible link to it on the main page.

Not only that, Pamil. It provides lower connections and computers to view your site as well.

Not only that, Pamil. It provides lower connections and computers to view your site as well.

 

Absolutely correct, if the Flash doesn't crush the browser first. But, no matter how we look at it, Flash is a great multimedia tool. Too bad that some web designers misunderstand its use.

Yes, true. I believe flash gives websites a professional touch, WHEN done in the right way. Obviously, you don't want too much. Or too little can be a waste of time as well.

Flash is nice but when used sparingly in my book. I like the looks of it but as others point out HTML is the way to go for SEO optimization.