Google on Flash
Read this article on the Google Webmaster blog about using Flash on websites. Nothing new but worth repeat-repeating.
There was a time when most design agencies - and some still do - created entire websites in Flash with the dreaded ‘Skip Intro’ page. The problem being that search engines can’t see the stuff inside. So a website created in flash is one image - with no content.
That said, Flash can be fun and funky so the answer is a simple one - use Flash on elements of your web page but not the important stuff - especially navigation. It should be used to enhance a web page though if relevant. The use of video on YouTube is a good example.
The future of the web is hard to tell and the part Flash plays may well be redefined in the future but for now, and especially if you want your web page to be found on a search engine, use Flash to decorate your lovely HTML page with clean and compliant code that Google loves to read and index, and that can also be read by all sorts of devices, including mobile phones and screen readers.
Comment by Clarkey Jr July 10, 2007 @ 4:14 pm
I agree I think that with the increase of broadband speeds flash and especially FLV will become more and more prominent on the web. However extreme caution as Flash as you mentioned should be used to enhance the users experience like any other technologies the HTML should be built first with these bolted on after to Sex it up.