Can Flash be Optimized for the Search Engines

Optimizing Flash for the Search Engines – Can it be Done?

Yes, it can be done, although not easily. Yes it will cost you, tremendously. Get out your checkbook.

Since it’s inception Flash has been the popular medium of choice for cutting edge, hip web design. Yes, it looks cool and given a you have a really good designer, you may even end up with a very functional and intuitive Flash website. I will not deny that I myself, back in the beginning, was easily seduced by the Flash website. I was amazed at the movement and the presentation, that was in the beginning. Now I view Flash as more of an annoyance. Flash designers like to make you wait to unravel their presentation, and often times will hide the buttons, making it a treasure hunt to find the contact page.

Is it necessary? Not usually, but I have had clients set in stone about designing their site in Flash. Compromising practicality and marketability for a really nifty button that makes a cool sound when you click it. After the dust settles and the website is done, most business people come back to their senses and want their site to be optimized and marketable. There are SEO marketers who may take you on, but many won’t touch it, telling you it can’t be done.

My advice? I recommend a nicely marketable site optimized for the search engines with a Flash enhancement, if you must. It’s easier to market, easier to keep fresh and up to date. In the end, once you’ve seen the Flash, you’re over it. Functionality usually wins out over movement when it comes to a web page. In the end, your main objective should be getting more visitors to your site.