Flash Happy and Search Engines

Toucan42 · 04-21-2006, 11:51 AM

I have been a web developer for some years and I have always had Flash-Happy envy as in my case I have been shuffled into the world of Microsoft platform tools for the most part.

By Flash-Happy I mean that I have never met a Flash developer who has the same sense of drudgery as those of us who live strictly in the left brain world of coding. Flash developers seem to have such a sweet blend of left and right brain activity as to make them a happier bunch of people.

The reason I bring all this up is to ask about search engine cataloging of Flash content. I have an opportunity to take on a Flash project with the understading it will be a learning process for me, but the client is bent on wanting to be sure that his site will be capable of being indexed by engines. I was under the impression that Flash sites are not? Does anyone know otherwise?

Michael · 04-21-2006, 05:17 PM

As far as search engines go, alot of what they crawl is meta-data, which can be inserted into any html page, even with a Flash object embedded. This meta data can represent the Flash object completely.

The biggest thing that you get ranked on, is how many high-profile sites link directly to your site, if you can get big sites to link to you, your rank will increase very quickly.

Flash doesn't completely berid of your ability to get your site ranked, it just presents new ways of doing it.

I say you take on the project, I consider myself to be a bit of a Flash Guru and I will have no problem helping you with anything that may come up.

Take Care.
_Michael

Karl · 04-21-2006, 11:49 PM

I think a smaller search engine would do this, but I cant see Google, or MSN Search doing this. Good idea though, this would be a good time waster. ;)

Michael · 04-22-2006, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karl

I think a smaller search engine would do this, but I cant see Google, or MSN Search doing this. Good idea though, this would be a good time waster. ;)

What don't you see them doing?

_Michael

designer4life · 12-17-2006, 09:43 PM

Could you not also add a HTML site map to your flash site along with regular links in the footer to each page of the site. Would this not help with getting the site crawled? But as mentioned above your back links will help get you ranked whether it be an HTML site or a FLASH site.

iughk · 12-19-2006, 02:55 PM

I'm sure all that would help, but ultimately pure flash sites have significantly less crawl ability than non-flash sites. I wouldn't usually recommend building a pure flash site if SEO is a main concern of yours. It's all about indexable content - this is something that flash sites lack. I would, as im sure others have said before me, recommend having minimal and tasteful flash elements to any site that demands a highly visual design. These are usually not your corporate sites.

There are other factors involved such as whether the site uses non-competitive keywords which in that case would be a plus for SEO.

You're going to want to put a flash movie here and there where it is appropriate and be sure to add HTML text with that can be easily indexed explaining.

A good article on how do flash sites rank well.

danielmichel · 12-19-2006, 03:54 PM

A couple more articles:
http://blog.deconcept.com/2006/03/13...ach-flash-seo/
http://blog.deconcept.com/swfobject/

04-21-2006, 11:51 AM	#1 (permalink)
Toucan42 Junior Member Casual Browser Join Date: Apr 2006 Age: 39 Posts: 23	Flash Happy and Search Engines I have been a web developer for some years and I have always had Flash-Happy envy as in my case I have been shuffled into the world of Microsoft platform tools for the most part. By Flash-Happy I mean that I have never met a Flash developer who has the same sense of drudgery as those of us who live strictly in the left brain world of coding. Flash developers seem to have such a sweet blend of left and right brain activity as to make them a happier bunch of people. The reason I bring all this up is to ask about search engine cataloging of Flash content. I have an opportunity to take on a Flash project with the understading it will be a learning process for me, but the client is bent on wanting to be sure that his site will be capable of being indexed by engines. I was under the impression that Flash sites are not? Does anyone know otherwise?

04-21-2006, 05:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
Michael Senior Member Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 23 Posts: 253	As far as search engines go, alot of what they crawl is meta-data, which can be inserted into any html page, even with a Flash object embedded. This meta data can represent the Flash object completely. The biggest thing that you get ranked on, is how many high-profile sites link directly to your site, if you can get big sites to link to you, your rank will increase very quickly. Flash doesn't completely berid of your ability to get your site ranked, it just presents new ways of doing it. I say you take on the project, I consider myself to be a bit of a Flash Guru and I will have no problem helping you with anything that may come up. Take Care. _Michael __________________ Actionscript Developer :P ...Dope... To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. <--- yeah I'm a nooob, so what

12-17-2006, 09:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
designer4life Member Follower Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 36	Re: Flash Happy and Search Engines Could you not also add a HTML site map to your flash site along with regular links in the footer to each page of the site. Would this not help with getting the site crawled? But as mentioned above your back links will help get you ranked whether it be an HTML site or a FLASH site.

12-19-2006, 02:55 PM	#6 (permalink)
iughk Moderator Aficionado Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 123	Re: Flash Happy and Search Engines I'm sure all that would help, but ultimately pure flash sites have significantly less crawl ability than non-flash sites. I wouldn't usually recommend building a pure flash site if SEO is a main concern of yours. It's all about indexable content - this is something that flash sites lack. I would, as im sure others have said before me, recommend having minimal and tasteful flash elements to any site that demands a highly visual design. These are usually not your corporate sites. There are other factors involved such as whether the site uses non-competitive keywords which in that case would be a plus for SEO. You're going to want to put a flash movie here and there where it is appropriate and be sure to add HTML text with that can be easily indexed explaining. A good article on how do flash sites rank well. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

12-19-2006, 03:54 PM	#7 (permalink)
danielmichel Administrator Disciple Join Date: Feb 2003 Age: 29 Posts: 727 Images: 16	Re: Flash Happy and Search Engines A couple more articles: http://blog.deconcept.com/2006/03/13...ach-flash-seo/ http://blog.deconcept.com/swfobject/ __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - A list of resources for 3D Developers To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - A list of resources for design in motion with Adobe After Effects To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - Usefully resources for freelance web developers To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - Tips and discussion about search engine optimization To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - Tutorials submitted by ny-dev members

04-21-2006, 11:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
Karl Junior Member Casual Browser Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 23	I think a smaller search engine would do this, but I cant see Google, or MSN Search doing this. Good idea though, this would be a good time waster. ;)

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Solutions to make flash video player consecutively play next flash video	stephenz	Multimedia Development	0	08-12-2009 06:58 AM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY sinjix media!	Brighteyes	General Conversation	6	01-01-2007 05:44 PM
Happy New Year!	Contention	General Conversation	0	01-01-2007 01:13 AM
Why Search Engines Are Important To You	Brighteyes	Search Engine Optimization and Marketing	0	12-31-2006 03:21 PM
Happy Bday Michael	Cota	General Conversation	6	05-09-2006 10:56 PM