It is also important to point out that search engines like Google and Yahoo have started to crawl and index information and content on flash files. So it is becoming more flash friendly. Yes, this is probably the biggest issue with Flash. I mean what would be the point of designing a site for a client who clearly wants their business to succeed online when no one can even find it over search engines? Unfortunately, when you use flash you are running that risk. Flash files are not exactly "user friendly" they are a gateway for designers. However, as stated this will change. Tim Mayer who is Vice President of Web Search at FAST explained, "Search engines were originally built to index and serve HTML documents, but now the Web has become more diverse in content types, knowing how to treat flash and other types of content has become more important for search engines".
XHTML and CSS are the growing trend in web design. Using CSS and XHTML fundamentally separates design from content. The user and search engines alike benefit from the simplicity of CSS design. The content is easily indexed into search engines and it gives the user added usability. Additionally, CSS is probably the easiest way to update your website. Through editing a separate style sheet you can make changes across large sites within seconds. CSS delivers content and information in the most purest form so you can spend a lifetime optimizing a site to get in the top positions in Google.
So, a conclusion. Flash was never meant to be used to get into the top positions in Google. It wasn't designed so you can make sites that are easily optimized for search engines. So how can you blame it? If you know this then don't use it. Use CSS. If your designing a site for a client who clearly wants their business to be found online then DO NOT use Flash as the content will not be as accessible as CSS. However, Flash can change, which it is. Flash can get better. CSS and HTML have reached the peak and they can still not do things that Flash can. Adobe developers are working hard on making information and content available for search engines but what could possibly get better for CSS? OK, for now I would probably design a site in CSS rather than Flash but I am confident that things will change. CSS is not all a bed of roses and I wouldn't let it get too far ahead of itself!
XHTML and CSS are the growing trend in web design. Using CSS and XHTML fundamentally separates design from content. The user and search engines alike benefit from the simplicity of CSS design. The content is easily indexed into search engines and it gives the user added usability. Additionally, CSS is probably the easiest way to update your website. Through editing a separate style sheet you can make changes across large sites within seconds. CSS delivers content and information in the most purest form so you can spend a lifetime optimizing a site to get in the top positions in Google.
So, a conclusion. Flash was never meant to be used to get into the top positions in Google. It wasn't designed so you can make sites that are easily optimized for search engines. So how can you blame it? If you know this then don't use it. Use CSS. If your designing a site for a client who clearly wants their business to be found online then DO NOT use Flash as the content will not be as accessible as CSS. However, Flash can change, which it is. Flash can get better. CSS and HTML have reached the peak and they can still not do things that Flash can. Adobe developers are working hard on making information and content available for search engines but what could possibly get better for CSS? OK, for now I would probably design a site in CSS rather than Flash but I am confident that things will change. CSS is not all a bed of roses and I wouldn't let it get too far ahead of itself!