Flash or html?

alyCe · 01-09-2008, 11:59 AM

flash is becoming more and more popular, not just for animation or interactive websites but for, well all kinds of websites. At the same time css is also becoming more standard than it used to be. It's all good and easy to say "each for it's purpose", and it is, of course the correct ansver. But I'm betting you have more opinions than that. You think that the web should be FLASHED!! because of the smoothness of it? Or do you think the web is overcrowded with stuff that looks as good as a "cool powerpoint-effect" that serves no purpose but to look pretty? Share, please

Gino · 01-09-2008, 12:07 PM

Well I think the answer for me is pretty easy...flash equals no SEO traffic. Search engines to my knowledge do not pick up text in flash, but I could be wrong. Plus flash is still too slow loading for my taste even the optimized stuff still takes a while. Plus to pull off a nice flash site you have to be really really good, because 90 percent of the time flash just looks cheesy unless you get into some more advanced stuff and action scripting.

Aarlev · 01-09-2008, 12:25 PM

I think it depends on the site. For a portfolio, photography or a band site for example I think Flash can work but only if it's used in a subtle way and the site is not too heavy/slow. For news sites etc. where you go to get information and not to look at fancy design I think flash should always be avoided. Ok that was the politically correct answer

Actually I don't like flash at all. As soon as I see a preloader I'm out of there. I don't want things moving on a website as I find it distracting and I'll play a computer game if I want interactive animation. The web should be clean, fast and adhere to web standards.(Although it doesn't hurt if it looks pretty as well, but accessibility/ usability should be the highest priority) CSS all the way for me! (I'm going to be grilled now hehe)

meeko311 · 01-09-2008, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gino

Well I think the answer for me is pretty easy...flash equals no SEO traffic. Search engines to my knowledge do not pick up text in flash, but I could be wrong. Plus flash is still too slow loading for my taste even the optimized stuff still takes a while. Plus to pull off a nice flash site you have to be really really good, because 90 percent of the time flash just looks cheesy unless you get into some more advanced stuff and action scripting.

Gino would be correct. Flash does pretty much means no SEO traffic. Unless it is a very popular celeb, band, company etc...It's mostly just eye candy. There are some Flash website that I love and others that I dispise. In my professional experience companies and clients want to draw as much attention and traffic to their website as possible obviously, which makes sense. Who wouldn't want that? That's why I think it's better to use Flash elements in a HTML based website. Then you get the best of both worlds.

Flash does look amazing when done right, but for a long term website you want to draw attention to...???...bad idea. But when it comes to many SEO techinques it's impossible being that text in a SWF Flash file is basicly a movie clip...not selectable text. Then there's the loading time issues, some people believe it or not are still on dial up so you might as well forget it with them.

Just my opinion.

kthomas · 01-12-2008, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gino

Well I think the answer for me is pretty easy...flash equals no SEO traffic. Search engines to my knowledge do not pick up text in flash, but I could be wrong. Plus flash is still too slow loading for my taste even the optimized stuff still takes a while. Plus to pull off a nice flash site you have to be really really good, because 90 percent of the time flash just looks cheesy unless you get into some more advanced stuff and action scripting.

I have to agree with you. I personaly don't like it in websites that are full flash unless it is really good. Plus with the amount of people who still use Dail-up, they wont even bother try to let it load. I would still like to learn it though.

cityofangels · 03-12-2008, 03:33 AM

I was actually having this conversation with someone yesterday...look at me being all professional. hehe

Flash does well on a short term basis i think. It tends to look really good the first time you visit but for any repeat visits you just want to get to the content quickly.

I agree that an html site with flash within that is by far the best solution

Sono Juventino · 03-13-2008, 04:55 AM

I hate flash. Flash provides noe SEO what-so-ever. Search engines does not pick up your text, you can't link to direct pages like www.yourportifolio/work/abrand/ and it often looks very cheese.

I love when flash i used "the right way" though. Nice use of flash could be in a image-gallery and in small detalils on website. My conclusion is that using just flash on the web really sucks.

Many tend to think you can't get a nice site without flash, tables and etc. The power of xhtml and css is just great. This will prove you're wrong: http://www.yourdesignforums.com/2966-post5.html

Nora · 03-17-2008, 06:36 AM

Either html/css or html sites mixed with flash.
The lack of SEO was also my first thought. I also think sites that only use flash are harder to use for the average surfer.
I just love designs that use both html and flash, flash is great for headers.

UpandUp · 03-18-2008, 11:14 AM

I agree about the mix, I have a site in which I use the header as flash, its a band site, serves the purpose of being 'flashy' but also easy to use and still has SEO coverage.

Sono Juventino · 03-18-2008, 11:22 AM

sIFR for headings are great, but I hate big flash elements.

01-09-2008, 11:59 AM	#1
alyCe Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Norway Posts: 613	Flash or html? flash is becoming more and more popular, not just for animation or interactive websites but for, well all kinds of websites. At the same time css is also becoming more standard than it used to be. It's all good and easy to say "each for it's purpose", and it is, of course the correct ansver. But I'm betting you have more opinions than that. You think that the web should be FLASHED!! because of the smoothness of it? Or do you think the web is overcrowded with stuff that looks as good as a "cool powerpoint-effect" that serves no purpose but to look pretty? Share, please __________________ glunge

01-09-2008, 12:07 PM	#2
Gino Administrator/Founder Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 1,007	Well I think the answer for me is pretty easy...flash equals no SEO traffic. Search engines to my knowledge do not pick up text in flash, but I could be wrong. Plus flash is still too slow loading for my taste even the optimized stuff still takes a while. Plus to pull off a nice flash site you have to be really really good, because 90 percent of the time flash just looks cheesy unless you get into some more advanced stuff and action scripting. __________________ DESIGN BLOG // T SHIRT BLOG // ANIMAL PRINT SHIRTS

03-13-2008, 04:55 AM	#7
Sono Juventino Football geek Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Oslo, Norway Posts: 124	I hate flash. Flash provides noe SEO what-so-ever. Search engines does not pick up your text, you can't link to direct pages like www.yourportifolio/work/abrand/ and it often looks very cheese. I love when flash i used "the right way" though. Nice use of flash could be in a image-gallery and in small detalils on website. My conclusion is that using just flash on the web really sucks. Many tend to think you can't get a nice site without flash, tables and etc. The power of xhtml and css is just great. This will prove you're wrong: http://www.yourdesignforums.com/2966-post5.html __________________ http://juvenorge.com \| Personal site (Comming soon)

03-17-2008, 06:36 AM	#8
Nora Intern Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 10	Either html/css or html sites mixed with flash. The lack of SEO was also my first thought. I also think sites that only use flash are harder to use for the average surfer. I just love designs that use both html and flash, flash is great for headers. __________________ Nora.tv

03-18-2008, 11:22 AM	#10
Sono Juventino Football geek Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Oslo, Norway Posts: 124	sIFR for headings are great, but I hate big flash elements. __________________ http://juvenorge.com \| Personal site (Comming soon)


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01-09-2008, 12:25 PM	#3
Aarlev Web Designer Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: London Posts: 329	I think it depends on the site. For a portfolio, photography or a band site for example I think Flash can work but only if it's used in a subtle way and the site is not too heavy/slow. For news sites etc. where you go to get information and not to look at fancy design I think flash should always be avoided. Ok that was the politically correct answer Actually I don't like flash at all. As soon as I see a preloader I'm out of there. I don't want things moving on a website as I find it distracting and I'll play a computer game if I want interactive animation. The web should be clean, fast and adhere to web standards.(Although it doesn't hurt if it looks pretty as well, but accessibility/ usability should be the highest priority) CSS all the way for me! (I'm going to be grilled now hehe)

03-12-2008, 03:33 AM	#6
cityofangels Intern Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 24	I was actually having this conversation with someone yesterday...look at me being all professional. hehe Flash does well on a short term basis i think. It tends to look really good the first time you visit but for any repeat visits you just want to get to the content quickly. I agree that an html site with flash within that is by far the best solution

03-18-2008, 11:14 AM	#9
UpandUp Designer Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Posts: 80	I agree about the mix, I have a site in which I use the header as flash, its a band site, serves the purpose of being 'flashy' but also easy to use and still has SEO coverage.

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