I know you’ve seen them, those Flash websites with sounds, music, and great image transitions. They are cool, pretty, like a TV commercial, and engaging.

So, should you have a Flash (rather than an HTML) website?

Don’t get me wrong, I love viewing Flash websites… well not all of them, but the well done ones – yes.  Just because it looks cool is Flash appropirate for your website?  That is the critical question.

Here’s some things to consider when deciding if you want an all Flash website:

• Who’s your target audience (or market)?
• Do they all use a high speed internet connection?
• Do you (or want to) get viewers as a result of web (google, yahoo…) searches?
• What does your online competition use (Flash/HTML)?
• What message do you want to convey to the world?

How do the answers to these questions impact a Flash/HTML decision?

• Who’s your target audience?
  • You should always know the answer to this question before creating any website.  Are they internet savy, experienced, trendy, etc.?
• Do they all use a high speed internet connection?
  • Yes? then that’s a plus for a Flash site.  No? Don’t use an all Flash site.
• Do you (or want to) get viewers as a result of web (google, yahoo…) searches?
  • Yes? then don’t use Flash.  No? (really… no???) then an all Flash site is ok.
• What does your online competition use?
  • If your competition uses Flash, then a Flash site is ok to use.  If your competition does not use Flash, especially if your competition ranks high in search results – don’t use an all Flash website.
• What message do you want to convey to the world?
  • Here again, this is a question that applies to every website.  An all Flash site (a well done one) can convey trendy, sophistication, fun, etc., but so can an HTML website.

So, what’s the answer?

The simple rule – do not use an all Flash site unless your target market is all on a high speed connection, and you are the market leader (have a brand and domain name that is the name for your product/service). Like Sony, Pepsi, Nike…(vwebworld)…

The reality is an all Flash site has a competitive disadvantage to an HTML site when it comes to search results.  Search engines just can not read as much relevant content from a Flash website as from an HTML site.

The solution:

Use a combination HTML and Flash web site.  Incorporate Flash movies into your HTML website.  By doing this, you’ll add the zip, and cool look you want and retain the search engine benefits of an HTML website.

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