Flash Flash Flash every place has flash going on with a website. It is something that has really caught on in this “Web 2.0″ world (FYI: Web 2.0 has been around since the Internet started and is NOT NEW).
Flash is something that provides a very easy way to put animated, movies, music, etc on your website. Back in the day when flash was first put on the web it was something that was used for “Banner Advertisements” and the big one! “Flash Intros”. Many web designers thought and still think that “flash” gave or gives a website a very professional look and feel, This is because not only could the web designer 1. charge a person more for the website build but 2. it allowed them to boost up the portfolio they have. Thus this is why I feel the craze of flash is all over the place.
Of course this may upset, anger, irratate many designers (yes I even made flash intros in the past myself) but lets take a real look at what “flash” intros really do to a website (again this make look cool to have this I do agree with).
After looking at thousands upon thousands of “flash” websites, I can only really say I have come across a sparse few that I really liked or shall I say enjoyed. It was a non business website but a family re-union type of website…So for this site it did work, but will “flash” really work for a business? Lets take a look.
- Flash as most people know does increase the file size of the homepage. I feel that this is a major disadvantage of using so called “flash” intros on your business website as this is only going to increase the time it takes for your business website to load (not all people are on fast connections). With that said you are forcing your current client or future client to wait for your site to load…You also force them to see photos and or hear music they may not want to see. We all also all understand that most people will know inside of 3 seconds if they are going to purchase your product or use your service. So do you think these people are going to wait till your “flash” intro is going to load? I really really doubt they are.
- Flash and SEO… This is not a good mix. It has been a major debate for sometime now… Places like Google, Yahoo, etc are trying new programs for search spiders to start picking up on “flash” however the keyword being “NEW”. They are still having a lot of problems with this. In fact even they say to use a HTML site since the programs spiders are new.
- What really is the purpose of “flash”? it really servers no purpose at all (other then looking cool…as I noted above). The grand old saying of “if your friend jumps off the bridge…are you going to as well?” really goes into effect with this. The bottom line is clients head to your website wanting to see your product (s) and to gain more information about your service. They are not heading to your website because you have some cool movie or sound… So do not use flash.
Now since I do have a open mind about all things. Lets take a look at the good things when using “flash”… After all I did say it was something that I have built (mind you it was not the best idea to flash on this one website), I did have fun building it and was happy with the work I did do with it.
- NOTHING….(of course just kidding). Flash looks cool. It take the plain old website that works and turns it into something that just looks cool. Hmmm a website with clients spending? or a website that looks cool? you make the choice…
- Flash is eye catching…If the animation and sounds blends well. It can provide very cheap entertainment for your clients.
- It allows you to make interactive menus. You sure can build really nice buttons, etc. with flash. That is if you clients are into waiting for things to load.
All in all… As you can tell! I really am not into this “flash” look and feel of the new web 2.0. I would rather have something that is straight to the point and loads very fast. However you need to make the choice that is going to work for you, your website and your clients.
Best of luck
Tahoe Web Service
Filed under: Business Advise
Right on the money! I just opened another small office in barcelona Spain (from Florida) and they are in the middle of the “Flash” boom… If they only want Flash or web design, I send them on down the road as they will never create a business asset without text and severe marketing. And always be mad at me… go figure!
Craig…