Website optimization strategies are important for growing your online audience. One important strategy to remember while designing a website is to not depend on Flash™. While Flash is useful for games, animations, and movies, it is not beneficial for website optimization. There are various reasons why Flash should not be included in a website.
What is Flash?
Adobe Flash (formerly called “Macromedia Flash”) is a multimedia and software platform used for creating vector graphics, animation, and games that can be viewed and executed in Adobe Flash Player.
Flash Visibility
Basically, Flash is a movie. So, wherever there is Flash—whether it is used to build an entire site, a banner, a logo, or an advertisement—there is nothing for search engines to “crawl”. In other words, Flash is not given optimization credit by search engines because there is no fundamental HTML coding used to create it. As a result, Flash is virtually invisible.
Slow Load Time
Flash, depending on the size of the file, has the potential to dramatically increase your site’s load time. Search engines like Google will penalize your ranking due to long load times. Use static images or, if you must include animation on your site, use search-engine-friendly options such as animated “gifs” or JavaScript-driven slideshows that can be created by your web developer.
Mobile Website Design
The power of mobile websites is increasing, especially as more people are using their smartphones to access the Internet. As of May 2013, 56 percent of American adults carry a smartphone, according to research by Pew Internet. In addition, in a study from 2012, 56 percent of all users turn to their cell phone to access the Internet. Mobile website optimization is a key factor of your website design. The majority of mobile Internet browsers have difficulties showing Flash websites. Flash websites can take too much time to load on a cell phone, or they will not load at all.
In his 2010 article, “Thoughts on Flash”, the co-founder of Apple Steve Jobs wrote: “Flash was created during the PC era—for PCs and mice…. But the mobile era is about low power devices, touch interfaces and open web standards—all areas where Flash falls short.”
Updating Flash Websites
If you are aware of SEO strategies, you may know that updated content is essential for SEO and website optimization. If you want to follow this strategy, it will be very difficult to use Flash and easily provide new content. If you need to change your Flash file, you must be able to edit it in its Adobe software or hire someone else to do it. Updating Flash content is a costly and time consuming process. Productivity is lost as you try to maintain a Flash website.
Flash Navigation
Navigation within a Flash website is often difficult to use. Flash websites use non-traditional navigation methods that are not good for SEO. Many websites that use Flash may focus too much on the graphics and animations instead of easy-to-use navigation features.
Avoid using Flash on your website so that your website ranks high in the search engines, attracts more traffic, and shows a high-quality design for website optimization.
Paveya is your full-service internet marketing agency. Call us at 855-372-8392 to learn about how we can help you redesign your website with sound optimization strategies.
We look forward to helping our customers CREATE leads, CONNECT with customers, and GROW their business.
