6 Places that Flash Does Not Belong
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By Samuel Ryan
Website Building
Comments
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Designing and programming in Flash was part of my skillset for a decade, having cut my teeth with Flash in 1999. Over the years, I've seen and done many projects, some of which utilized Flash in very useful ways, while others had no business using it. Sometimes, a Flash implementation detracted from the site's purpose and had poor results (all the while costing them more to build the site in the frst place). Nowadays, companies have begun moving away from Flash but as reminder to website builders everywhere, here is a brief list of places that Flash does not belong (with very few exceptions):
1. Website Intros
Let's get the obvious out of the way. I see almost no use ever for a Flash intro (or really, any website intro), unless your website strategy includes annoying visitors and wasting other people's time.
2. Sites with SEO Objectives
Although it's possible to get semi-decent SEO rankings in certain situations for a Flash site, you're just not going to achieve the kind of SEO success for a Flash site that you can for an HTML equivalent. Granted, SEO isn't an easy game to play even if you don't use Flash (see our SEO tutorial), but if your website strategy has any SEO expectations, stay away from it.
3. Menus/Navigation on an HTML Site
Menus have a singular and key function on every website -- to get visitors quickly to the content they want. The words "pretty," "cool," or "smooth" should not be in the same league as "accessible" when it comes to navigation. A Flash menu runs the risk of leaving many users stranded (not everyone has Flash, including the large user base that surfs with mobile devices). Furthermore, search engines won't get around too well on a website that lacks true links for its menus.
4. Informational/Content Sites
A couple years ago, I did a website for a large church organization that had dozens of menu items and many pages of content per menu item. They insisted on a Flash site where you never had to use the browser scroll, and at the same time, it should look just like an HTML site (which of course, begs the question, "Why are we using Flash?"). Needless to say, they ended up with a very cumbersome website that costs much more than an HTML site, both to build and maintain. Furthermore, visitors complained about the site usability, preferring even a simple text-only site where they could actually get the information they wanted. In general, you'd be surprised how often a visitor will take information accessibility over a great-looking Flash one. If your website's primary purpose is delivering informational content, avoid Flash.
5. E-Commerce
Anyone who has followed the development of the Flash platform will concede that it has come a long way in terms of functionality and programmatic flexibility. With the advent of Flex, Flash is more equipped for application-type usage than ever before. However, I think Flash for e-commerce should still be avoided for two primary reasons:
a) Flash stores can still be pretty complex. Your typical HTML e-commerce site is straight-forward with a catalogue, account, and checkout system, all of which can be edited and modified independently with relative ease. Although a Flash store will have the same basic components, you're still dealing with a platform with more integrative complexity and less room for error. In the last few months, I've come across two websites that have attempted to implement a Flash e-commerce solution. On both, I managed to somehow find a weird functionality bug, and having lost confidence in the site, went elsewhere for my purchase.
b) E-commerce conventions are very powerful. For the last decade, online shoppers have become accustomed to how e-commerce sites work. Any great derivation from what they're used to will often result in lower ROI. Although some Flash carts look really snazzy and may have more functionality than their HTML counterparts, the proof is always in the customer conversion rate. And having worked on and seen sites that have attempted both types of carts, even "ugly" HTML e-commerce sites will outperform Flash carts. Online consumers are used to clicking on items, not dragging items to a "cart section." They want to click "Add to Cart" and "Checkout" and go from page to page. Sure, this may change in the coming years, and yes, innovation is a good thing, but e-commerce conventions still hold too strong.
6. Sites Requiring Heavy Management
Although Flash has a few solid options for content management, if you or your client will be constantly editing a website, Flash can easily become more of a hurdle in keeping it updated. This is mainly because clients always end up wanting to edit more than you tell them is possible. And there are few things worse in a freelancing business than maintaining parts a Flash site for years. If you know a client has high maintenance needs, make sure you address such future issues before even starting the site.
Of course, there are some websites where Flash can be a good choice or at least a "possible" choice. Some such sites include portfolios, promotional sites (movies, product "exploration" sites, etc.), sites with videos or games, and small boutique sites for creative agencies or possibly high-end design products (and even then, it's never a bad idea to have either an intermediary HTML portion or a full-fledged HTML version). Just don't ever forget that every website has a primary purpose, and if Flash doesn't contribute to that, it's probably a detriment and a liability.
Community Comments
Comments are now closed.
1
OK, I really loved this. People need to read it! :)
2
I think these days there's so much that you can do with HTML/CSS that a lot of the Flash site presentation is redundant.
The aspects you are identifying bear that out. You're talking about things that are entirely doable without the use of Flash. I actually think it's something that's got better in recent years though, with Flash being used far more appropriately for truly creative/new approach sites or integrated effectively into HTML sites.
Still some terrible examples out there though!
The aspects you are identifying bear that out. You're talking about things that are entirely doable without the use of Flash. I actually think it's something that's got better in recent years though, with Flash being used far more appropriately for truly creative/new approach sites or integrated effectively into HTML sites.
Still some terrible examples out there though!
3
Thx Samual, great info I we all can use!
4
Adam
I submitted this one to reddit :)
http://reddit.com/info/6i9hn/comments/
http://reddit.com/info/6i9hn/comments/
5
Matt Pennig
Regarding point #2:
At my previous employer (www.space150.com), I helped develop a method of treating Flash as another layer in the progressive enhancement chain (HTML -> CSS -> JavaScript -> Flash).
What it does is take HTML output, and feed it into the .swf, as the content source. We call it Faust (Flash AUgmenting STandards)
Read all about it here: http://blog.space150.com/2007/1/11/faust-flash-augmenting-standards
At my previous employer (www.space150.com), I helped develop a method of treating Flash as another layer in the progressive enhancement chain (HTML -> CSS -> JavaScript -> Flash).
What it does is take HTML output, and feed it into the .swf, as the content source. We call it Faust (Flash AUgmenting STandards)
Read all about it here: http://blog.space150.com/2007/1/11/faust-flash-augmenting-standards
6
NitPicker
In 5.b I think you mean deviation instead of derivation.
7
Another point about accessibility and information-based sites: if you stuff everything into Flash, your visitors can't use Ctrl+F to find anything, and may well look elsewhere for it.
8
Also regarding #2,
I was pretty convinced Flash and SEO don't mix, but then I came across this site:
http://www.the-flash-files.com/
They did it. :)
I was pretty convinced Flash and SEO don't mix, but then I came across this site:
http://www.the-flash-files.com/
They did it. :)
9
a software developer
this post is ridiculas... no matter what language comes out..whats technology is on the market..post like these always exist... instead of using u're spare time to talk about a technology that has succeeded in so many ways get some pussy.. or make some money
10
You should have posted this 5 years ago. Its 2008 and Adobe Flex will be able to handle e-commerce, information content, and sites requiring heavy management.
11
Good One. I believe in whatever you have written. The above are surely the reasons I haven't till now absorbed myself in Flash and the second is the fact of my low interest in AS, rather programming.
12
After years of building flash apps, I think you can boil the choice of whether to use flash down to asking "is your product..."
1. a game?
2. a media player?
3. fancy uploader (flickr)?
4. does it use sockets?
If no to all, you don't need flash.
I discount animations because I find them tedious and stop users getting to content. But if the client insists on them against my best advice... you know the score.
For now, Flash still rules the clientside in the 4 areas above. No question.
1. a game?
2. a media player?
3. fancy uploader (flickr)?
4. does it use sockets?
If no to all, you don't need flash.
I discount animations because I find them tedious and stop users getting to content. But if the client insists on them against my best advice... you know the score.
For now, Flash still rules the clientside in the 4 areas above. No question.
13
At last someone is really saying the truth :)
And not a person who's not a Flash designer (as I am), but someone who's already experienced and knows that Flash is not for ALL sites.
I also have clients who want a presentation site, that's SE optimized and with lots of info. And sure they want it to move and blink. I always tell them that flash can't be used if they want this and they finaly understand and let me do my job. Afterwards, when they are being indexed and see a nice traffic from google, they thank me ;)
Flash is something awesome, but in some sites' case we should use plain html/css, clean code and optimized pages.
Excellent article indeed ..
And not a person who's not a Flash designer (as I am), but someone who's already experienced and knows that Flash is not for ALL sites.
I also have clients who want a presentation site, that's SE optimized and with lots of info. And sure they want it to move and blink. I always tell them that flash can't be used if they want this and they finaly understand and let me do my job. Afterwards, when they are being indexed and see a nice traffic from google, they thank me ;)
Flash is something awesome, but in some sites' case we should use plain html/css, clean code and optimized pages.
Excellent article indeed ..
14
I completely agree.
I greatly dislike flash in the wrong place.
It's nice for headers or slide shows...
I don't have any flash on my site right now. lol
I'm more of a web 2.0 graphics loving.
It's funny how flash was the next big thing and then people realized we can do better.
I greatly dislike flash in the wrong place.
It's nice for headers or slide shows...
I don't have any flash on my site right now. lol
I'm more of a web 2.0 graphics loving.
It's funny how flash was the next big thing and then people realized we can do better.
15
Flash Hater
You forgot the seventh place it does not belong:
7. On my computer.
7. On my computer.
16
The comment on using JS/DHTML for menus instead of Flash:
More end-users have Flash 8 and above installed on their machines than have JS enabled...
Some good points within this post, but here is my 2 cents:
We should be approaching each client, project, and website from a design perspective. When I say "design", I am not referring to colours, type, or look. Those are all elements of "design", but not what "design" is truly all about.
Design is everything involved within the execution and deployment of your solution:
- choosing the smartest method or path to important content
- creating intelligent information architecture and hierarchy
- creating consistent visual cues to content, data, or pages
- choosing the right technology platform for your solution
- achieving all your clients goals
In the end, people don't really care what is going on under the hood of a website they are using—as long as content is easily accessible, the site works as intended, and does what it is supposed to do—without the need for long wait times, or the latest plug-in.
We should be thinking more about the business goals of the people who pay us to build interactive media for them. If Flash seems like the best choice to achieve these goals—use it. If it doesn't, for whatever reason—don't.
More end-users have Flash 8 and above installed on their machines than have JS enabled...
Some good points within this post, but here is my 2 cents:
We should be approaching each client, project, and website from a design perspective. When I say "design", I am not referring to colours, type, or look. Those are all elements of "design", but not what "design" is truly all about.
Design is everything involved within the execution and deployment of your solution:
- choosing the smartest method or path to important content
- creating intelligent information architecture and hierarchy
- creating consistent visual cues to content, data, or pages
- choosing the right technology platform for your solution
- achieving all your clients goals
In the end, people don't really care what is going on under the hood of a website they are using—as long as content is easily accessible, the site works as intended, and does what it is supposed to do—without the need for long wait times, or the latest plug-in.
We should be thinking more about the business goals of the people who pay us to build interactive media for them. If Flash seems like the best choice to achieve these goals—use it. If it doesn't, for whatever reason—don't.
17
Samuel
@Craig Hooper -
I agree with your concluding paragraph completely. As for menus, yes, more people do have Flash installed, but I think I was trying to make the point that a properly built JS/DHTML can easily retrofit to a workable text menu even when the user doesn't have it enabled (yes, Flash has an "else" case as well, but requires a literal "second" menu version).
-----
I know that bashing Flash is an easy way to get lots of views and comments, but to be honest, I didn't mean that to be the thrust of the article. I think bad decision-making in using Flash is as much to blame as Flash itself (even some of the sites at theFWA.com annoy me at times :-). There really is a sizable niche of short-run sites for promotions, products, conferences, etc. that work well with Flash (especially when the branding of said site is meant to be "fun"). Also, as noted in the article, most creative industries do well with Flash in my opinion as well...
I agree with your concluding paragraph completely. As for menus, yes, more people do have Flash installed, but I think I was trying to make the point that a properly built JS/DHTML can easily retrofit to a workable text menu even when the user doesn't have it enabled (yes, Flash has an "else" case as well, but requires a literal "second" menu version).
-----
I know that bashing Flash is an easy way to get lots of views and comments, but to be honest, I didn't mean that to be the thrust of the article. I think bad decision-making in using Flash is as much to blame as Flash itself (even some of the sites at theFWA.com annoy me at times :-). There really is a sizable niche of short-run sites for promotions, products, conferences, etc. that work well with Flash (especially when the branding of said site is meant to be "fun"). Also, as noted in the article, most creative industries do well with Flash in my opinion as well...
18
I agree with place 4 above all other places for not having Flash. I find most all-Flash sites to be cumbersome and usually leave once I've loaded the site and clicked on a link or two.
Sure, Flash looks cool but when it gets in the way of user experience it's not doing its job anymore. That's not to say a Flash site has to be cumbersome, I've seen some quick, entertaining and well-designed Flash sites, but 90% of them just send me running.
Sure, Flash looks cool but when it gets in the way of user experience it's not doing its job anymore. That's not to say a Flash site has to be cumbersome, I've seen some quick, entertaining and well-designed Flash sites, but 90% of them just send me running.
19
Nice post, I agree with your points and I'm not totally against Flash either, I think it really depends on what the goal of the website is and who the target audience are.
What I need to do now is show this article to all potential clients - why do they always want 'sexy' flash intro pages?
What I need to do now is show this article to all potential clients - why do they always want 'sexy' flash intro pages?
20
Thanks,very nice post its very useful.
21
Leo
As usual with most Flash bashing articles I think you fail to separate design and technology issues.
None of the points you mentioned actually relates directly to Flash as a technology and instead point out common design mistakes.
Is a site intro ok if it's done in HTML?
Is the HTML site SEO friendly if you have not designed it to ensure it is?
If you are familiar with progressive enhancement and for example swfAddress it's no problem making a SEO friendly Flash site.
In what way is a JS menu better than a Flash menu since both can fall back to a basic HTML version?
Do you have to use a drag-and-drop interface because your e-commerce site is made with Flash, and is bugs a feature of Flash that you don't find in HTML and PHP/.NET?
In what way is it harder to add an entry to a database or edit your XHTML file if it's purpose also is to feed data into a Flash front end?
I do agree with the main conclusion of your post...there is a lot of Flash that is poorly designed and does not help the site in achieving it's goals, but I do feel it's important to separate technological issues from design issues.
None of the points you mentioned actually relates directly to Flash as a technology and instead point out common design mistakes.
Is a site intro ok if it's done in HTML?
Is the HTML site SEO friendly if you have not designed it to ensure it is?
If you are familiar with progressive enhancement and for example swfAddress it's no problem making a SEO friendly Flash site.
In what way is a JS menu better than a Flash menu since both can fall back to a basic HTML version?
Do you have to use a drag-and-drop interface because your e-commerce site is made with Flash, and is bugs a feature of Flash that you don't find in HTML and PHP/.NET?
In what way is it harder to add an entry to a database or edit your XHTML file if it's purpose also is to feed data into a Flash front end?
I do agree with the main conclusion of your post...there is a lot of Flash that is poorly designed and does not help the site in achieving it's goals, but I do feel it's important to separate technological issues from design issues.
22
Jack S
To those who call this a bash article, did you RTFA and the author's comment in the comment thread?
I would say it's more a guide in deciding where to use Flash if anything, especially considering that the author has said he basically makes his living off Flash sites.
Im not a typical commenter, but I felt the need here because honestly, most commenters I read must have skimmed the article with a chip on their shoulder, and then spend a couple minutes going ape-nuts on a decent post...
I would say it's more a guide in deciding where to use Flash if anything, especially considering that the author has said he basically makes his living off Flash sites.
Im not a typical commenter, but I felt the need here because honestly, most commenters I read must have skimmed the article with a chip on their shoulder, and then spend a couple minutes going ape-nuts on a decent post...
23
@Jack S
Since I was the only one except the author himself who called it bashing I guess it's me you addressing even if you use plural :)
I did read the article as well as the comments, and like I said agree with the main conclusion of the post.
But a lot of the points raised do qualify as bashing because they are not well founded criticisms of Flash as a tool to use in those contexts.
Maybe you prefer your site intros in Java, but I would say that Flash is a superior tool for that purpose. It's just that intros is pretty much always a bad idea.
Since I was the only one except the author himself who called it bashing I guess it's me you addressing even if you use plural :)
I did read the article as well as the comments, and like I said agree with the main conclusion of the post.
But a lot of the points raised do qualify as bashing because they are not well founded criticisms of Flash as a tool to use in those contexts.
Maybe you prefer your site intros in Java, but I would say that Flash is a superior tool for that purpose. It's just that intros is pretty much always a bad idea.
24
Flash is a web novelty like java applets back in the day.
Im a bit more interested in where flash is going, than where flash does not belong myself.
Im a bit more interested in where flash is going, than where flash does not belong myself.
25
"Let's get the obvious out of the way. Websites exist for their visitors, not the other way around." I couldn't have said it better my own self.
We preach this day in and day out. Your visitors really don't much care what your website looks like when they are looking to purchase goods or services. Sell yourself and your products and services... Then make it easy to buy or to call or email.
And Oh, yes, don't forget to ask for the visitors business. Once you are actually providing a basic sales 101 pitch, then and only then should you be concerned what the site looks like.
Give the visitor what they want and you will profit. Give them what you think is cool and maybe you just might find that you have limited ROI.
We preach this day in and day out. Your visitors really don't much care what your website looks like when they are looking to purchase goods or services. Sell yourself and your products and services... Then make it easy to buy or to call or email.
And Oh, yes, don't forget to ask for the visitors business. Once you are actually providing a basic sales 101 pitch, then and only then should you be concerned what the site looks like.
Give the visitor what they want and you will profit. Give them what you think is cool and maybe you just might find that you have limited ROI.
26
currently I know that website videos which are in flash, do not effect SEO. Currently. We will see what the future holds.
I know this because I'm the expert. Just check out my website, I create custom website videos with text, graphics, and music.
www.TheMediaZoo.com - click May I Talk
or try your site at the bottom.
[email protected]
I know this because I'm the expert. Just check out my website, I create custom website videos with text, graphics, and music.
www.TheMediaZoo.com - click May I Talk
or try your site at the bottom.
[email protected]
27
I have to agree with Leo. The points mentioned cover some typical design mistakes that can be made with Flash as a technology.
Point 1: Lightweight intros might be more entertaining and informative than say a preloader bar. You might be looking at having to embed some text characters in the loader, but you can tell a whole story while you are waiting for a site to load. Look at the new Sony Bravia site on Papervision 3d 2.0. yeah it's a flash site but it's loader blurs the line between intro and served it's purpose well. If SEO is taken into account and a story is best told through motion/animation or audio I don't see any reason why flash shouldn't be used for an intro. Do many people who want a website get off on thinking that they need some silly intro with bland or irrelevant content? Yes. Point taken.
2. Flash and SEO are becoming friendlier with each other. API's like swfAddress and a bit of url-rewriting knowledge can make it happen. I'm surprised there aren't a couple of really tight formal flash CMS frameworks that natively do SEO really well. I feel it's only a matter of time.
3. I make flash menus that revert to html on html sites all the time. Tie into some CMS data and voila. If it's usable, crawlable, looks and feels good, why not.
A few years ago I would had said that flash is not the place for interactive video motion detection installations, or interactive 3d, or desktop application publishing. A few year before that the idea of an application on flash was somewhat silly. Flash is turning into a swiss army knife of interactivity and user experience. It's starting to feel like there isn't much that you can't throw at it. AS3 has a built in sound spectrum analysis class and as4 will have native inverse kinematics. I don't doubt it's ability to do anything that a typical html page or html front end content management system can do, and do it better.
Where else is flash failing at the moment? My iphone for one. It's only a matter of time though. Point 4 should be at the forefront if your main objective is to get information to the widest variety of possible sources.
Point 1: Lightweight intros might be more entertaining and informative than say a preloader bar. You might be looking at having to embed some text characters in the loader, but you can tell a whole story while you are waiting for a site to load. Look at the new Sony Bravia site on Papervision 3d 2.0. yeah it's a flash site but it's loader blurs the line between intro and served it's purpose well. If SEO is taken into account and a story is best told through motion/animation or audio I don't see any reason why flash shouldn't be used for an intro. Do many people who want a website get off on thinking that they need some silly intro with bland or irrelevant content? Yes. Point taken.
2. Flash and SEO are becoming friendlier with each other. API's like swfAddress and a bit of url-rewriting knowledge can make it happen. I'm surprised there aren't a couple of really tight formal flash CMS frameworks that natively do SEO really well. I feel it's only a matter of time.
3. I make flash menus that revert to html on html sites all the time. Tie into some CMS data and voila. If it's usable, crawlable, looks and feels good, why not.
A few years ago I would had said that flash is not the place for interactive video motion detection installations, or interactive 3d, or desktop application publishing. A few year before that the idea of an application on flash was somewhat silly. Flash is turning into a swiss army knife of interactivity and user experience. It's starting to feel like there isn't much that you can't throw at it. AS3 has a built in sound spectrum analysis class and as4 will have native inverse kinematics. I don't doubt it's ability to do anything that a typical html page or html front end content management system can do, and do it better.
Where else is flash failing at the moment? My iphone for one. It's only a matter of time though. Point 4 should be at the forefront if your main objective is to get information to the widest variety of possible sources.
28
I have to disagree with this on a few points:
1. No Flash Intros.
This I disagree with because it leaves no room for when they can be used. There are times when a Flash-based intro is very useful. What if you use it to power an intro video above all the normal content of your home page? In such cases Flash is highly useful. Also, for media companies having a slick Flash intro has almost become expectation.
2. SEO != Flash?
This is true IF you don't provide alternative content and provide a Flash only option. What about those of us who provide visitors with alternative content should they be missing the required technology? That also helps SEO to make us as compliant as an HTML only site while giving us a level of interactivity that HTML only sites will never have without some heavy JavaScript, which has it's own issues.
3. No Flash navigation? Ever?!
See previous reason. Alternative content and some good development practices solve this issue 100%. Oh, and just to clear up something now the number of computers with Flash are in the ninetieth-percentile, so sayeth Adobe. And they would know. Also, alternative content solves the issue for mobile users as well.
4. No Flash-store.
This I agree with. From a user standpoint this is a pain in the ass. For those of us who compare products via tabs you either have to re-navigate a site or suffer. Flash should never be used as the sole platform for the site. However, splashes of flash to show you the products or for added navigational power can be quite helpful as long as you don't limit how people select one product or another.
5. Flash and the CMS.
Yeah, this is a hurdle. But does that mean never? Or just better practices? With AS3.0 things have gotten much easier to integrate with a CMS. If you know what you're doing it can be done. It's not the easiest thing in the world to set it up just yet, but it'll get better.
In the end most of these issues are solved by just using Flash when appropriate and not Flash-whoring. Other than that, as long as you provide alternative content it solves the issue for the <10% who doesn't have Flash (who also tend not to have JavaScript enabled so the use JavaScript instead argument holds no water).
And remember, the purpose of any site is to give your content to the users in a way that is intuitive and exciting. Flash can do that. Just because some people use it all the time even when not appropriate doesn't mean it shouldn't be used. It just means that those people should be educated as to why it's not the best idea.
1. No Flash Intros.
This I disagree with because it leaves no room for when they can be used. There are times when a Flash-based intro is very useful. What if you use it to power an intro video above all the normal content of your home page? In such cases Flash is highly useful. Also, for media companies having a slick Flash intro has almost become expectation.
2. SEO != Flash?
This is true IF you don't provide alternative content and provide a Flash only option. What about those of us who provide visitors with alternative content should they be missing the required technology? That also helps SEO to make us as compliant as an HTML only site while giving us a level of interactivity that HTML only sites will never have without some heavy JavaScript, which has it's own issues.
3. No Flash navigation? Ever?!
See previous reason. Alternative content and some good development practices solve this issue 100%. Oh, and just to clear up something now the number of computers with Flash are in the ninetieth-percentile, so sayeth Adobe. And they would know. Also, alternative content solves the issue for mobile users as well.
4. No Flash-store.
This I agree with. From a user standpoint this is a pain in the ass. For those of us who compare products via tabs you either have to re-navigate a site or suffer. Flash should never be used as the sole platform for the site. However, splashes of flash to show you the products or for added navigational power can be quite helpful as long as you don't limit how people select one product or another.
5. Flash and the CMS.
Yeah, this is a hurdle. But does that mean never? Or just better practices? With AS3.0 things have gotten much easier to integrate with a CMS. If you know what you're doing it can be done. It's not the easiest thing in the world to set it up just yet, but it'll get better.
In the end most of these issues are solved by just using Flash when appropriate and not Flash-whoring. Other than that, as long as you provide alternative content it solves the issue for the <10% who doesn't have Flash (who also tend not to have JavaScript enabled so the use JavaScript instead argument holds no water).
And remember, the purpose of any site is to give your content to the users in a way that is intuitive and exciting. Flash can do that. Just because some people use it all the time even when not appropriate doesn't mean it shouldn't be used. It just means that those people should be educated as to why it's not the best idea.
29
I couldn't agree more with you more. Especially with the first point. Flash intros were big 5 years ago but even then they annoyed the piss out of me.
Actually I agree with all of your points I heavily agree with. Nice list and hopefully this gets seen by people still doing these things.
Actually I agree with all of your points I heavily agree with. Nice list and hopefully this gets seen by people still doing these things.
30
i should print this out and show it to my clients.
flash intros and flash navigation are really cool...for about the first 4 seconds. you get over the cool factor quickly. that's not to say you can't use flash at all. integrating it subtly into a page is nice...adds interest and a little action without overkilling the user.
good article
flash intros and flash navigation are really cool...for about the first 4 seconds. you get over the cool factor quickly. that's not to say you can't use flash at all. integrating it subtly into a page is nice...adds interest and a little action without overkilling the user.
good article
31
Amen.
You've said what SO many of us have been thinking and saying for YEARS.
You've said what SO many of us have been thinking and saying for YEARS.
32
It is amazing how evryone skips past flash intros, yet so many clients demand a Flash intro? Apparently, they are high powered, slick, cutting edge... apparently. It's always a real chore trying to talk them out of it when they have their mind set on it. It's hilarious!
33
nice article, i really appricate it
34
Allan
I feel that binary formats are counter-intuitive to an open, free Internet. Make that binary format proprietary, and it's basically evil. Binary information (videos et al.) should be transmitted as such, obviously, but filtering textual information through a binary plugin is stupid at best. Keeping the web OPEN and accessible trumps ANY design concerns. People who make websites based on Flash in any architectural way should be kicked off the web. Period.
35
This post is great. I have had my share of Flash projects that turned out to be a SEO/navigational/usability nightmare. Flash is awesome (and expensive!) software, but like many other good things it must be used in moderation and in season.
36
rye
Thank you! I still maintain a large agency website that insisted on complete Flash because they *absolutely* couldn't have scrolling. Now their type is barely readable, each section is a separate 500k file (even with a shared library), it's expensive to maintain, etc. etc. I love Flash, but I always love to rehear it has it's purpose and place.
37
Great post! Flash certainly has it's uses, but it's misused far to much.
38
I'm using flash when i got company profile project that need burn on cd.
39
I completely agree, unfortunately there are plenty of people out there who believe that flash is everything, and would love to struggle through finding permalinks to work and making SEO work. Some people even think that flash is an okay platform to blog on! Kind of scary!
40
I just wanted to say that I miss new articles from you, Samuel.
I don't want to make pressure, of course. I just wanted to let you know there IS expectation ;)
I don't want to make pressure, of course. I just wanted to let you know there IS expectation ;)
41
Hello,
My name is Jerry Cannon, Vice President of Sick Vision Design Studio and I have to say some of these points you make are a little out there and I must disagree. Take Sick Vision for example! We design websites, make TV commercials for major companys I will not name for privacy reasons and even get into sound recording for just about anything. It is almost crucial that we have a flash intro to our website to kind of "showcase" our skill to our clients. Granted we do change the intro every month or every other month and tend to keep them about 10 seconds or less but for us it is a great tool to bring big clients in with. I do agree however with that fact that flash intros do not belong on everyones website and can get kind of dull but in the end it is all up to the client.
My name is Jerry Cannon, Vice President of Sick Vision Design Studio and I have to say some of these points you make are a little out there and I must disagree. Take Sick Vision for example! We design websites, make TV commercials for major companys I will not name for privacy reasons and even get into sound recording for just about anything. It is almost crucial that we have a flash intro to our website to kind of "showcase" our skill to our clients. Granted we do change the intro every month or every other month and tend to keep them about 10 seconds or less but for us it is a great tool to bring big clients in with. I do agree however with that fact that flash intros do not belong on everyones website and can get kind of dull but in the end it is all up to the client.
42
Amen!
Great post..there are a lot of people who need to read this info.
Great post..there are a lot of people who need to read this info.
43
Those that can't let go of or entertain the benefits and advantages of using anything other than Mac Computers and Adobe Software really need to "wake up" and remove their collective heads out from the sand - it must be beginning to hurt at the other end - huh?
Wake UP, listen to surfers needs; what they want and what is really going on in the Web World from a surfers' point of view. - It sure ain't Flash!
Wake UP, listen to surfers needs; what they want and what is really going on in the Web World from a surfers' point of view. - It sure ain't Flash!
44
@Jerry
Your website is a perfect example of how NOT to use flash. You force your visitors to watch a pointless flash intro and then load a completely flash website with ZERO content. I'm assuming this is your website, being as I found this from your press release:
http://www.sick-vision.com
p.s. If you look up the name of your company on google you don't even find your website on the first page of results. Try not using flash and I bet that will change.
Your website is a perfect example of how NOT to use flash. You force your visitors to watch a pointless flash intro and then load a completely flash website with ZERO content. I'm assuming this is your website, being as I found this from your press release:
http://www.sick-vision.com
p.s. If you look up the name of your company on google you don't even find your website on the first page of results. Try not using flash and I bet that will change.
45
@Jerry
Steve is right. I watched your intro for a little bit, got bored and clicked Skip intro and recieved this message; "FAIL (the browser should render some flash content, not this)."
WTF is that!?! And I am up to date, mind you.
Nice way to prove this articles point. (Also, your intro was nearly thirty seconds, not "less than ten" as you say.) And automatic sound!?! You must be new here...
Steve is right. I watched your intro for a little bit, got bored and clicked Skip intro and recieved this message; "FAIL (the browser should render some flash content, not this)."
WTF is that!?! And I am up to date, mind you.
Nice way to prove this articles point. (Also, your intro was nearly thirty seconds, not "less than ten" as you say.) And automatic sound!?! You must be new here...
46
Flash would soon reach all these areas... as soon as Adobe gives a way for search engines to index content inside flash... I dont think that should be a difficult task but dont understand why they havn't done so yet?
47
Great :) this is exactly what I repeat as often as possible.
Would you authorize me to translate it on my website (mentionning the source, of course) ?
Would you authorize me to translate it on my website (mentionning the source, of course) ?
48
AMEN! i need feedback: im working with a client who wants a flash intro incorporated that HE HIMSELF designed...it is hurting the overall feel of my design work. I've explained the SEO limitations and such but he insists that it be used with really bad music on the website as well. Now we all know that music + websites = the worst idea ever. How can I put this into words that will make him agree the same way?
49
AMEN! i need feedback: im working with a client who wants a flash intro incorporated that HE HIMSELF designed...it is hurting the overall feel of my design work. I've explained the SEO limitations and such but he insists that it be used with really bad music on the website as well. Now we all know that music + websites = the worst idea ever. How can I put this into words that will make him agree the same way?
50
There's nothing more annoying than going to a website and see flash animation. What are these people thinking?
51
great post. Ought to read it everyone
52
Sam... are you ever going to write again? We miss you.
53
Maniquí
@Jerry of Sick Vision
the flash intro on your site doesn't even have a link (a real HTMl-made link) to skip the intro.
So if it happens that someone doesn't have Flash installed, he won't be able to reach your site because he won't be able to skip the intro no matter what.
Of course, if no Flash plug-in installed, even with a proper link, he won't ever see your site, because it's also made on Flash...
the flash intro on your site doesn't even have a link (a real HTMl-made link) to skip the intro.
So if it happens that someone doesn't have Flash installed, he won't be able to reach your site because he won't be able to skip the intro no matter what.
Of course, if no Flash plug-in installed, even with a proper link, he won't ever see your site, because it's also made on Flash...
54
Flash content is good for offline media like Ads, Promos, but not for online web sites. As the web evolves into semantic, HTML pages will make more sense than flash sites.
55
I am a flash developer and I couldn't agree more with this article. Every language has its place. Maybe in 10 years this list will be shorter.
56
I cringe when I see flash used for navigation.
57
how does the element
occurs a carbon and iron
occurs a carbon and iron
58
great article and helps me a lot. looooooool...
59
qingwei
I agree that flash is not a good choice for some websites; Whether we will use flash depends on the purpose of our website!Thank u for this aricle ,i have learned a lot...
60
Flash can do just about anything HTML and CSS can do plus more. It just takes an advanced developer. A nice example is ultrashock.com. Flash SEO is getting much better. I think the reach Flash Play has is something to take advantage of. But you have very valid points. I think Flash and HTML/CSS can both achieve the goals of developers.
61
very nice info, i dont like flash
62
I got problem right now, my boss love to use Full Flash animation for our corporate website, but she wants the website is search engine friendly, how come ? Ough i just wait and wait until she open her mind, anyway thanks for sharing..this article will recommend to my boss
63
great article and helps me a lot.
64
Sam, where did you disappear to?
65
How do you define "Flash site"?
I think the problem is that too many designers use "Flash" as the sole technology for site building. Flash does certain things excellently, and some things terribly. A site shouldn't be a "Flash site" so much as it should be a site that "Uses Flash".
What needs to change is that designers need to use CSS, HTML, javascript and Flash and seamlessly integrate them into a cohesive site. Using each technology for what it's best at.
I'm trying to think of good examples of this... Take a look at http://www.ifate.com There's a site that uses extensive flash *and* good CSS and javascript. Never mind the content, but what's interesting is that the site still works from an SEO perspective, doesn't "break the back button" like so many Flash sites, and doesn't bore you to death with slow motion reveals and annoying animations. All in all, a well designed site and a good example of integrating different technologies with Flash.
I think the problem is that too many designers use "Flash" as the sole technology for site building. Flash does certain things excellently, and some things terribly. A site shouldn't be a "Flash site" so much as it should be a site that "Uses Flash".
What needs to change is that designers need to use CSS, HTML, javascript and Flash and seamlessly integrate them into a cohesive site. Using each technology for what it's best at.
I'm trying to think of good examples of this... Take a look at http://www.ifate.com There's a site that uses extensive flash *and* good CSS and javascript. Never mind the content, but what's interesting is that the site still works from an SEO perspective, doesn't "break the back button" like so many Flash sites, and doesn't bore you to death with slow motion reveals and annoying animations. All in all, a well designed site and a good example of integrating different technologies with Flash.
66
#2 may not apply for long.
Google is improving their index ranking for Flash site/content. They can index the text, though not the images yet. They don't have separate pages, but they can view the all the textual content of Flash file.
They announced it a few weeks ago. This is one of the places I read about it:
http://googlewebmastercentral.blogspot.com/2008/06/improved-flash-indexing.html
Only a matter of time until the SEO issues with Flash are non-existent (at least for Google).
Google is improving their index ranking for Flash site/content. They can index the text, though not the images yet. They don't have separate pages, but they can view the all the textual content of Flash file.
They announced it a few weeks ago. This is one of the places I read about it:
http://googlewebmastercentral.blogspot.com/2008/06/improved-flash-indexing.html
Only a matter of time until the SEO issues with Flash are non-existent (at least for Google).
67
I agree with almost every point except maybe no.3: Menus/Navigation on an HTML Site.
You can now safely create the navigation in HTML and replace it with flash on page loading. There are lots of JavaScript frameworks that can do this. An example could be sIFR.
You can now safely create the navigation in HTML and replace it with flash on page loading. There are lots of JavaScript frameworks that can do this. An example could be sIFR.
68
I think you are being a little tough on FLASH. Don't get me wrong I don't use flash for any of my sites but if I did use flash I would use it on my site headers to give it a little more appealing look, you know a simple highlight or a logo spin or something. That's about the only place I would place flash.
Some guys do love those flash INTROs though.
Some guys do love those flash INTROs though.
69
*knock knock*
No posts since May? Sam, where are ya?
No posts since May? Sam, where are ya?
70
Couldn't agree more. Especially with the web intros. Nothing more annoying - except for a poorly produced one that is!
71
Very interesting article. I agree that flash is not a good choice for some websites.
72
hello??? what happened? a ton of work and no time for blog postings? we miss your insight.
:)
come back to us...blog again!
:)
come back to us...blog again!
73
Today, i got question from my bos, he need me to find SEO service company to do optimize the client's website, after i seen the website, What! the frontpage is flash intro without any textual content, cool! why people still happy with flash intro?
74
Is this blog 6 feet under? I haven't seen a post in ages
75
very good article.
76
Excellent work!
Very interesting and useful informations.
Cool. This looks good!
Really good tutorial include so many helpful informations!
Excellent tutorial. I will refer people to your site.
Cheers
Very interesting and useful informations.
Cool. This looks good!
Really good tutorial include so many helpful informations!
Excellent tutorial. I will refer people to your site.
Cheers
77
I can't believe you are so wise for a flash developer :)
78
very good article.
79
Very very nice article.
80
I used to use lots of flash, but not anymore.
It work not good at everyone's computer.
sometime, it can crash your browser.
It work not good at everyone's computer.
sometime, it can crash your browser.
81
What needs to change is that designers need to use CSS, HTML, javascript and Flash and seamlessly integrate them into a cohesive site. Using each technology for what it's best at.
And remember, the purpose of any site is to give your content to the users in a way that is intuitive and exciting. Flash can do that. Just because some people use it all the time even when not appropriate doesn't mean it shouldn't be used. It just means that those people should be educated as to why it's not the best idea.
And remember, the purpose of any site is to give your content to the users in a way that is intuitive and exciting. Flash can do that. Just because some people use it all the time even when not appropriate doesn't mean it shouldn't be used. It just means that those people should be educated as to why it's not the best idea.
82
Hello, are you still alive ? I would really love to translate this article, but I don't want to do it without your agreement.
83
I also have clients who want a presentation site, that's SE optimized and with lots of info. And sure they want it to move and blink. I always tell them that flash can't be used if they want this and they finaly understand and let me do my job. Afterwards, when they are being indexed and see a nice traffic from google, they thank me
84
Flash is suitable for games, video and media application site. Other than that, nope..
85
John Smith
I absolutely adore this website. I dream about it every night and cannot stop thinking about it during the day. I want to marry the author of this site :) and have his/her children
86
absolutely agree !!!!!!
87
I agree that flash is not a good choice for some websites; Whether we will use flash depends on the purpose of our website!Thank u for this aricle ,i have learned a lot.....
