SEO For Sites Using Flash...Help

[susapra]

I have been asked to help with a site that is using some flash. Another issue with the site is that each page size is over 100K almost 175K. What do I need to be concered with as far SEO goes? Does Flash really have that much of a negitive effect on site SEO? There are still alot of HTML content and text. Please advise.



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[robert adams]

google, etc. can not see or read flash, therefore, unless you have some normal html, then the pages won't be ranked well , if at all.

those page sizes are terrible.
even with flash, you should never have file sizes that large.

that would be like putting a background image that is over a MB in size and having to wait for it to load.

robert

[TheCosmonaut]

Actually, Flash is now being indexed by Google (see ). There are definitely still problems with HOW Google indexes Flash, but it's not completely invisible anymore.

Also, I have to disagree with Robert that those page sizes are awful. Broadband penetration is now over 49% in the US and in many markets and demographics, MUCH higher. I agree that you will want your pages as small as possible, and if you CAN get them smaller, then do so by all means. But saying that a 100k page is the same thing as posting a 1MB background is overkill.

For my two cents, I would say:
* Try not to use Flash for any of your main navigational items.
* Wherever you DO use Flash, use SWFObject to embed it in your pages. You can get SWFObject here:
* Where you use SWFObject, be sure to use alternative content that clearly shows what the Flash content would be (again, see the SWFObject page on how to do this). This is good for search engines as well as users who don't have Flash (like mobile users).
* Reduce your page size if possible, but don't sacrifice quality content for it.
* Be sure to submit a sitemap to Google (see Google's webmaster tools: )
* Realize that optimizing your pages are only one part of getting good page ranking for your site: links from other popular sites, traffic, and more all affect your ranking.

Good luck!

Best,

--eric