Google (and other search engines) announced a few weeks ago that they would not spider and index the content of flash files (flash websites). You can read the Google press release for the business explanation, but suffice it to say that apparently Adobe has made available to them the tools to spider and parse out the contents of FLASH. The specifics of how Google will handle this are covered in another document on the Webmaster Blog called Improved Flash indexing. If you are a web programmer, you definitely want to read the details of this very important announcement.
But if you are not a programmer, like most people out there, news of this new feature may lead you down a treacherous path. Why? Because just the fact that Google will now spider flash does not actually mean that flash is the best way to build a website. Don't get me wrong, flash components in a website - when used in support of a good website message - are very powerful, but "flash for the sake of flash" or flash to conceal the fact a website has no clear purpose and no unified message is not.
So, at least before - "everyone" knew that Flash was bad for websites (as least as far as Search Engine Marketing was concerned). Now, the race is on for clients who will not understand what this means and insist on the "all flash website"!
On the SEM side, my opinion is simple: tread lightly. There is not enough empirical data on how well the Adobe algorithm works - and how flash is impacting (positively or negatively) on sites that use it. However, on the USABILITY side, my opinion is unchanged. Flash is a tool, among many, all to be used in an effective balance in order to convey an effective message and a positive user experience on the web. The extent to which any one tool is used more than another is largely dependent on the website's message and audience.
Of course, the debate is going to continue. Bruce Clay, Inc (www.bruceclay.com) has come out somewhat against the "all flash website" and a colorful debate is evident on the many postings in support and against their article (see: Don't Build Your Web Site In Flash.)
For more reading on this topic, visit the Google Webmaster Central Blog.
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