| | | | | Additionally, CSS is probably the easiest way to |
| It is also important to point out that search engines | | | | update your website. Through editing a separate |
| like Google and Yahoo have started to crawl and | | | | style sheet you can make changes across large sites |
| index information and content on flash files. So it is | | | | within seconds. CSS delivers content and information |
| becoming more flash friendly. Yes, this is probably the | | | | in the most purest form so you can spend a lifetime |
| biggest issue with Flash. I mean what would be the | | | | optimizing a site to get in the top positions in Google. |
| point of designing a site for a client who clearly | | | | So, a conclusion. Flash was never meant to be used |
| wants their business to succeed online when no one | | | | to get into the top positions in Google. It wasn’t |
| can even find it over search engines? Unfortunately, | | | | designed so you can make sites that are easily |
| when you use flash you are running that risk. Flash | | | | optimized for search engines. So how can you blame |
| files are not exactly “user friendly” they are | | | | it? If you know this then don’t use it. Use CSS. |
| a gateway for designers. However, as stated this will | | | | If your designing a site for a client who clearly wants |
| change. Tim Mayer who is Vice President of Web | | | | their business to be found online then DO NOT use |
| Search at FAST explained, “Search engines were | | | | Flash as the content will not be as accessible as CSS. |
| originally built to index and serve HTML documents, | | | | However, Flash can change, which it is. Flash can get |
| but now the Web has become more diverse in | | | | better. CSS and HTML have reached the peak and |
| content types, knowing how to treat flash and other | | | | they can still not do things that Flash can. Adobe |
| types of content has become more important for | | | | developers are working hard on making information |
| search engines”. | | | | and content available for search engines but what |
| XHTML and CSS are the growing trend in web | | | | could possibly get better for CSS? OK, for now I |
| design. Using CSS and XHTML fundamentally | | | | would probably design a site in CSS rather than Flash |
| separates design from content. The user and search | | | | but I am confident that things will change. CSS is not |
| engines alike benefit from the simplicity of CSS | | | | all a bed of roses and I wouldn’t let it get too |
| design. The content is easily indexed into search | | | | far ahead of itself! |
| engines and it gives the user added usability. | | | | |