| At last we are seeing a navigation away from the | | | | rankings after three years, and they asked their |
| dynamic or fancy type of website that has been | | | | previous designer why the website had been |
| inundating the Internet through virtually anyone who | | | | designed in that way. Their answer reportedly was, "I |
| has had the funds to pay the sometimes ridiculous | | | | didn't know you wanted a website that would rank in |
| fees demanded to have a website designed and | | | | the Search Engines". |
| created. I'm speaking mainly, of course, about Flash, | | | | I suppose that's not so laughable when you consider |
| that wonderful web design program that makes it | | | | that there ARE websites which simply serve as an |
| possible to have a website do virtually ANYTHING - | | | | extension of a business for use by existing clients to |
| except rank in the Search Engines. | | | | download reports, use as reference sources or |
| Search Engines can't read Flash the same as they | | | | maybe access tools or updates. However, I would |
| can't they read JavaScript, but many web designers | | | | think any half intelligent person would be able to tell |
| keep applying these components to websites in too | | | | this type of website simply by looking it. Especially a |
| much quantity, I suspect, to bedazzle their clients and | | | | web designer! |
| in doing so, are robbing them of the chief reason | | | | As HTML text is the main component of a website |
| anyone seeks an Internet presence - Rankings in the | | | | that the Search Engine robots can recognize, read |
| Search Engines. | | | | and index, keyword rich HTML text should be the |
| I've often seen RSS feeds applied to websites in the | | | | major content component of any website. Of |
| JavaScript version - a waste of time and resources. | | | | course, aesthetics are important too, so a balance of |
| I've also seen many websites promoting their FREE | | | | imaging, logo, background and navigation utilities can |
| RSS feed thus: "Just copy this script into the html | | | | be used to design and build a user friendly website, |
| page of you website and you'll have daily updated | | | | which is also Search Engine friendly AND aesthetically |
| content, which the Search Engines love". The | | | | pleasing, in fact, often downright beautiful to look at. |
| problem? The script they are supplying is JavaScript. | | | | HTML websites can be made to look every bit as |
| Again... useless as far as the Search Engines are | | | | attractive as Flash websites, even if they may |
| concerned. | | | | sometimes lack the 'dynamic' and the 'exciting'. |
| Of course, many will be thinking to themselves, "You | | | | I've always had a rule of thumb as far as designing |
| design a website for users, not Search Engines". I | | | | and building my own websites and I apply it also |
| agree 100 per cent. In fact, the two are so closely | | | | now, to the design and creation of other's websites. |
| linked, as I see it, that you can hardly do one without | | | | I have always been familiar with what the 'leaders' |
| doing the other. Internet users want information and | | | | are doing. Websites like Adobe, Microsoft, Yahoo, |
| they want it NOW! There is no information contained | | | | MSN, i.e. websites that millions visit every week, if |
| in a spaceship flying across the page or whatever | | | | not every day, and continue to do so. Those |
| weird and wonderful Flash gimmick has been created. | | | | websites with PRs of 9 and 10. Even when Flash was |
| There is nothing for the user in waiting for the huge | | | | THE thing to have, they only used it sparingly in a |
| amounts of time it takes for Flash sites to load. Also | | | | corner or in a strip across the top of the Home page |
| users need to be able to navigate a website easily | | | | (as Adobe are doing right now). None of them EVER |
| and quickly. They need to find what they want | | | | used Flash to the extent that many web designers |
| without having to search for the means to get to | | | | decided too and I have to assume that these 'top' |
| the appropriate page. I've rarely seen a 'total' Flash | | | | Internet concerns have the very best minds in the |
| site that has anywhere near the simplicity and ease in | | | | world advising and designing their websites. |
| navigation that plain HTML can give. | | | | Again, as always, it comes back to the same thing... |
| I recently redesigned two websites, for different | | | | As with life, ALL things can be beneficial and |
| clients. Both websites were made up COMPLETELY | | | | worthwhile but as soon as you begin to overuse |
| of Flash. Checking the Source Code was basically a | | | | anything, you end up in a place called 'trouble'. I don't |
| joke - there almost was none! At least nothing that a | | | | believe anything at all was ever designed, built, |
| Search Engine could read, index and rank effectively. | | | | invented or discovered to be used in excess. But |
| WHY? I have no idea. I was told by one of the | | | | nothing has ever been more obviously harmful online, |
| clients, after they got upset when I told them why | | | | in excess, than Flash. |
| their website hadn't achieved anything in the SE | | | | |