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How to SEO Flash » by Jonathan Hochman


How to SEO Flash

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How to SEO Flash

by Jonathan Hochman
http://www.hochmanconsultants.com/articles/seo-friendly-flash.shtml

Search Engines and Flash

Search engines have the ability to read Flash files and extract text and links. In particular, Google and Adobe announced a new algorithm for indexing textual Flash content on June 20, 2008. As explained by Rand Fishkin in Flash and SEO - Compelling Reasons Why Search Engines & Flash Still Don’t Mix, and Vanessa Fox in Search-Friendly Flash?, hoping that search engines can decipher you Flash is not a substitute for providing indexable HTML content.

Requirements for Successful Use of Flash

Flash animation is a great way to present complex content because it allows the designer to put more content in a finite space, without wrecking page design. For technology sites, Flash is an ideal way to present a slide show or movie explaining a complex product. At the other end of the spectrum, art and entertainment sites have a real need for multimedia, and Flash is the perfect solution.

When using Flash, we’d like to satisfy each of these objectives:

  • Clean design
  • Search Engine Optimization
  • Accessibility for a wide variety of browsers, including screen readers and mobile phones
  • Code validation and standards compliance
  • Correct functionality with IE

Example: Making Flash Home Page Spiderable

The sample code below is derived from the home page of TrueVector Technologies which includes two Flash objects. The content of that page can now be indexed because search engines can read the HTML-coded content, while visitors with Javascript and Flash can view enhanced visual content.

<head>
<!--snip-->
<script type="text/javascript" src="/js/swfobject.js">
</script>
<script type="text/javascript">
  var flashvars = {};
  var params = {
    wmode: "transparent"
  };
  var attributes = {};  

  var flashvars2 = {};
  var params2 = {
    wmode: "transparent"
  };
  var attributes2 = {};

  swfobject.embedSWF("/flash/map_test.swf",
        "myContent", "760", "350", "9.0.0",
        "/flash/expressInstall.swf",
        flashvars, params, attributes);    

  swfobject.embedSWF("/flash/homepage2.swf",
        "headerbanner2", "760", "220", "9.0.0",
        "/flash/expressInstall.swf",
        flashvars2, params2, attributes2);    </script> 

</head>
<body>
<!--snip-->

<!--primary content, for non-Flash visitors-->
<div id="myContent">
  <img src="/images/home-top.jpg" border="0"
    alt="TrueVector Technologies" height="350" width="760">
</div> 

<!--snip-->
<div id="headerbanner2">
  <h1>TrueVector <em>noun</em></h1>
  <p>1) a tool designed to enhance web site navigation.
    2) by eliminating clumsy dropdown boxes and checklists.
    3) giving users easier access to data or inventory.
    4) leading to an enjoyable surfing experience.
    5) resulting in higher click-through rates and longer
    site visits. 6) which lead to more return visits and
    site referrals. 7) ultimately ending in trueVector's
    customers suffering <strong>higher profits</strong>.</p>
    <p><strong>Syn:</strong>
    Interactive Map/ Flash Map/ Zip Code Map/
    Rate Center Map/ Store Locator Map/ Real Estate Map/
    TrueVector Flash Map/ US Interactive Map</p>
</div>

Flash accessibility programming will not magically cause a site to rise to the top of the rankings, but this Flash SEO method will eliminate any ranking disadvantages associated with Flash.

We’ve used this Flash SEO method on many high traffic sites. The code has been served hundreds of thousands of times. Sites using this Flash SEO method have achieved top rankings for keywords found only in the Flash content.

via How to SEO Flash » by Jonathan Hochman.

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