Deadly Sin Two - Missing Links

This fact is often overlooked. When you use Flash Buttons and Links, search engines will no longer find your links on pages. This can be extremely disastrous for your search engine rankings. Search Engines need to be able to follow links to successfully index your site. Plus, more well placed links robot finds on your site, higher your ranking will be. When you use all Flash, you won't have any visible links and you effectively kill any chance of being found on search engines. What's answer here? Use a Flash/HTML hybrid page. Even if you have Flash links, still try to duplicate those links on bottom of page in HTML code so search engines can find them.

Deadly Sin Three - Compatibility

This factor used to be important but today it's no longer relevant. In early days of Flash, many web users didn't have Flash plug in and they moved on to another site rather than to download and install Flash just to visit your site. This is no longer an issue. 99% of all web users will have browsers that can 'see' Flash pages and you no longer have to design a Flash and Non-Flash Version for your site. If your visitors run for hills rather than stick around to visit your site it's load time, not compatibility that is to blame.

So what is a man to do? You want Flash but you still want quick load times and good search engine rankings. It can be done but you need to design your Flash site with all these factors in mind. It is possible to design Flash Pages that actually load faster than many 'regular' pages with lots of graphics. A good hybrid design with enough HTML elements can get you ranked well with search engines. The FlashMusicTracks website mentioned above is a perfect example. It uses Flash Banners and Logos only, everything else is HTML. The site looks good, sounds good and everything loads very fast.

So, you don't have to be afraid of Flash killing your web business if you use Flash wisely.

---Ends----

----Notes to editors----

This press release in available in PDF, plain text and Word formats. Photographs are available of User-Lab team.

The media spokesperson for User-Lab is John Knight, Usability Engineer.

For more information and to register for The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) event visit: http://www.wmita.co.uk/events/DisabilityDiscriminationActHerefordandWorcesterMeeting or http:/ inyurl.com/ypheu.

The event:

Venue: Orchard Room, The Pear Tree Inn and Country Hotel, Smite, Worcester, WR5 3BN

Telephone: 01905 756565, Fax: 01905 756777

Wednesday 30th June 2004, 5.30pm - 8.30pm

About User-Lab: http://www.user-lab.com

User-Lab is a non-profit making organisation based at Birmingham Institute of Art and Design http://www.biad.uce.ac.uk/. The lab is part of Institute’s Research Department and is staffed by a multidisciplinary team with expertise in digital media design, human-computer interaction, psychology and software engineering.

The lab comprises three purpose built testing and design labs that are equipped with latest technology for conducting behavioural, physiological and psychological research. The lab has two related functions: to carry out research into digital experience and, based on results of this work, to develop an innovative commercial service.

In two years since its inception, lab has been involved in a number of collaborative projects with RDAs, FEs, charities and public and private sector. The outcomes of these projects range from assisting start up businesses to training, as well as lab’s core business of user-centred design services.

User-Lab run Web Accessibility Training with Royal National Institute for Blind (RNIB) http://www.rnib.org.uk/ and ECOTEC an international research and consultancy organisation http://www.ecotec.com/.

----Contact----

Elemental PR:

Rachel Hawkes, Account Executive, Elemental PR Email: user-lab@elementalpr.co.uk

Direct Telephone: +44 (0)870 745 9292, Mobile: +44 (0)7930 375663, Fax: +44 (0)870 745 9293, Website: http://www.elementalpr.co.uk

Address: Second Floor, 145 -157 St John Street, London, EC1V 4PY, England, UK

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