Here is an example of Flash HTML script that you would need to add to your page:

Notice that there are both Object and Embed tags. The "Object" is for Internet Explorer and "Embed" for Netscape. The parameters are referenced in both areas; and it is these parameters which allow you to do some customizing of your SWF file. The "movie" parameter references SWF from your directory. You'll need to upload SWF file to same directory as your web page. (If you place SWF file in a different directory, then you will need to show path to that directory in this parameter -- something like "flash/super.swf" -- assuming "flash" is name of that particular directory or folder.)

With "loop" parameter you can have animation play once, or play continuously, by setting it to "false" or "true".

It's best to keep "quality" parameter at "high" -- because it will look sharp and display smoothest in your browser.

The "bgcolor" parameter can be set to whatever hexadecimal (#FFFFFF format) color you need for your web design.

Now, "width" and "height" are not parameters in same sense as others -- but you can change these as well. Since SWF file is "scalable", you can make necessary changes and animation will smoothly resize to new dimensions.

Either fixed pixel-based or flexible percentage-based dimensioning can be used. Fixed dimensioning (for example, width=300 and height=200) sets size to exact pixel dimensions, just like you normally would with an image. However, percentage-based dimensioning -- for example, width =50% and height=50% -- makes SWF automatically resize, proportionately, to any browser window size without any deformations. Now that's cool!

Believe it or not, that's about all you need to know to embed a Flash file into your web page once you have downloaded a free SWF file from Net. If you would like to explore full capabilities of SWF, then take advantage of all Flash and Webmaster resources. There is a wealth of information and free stuff available online and waiting for you!

If you want to create or experience more than just static web pages - SWF is format. It is rapidly becoming de-facto, online multi-media standard. Enjoy!

To experienced Flash designer, these powerful tools have been both a blessing and a curse. On upside, they drastically reduce time it takes to create Flash pieces. On downside, low price of these applications makes them available to "Average Joe," and as a result, everybody and their dog is beginning to call themselves "Flash Designers." Their pieces, created without necessary technical know-how of what it takes to make a Flash piece accessible to lower-bandwidth viewers, are beginning to give Flash a bad reputation as being bloated and boring.

To you, prospective consumer, this overabundance of so-called "Flash Designers" presents an element of confusion. Should you get kid down block to design your Flash site for $300? Probably not. If you're paying a "design firm" in another city $10,000 for a site, are you getting best Flash site money can buy?

Unfortunately, my friends, answer is no.

We were recently contacted by a man who was unhappy with state of his site; after paying over $10,000 to a "Flash Design Firm," he had one look at what he got for his money and was shocked.

We were, too.

His site, at http://www.faustco.com/, breaks just about every rule there is. There are too many colors, too many fonts, and, as you know, Flash is intended to display images in "vector" format. Whoever designed Mr. Faust's site clearly had no understanding of this fact, and imported as many raster images as they could. This resulted in a site that not only has "chunky" appearance mentioned earlier, but also presents incredibly long download times to viewers trying to visit site with a standard 56k (or lower) connection. While Mr. Faust's business has been around for a long time, no doubt because they've been producing excellent, dependable products since day they began business, poor quality of his site's design will no doubt harm reputation of his company.

FLASH - WHY DO YOU WANT IT?

Like I said before, folks: Flash, "when created properly," can be best thing that ever happened to your site. Having personally experienced benefits of effective Flash design, I can honestly say that there is NO medium out there that gets people going to your site and subscribing to your newsletter list better than a well-done Flash piece. However, when looking for a Flash designer, beware: if a "company" doesn't have a Flash portfolio that impresses you in least, don't hesitate to delete their e-mail and forget they existed, no matter how low their prices may be.

If you're looking for a Flash designer, I'm naturally going to recommend you contact us now. Not only are we in our seventh year of putting people's businesses online, and not only have we been applying proven marketing concepts time and time again, helping thousands of people maximize responses to their offers (regardless of type of business they run), we've also got technical know-how of exactly what it takes to make a Flash piece that WORKS. When you order from us, you won't just be getting a site that LOOKS pretty and applies our years of marketing experience, you'll be getting one that loads quickly and gets your point across effectively.

And hey, if you've received a quote from another company and aren't sure if you'll be getting your money's worth, send quote to me. I'm not offering to beat their price, I'm offering something much more valuable: to relieve any confusion you might be experiencing and help you to become more informed of what good Flash design is. I'm standing by to help you now! mailto:customerservice@worldprofit.com