Question

Topic: E-Marketing

When Is A Really Slick Flash Site Acceptable?

Posted by Inbox_Interactive on 11/16/2004 at 5:19 PM ET 250 Points
I am posting this question in the E-Marketing section because I believe that many people avoid Flash because they are concerned about their natural search rankings.

Fair enough.

But what if your keywords are so super-competitive that you really don't stand much of a chance of ever getting in the Top 10 or Top 20 for your most important keywords?

And what if most of your leads are developed through offline channels, paid search, or basically everything else *but* natural search?

And what if what you sell is something high-concept or high-design? What if you are selling your own creativity?

And what if your target market is almost certainly on broadband with the latest (or near-latest) browser plug-ins?

It seems to me that if these stars are all in alignment, there's a good case for letting the designers go nuts and build a slick Flash site. No?

I'm really interested to hear what people think about this topic because I'm starting to think that a Flash Web site could very well have its place in certain businesses. Then again, I've had it beaten in my head for so long to "Just say 'No!' to Flash" that I can't quite get comfortable with reversing this philosophy.

Help!

Paul
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RESPONSES

  • Posted by Pepper Blue on 11/16/2004 at 6:49 PM Accepted
    Paul,

    I agree with you 100%, your arguments for when and why to use it are the same ones that I have used in the past and will continue to use in the future.

    And they are the same rebuttals that I hear from savvy customers when I present to them the downside of using Flash when they say they need or want it and their value proposition supports it.

    Shari Thurow recently wrote this article in ClickZ, you'll appreciate it:

    "Get Flash Sites Ranked in Search Engines"

    https://tinyurl.com/4xjql

    I hope that helps.
  • Posted by SteveByrneMarketing on 11/17/2004 at 2:53 PM Accepted
    When Is a Really Slick Flash Site Acceptable?

    How about selling Hip Hop DVD’s?

    For consumer products that are about fad, fashion, music, art, xSports and all things with emotional drivers – flash can be a good option.

    For b2b, much less likely.

    My 50 cent,

    - Steve
  • Posted by Pepper Blue on 11/18/2004 at 12:33 AM Member
    Hi Paul,

    Here is another article Shari Thurow wrote for ClickZ that I think you will find interesting:

    www.clickz.com/experts/search/results/article/php/3412591

    Later,

    Tim
  • Posted by SRyan ;] on 11/19/2004 at 5:35 AM Accepted
    Hey, Paul...

    I agree with most of your points about using Flash, but what I really want to emphasize is the rare use of that medium to present a crystalline moment of usability, learning, or info design.

    I blitzed thru my bookmarks, and failed to find the example I was seeking for ya.

    It's out there somewhere.

    Wish I could be of REAL help here!

    - Shelley
  • Posted by SRyan ;] on 11/19/2004 at 6:42 PM Member
    I'm so glad that Lucy has an example for you, Paul!

    This one isn't a paragon of usability, but it sure does communicate a message well: www.themeatrix.com

    This one gets away with pure Flash fluff, I think, because of its artistic subject matter: www.tallironvases.com

    Eventually I hope you'll have site we can look at and offer you feedback. (You know what this group is like!)

    Shelley ;]
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