Flash is not Search Friendly. Period.

In the past few weeks I have been asked by several people about the ability of search engines to index content that is inside Flash. I have also seen a new grouping of posts on popular Web forums about this very issue. It seems like every so often this issue pops back up.

I can sum it up in five words: Flash is not search friendly.

Sure, there are some technical implementations of Flash that may help spiders follow links in flash, but if search rankings are truly important, Flash is not for you.

That does not mean Flash needs to be sequestered from Web development. I have written before about how to utilize Flash in search friendly ways. [Article reference: Go Hybrid!]

But using uber-technical methods, such as changing embed methods, are simply band-aids. A full Flash site will be overwhelmed in the rankings game by sites that utilize best practices. And most search best practices cannot be implemented on a Flash site.

If search rankings are really important to you, then avoid Flash or use it in limited fashion. But don’t fret – you can still have a truly eye-catching site without Flash.

I am not anti-Flash by any means. It is a powerful tool. But Flash and high search rankings do not mix.