While patrolling the search blogs and what not, I came across an interesting technique for optimizing your Flash-based web content.
As most SEO aware people realize, optimizing straight Flash sites can be quite difficult. When dealing with Flash only, meta tags and a descriptive title tag are normally has far as the process goes. Search engines have difficulty with Flash content because search engine spiders were developed for text-based documents, not animated ones.
Another SEO-related methods for Flash sites is to create a second site out of HTML and give visitors the option of entering either one. These HTML sites are where the majority of the optimization occurs.
However, a guest article written by Joe Balestrino and appearing on Search Engine Journal highlights an intriguing Flash optimization method that may be more successful then the others discussed above, save the secondary HTML site.
The method introduced by Joe involves the use 301 redirects and a static, non-black hat based HTML page. When the URL of the site is entered, an HTML page loads and it re-directs the user to the Flash content. By using the .htaccess in conjunction, instead of sending the visitor to another URL, this technique re-directs them to another index page.
Of course, some might think of using the initial HTML page to stuff it full of keywords and whatnot. However, you would probably be better served by putting relevant content within this re-direct page, unless you would like to chance being removed from an engine’s index.
Admittedly, even Joe acknowledges this method may be considered suspect. Perhaps a gray hat method? Normally, 301 redirects are intended to redirect and inform search engines and visitors that the site’s content has indeed moved to another location. Would redirecting them to another page be considered unethical?
Chris Richardson is a search engine writer and editor for Murdok. Visit Murdok for the latest search news.
