To Flash or not to Flash?

werm82 · 08-06-2008, 01:40 AM

Hi all,

I've been doing graphic design for a while, but am relatively new to the whole web design genre. I've only done one website, which is my personal site. After I did a logo and some print work for one of my clients, he now wants me to do his website for him. He is a gospel singer, and wants his site done in all Flash. Should I try to dissuade him from this? I have heard almost nothing but bad things about all Flash sites. Would a Flash site work for his line of work? I would greatly appreciate any advice, and thanks in advance!

jnjc · 08-06-2008, 01:53 AM

The first question you should ask is why he wants flash ? Flash is a tool and as with everything it's a matter of the right tool for the right job. Find out what his requirements are and then decided what you need to build it.

For my money you should not use flash unless you have to. I have built sites with flash embedded, only to take it out later because the drawbacks out-weighted the benefits (slow loading times, no flash support etc.)

For a gospel singer's website I'd image it's a couple of static pages so I'd try and do it without flash...

HTH,
JC

JaguarBryan · 08-06-2008, 02:20 AM

Flash can make some very nice stuff. Except, I tend to use a lot of very slimmed down browsers, and command line browsers, that don't support flash. So an all flash website that doesn't have a link on it to any possible html version of the site is very useless for me more than half the time.

SpiderWeb · 08-07-2008, 03:32 AM

Does he want his sites to be listed high in search engines? If he does, don't do an all flash site. Like jnjc said, make sure you ask him why he wants a flash site. He may just be saying this because he saw a cool flash website one time. There are a lot of ways to spice up a site with JavaScript or just bits and pieces of flash. It is rarely necessary to make an entire flash page.

datadancing · 08-09-2008, 03:36 PM

It is quite common that entertainment sites built with Flash.

To see the pro & con of using flash or html you can read up some article here

http://www.killersites.com/articles/...s_FlashUse.htm

Matt
www.datadancing.com

Eightyfive86 · 08-13-2008, 03:34 AM

most of our work is done for entertainers so we do flash but at the same time it depends on the client flash is kind of "trendy" but a nice clean site is always here to stay.

joe · 08-13-2008, 02:07 PM

I agree with Spiderweb. The site I built for my blues band does not have flash, and it still looks "trendy". I've never wanted to deal with flash because of the ramifications of search engine inclusion. If he's a big time gospel singer then give him flash because he doesn't need anyone to look for his site. If he's regional, like me, and looking for work, then he needs all the help he can from search engines and a nice clean, professional looking site will do wonders (no flash needed).

petarpan · 08-13-2008, 10:31 PM

Go with flash if customer likes it. But tell him that it won’t rank good on search engines. I think that you should probably convince him to have flash embedded in html. Text in html, links if possible too, but with few stunning flash animations is a best choice.

walkingbird · 08-14-2008, 09:11 AM

When working with a client just explain the pros and cons of the situation tell him your recommendation and let him make the final decision because he is paying the bills.

werm82 · 08-16-2008, 02:55 AM

Thanks for all of the advice! I just sat down with him today and laid out the pros & cons. We eventually ended up agreeing to move ahead with the flash site, but his index.html would be a splash page with the option of going to the flash site or a stripped down html version. Will this help with the search engines any?

08-06-2008, 01:40 AM	#1 (permalink)
werm82 New Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 23	To Flash or not to Flash? Hi all, I've been doing graphic design for a while, but am relatively new to the whole web design genre. I've only done one website, which is my personal site. After I did a logo and some print work for one of my clients, he now wants me to do his website for him. He is a gospel singer, and wants his site done in all Flash. Should I try to dissuade him from this? I have heard almost nothing but bad things about all Flash sites. Would a Flash site work for his line of work? I would greatly appreciate any advice, and thanks in advance!

08-06-2008, 01:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
jnjc Moderator Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 365	The first question you should ask is why he wants flash ? Flash is a tool and as with everything it's a matter of the right tool for the right job. Find out what his requirements are and then decided what you need to build it. For my money you should not use flash unless you have to. I have built sites with flash embedded, only to take it out later because the drawbacks out-weighted the benefits (slow loading times, no flash support etc.) For a gospel singer's website I'd image it's a couple of static pages so I'd try and do it without flash... HTH, JC __________________ www.solasit.com.au Website Design and Development Melbourne, Australia

08-06-2008, 02:20 AM	#3 (permalink)
JaguarBryan New Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 2	Flash can make some very nice stuff. Except, I tend to use a lot of very slimmed down browsers, and command line browsers, that don't support flash. So an all flash website that doesn't have a link on it to any possible html version of the site is very useless for me more than half the time. __________________ JaguarPC High Class Hosting since 1998 Let 10 years of experience speak for it's self Un Managed VPS Hosting \| Managed VPS Hosting \| Fail Over Hosting

08-07-2008, 03:32 AM	#4 (permalink)
SpiderWeb New Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wilmington, DE Posts: 20	Does he want his sites to be listed high in search engines? If he does, don't do an all flash site. Like jnjc said, make sure you ask him why he wants a flash site. He may just be saying this because he saw a cool flash website one time. There are a lot of ways to spice up a site with JavaScript or just bits and pieces of flash. It is rarely necessary to make an entire flash page. __________________ Delaware Web Design and Development Web Design Articles and Tutorials

08-09-2008, 03:36 PM	#5 (permalink)
datadancing New Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 3	Flash or no Flash It is quite common that entertainment sites built with Flash. To see the pro & con of using flash or html you can read up some article here http://www.killersites.com/articles/...s_FlashUse.htm Matt www.datadancing.com

08-13-2008, 03:34 AM	#6 (permalink)
Eightyfive86 New Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5	most of our work is done for entertainers so we do flash but at the same time it depends on the client flash is kind of "trendy" but a nice clean site is always here to stay. __________________ www.Eightyfive86.com Click it if you like cool stuff, you you dont like cool stuff you will now.

08-13-2008, 02:07 PM	#7 (permalink)
joe Bronze Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Dallas, Tx Posts: 83	I agree with Spiderweb. The site I built for my blues band does not have flash, and it still looks "trendy". I've never wanted to deal with flash because of the ramifications of search engine inclusion. If he's a big time gospel singer then give him flash because he doesn't need anyone to look for his site. If he's regional, like me, and looking for work, then he needs all the help he can from search engines and a nice clean, professional looking site will do wonders (no flash needed).

08-13-2008, 10:31 PM	#8 (permalink)
petarpan New Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Loznica Serbia Posts: 10	Go with flash Go with flash if customer likes it. But tell him that it won’t rank good on search engines. I think that you should probably convince him to have flash embedded in html. Text in html, links if possible too, but with few stunning flash animations is a best choice. __________________ Loznica

08-14-2008, 09:11 AM	#9 (permalink)
walkingbird Silver Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 102	When working with a client just explain the pros and cons of the situation tell him your recommendation and let him make the final decision because he is paying the bills. __________________ Marshal Finch Regina Web Design Make Money Online to- with seo(search engine optimization) Logo Picture Gallery - rate, submit and review Forum Link Expermient

08-16-2008, 02:55 AM	#10 (permalink)
werm82 New Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 23	Thanks for all of the advice! I just sat down with him today and laid out the pros & cons. We eventually ended up agreeing to move ahead with the flash site, but his index.html would be a splash page with the option of going to the flash site or a stripped down html version. Will this help with the search engines any?

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