If you know anything about website design, or anything about the Internet in general, then you have probably heard of flash. There are actually lots of websites and advertisements online that utilize flash and some web designers are claiming that Flash is the future of the Internet and web design. However, currently there are more reasons to avoid developing a website in flash than for doing so. Not that flash is not cool and able to attract attention, it is just that at this point in time the technology is not so advanced that it ready for full web design implementation.



One of the main reasons why Flash is not the best thing to include in your website design is because it really slows down your site. When an individual types in your web address and points the browser to your site then when they arrive they will be waiting a significant amount of time for the site to open. The truth of the matter is that nobody cares so much about your flash design that they are going to sit around and wait for your site to download the information in order to open it. So, when you use flash design you might have a “better” looking site, but you also can expect to lose a lot of traffic because people just don't sit around and wait.

Another reason to avoid flash design is because it can be distracting. Flash is always moving, allowing movie like technology for your website. This results in the Flash distracting web visitors from your site because they are focused on the flashiness of Flash. For many websites plain and simple graphics are more important and will retain visitors better.

Of course, when you use Flash you might think your site looks better, and it might. However, you really need to think to yourself what is more important, a site that looks great but that nobody opens because it takes too long or a site that looks pretty good and opens immediately? More than likely you will respond that the site that opens immediately allowing all visitors in is the best option because the more visitors you have means the more money your site will generate.