Are you considering having your website created in Flash? If so have you considered the effect on your search engine rankings? If not then this should be a concern of yours as you may have heard a lot about Flash sites not getting ranking. This is not the case and there are ways round it, this article will give you some advice on the best way to handle a Flash website.

A lot of web design and SEO companies will tell you it is impossible to get top rankings for a Flash website. Don't believe them as this is not the case. You might have to do something different with a Flash website but it is still possible.

What won't work for Flash sites

The first thing to say is that you cannot optimise your web pages for search engines when you have a Flash website. There are lots of people that will offer suggestions, for example you could have an HTML copy of your website. This involves you showing the search engines one version and your visitors another. This might seem like a good idea but it is also used as a tactic by spammers and so could result in you getting a ban from the search engines.

There are also tags and tricks you can do to add text to your Flash files. However the problem with this is that you will not be able to add enough text for proper website optimisation. For the above reasons we would say the best thing to do is ignore the onsite factors. There is very little you will be able to do in this area. However that does not mean you should forget search engine optimisation.

How to get Search Engine Rankings for a Flash Site

Basically you need to focus on link building for your search engine rankings. Having a Flash website does not mean you cannot get links and these will have the same effect whatever type of website you have. It is important that when you are getting links you use ways in which you can put the right anchor text in for your website. This will enable you to show the search engines you are popular and what your website is about.

A good example of how this can work, search for photographer. When we did this we found that the 4th result on the list was a completely Flash website. This is proof that Flash websites can be just as effective as any other type of website. However when you start your SEO campaign you need to put all your emphasis on link building, without it you won't be able to do anything.

When you are looking to get a website done you should decide what you want and find a solution that will fit you. If you decide a Flash website will be the best option for your business then don't be afraid to go for it. You should also not be put off by companies that say it is not a good idea. If someone is trying to steer you away from what you really want then you should find someone that can help you. Flash websites can look great and be really impressive, for that reason they may be a great option for you and search engines should not be the deciding factor.