Using "Div" with flash

Is using a "Div" with flash to hide normal text bad?

[CygnusX1]

Hi everyone,

All the smart minds out there, surely one can help me with this question.

I have a client that has a home page that is full-page flash. The client loves the flash and will not do without it. I wanted to have text added to the bottom of the page and reduce the size of the flash to help with search engine spiders. I will also add navigation links for the spiders to get through. My hope is to get the spiders past the flash and inside the website, which also has a smaller amount of flash on each page.

I have a Webmaster that wants to use a “div” to put the flash in, which would be at the bottom of the page. Then put normal text for the spiders to read at the top of the page. The text will load first then the flash will load last. The flash will load on top of the text. Thus hiding it.

This sounds to me like a form of cloaking and I wanted to see if anyone knows that this will work without causing a penalty or will it stop the spiders for reading the text?

Any help would be great!

[korkus2000]

If you are giving up information for UAs that don't have Flash then there shouldn't be a problem. If it is purely to game Google then a hand edit from a competitor complaint will get you in trouble. Make sure you are not just hidding lots of keywords. Giving a summary with navigation that will help all users who don't have Flash is a usability and accessability issue. If you do it for all users without flash then I think your method is fine as long as you can read the text if you don't have Flash.

[edited by: korkus2000 at 2:33 pm (utc) on Aug. 27, 2004]

[creative craig]

Then put normal text for the spiders to read at the top of the page. The text will load first then the flash will load last. The flash will load on top of the text. Thus hiding it.

Sounds like cloaking IMO. If you are working for a client and wanting a nice and clean ethical site for the search engines, I would not use that tactic.

[korkus2000]

There are plenty of threads about Geo ip filtering and other "cloaking" like flash accessability that is considered OK. I agree with craig that your original described method is iffy, but if done correctly without being spammy and aimed at all users who don't have Flash it will help the site and be a worth addition.

Remember that Google does read and follow Flash links now.

[CygnusX1]

Hi,

As I said in my post, it sounded like cloaking to me. I knew that someone in here would have the answer I was looking for. I will tell the client that it will not be a good idea to try and hide the text.

Thanks Everyone,