Show Flash if JS is Enabled, else HTML

How effective is this for making Flash content SE readable?

[McMohan]

I don't visit Flash forums often, since I know no more than just to tell people - don't write content in Flash if you are serious about SEO.

Well, I was told recently by a web designer that he uses Content Replacement Script, that shows Flash only if the user agent is JS enabled. If disabled, then HTML. Since Search Engine spiders are JS disabled, they will see the HTML and index it fine.

Am I opening a done and dusted subject? How safe is this approach? Thank You.

[edited by: McMohan at 9:15 am (utc) on Feb. 26, 2008]

[phranque]

the swfobject javascript flash detection and embedding script [code.google.com] makes the presentation of alternate/accessible content very simple.
this way you can be sure to get your alternate content indexed for non-flash-enabled user agents.
something like this:
<script type="text/javascript" src="/scripts/swfobject.js"></script>
<div id="flashcontent">
this is what you will see for non-flash-enabled or non-javascript-enabled user agents.
this should be equivalent to the flash content or it will look like spam to the SEs.
you can even make this a fully functional alternative to the flash (navigation or presentation).
this div will get overwritten if javascript is enabled and flash is enabled.
</div>
<script type="text/javascript">
var so = new SWFObject("/path/to/flashfile.swf", "flash_top", "720", "480", "7", "#FFFFFF");
so.addParam("wmode", "transparent");
so.write("flashcontent");
</script>

[McMohan]

That was a quick reply phranque. Thank you. So, I understand if we avoid cloaking (having same content on both Flash and HTML versions), then we can steer clear of any problem.