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Of course, the text only version is visually dull compared to the real site and the client now wants to get rid of it. Arguments put forward include... no one gets sued over it etc etc.
I disagree and think it is part and parcel of doing a full 100% flash site in todays times for a name client.
Also if we lost the text-only version I have no idea how other international markets may react... Finland, Sweden, US, Australia, Spain, Denmark, Norway, South Africa, Italy etc.
Does anybody have any advice on this? What do you all think...
That doesn't sound like a very wise idea. The growing number of Flash blocking applications and services might give them a clue that you can't rely 100% on Flash to deliver your message. There are a number of accessibility issues in addition to the SEO difficulties that you will encounter without a text version.
Personally I wouldn't do online business with a company that only had a Flash interface. I'm also the sort who surfs with Flash turned off, so I may not be in their target audience. Could you argue the opposite and have them drop the Flash interface and keep the text? ;)
I think I've convinced who I need to to keep the text-only version... for now.
I'll have to see how this one pans out. It's been a looooong time since I have been involved in a 100% flash site. Looking forward to seeing the results, especially for future advice to clients.
It is a fashion brand and that makes things a bit harder from a 'sensible' web business perspective. Levis, Dior, they all have flash sites. Not very helpful to my POV.
This after they informed us that there was going to be an increased focus on search engine optimization and PPC this year. ;)
Do whatever you can to keep the text version up!
and for a commercial site that main one would be search engines unable to read the content, hence wont get you listed...
I don't know how important it is to you, but unless you have specifically coded for it, speech recognition apps will not be able to access the site either...
it's getting better, but still not there enough to ignore a text version...
For example, in the UK we can dig out the laws and stuff, but generally I don't think a big fuss would be made over a non-accessible fashion site.
Just wondered if it's frowned upon more strongly in any countries more than others. Any global trends etc.
I do have a HTML shop alongside the main flash site so it could be argued that provision of service is still there. But the rest of the content, the stuff we have to update(!), is in the movie.
The SEO advantage alone is worth the effort.
It's like saying a love cooking, but I'm not interested in anything except what I cook...
Flash love it or hate ( and somehow it does seem to be that way?) it is a fact of the web, used in some form on a great percentage of sites.. and in a number of cases to great effect.
I understand the down sides, but don't think you should let it become a predudice .. it is part of the scene , part of web business, it's a fact of web life..
For all I know Finland or Sweden may take accessability far more seriously than say, the UK. Anybody shed any light on any international trends? Are there any at all?
And as for the big question - if 100% flash is so 'bad' - why are name brands doing it? I have a few theories.
The same goes for accessibility, how many of your potential customers will be blind or partially sighted .. this only is fulfilled if a company makes a special needs policy or is a charity or government department ( and even not always then) you have to be realistic... the emphasis on E-Commerce is not on the E ...
The uptake of flash .
[macromedia.com...]
World usage patterns & demographics..
[etcnewmedia.com...]
or Policies Relating to Web Accessibility..
[w3.org...]
I can tell you that the Japanese, Chinese and Korean markets are not places where accessibility issues come into play much if at all. They love all of the Flash driven interfaces. The awareness of accessibility issues here is quite low. That may change though...
In terms of trends I would expect the EU to legislate something akin to the UK or US laws in the future. That in turn would prompt other areas to adopt similar laws. I don't think accessibility standards will have significant uptake until they're legislated. For most markets I wouldn't say its a matter of if this will happen, but when.
Biene - the German word for "Bee" - stands for "Barrierefreies Internet Eröffnet Neue Einsichten" which roughly translates to "Barrier free Internet opens new perspectives".