Inbound links using flash banner?

[moopy]

If you use a flash banner to advertise, will you get a inbound link from it?

Any help would be appreciated

[tedster]

Google is working hard not to give inbound link credit to ANY paid ads. In addition, if the link is embedded inside the Flash file, it will not be indexed. My prognosis here - it's not likely at all.

[moopy]

Thanks Tedster,

I don't believe google has a way to determine correctly and 100% which banner is an ad and which banner is a true recommendation.

Let's try to think positively on this - how can I benefit from inbound links when linking from a flash banner? Are you seriously implying there is no way to do this?

thanks

[Pass the Dutchie]

what about animated gifs?

[tedster]

Well, to have any chance at all, I don't think you can depend on a link embedded within the Flash movie. Instead, place the <object> element inside a regular html anchor element.

[Bones]

In addition, if the link is embedded inside the Flash file, it will not be indexed.

Google does follow links embedded in swf files. I've got a site that shows the .swf as a backlink with the link: operator and with GWT.

It is a custom made, site specific Flash file though, and identical banners that appear thousands of times on the web are probably an entirely different thing.

[tedster]

Thanks for that, Bones. I haven't heard too many similar reports - probably because the Google link: operator is always so partial. With the GWT being more complete now, the situation is getting a bit easier.

Can you tell if it's really passing on PR?

[Bones]

Can you tell if it's really passing on PR?

Yes, I'm certain it is passing PR. The .swf shows a PR4 and the page it links to is a PR3. The .swf is the only external backlink showing on both GWT and the link: command for that PR3 page. I'm not aware of any other backlinks as it's pretty much just a holding page at the moment. I've not seen any other backlinks in the log files either.

I also remember reading this years back which may be of use:
[webmasterworld.com...]

There may be other factors involved of course, like the version of Flash it was created with and the exact method of hyperlinking used.

[tedster]

Excellent - so there you go, moopy, something hopeful for you.

[moopy]

Tedster - <a href="somewhere">FLASH OBJECT</a> doesn't work. At least when I've tried it with IE.

Bones or anyone with experience - is there a specific way to include the link in the flash object that should help Google follow the link and count it for pagerank?

thanks.

[Philosopher]

As Bones mentioned, most links within an swf file do in-fact get picked up by Google ( This started happening a few years ago actually). Just make the link within the flash banner fairly simple, meaning no complex actions etc. to get to it and you should be fine.

[Bones]

Bones or anyone with experience - is there a specific way to include the link in the flash object that should help Google follow the link and count it for pagerank?

Just use the easy method - create a text box, then the properties panel to add the hyperlink. Keep it all simple as Philosopher said.