How to optimise Flash for Google

[netfleet]

Google now index & rank flash sites - does anyone have a clear handle on how?

I'm not considering a flash site but am looking to add a bunch of flash calculators to my website so was wondering what techniques one can use to help the host pages ranging.

Obviously keyword rich text around the .swf file would be invaulablke but is there anything I can do to the actual flash file itself?

Many thanks in advance!

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

Google now index & rank flash sites

As I understand it they always have. They just (understandably) don't do it very well. For SEO purposes flash is as useful as an ashtray on a motor bike.

... Stands back and awaits Flash lovers Flak ... ;)

[phranque]

you should look at this WebmasterWorld thread discussing the most recent adobe announcement about flash indexing:
Improved Flash Indexing Begins for Google [webmasterworld.com]

[Robert Charlton]

An html site with embedded Flash calculators or movies shouldn't be much different from an html site with images. Just make sure you have adequate html text content in a good html framework, and don't let the Flash be the only content on the page. Even though the engines might be able to read the Flash text, for optimization purposes, I'd regard the Flash as being essentially search engine invisible.

Here's a discussion from January 2008 that covers the basic reasons why Flash files aren't good candidates for optimization, and why Flash text isn't likely to rank...

Google reads Flash text, so optimize it
'Google is using Adobe Systems' Search Engine SDK technology'
[webmasterworld.com...]