Flash intro pages and search engines

Will SE's be able to get past a flash intro page with a 5 sec. time delay?

[peterdouglas]

We made a website with a flash intro page. It's got a "skip" hyperlink, and if it's not clicked, the flash intro goes on for five seconds, then into the website (which is regular XHTML).

The client absolutely HAD to have a flash intro page with fancy animation and music, nothing would make her change her mind. My question is, will search engines be able to get past the flash intro page, or will her site be totally invisble to search engines? It's otherwise well optimized for SE's with CSS, keywords, descriptions, headings, etc.

[whoisgregg]

If the skip hyperlink is part of the HTML and *not* part of the flash file then, yes, the search engines will read that link and move on to the real content.

Example:
<a href="realindex.html">skip intro</a>

[peterdouglas]

Thanks, I'll check that, and if it's not done that way, I'll make sure it is.

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

The client absolutely HAD to have a flash intro page with fancy animation and music, nothing would make her change her mind.

It makes one wonder what planet some people are from. If business traffic is important then there is really no place for Flash. It's very surprising that some people just cannot see this.

[biggerfish]

>>> It makes one wonder what planet some people are from.

Maybe on other planets they don't have the internet, or search engines, or businesses.

Just my .02¢

[peterdouglas]

I explained to her the importance of NOT having the kind of page she wanted, but one of her competitors has a fancey flash intro page with annoying music that continues even into the website. She loved that. Luckily I got her to at least compromoise and have the music go on for just five seconds, and after a lot of arm twisting, got her to let us put a "skip intro" hyperlink.

I guess she just wanted to out-do one of her competitors.

[katana_one]

Anyone ever try putting in a hit counter on the "Skip Intro" button? Or some other way of logging how many visitors press the Skip button?

My boss wants to put a pointless Flash intro on our new site, and I think that logging the hits on the skip button would be a great way to get the point across.

[peterdouglas]

katana_one, good point. I almost always click on the "skip intro" button whenever given the chance on any website I visit. I'm sure the majority of other people do the same, especially if they have a dialup connection. If there's a way to track the number of hits on a "skip intro" button, I'd love to do it.

Probably the only people that like the flash intros are the customers that ask them to be put on their websites. Mind you, I've seen some really nice ones, but in most cases, they are totally unnecessary. The only time they really suit the site, imho, is for something like a nightclub or a trendy place like that. But NOT for car dealerships, landscape companies, pizza restaurant, etc.

BTW katana_one, nice username! Do you have that kind of bike? If you do, nice choice!

[peterdouglas]

If the skip hyperlink is part of the HTML and *not* part of the flash file then, yes, the search engines will read that link and move on to the real content.

I just checked, our "skip intro" hyperlink is in the flash unfortunately...

We don't want to ruin the aesthetic appeal of the site now that it's all finished, and the flash takes up a good part of the screen, so the link would be quite far down.

Could we put a second hyperlink, in real html, at the bottom, say just a period or something really small. It would be really just for the benefit of the search engine to get past the flash and enter the site. Does anyone have an opinion on this idea?

[walrus]

<Could we put a second hyperlink, in real html, at the bottom, say just a period or something really small.>

I think you'd be better off to match the font style and color used in the flash and use small type. It will be low on the page but it may not look so bad, perhaps add a keyword in to the link as well, if you can find a way to phrase it. Better that then period.

[whoisgregg]

I found the last thread about this topic. (Thread includes a self tracking method and links to some studies.)
[webmasterworld.com...]

If those HTML links are going to be out of site anyways, I'd go with the keywords option. Don't go crazy, but at least put two or three different links with some decent keywords. Some sites actually still use a static html/images intro page in an attempt to better diffuse home page link pop to subpages... :)

[peterdouglas]

Good idea, I'll try using a keyword as a link. Thanks!