Unnecessary Flash Animations

There are sites for which Flash is appropriate, and an enhancement, and those for which it is merely an annoyance and a distraction.

Flash requires a fast internet connection (or it takes forever to load), and it requires a plug-in that must be kept up to date. It frequently results in a wait, so whatever is behind the wait had better be worth waiting for!

When you are creating a site for people who are likely to have a fast internet connection and who enjoy movement and distraction, Flash is imminently appropriate.

When you are creating a site that must be accessible to everyone, and which needs to appeal to a wide variety of tastes, then it is not appropriate.

Flash should never be used on a site "just because you can".

If you are using Flash buttons, then you need to make sure that they function invisibly - in other words, that they function in the same manner as any other clickable button, and that they predictably work. Do not ever try to use buttons which work in a way that is not standard and that people would have to figure out how to use (may sound obvious, but I've seen this!). They should also not slow things down.

I have seen sites produced in Flash which would have been much faster and no less functional in plain HTML. We are talking just a simple screen and button, where it did nothing but change the screen when you clicked the button. The ONLY difference in it was that the Flash screens took five times longer to load than an HTML page would have.

Flash interferes with SEO when it is used for primary content items, or links. The worst problem with it is when entire pages are constructed in Flash. If an object or two (such as an image rotator or video segment) is used, which is only part of the page, then Flash is more likely to be an enhancement to a site than if it is overused, and the SEO interference will be minimal.

And that is the real issue with Flash. Function. If Flash enhances the function and purpose of the site, then it is ok to use it. If it interferes with the function, annoys the visitors, or even just does not do anything worth the wait, then a simpler means of accomplishing the task is much better.

Make sure it is necessary, or that it actually has a purpose other than showing off the designer's skills. Because Flash that exists for no other purpose but to show the world that someone knew how to do it, only serves to make the designer look BAD, not good!

Written by Laura Wheeler