"I didn’t say they couldn’t deep-fry your shirt, I said you shouldn’t"
—Marge Simpson
Just because an interesting technology exists doesn’t mean it is necessarily right for your Web site.
Have you ever had to sit through a long animated introduction on a Web site when all you really wanted was a phone number? So have we. So when it comes to using Flash technology to add some pep to your site, our goal is to make sure it is used appropriately.
Let’s look at some instances where Flash should and shouldn’t be used on your site:
Flash Should Be Used When…
- You want to add some pizzazz to your site. The animation is eye-catching, and allows for a site with a little more pep.
- You want to create engaging, entertaining applications. For example, we made a Virtual Tour of the 1904 World’s Fair using Flash, because a static HTML approach would have created a less interesting user interface..
- You want to create a banner ad. Because there is generally a limited amount of space to work with in creating a banner ad, the ability to create a flexible layout in Flash is beneficial.
Flash Should NOT Be Used When…
- You want an introduction to your site. A few years back, long animated introductions were a novelty, and therefore popular. Now, however, users want information quickly, so forcing them to sit through a lengthy introduction will likely cause them to go elsewhere for info. Think of the 8 second rule.
- You want to have several pages on your site that users can easily navigate and bookmark. A drawback of Flash technology is that it can make it difficult for users to return to content they found interesting on your site.
These are just a few of the pros and cons of using Flash on your site. To get a better understanding if Flash is right for you, please contact us for a free site consultation.
