Top 6 Arguments For Not Using Flash For Web Design
Web designers have used Macromedia Flash for their designs for years. Unfortunately, many of these designs are just that, designs. Oftentimes, flash users forget the usability experience of their websites and scare away visitors. This article will provide you with six convincing arguments on why you should avoid using Flash.
Flash is something that is constantly loading. It takes up an excessive amount of bandwidth that dial-up Internet users do not have. Different Flash files, especially ones with sound effects, take a long while to load. If someone doesn't have the bandwidth to have the Flash load, they will navigate away from your website. If you value your visitors, avoid using Flash and discriminating against people with slow Internet connections.
Most Flash scripts disable the back browser button. Meta refreshers and other tricks are often used by Flash designers which cause the browser's back button to become disabled. Coming after hyperlinks, a browser's back button is the second most important tool for navigation. Google AdWords doesn't approve websites that have a disabled back button. Not mentioning, your users will navigate away from your website permanently!
Flash animations rarely focus on the needs of the customer. People like to browse the Internet during work hours or in an environment that doesn't call for extensive noise during Flash animations. In most cases, a user will just click the "skip intro" button and get to the point of your website. When people have little time on their hands and want to see the gist of your site, they are rarely going to wait for your fancy Flash.
Flash doesn't provide users with the same experience as non-Flash based websites do. Those who have a vision impairment cannot increase the scale of the text like they can in other websites. Usually, right clicking links to open a new tab will also not work. Last but not least, sharing links via social media is also generally out of the question.
It is rare that someone can do Flash coding themselves. This requires you to hire a third-party Flash developer to do your scripting. In most cases, the designer will create a code which cannot be edited. If something goes wrong with the script, you will have to hire the same developer over and over again. Doesn't seem very cost effective, does it?
Search engines are unable to use Flash to crawl through your website. The search engines won't be able to re-direct users to the searched page within the given file. SEO is hard for people with readable content, but with someone who has Flash, it is impossible. Unless you are someone with a popular and famous website, avoid Flash at all costs.
Trendy animations are not in your best interest as a web designer. Web designers often focus too much on how a website looks as opposed to the general usability. This article has discussed some very specific arguments as to why you should avoid using Flash in your designs. Consider what you have just read in order to create a website that can please your visitors!
