Search Engine Friendly Flash with swfobject.js
Made Essential Reading on 17 February 2010 Mike Harrison
A few years back I never thought it would be possible to make Flash friendly to search engines but it is now thanks to a great bit of javascript.
SWFObject (originally known as FlashObject) is not only a reliable method of adding flash content to your webpage but also allows you to provide alternative HTML content for non-Flash and/or non-Javascript browsers. This alternative content is also your avenue to make your flash searchable.
Alternative content in a DIV
Before applying the flash via swfobject.js create your alternative flash content. Create a DIV, give it an ID and add the alternative content. This can consist of any HTML you like and include for example:
- images
- links from the flash
- descriptive text
- different layouts
Anything you like!
Flash Swapping on document onload
swfobject.js simply replaces your
- the browser doesn’t read flash files
- the browser has javascript disabled
- if google or any other search engine is snooping through your site
Google Optimised!
Because Google doesn’t initialise flash and/or javascript when it snoops through your website. It reads your alternative content instead and therefore it Optimises your Flash!
Links:
http://code.google.com/p/swfobject/
http://www.hochmanconsultants.com/articles/seo-friendly-flash.shtml
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ONCO System
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Felix Hemsley @ Essential
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