my question is about adding html on top of flash for seo purposes

if a flash file is originally used for a banner or navigation or any other purposes, because the text is inside flash and as it cannot be read by search engines, is it possible to add html on top of this flash file so that search engines can still read the content.

please advice

thanks

What about the REAL users without flash? or do they not count?

Google can read textual content within Flash.

http://googlewebmastercentral.blogsp...-indexing.html

Yes, PROVIDED that what's inside the Flash file REMAINS as TEXT - and has not been turned into a shape

If you're going to put navigation inside a flash file, then you should ALWAYS include a 2nd text only navigation on your site.

You may potentially be able to create a div in that area with a negative z position with your text in it, but that certainly isn't the way to go about it and may even have negative SEO effects despite the fact that the search engines can see that text.

Why not try create html FIRST, then put the flash inside that? Sounds like it would make more sense to me.

Originally Posted by artonic

You may potentially be able to create a div in that area with a negative z position with your text in it, but that certainly isn't the way to go about it and may even have negative SEO effects despite the fact that the search engines can see that text.

Yes it is! And No it won't!

Probably not a good idea. I think it is sort of cheating. Not sure if search engines would treat that as cheating?

It's a z-index which simply means it goes ABOVE or BELOW other elements when RENDERED which search engines do not DO!!

It is NOT hidden. It's a completely BS reason for doing it though!!


Just shows how many have no respect for the REAL visitors.

If you use Google's SWFObject, you can provide alternate content. That way, users without flash can still see the navigation or the content that you have in your flash.
Now, if this will help your SEO, I'm not really sure. It definitely can't hurt and it would definitely help your site's accessibility.