Google to index Flash content

So, a recent update by Google announced that they’re to start indexing Flash content. This is good right?

Well, at first glance yes - since generally speaking, it’s better to index content than not. But there are other more worrying ramifications.

That’s a good word, that: “ramification“. RAM-ification. Sounds like a vetinary term.

The problems I foresee are thus:

• This Flash content will show up in the SERPs, but Flash sites are usually built in one giant file - making deep-linking impossible. So a user will search for a phrase, see a match, click it - and then be dumped at the entry point of the Flash site - nowhere near the information they wanted to find. Great user journey there.
• It could encourage more online design agencies to build more Flash sites. Expensive Flash sites…
• …which will have content that is still inaccessible to screenreaders and similar.

I just hope this doesn’t signal the start of a deluge of agencies recommending to their clients that Flash content is suddenly fine to use. The only way it’ll work is if Google works out a way to deep link into this content - or site developers build start building Flash sites differently to allow it.

Don’t get me wrong: when used properly, well-executed Flash content is invaluable…just don’t build an ENTIRE site in it.

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