Flash website Local SEO

ferriswannabe · 09-26-2010, 08:40 PM

I would like some opinions on how to go about ranking a flash website. The website cannot be changed. I am aware G has advanced on reading the flash and picking up text, but it's still not where it should be.

The website offers several services. It a graphics company. I want to rank for only one of their services in their local city.

I have already started building anchor text backlinks to the home page, but I am wondering if maybe building a landing page for this keyword phrase on a subfolder of the domain ( not a subdomain ) and backlinking to that would rank faster.

Or should I build a new keyword optimized website with keyword domain and then send visitors to the main company website.

Your suggestions?

Thanks

dburk · 09-26-2010, 08:49 PM

Hi ferriswannabe,

The quickest and easiest way to rank a Flash website is to drop the flash. Yes, you can rank a flash website, just bear in mind it may cost ten times as much as a non-flashed based website.

While Google has gotten a little better at understanding flash, it does require custom built flash code that has been tweaked specifically for search engines. If you can't change the flash, then you are stuck with good old fashion web promotion and you'll need a lot of it to make up for the lack of on-page optimization. No worries though, just have your client write a check for ten times the normal amount and off you go.

joesemo · 09-26-2010, 08:51 PM

Why can you not add text to the front page?

Isn't the flash just a file on your server that you are displaying on the index page?

You should be able to add content on the top bottom or sides.

You can also right a great meta description that Google should pick up on as your page description for the search results.

Backlinking is always a good idea. I would get backlinks until you can find a way to get content added to the page.

You can always create new content pages that target some lower competition related keywords and have the new pages have a link to the homepage in the text. Or create a sidebar pointing a link to the homepage like a wordpress site.

ferriswannabe · 09-26-2010, 08:55 PM

dburk, thanks for your reply, but there's no chance of getting the website changed, and forget about the ten times more money thing.

Would you do either of the two things I mentioned?

Thanks

ferriswannabe · 09-26-2010, 09:02 PM

joesemo,

I am having them update their metatags, but that's it. I am not familiar how flash websites work, I do know that the website is entirely flash, there is currently nothing after the description tag. All the header and footer info is the flash file. Not sure how I would add content as you said without distorting the website.

Like I said, a have zero experience with flash design and what can be done as for content. From searching on G for flash seo , I have found little.

Jose

joesemo · 09-26-2010, 09:12 PM

I am sure that most flash files are kept in a folder on the websites server and are actually an embed, much like a you tube embedded video.

So you should be able to add some content in between the embeds somewhere.

It might be a matter of doing it tastefully and with style.

I have come across flash front pages and Google seemed to find them for what they wanted to be found for.

Always get backlinks that are relative to the website anyway.

By the way I found a website that showed how to put html content over flash. This may not help you, but I thought it was cool that it can be done.

Here is the link.....

How to add Flash SWF as background of a HTML page?

scroll to the bottom to see the example, pretty cool stuff.

ferriswannabe · 09-26-2010, 09:23 PM

Thanks, going to check it out now.

sunseven · 09-27-2010, 12:33 AM

The easiest way to do this is simply adding html text below the flash movie. I do it all the time, make the font color close to the background color so it's less noticeable for humans but not tripping the google bot spam alerts for same color fonts. Secondly add links to the homepage that point to plain html pages of other relevant content you create and add to the site and you're golden. Done it several times

mavericace · 09-27-2010, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ferriswannabe

I would like some opinions on how to go about ranking a flash website. The website cannot be changed. I am aware G has advanced on reading the flash and picking up text, but it's still not where it should be.

The website offers several services. It a graphics company. I want to rank for only one of their services in their local city.

I have already started building anchor text backlinks to the home page, but I am wondering if maybe building a landing page for this keyword phrase on a subfolder of the domain ( not a subdomain ) and backlinking to that would rank faster.

Or should I build a new keyword optimized website with keyword domain and then send visitors to the main company website.

Your suggestions?

Thanks

try to minimized your use of flash, and use text navi rather than flash navi.

terrapurus · 09-27-2010, 08:33 AM

You are going to have to maximise your code to content ratio. That means having atleast 200 to 250 words of content on a page if you want to interest Goolge. If that does not work for you, then SEO is not for you.

If you want Google to give you what you want, then you have to give Google what they want. And they want to be able to spider your page properly and display it as relevant for certain searches.

ferriswannabe · 09-27-2010, 08:54 AM

Sunseven,

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunseven

The easiest way to do this is simply adding html text below the flash movie. I do it all the time, make the font color close to the background color so it's less noticeable for humans but not tripping the google bot spam alerts for same color fonts. Secondly add links to the homepage that point to plain html pages of other relevant content you create and add to the site and you're golden. Done it several times

Thank you so much, any chance you can PM an example of a website this has been done to, so I can see how the source looks?

Sorry, it's just that I started a backlinking campaign to this site and I should have implemented these changes before that got started.

Again, Thanks

ferriswannabe · 09-27-2010, 08:57 AM

terrapurus,

Quote:

Originally Posted by terrapurus

You are going to have to maximise your code to content ratio. That means having atleast 200 to 250 words of content on a page if you want to interest Goolge. If that does not work for you, then SEO is not for you.

If you want Google to give you what you want, then you have to give Google what they want. And they want to be able to spider your page properly and display it as relevant for certain searches.

I see what your saying, what I can do is take your advice on that 200-250 words and implement the way sunseven has posted above.

Thanks

09-26-2010, 08:40 PM	#1
ferriswannabe HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: South Florida Posts: 183 Thanks: 19 Thanked 24 Times in 13 Posts	Flash website Local SEO I would like some opinions on how to go about ranking a flash website. The website cannot be changed. I am aware G has advanced on reading the flash and picking up text, but it's still not where it should be. The website offers several services. It a graphics company. I want to rank for only one of their services in their local city. I have already started building anchor text backlinks to the home page, but I am wondering if maybe building a landing page for this keyword phrase on a subfolder of the domain ( not a subdomain ) and backlinking to that would rank faster. Or should I build a new keyword optimized website with keyword domain and then send visitors to the main company website. Your suggestions? Thanks

09-26-2010, 08:49 PM	#2
dburk Senior Warrior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Tampa, Florida Posts: 4,643 Thanks: 162 Thanked 671 Times in 581 Posts Contact Info	Re: Flash website Local SEO Hi ferriswannabe, The quickest and easiest way to rank a Flash website is to drop the flash. Yes, you can rank a flash website, just bear in mind it may cost ten times as much as a non-flashed based website. While Google has gotten a little better at understanding flash, it does require custom built flash code that has been tweaked specifically for search engines. If you can't change the flash, then you are stuck with good old fashion web promotion and you'll need a lot of it to make up for the lack of on-page optimization. No worries though, just have your client write a check for ten times the normal amount and off you go.
	Don Burk * Get Results - Outsource Your PPC Management * Get a Keyword Domain Name - www.SeriousNames.com

09-26-2010, 08:51 PM	#3
joesemo Active Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New England Posts: 42 Thanks: 5 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Flash website Local SEO Why can you not add text to the front page? Isn't the flash just a file on your server that you are displaying on the index page? You should be able to add content on the top bottom or sides. You can also right a great meta description that Google should pick up on as your page description for the search results. Backlinking is always a good idea. I would get backlinks until you can find a way to get content added to the page. You can always create new content pages that target some lower competition related keywords and have the new pages have a link to the homepage in the text. Or create a sidebar pointing a link to the homepage like a wordpress site.
	The Keyword Academy - Get organized and focused to build your internet business.

09-26-2010, 08:55 PM	#4
ferriswannabe HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: South Florida Posts: 183 Thanks: 19 Thanked 24 Times in 13 Posts	Re: Flash website Local SEO dburk, thanks for your reply, but there's no chance of getting the website changed, and forget about the ten times more money thing. Would you do either of the two things I mentioned? Thanks

09-26-2010, 09:02 PM	#5
ferriswannabe HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: South Florida Posts: 183 Thanks: 19 Thanked 24 Times in 13 Posts	Re: Flash website Local SEO joesemo, I am having them update their metatags, but that's it. I am not familiar how flash websites work, I do know that the website is entirely flash, there is currently nothing after the description tag. All the header and footer info is the flash file. Not sure how I would add content as you said without distorting the website. Like I said, a have zero experience with flash design and what can be done as for content. From searching on G for flash seo , I have found little. Jose

09-26-2010, 09:12 PM	#6
joesemo Active Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New England Posts: 42 Thanks: 5 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Flash website Local SEO I am sure that most flash files are kept in a folder on the websites server and are actually an embed, much like a you tube embedded video. So you should be able to add some content in between the embeds somewhere. It might be a matter of doing it tastefully and with style. I have come across flash front pages and Google seemed to find them for what they wanted to be found for. Always get backlinks that are relative to the website anyway. By the way I found a website that showed how to put html content over flash. This may not help you, but I thought it was cool that it can be done. Here is the link..... How to add Flash SWF as background of a HTML page? scroll to the bottom to see the example, pretty cool stuff.
	The Keyword Academy - Get organized and focused to build your internet business.

09-26-2010, 09:23 PM	#7
ferriswannabe HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: South Florida Posts: 183 Thanks: 19 Thanked 24 Times in 13 Posts	Re: Flash website Local SEO Thanks, going to check it out now.

09-27-2010, 12:33 AM	#8
sunseven Active Warrior Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 84 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Flash website Local SEO The easiest way to do this is simply adding html text below the flash movie. I do it all the time, make the font color close to the background color so it's less noticeable for humans but not tripping the google bot spam alerts for same color fonts. Secondly add links to the homepage that point to plain html pages of other relevant content you create and add to the site and you're golden. Done it several times

09-27-2010, 08:33 AM	#10
terrapurus HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 315 Thanks: 10 Thanked 53 Times in 42 Posts	Re: Flash website Local SEO You are going to have to maximise your code to content ratio. That means having atleast 200 to 250 words of content on a page if you want to interest Goolge. If that does not work for you, then SEO is not for you. If you want Google to give you what you want, then you have to give Google what they want. And they want to be able to spider your page properly and display it as relevant for certain searches.