HTML or Flash?

How should Macromedia Flash be used in creating a web site?  If you ask 10 different site designers and I’m sure you’ll get 10 different answers. Lucky you, you’re reading this site, and get to hear my opinion.

Two Options

When deciding how to create your site, I see a couple of options:

My opinion is that the first option is preferable for most clents. I generally do not think is good for a small to medium business without an IT department or programmers on staff to create a site completely in Flash.  Why?  Because creating a site in Flash requires a high level of skill, and any future modifications may be difficult and expensive to accomplish.  Something that takes a few minutes on an HTML web site can take much longer to accomplish on a Flash web site. If you lose touch with the original programmer who created the Flash web site, you may have to look for another person with an equally high level of skill who can make any changes you require.  This is not always easy or inexpensive.

On the other hand, if you do have the resources and necessary expertise, creating a good all Flash site can produce unique and highly effective results as I’m sure you’ve seen on some corporate sites. Oftentimes the main site is created in HTML and a "subsite" is created fully in Flash to hightlight a new product or initiative.

All Flash Templates

There are some high-quality, professional looking site templates created fully in Flash, at sites such as Template Monster. If you use them as is, without changing them too much in critcial areas, you may be able to get away with having an flashy, attracitve site without too much effort. To customize the site for your needs, you'll need to have a good understanding of Flash or hire someone who does. If you need to change the site radically in the future, it will often be quite difficult to do. I've personally converted several all Flash sites to HTML, because a customer could not easily complete site modifications to accomodate their changing needs.

Flash "Splash" Screens

That being said, I do believe the Flash has its place on a web site. 

First of all, what about those fancy animated "splash" screens that you see on many sites?  You know, the first page you see when you go to a site that often takes a long time to load and then plays a wild dance of text pictures and music? I believe you should avoid this type of page. From several perspectives this type of page is usually counterproductive, and will often annoy a person so much they simply leave your website. If you're trying to sell something, this type of page is a distraction from the message you want your potential customers to see when they come to your site.

Integrating Flash into an HTML Site Wisely

I would recommend creating HTML web sites and using Flash to add interest and spice things up. Additionally, Flash could be used for navigation elements. For example, create a Flash header graphic that functions as a slideshow, and also displays multiple animated text messages.  This allows you to show many things in a small space and get more of a message across then you could with a static element. Such a graphic can add beauty and sophistication to your site.

As mentioned above, another option would be using Flash for navigation elements. This entails more complexity, and will certainly be more complicated to modify in the future than HTML navigation. However if the client requires it, this would certainly be a better option than creating the entire site in Flash.

Note: I receive some compensation if you purchase products mentioned on this page.