Studio Website Questions
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- Shaney0
FFS I gave a step by step above
- craighooper0
Use a modern method for embedding your SWF, and provide alternate content in the <div> that houses the SWF. It's that simple. Google will read and index the <xhtml> alternate content.
Read the source here: http://www.analogue.ca
And here: http://www.triplebogey.ca
- LOKi0
Simple fact, if you're using SIfr or a server-side PNG replacement, it will NOT AFFECT SEO. That being said, still not recommended for large blocks of text, can get unwieldy.
However, if you want a good reference to make an argument, point to http://www.ge.com or http://www.idsgn.org/
- gramme0
^ Then do it in Flash. Have your dev. colleague do a bit more research (heck, maybe even email version3) about deep-linking and keeping the appearance of text w/o making it an image. That way you'll cover all the bases of aesthetics and search-friendliness to at least some degree. The only downside is that you won't be able to use any H&FJ fonts, unless they've recently changed their policy about embedding. That doesn't really matter though, it's not like they're the only foundry around (as much as I love their work).
- d_rek0
@felizfeliz
Yeah the website is just a medium to show potential clients our work. I would say 90%+ of our clientbase is made through direct contact/referrals. We have a very aggressive salesperson who is very good at getting clients this way.
The website again is really just a way to for potential clients to get an idea of what we do.
I personally am not concerned about the SEO aspect of our studio website nor do I particularly believe our salesperson is either.
One of the big ideas driving the redesign of the site is that it be a tool for him to use when trying to corral potential clients.- while that tool should certainly be functional, it should also stylistically represent our companyd_rek
- felizfeliz0
the only important search is if people google your studio name(cos they're too lazy to type in the full web address), then you want it to appear at the top. and for that just add some meta description and keyword tags. that's all i've done. try googling "graham cross". i'm right there at the top, despite there being a famous footballer with the same name.
- felizfeliz0
try googling "design studio".
if i was a client i wouldn't be hiring any in the top 10.
the top ten google results look so bad, if i was a design studio i wouldn't want to appear in the search results.poop to seo.
Just build a nice site, do great work. people will blog you, etc people will find you. in the real world people will talk about you. THAT's more important than appearing in the first page of a google search result page.
- Shaney0
forgot to add to above, before he tells you that it'll cause duplicate content issues or probs with Google.
1/ Text site should contain same text as flash site
2/ you put all your .swf's in one folder and then block that folder in a robots.txt file so googles hairy spider doesn't try index your flash files as well.
- Shaney0
tell him to google flash seo. he can put a full text website, <h1> tags and the rest of his precious stuff in the swfObject div and you can do your stuff in flash/flex whatever. Use swfaddress for deep linking the flash for your users and he has his text area for his links.
- the translation thing don't work as said earlier, but easy enough to create diff lang versShaney
- with the latest swfObject you have no flash code on the page at allShaney
- ..and the text stuff can double as a mobile/accessible version. I will shut up now.Shaney
- Will look into this - thank you!d_rek
- it works. I have competitve keyword sites hitting the spot in all flash.Shaney
- oops was gonna shut up.Shaney
- d_rek0
@ahli
Yeah, he's a good kid actually and very talented at developing. I think the last few years of his professional experience have given him a very limited scope on what can and cannot be accomplished on the web these days.
- (professional meaning websites for clients who have no want or understanding of design as business strategy)d_rek
- johndiggity0
use flash and set up a google business account. most people searching for agencies specify some type of geographical descriptor (advertising+philadelphia). if you set up an account with google you'll show up in the local business results on the map ahead of all the organic results.
- Shaney0
If you wanna use Flash and keep SEO safe for want of a better expression and don't have loads of text use swfobject with yo text in the div that swf object replaces.
Thats all you need. no sifr cufun or any replacement tricks needed, just keep the div text same content as Flash text and your all set. Google safe etc if thats a concern
- google reckons it can read flash text/links etc but always fooks it upShaney
- acrossthesea0
Have a clean html site and then some sort of "experience" section where you go crazy w/ the flash/motion/whatever. Show that you can do both.
- Coffeemaker0
don't be precise about type on your webs. typography is overrated. most clients don't give a shit about the font. they just want the forms to work and be able to see visitors coming back frequently.
- d_rek0
Thank you for the validating responses (hehe)!
@Tresudek
The site uses minimal, minimal copy. Like an intro P's and that's about it. Outside of that there will be minimal web-safe text (some links and very small amount of copy). The problem I am having is that because of the extremely minimal amount of copy the site begins to feel very sparse using web-safe fonts.Unfortunately at the moment I have nothing I can show you. I will try and upload something to my flickr tomorrow for feedback.
Thanks again!
- don't forget your copy is vital for SEO as well - ie keyword denstiy etc...ckentish
- skt0
we get all our work from google.
- gramme0
If you're dealing with potential clients that are agencies and other people with a (supposed) higher aesthetic sense, then I don't see why Flash is bad if typography is a cornerstone of your work. Especially because these days you CAN make Flash at least somewhat SEO friendly by leaving text unembedded (I don't know the technical term, but there is a way to preserve appearance of whatever fonts you want, as well have type that can be selected, copied, etc).
And according to version3, you can deep-link in Flash now. Believe me, the guy harrassed me about it and found a way to do it. ;)
Of course, none of the above was done on my site, not because of limitations on skt's part, but because of my budget. Maybe next time. I'm aware my site is not at all SEO friendly.
- must_dash0
Your site doesn't need to look like it has SEO, it just needs to use it. If you're a design studio and your site just looks like an SEO wet dream they'll think thats all you do if it has compromised on design.