Animated Flash Websites

[Paul_J_Cooper]

Does anybody out there need a top class Flash animated website?

I've just started my own business specialising in this area of web design and I'm looking for some regular business from advertising or design agencies who might get the request to design such a site but don't have the staff or technical expertise to do it in-house.

My rates are low enough to put a decent mark up on, and I can also arrang hosting and domain name registration or transfer.

Check out some of my sites at www.wickedwebdesign.co.uk

 

[Doctor-Webby]

I am not a great fan of flash websites because they can limit the viewers its a fact that not everyone will have a flash compatible PC so a lot of businesses do not want one, your best bet I would say is targeting larger corporate companies who already have a website never under estimate the power of a cold call, if you want some data i have a lot of company details including there website address for your area its not supposed to be shared but i will not tell if you dont, outside of that i actually do not offer flash web design although i do some flash logos so as we are based in the same area an enquires i get i will pass you way

 

[epiphany]

Flash as a stand alone website is a waste of time, flash integrated correctly into a website is not.

 

[Paul_J_Cooper]

In response to epiphany.

I know Flash sites aren't seen by search engines but you obviously haven't heard of the noembed tag you can use in html pages that can be used to give the search engines some text to spider and therefore get a good page rank.

Websites are becoming more like TV shows, and with broadband getting faster and search engines getting better, Flash is the way forward for web design. You can integrate Flash sites with databases to create e-commerce sites now, Flash and actionscript are the future of the web.

Flash can be use to create complete sites like this one I've done www.rissykartclub.com or just for part of the site like this one I'm developing at the moment: www.opusonlineltd.com/snowboard

Don't tell me that rissykartclub.com is a waste of time with over 15000 hits in the last month.

Also, check out http://www.favouritewebsiteawards.com/ and tell me I'm wrong.

Flash is only a waste of time if you don't know all the ins and outs of the programme and it's limits or if you are too scared to learn how to use it.

Good luck with your £50 websites. I'm sure they're top dollar.


:evil:

 

[Amber]

Paul:

You asked, "Are flash websites cool, or are they a waste of time?"
Epiphany responded with his opinion, which was that they are a waste of time (with qualifications). He is entitled to that opinion, and you did solicit it.

If you're unable to deal with other viewpoints, perhaps you should consider editing your poll to state, "only respond if you're going to agree that they're cool, or I will make snide comments about your business"?

 

[epiphany]

Erm, you asked the question I was merely stating my opinion, why start a poll if you are going to jump down the throat of the first person that gives a viewpoint that is different to yours? :?

You can slag off our £50 website offer all you like, for a one page bespoke website it's both good value for our customers and good for building our customer base. :roll:

 

[Rob Holmes]

I've seen good and bad of both styles of sites.

Google is beginning to read flash so all those flash sites may start actually being ranked !

When I'm a website visitor I am ok with flash so long as it's kept simple and is used as a tool not just a display for the designers artistic skills.

One of our members on the forum (Paul I think) has used flash brilliantly for his tshirt site www.futurefreak.co.uk

Rob

 

[Doctor-Webby]

I thought you were a decent chap but to be honest you are new here and have brought what seems to be a lot of attitude!

Forum Explained: A Forum is a place to discuss matter and learn from other peoples experience and views

Question: Why did you join this forum?

Your Question: Are Flash websites cool or a waste of time?

Options: Waste of time or cool

Your Quote "Flash is only a waste of time if you don't know all the ins and outs of the programme and it's limits or if you are too scared to learn how to use it".

Now the question begs why the hell ask the initial question if you already have the answer that you believe to be true?

And as for £50 websites well mate everyone needs something different so what you believe to be top dollar might not necessarily fill up someone elses wallet

i would suggest that a £50.00 website built and customised for someone would be a pretty decent starting block where as a flash website that is most probably outside of most peoples scope might not be so appealing

I would suggest in future a slightly less opinionated approach to what seemed like a beginners question asking for help might be more advisable

One thing i would like to add is if i had a stylish red sports car in my driveway would you think i was rich?

Flash is sometimes percieved as a rich mans tool and in that sometimes and only sometimes people will visit a flash built wbsite and automatically think that what ever you offer is going to be expensive!

I have this on good authority from a friend at business link

 

[Top Hat]

Most entirely flash based sites are bad, not all, but most.

Flash is a good tool in many places.

The thing that bugs me the most is broken back button, with most flash sites when surfing around the site the back button don't work.

Next is content in a tiny box, Ive got a big one (screen) fill it!!

I think I'll stop there

 

[SillyJokes]

for mash get flash.

or words to that effect.

I didn't understand favouritewebsiteawards so I don't know who is wrong.

Aside from the search engine thing aren't flash websites usually so up themselves that ordinary humans have problems navigating them, including people as stupid as Top Hat.

Yes, I know they are beautiful and impress the sort of people you'd like to think surf your site, but often they are confusing for the real people who are content hungry.

 

[Webstuff]

I like flash for part of a website, but not the whole thing. As for google spidering it; remember google will still only count it as a single pages content, and I think it gives it considerably less rating than HTML.

For an optional extra in a website I like it though, it can look quite "smooth".

Epiphany didn't mean any harm, and his £50 websites are very worthwhile - an xHTML W3C standards compliant website is like ambrosia to search engines

 

[Paul_J_Cooper]

Wow, my first ever post and I nearly cause I riot. I'm really quite pleased with the results but I wonder if I should be more open to the results next time.

I appreciate everyone's opinions and thanks everyone for taking part in the poll.

Please accept my applogies Epiphany. I admit I can be a little fiery and making a personal attack on your company was both wrong and unfair and I take back any ill feeling or agressive comments.

I think I'm going to start frequenting anger-management-forum.com from now on. :twisted:

 

[Doctor-Webby]

lots of laughter - well at least you apologised, pm me with you email address mate for the data we spoke about

 

[Top Hat]

Aside from the search engine thing aren't flash websites usually so up themselves that ordinary humans have problems navigating them, including people as stupid as Top Hat.

Are you saying that web sites should be so simple that even stupid people, with pots of money, like me should be able to use them

OR

That I'm a dumb bum?

Websites are becoming more like TV shows, and with broadband getting faster and search engines getting better, Flash is the way forward for web design. You can integrate Flash sites with databases to create e-commerce sites now, Flash and actionscript are the future of the web.

People were saying that 5 years ago, hasn't come true yet and I doubt it will come true in the next 5 years, but I could be wrong.


Paul, don't take what I say as personal criticism, I think you have a huge design talent, I think you will easily be able to sell your sites to like minded people out there, I just think for most applications (99%) a mainly HTML site will perform better for client and end user (it may be harder to sell though!!)

 

[Doctor-Webby]

yeah but he said, that i said, that you said, that wot?

Confused