SWF movies, trick to make search engines look at them?

Discussion in 'HTML & Website Design' started by corneo, Mar 4, 2008.

  1. #1
    I've started placing video clips I make myself (and host) on my site making them SWF with embed codes in them.
    After 6 months I've notice search engines don't touch them. Is there a code I need to add to the embed code to get them notice?
     
    corneo, Mar 4, 2008 IP
  2. Stomme poes

    Stomme poes Peon

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    #2
    Program googliebots to be able to view Flash?

    Actually, there is possibly one thing you might be able to do. Some people try to make their Flash sites accessible to the blind or those surfing with screen readers and text-only browsers. I have heard (but not ever done) that there is a way to have a text-version within the Flash for these visitors. A googlie bot would also benefit from this trick. I have no clue how to do it because I simply try to avoid Flash when it comes to accessiblity... but try searching for
    Flash accessibility "text in Flash"
    or
    "text equivilants" Flash
    and see what's out there.

    Keep in mind for teh futurez that googliebots also ignore Javascript... anything that only appears via Javascript is also not getting picked up by googliebots... think MENUS... these are the worst problem as then your site will not be indexed via your menu.
     
    Stomme poes, Mar 4, 2008 IP
  3. corneo

    corneo Peon

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    #3
    maybe something like this? (just an example) after the normal embed code.

    But thanks I'll look to see what's out there
     
    corneo, Mar 4, 2008 IP
  4. Stomme poes

    Stomme poes Peon

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    #4
    Nah, you want to do it the right way if you're going to do it. <font> tags are pure evil...
     
    Stomme poes, Mar 4, 2008 IP
  5. corneo

    corneo Peon

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    #5
    The part that bugs me is: how is the major video feed companies getting to do this, but a site can't. Is it a pay-off or a coding?
     
    corneo, Mar 4, 2008 IP
  6. Stomme poes

    Stomme poes Peon

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    #6
    I'd say pay-off since not many people seem to know about the making-text-show-in-place-of-flash thing.

    One thing I do is put my Flash in an object using the Satay method, which allows me to add a child element (usually a .png or something since most of my Flash is ads), and that image usually has Alt text.

    I remember a debate about Flash in another forum, which is where I heard about the accessible-version-Flash. I know that if the blind can see the text, the bots can too.

    Unfortunately most people use SWFObject (Javascript) to stop IE from doing that annoying "Click to continue loading the page" thing, which also hides from googliebots.
     
    Stomme poes, Mar 4, 2008 IP
  7. corneo

    corneo Peon

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    #7
    Maybe in the future this will be fix.
     
    corneo, Mar 4, 2008 IP