Good thread today at SEW on the subject of the Flash-designer portfolio set of web developers and their feelings on SEO. Glengara starts things off:
I started a thread on whether all-Flash sites should be used in the commercial web, (my premise being that using Flash elements within HTML can keep everybody happy) and it was like I'd been found molesting their mothers!
Long story short, there's seems a deep well of loathing for SEO from a substantial number of designers, and it struck me this may be part of the reason for the large PPC/SEO differential mentioned in "Why is SEO so undervalued?" over at Threadwatch.
Danny Sullivan has a great idea (as usual):
In reality, designers really need to understand that search engines are like a third browser -- and in fact a far more popular browser used by more people than using Firefox. They will spend tons of time making sure a site works for IE or Firefox, even Opera. But no time to make sure that the browsers of search engines are going to be OK with it?
Another excellent line of reasoning comes from Chris Boggs:
Web design is actually closer to architecture, than magazine cover design, in terms of accessibility. Imagine a world where architects designed buidings just to be cool and edgy - and totally ignored physical accessibility issues.....
As I noted in the thread, to me usability, design, SEO and marketing are all rolled up into web development. Removing a single element is going to result in a worse product - no one really goes out with the intention of making a worse product, do they?
The problem with design is it always gets compromised. It's maddening to be a designer on the web. You have to make sure your site looks good and functions and works in the major browsers and now it has to be SEO-friendly too?
It's just too much!
Really, for each application the web site has there is going to be a compromise in the vision of the site. It suck from the designers point of view. And options for design online really are limited. If you want anything with a curve you have to use an image but that's going to slow the load time. Then it probably won't position right in IE or FF. Then what do you do to make it "accessable"?
Web design has never been supported for actual designers. Someday the technology will catch up, but untill then a designer has to fight for the integrity of their vision every step of the way. SEO is just one more thing and it's something most designers don't understand. It all seems like so mutch alchemy.
Wonderful post and coming from a design background I can really relate!
Most of you SEO's coming from computer science backgrounds or marketing backgrounds don't care that Flash and a lot of other visually based web design tactics go out the window when trying to get ranked using SEO... But coming from a background of making flash sites, I think it's pretty sad that you MUST have a primarily text based site to get good rankings. Yes, I read some work arounds, but when push comes to shove, simple html wins from what I have read... Sucks for us Flash lovers!
Hi Rand,
This is my first post ever to a blog. Great article in Newsweek. I'm wondering why you and others differentiate between web design and usability. Isn't a good design synonymous with usability? I started as a web designer 6 years ago and delivered beautiful websites, which often had a home page made solely of Flash, to my customers. Then I learned about SEO a few years ago. I agree with you. For me, design and SEO are all rolled up into one, but I don't understand why usability and web design are two different issues. I think they're the same. A nice, good design makes a good use of colors, captures the spirit of the company, has intuitive navigation, and is clear about the action desired of the user. I think a good design means that the site has good usability. How are they different?
Thanks, Rand. You have a useful website.
Risa B
It's a tricky issue...
I hear it too with my designer. We have some marketers who outsource web design to us... and he just "loves" it when they make him water-down his creative design to fit more text on section-page links because of some "SEO" rules they've read online. He lives with it, but it deffinately takes the wind out of his sales.
I do believe that "good" seo is a balance of many different things, but when brand expression is more important than search engine placement... more flash elements and graphics may be used that offer more control over the look and feel.
I'm not surprised. Artists have a vision and don't like people coming in the way of their vision.