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Five Reasons to Choose CSS/HTML Development over Flash

Flash based websites look cool, but the flip side of Flash is that it can actually cost your business more time and money than basic, static websites. Static websites are usually developed using Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML). Below are five reasons why you should choose CSS/HTML development for your website:

  1. A CSS/HTML website may not be flashy, but it’s easier to maintain.
    A Flash website takes much longer to update than a CSS/HTML website. It’s like the difference between making an elaborate pie chart graphic and changing it again and again versus typing into a word processor. Typing text will always be faster. The faster it is to update, the easier it is to maintain and the less it will cost you and your business.
  2. A Flash website’s content can’t be read by Search Engines.
    Search engines, like Google or Yahoo, have computer programs called “bots” that scour the Web for new websites every day. They’re made to read text, but a Flash website is equivalent to a very large image. If your content is embedded in a Flash movie, it can not be read by the search engine “bots.” If the search engines can’t read your site, your website won’t pop up when people perform a search.
  3. You don’t need a separate piece of software to view a CSS/HTML website.
    A Flash site requires the latest version of the Macromedia Flash viewer to be seen by your site’s visitors. If your site’s visitors don’t have the viewer installed, they won’t see your site. Consider your target audience and ask yourself if they’re computer savvy enough to install and configure the software.
  4. A CSS/HTML website will load faster.
    Website experts like Jakob Nielsen (http://www.useit.com/), have found that website visitors have an attention span of about 4 seconds. If they have a dial up connection, a Flash site may take a very long time to download and may drive your visitors away. CSS/HTML based websites are generally quicker to download and will help keep visitors at your website.
  5. A CSS/HTML website has design flexibility.
    Let’s say your business has a site developed entirely in Flash. The site is finalized, but your CEO doesn’t like the look of the site. Unfortunately, there are no short cuts with changing the look and feel of a Flash based website. With a CSS/HTML based website, sometimes all a site needs to get a new look and feel is just switching out one file and tweaking a few settings. This can save your business a considerable amount of time and money. A great example of the flexibility of CSS/HTML design is www.csszengarden.com.
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Angela Wright is director of Web development for Parthenon Publishing. She previously worked as a Web programmer and later Web designer for Huntsville Hospital Systems. She also ran her own firm, Pointe of Creation, redesigning sites for companies such as DYA Cosmetic Surgery Center. An expert on information architecture and an ADDY award winning designer/illustrator, Angela earned her B.A. and a certificate in computer mediated communications from the University of Alabama in Huntsville.