March 31, 2008

Flash Making Headway or Headaches

You have without a doubt visited a Flash-enabled Web site and had to download the latest version of Flash to view the site. Although it may have seemed like an inconvenience at the time, you likely installed Flash in order to view the Web site in its entirety.

Flash can be a highly effective communication tool if used in the right way and optimized correctly. Although slow connection speeds and version updates can cause headaches, Flash definitely pays off when users on your site are driven to take an action because of Flash, and it enables you to create an impact greater than that of a static HTML page.

Flash enables consumers of a Web site to be educated and entertained with rich imagery, demos of a product or intriguing animation that communicates a message. For example, a company that sells party decorations may present visitors with a flash video focusing on how to create a perfect table setting with their product. This allows the retailer to immediately up-sell and provides value while creating an outstanding customer experience. Some additional examples include real estate companies using Flash to display pictures and rotating shots of rooms and colleges featuring Flash videos of student and faculty testimonials. Flash is being utilized in more places than you may initially have thought.

Flash can simply be used to entertain site visitors, but it also has the proved power to increase online conversions. So is Flash really worth putting on your site? That is for you to decide.