Flash no longer an SEO dead zone

Text content in Flash presentations is now being indexed by Google, meaning it can count towards search engine optimisation (SEO), it has been reported.

However, Brian Ussery writes on his beu blog of the ways in which Flash content is still handled in a different way to the HTML page into which it is embedded.

For example, he notes that a Flash presentation may have a Google PageRank of six, while its parent page might rank as a seven on the scale.

But he points out that this could be bad for SEO, as it may mean other characteristics - such as keyword relevancy - are also allocated to the two files separately.

"Similar to PageRank, keyword relevancy may not be allocated to the intended URL," Mr Ussery writes.

"When keyword relevancy that is intended for one URL is instead allocated to another URL, thinning occurs."

He also explains that Flash files which appear in Google search results could be navigated to directly on mobile devices - whether or not the presentation is supported on the handset's software platform.

Mr Ussery previously discouraged search marketers from using unauthorised ranking checking software as he noted that such programs violate Google's terms of service.

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