If you have a a noScript version of the embed code AND are using SWFObject, which one will the spider see?

Does Google count as having javascript enabled if they can execute SWFObject()?

Thanks!
(great post, btw)

You’re correct, it’s best not to include lots of text in Flash.

sIFR is the method Google suggests and works to style fonts when not available.
http://googlewebmastercentral.blogspot.com/2007/07/best-uses-of-flash.html

Sure and you are correct, Google doesn’t index text loaded via xml or associate it with the Flash file.

Keep in mind, Googlebot passes right over the underlying (X)HTML version via SWFObject and into the Flash file. As you can see in example #1, the Flash file is indexed in the SERPs and not the (X)HTML. Blocking text (provided via xml) in Flash might result in Googlebot not seeing any text content. That is the issue I was attempting to point out, sorry if it seemed contradictory it’s just really complex.

I hope that better helps to explain the issue and again thanks for you comment.

“Avoid text content and links in Flash”

That sounds a bit too much and as much as Flash is not made for website rich in text content like blogs, a Flash based website will still contain text and you can’t do much to avoid it.

Also sIFR is really nice, but I think it is mostly used for titles and such; for html based website that want to enhance their design. I don’t think it was made for Flash based website that want to add html content.

Some of your tips are also contradicting; you say to avoid text in Flash and then you advise not to use text coming from third party file (I assume you mean external file, like xml). Well we know Google doesn’t index loaded content, so I think that should actually be the way to go. If you don’t want your Flash text to interfere, SEO ranking wise, with your alternate / html content, than you should use a way that Google can’t see your Flash text hence using external file(xml). I think this is a more viable solution than not using text at all.

All in all I think you did a great job, we need deep studies like this to understand of how Flash content gets indexed.