Using Flash for your business site

I have issues using lightbox while viewing on my iPhone

zagiace wrote in post #6883500
I have issues using lightbox while viewing on my iPhone

Thanks.
Hey, on the iPhone, what resolution do you view a website in? Just wondering...

It depends on the site. Many have mobile phone compatible sites that automatically load when you visit them. The ones that do not are viewed initially full screen in the iphone native resolution of 480x320 with the ability to zoom in and out.
They appear very similar to a standard computer screen.

Here's a solution for iPhone viewing

zagiace wrote in post #6883906
It depends on the site. Many have mobile phone compatible sites that automatically load when you visit them. The ones that do not are viewed initially full screen in the iphone native resolution of 480x320 with the ability to zoom in and out.
They appear very similar to a standard computer screen.

thanks

While I have it, I exit any site that wants me to download a plug-in.

So the question is, what do you want the site to do? Show off your design skills to the cool crowd, or entice we dinosaurs to hire you to shoot for us, or buy something from a confusing website?

PhotosGuy wrote in post #6925848
While I have it, I exit any site that wants me to download a plug-in.

That just means your outdated...Time to keep up with the times... If you dont update that plug in, pretty soon you will be forced to or half the sites on the net will not load properly on your machine.

cory1848 wrote in post #6925896
That just means your outdated...Time to keep up with the times... If you dont update that plug in, pretty soon you will be forced to or half the sites on the net will not load properly on your machine.

I don't think so. In fact, I think it's just the opposite . Flash is proprietary and HTML is an open standard. Guess what is more desirable. Flash was designed for a specific purpose and showing off pictures isn't one of them, I might add.

For me, I use flash, for my main site. Though I do understand the issues surrounding it, loading times, unwanted music, etc. I tried to keep mine that was almost similar to my smugmug site, but still fancy looking. As for the music, I left the option for people who might not like it to turn it off.

As for loading time, more and more individuals are on dsl/cable internet connections that loading time might not be an issue.

But to each his/her own.

I have always stayed away from it cause I hear to many people complain about flash load times and campatibility issues

I think for someone doing wedding photography specifically, using Flash for their website can be very effective for marketing your service.

You are trying to differentiate yourselves from hundreds of others out there and the best way to do so is to give show them an overall emotional and interactive experience that gets them in the mood of wanting to hire you as their photographer for their special day.

IMO, by adding music, along with a "modern" looking website, it helps the potential customer justify them paying that premium you may have over others. Think about pricey high end boutiques, they will always be furnished with modern, expensive, trendy furniture. Of course, your photographs/portfolio is the #1 main selling point, but these are just the little details that I think can make a difference.

With that being said, it is also possible to do this without using Flash and there are way too many Flash websites out there that are dreadfully ugly and poorly designed.

I agree that Flash is so commonly used that it might as well be standardized. Flash, when done right, does not have overly long load times. I think it's stupid if you want to avoid using Flash because 1% of users are too technologically out of date to use it, or refuse to use it. There are however, good points about how Search engine optimization is not the best when you use Flash.

flash sites typically:

don't have a way to navigate the site using keyboard shortcuts
override the deafult browser navigation of using back/forward (this is a big pain)
poor search engine optimisation

these are the less obvious more subtle problems compared to the loading time and non "standard" navigation

given andreas site as an example it is better than a lot of flash sites, though still has the issues I mentioned
I also find the only 6 thumbnails at a time somewhat restrictive with no option to see all of them on one page (this bugs me on non flash sites as well)
The pricing page having a mini frame that scrolls rather than scrolling the whole page is another pet hate of mine, web designers usually avoid this

there is nothing on the page that couldn't be done using xhtml/css and the gallery could be copied using something like mootools, would be faster loading, more seo friendly (the browser only sees one page in the address bar), won't override the browser navigation and won't need any flash

overall its not what I would call a bad site, I just think it has some issues that are as a result of using flash and that use of flash doesn't really enhance the site, especially when the same can be done without it

Grumbledook wrote in post #6938258
overall its not what I would call a bad site, I just think it has some issues that are as a result of using flash and that use of flash doesn't really enhance the site, especially when the same can be done without it

I'm making an assumption that most of the flash sites that people on this forum are using are template based. I'm making another assumption that the majority of the people that use templates are because they are not web designers and/or programmers.

If there was a template company out there that can produce the same/similar type of websites out there without using flash...or as much flash, I have not found them. So could it be done without flash...I'd say you would know more than I, so..yes it could.

But....could it be done at the price, convenience and style that flash offers? I think that is the main question.

Also, the main topic of this thread was "Using flash for your business site". So what should be the main concern is does using a flash site hurt or help YOUR business and YOUR customers, and not whether or not it appeals to other photographers who tend to look at things from different angles.

well for a business the higher you are in the search engine rankings the better surely

this is where flash really falls behind

thing is there are a lot of bad web designers out there, quite happy to take your money and give you what you want but without taking the time to educate and help make the site you need (well one that is perhaps optimum to helping your business, some would argue any site at all is all they need)

I've used a mixture of flash/html on my site as flash isn't as yet picked up by google.
Site only went live a few weeks ago and I'm already on page 1 in Google for "Birmingham freelance photographer"

I looked at loads of sites and some were more a web designers showcase than showing off the images. Keep it simple and straight to the point.