The short answer is "Maybe" The long answer is that the question might better be "Is a 100% FLASH website appropriate in business?" The answer to this question is "In my humble opinion, absolutely not". In fact, we have had several clients with 100% FLASH websites to completely remake their websites because they simply do not work. Issues are with search engines and with clients who can't see their websites.

Of course, FLASH sites do work in terms of visuals. Visit a FLASH website you will see striking visuals. But even if a visitor can see a website it doesn't automatically mean that the website is going to create business for you, and often surfers cannot even see a FLASH site or locate one via search engines.

WHAT IS FLASH?
FLASH is technology developed by Macromedia, a leader in web development tools. FLASH movies are a compilation of many images, elements and text compiled into a nice, tight little digital file that that can he loaded onto the internet. Some designers build entire websites using this technology. Graphic designers quite like the technology because it gives them a great opportunity to show their talent for developing interactive, animated - and, quite honestly, some very entertaining - websites. Remember though, that the purpose of your business website is communication with your existing and prospective clients, not to show everyone what a talented designer you hired.

WHAT IS FLASH GOOD FOR? FLASH is excellent as an add-on element for some graphical components of a business website. Combining digital audio and video into FLASH movies has been simplified recently for webmasters, and using FLASH to stream video is a perfect use for FLASH in a business website. Another example of FLASH well used and well received is on websites about presentation rather than information. For example, a rock band's site, kids' websites with games, photo galleries and movie clips are all uses for which FLASH is particularly well suited. Does FLASH have a place on the internet? Absolutely, it does, but as a website purchaser, though, you have to ask yourself the question "Does FLASH have a place on my business website?"

CAN EVERYONE SEE FLASH?
The short answer is "No". Although widely available and a component of most web browsers when they are installed, not everyone has FLASH installed with their web browser. If a visitor who does not have a FLASH plug-in on their PC visits a site that requires the FLASH plug-in, their web browser will prompt them to install it. PC and web savvy visitors will likely go ahead and do it, but some users (like my mother) panic if a pop-up window asks a question and they walk or surf away, thinking they just infected their PC with the latest doomsday virus. All of that said, a large percentage of people can see FLASH without too much anxiety.

Things to Consider:

THE INTRO FLASH SPLASH FLASH is commonly used for "splash" pages or "entry pages" into websites. We have all seen them, the animated movie or commercial that leads us into a more traditional marketing website. Have you ever wondered why the FLASH designer almost always places a "skip intro" link on this page?

It's because they know that if they don't allow people to skip the FLASH splash screen they will lose the visitor. Remember that most internet surfers are impatient and are usually looking for information, not another commercial. "Get people to your main web page and do it fast" should he the rule you follow.