Flash websites have been enticing web visitors and creators since their emergence.  However, there is debate over how effective this type of design technology is when it comes to online marketing. For some, Flash sites are considered to be preferred in comparison to the static HTML websites that have little to no moving parts. In spite of the popularity that Flash web design has garnered over the years, many businesses and online marketers concerned about  SEO rankings should beware!

Flash websites look cool, they add more visitor interactivity and make web sites more entertaining. However, there is  a lot more to the web than just having fun.  And, as we all know, there are a TON of things going on behind those beautiful and bright graphics that the average user views when surfing the web.

One of the biggest drawbacks to using a Flash website is the negative impact it has on the site’s SEO rankings. There’s no point in having a beautiful, exciting new website if no one can find it, right? So let’s take a look at  why Flash websites are still not compatible with search engine optimization (SEO) principles.

Flash is simply a software name created by Macromedia, which provides excellent animation quality on the web. Flash Plug-ins embedded on websites have the capability to make images, graphics, logos and animation appear to be in 3D mode, which is a lot livelier than basic HTML. In theory, the entertainment factor or enticement factor helps boosts up the odds that people will find your website more attractive and help to increase the amount of traffic on your site.  People who argue in favor of Flash web sites might also suggest that this type of design increases the likelihood that your audience will stay on your site for a longer duration of time, converting more prospects into customers.

While Flash websites are more appealing to the human eye, these websites will not be indexed by search engine spiders. In spite of showcasing enticing websites, owners of Flash sites may find it harder to rank decent in search engines because search engine crawlers have difficulty in detecting websites that utilize Flash. Yes, what the user sees on your website is incredibly important. At the same time, however; what web crawlers see is just as important. The difference between users and web crawlers is that web crawlers read the code that is hidden behind the images and graphics. In order to know how to rate and and rank your website in search engines, web crawlers MUST be able to view this code.

The myth about a customer staying longer on your site also does not mean a 100% conversion of sales. Based on statistics, the majority of online viewers are impatient, in terms of looking through what they really want. When it comes to web visitors looking to make purchases, price and product are the first items and information that users look for. If people need to sift through a ton of animation or close out introduction videos before they can get to what they are really after, this could be a deterrent and turn people away from your website.

Load time is another drawback with Flash websites. Both users and search engines are not fans of sites that take longer to load. Google added load time as a signal in their search ranking algorithms over two years ago and it has stuck ever since. Flash sites take much longer to load than HTML sites. As a result, they have lower SEO rankings and less popularity among users.

At the end of the day, simpler is better when it comes to your website. Sure, Flash in websites is appealing and enticing for some audiences, but it does not mean it appeals to everyone. The important thing is that you utilize web development  and design techniques that are both SEO and user friendly.

Facebook’s new “Timeline”  feature is undeniably a craze that has taken the social media giant’s website by storm since its launch in March. There was some controversy about Timeline taking over the face of Facebook but now that the new look is front and center, let’s see how it is affecting the user experience and why it is important to understand this new feature as an online marketer. Here are some of the surprising things one should know about Facebook Timeline when it comes to social media marketing:

1. One new and enticing feature of Facebook Timeline is the cover photo. It’s a new feature that helps highlight your page, represent your brand, and gives curiosity to the viewer by applying Murphy’s Law to web design. Cover photo has a size of 851 x 315 pixels and can be very complicated because of its terms and conditions. To avoid risking your entire Facebook Timeline account, be sure to research the terms and conditions that Facebook has set out regarding what you can or cannot post here.

2. With Facebook Timeline, you can now customize your Facebook applications. By customizing your Facebook applications, you can create all of the call-to-actions and personalized icons you want. Your Facebook Timeline will appear more personal and organized according to your brand or personality, helping you stand out among competitors.

3. “Highlighting” and “pinning” are a few of the new most commonly used features available in Facebook Timeline. By “highlighting” and “pinning”, your key moments, important dates, cool pictures and links are emphasized throughout your social media campaign. Unlike the old Facebook, this format in Timeline gives you a unique and more strategic way of emphasizing your important moments or things you want to stand out.

4. As a Timeline user, you should become familiar with the Admin panel of your account. “New likes”, insights, personal messages and activity logs are just some of the great new features that help you observe your fans as well as the activity of your page.

5. With Facebook Timeline, Ads are even more important than before. Although it has to be approached differently, its importance gives highlight to the very use of Timeline. You can directly post your Ads to any of your chosen applications where a specific call-to-action is available. Also, with the help of your current fans, engagement may be more important than likes.

6. Another cool feature of Facebook Timeline is being able to enjoy your favorite songs and music along with your friends. Once you switch to Facebook Timeline, you are given ample time, probably seven days, wherein you can personalize and organize your profile in such a way that you want others to see it. Within this span of time, your Timeline will be invisible, giving you a chance to make another change that you want for your Timeline.

Although it might have caused some controversy at first, Facebook Timeline has certainly shaken things up in the social media world. Whether you are a fan or not; it is important to be aware of how Facebook’s Timeline can work for you and your page as an online marketer. Unlike the old Facebook format, with Timeline you are able to personalize your account and create a fresh, dynamic new Facebook profile, exactly the way you imagined it to be. Sometimes, change is good. Especially when it makes you appear more creative and more up to date. As a marketer, we all know that this is an essential aspect of success. So keep an open mind when it comes to managing your Timeline.

Yesterday the International Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) approved a plan that will bring huge changes to the Internet Domain Name System(DNS). After a monumental meeting held in Singapore, ICANN’s Board of Directors voted (13 approved, 1 opposed, and 2 abstaining) to move forward with an initiative that will significantly increase the amount of Internet domain name endings.

Internet domain name endings are also known as generic top-level domains or gTLDs.  Currently, there are 22 officially recognized gTLDs; however, the majority of the public has become familiar with gTLDs such as .com, .net and .org.

Peter Dengate Thrush, ICANN’s Chairman of its Board of Directors, was quoted on the organization’s website in saying that, “Today’s decision will usher in a new Internet age … We have provided a platform for the next generation of creativity and inspiration.”

ICANN and industry experts have asserted that the new gTLDs are expected to revolutionize the way people find information on the web and how businesses plan and structure their web presence.

The new initiative will allow Internet address names to end with almost any word in any language. This will provide a global opportunity for organizations and businesses alike to market their brand, products, or cause in new ways. What kind of new ways? Well, for one thing, corporations will now be able to create their own domain names. For example, if the PepsiCo corporation wanted, they could create and offer domains that end in .pepsi.

If your wondering what the cost to purchase your own gTLD is; be prepared to break the bank.  Word on the street is that prices to register the new domain names are expected to be anywhere from $150,000 to $500,000.  ICANN has noted that the high fees are in correlation with the approximate $20 million it expects to spend on implementing the new policy.

ICANN is expected to provide further details about the initiative through a global campaign that will discuss the dramatic change in Internet names and raise awareness of the opportunities afforded by new gTLDs. If your interested in learning more about the ICANN top-level gTLD campaign, stay tuned – applications for new gTLDs are expected to be underway as early as mid-January 2012.