OPTIMIZE

Links and Navigation:
Optimization Challenges with Flash and Java Applets

Flash and Java Applets have something in common: They all require the user to have a special program installed on their computer to be able to open and play the files. Most new browsers come with the necessary programs installed to play the most common file types. However, search engines do not usually open such files.

We recommend that you do not build your navigation links using any of these techniques. If you do choose to, though, you should only serve the high-tech version of your website to users that have the right plug-ins installed and at least have a low-tech version ready for all others. The low-tech version should include regular text-based links. This will work well with the search engines as well as the users that do not have these plug-ins installed.

TIP:
If you are using techniques to present navigational links that require the user to have a certain plug-in installed, then you can add additional standard text-links for the search engine spiders to follow. In the footer of each web page you duplicate the same links as you have in the navigation.

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