If you have worked with me or read my previous comments, I focus on ROI and using the right tool for the situation when designing.  I get requests from new clients all the time to create a sleek flash animation intro for their site.  Let’s assume that the work involved in creating that "really cool" intro is $1,000.  How much revenue do you expect to gain because of that awesome intro?  Before you answer that, send an email to 20 of your friends and family and ask them what they do when go to a website and see an intro with a really cool loading animation and a "Skip Intro" option?  Research suggests that more than 98% of all people won’t see the $1,000 investment you made.

Flash does have a very important place in website design.  Animation draws in a viewer’s attention and adds a level of professionalism.   It is very effective in communicating your vision, or showing off your product.  Drawing attention to a call to action is another fantastic use of flash. 

If you are looking to design a flash intro, you might want to reevaluate how you are investing into your site.  It is a much better use of your money to add flash objects here and there to grab the viewer's attention and generate an action that mirrors your business strategy. 

With the global economy becoming more and more difficult to thrive in, I have decided to introduce this BLOG to help improve the performance of websites.  My philosophy has always promoted the same concepts business owners have – to get a return on your investment and maintain the lowest cost of ownership possible. 

In an effort to provide valuable advice, I will be writing periodic articles to promote strong decisions to help business owners increase revenue and decrease cost related to business websites.  There are countless ways to increase the number of people that see your site, and drive viewers to action once they get there.

If you would like a free consultation from a business professional, go to www.goodfriendsolutions.com and request a response from the website.