What do we think about Flash and Virtual Tours?

Mary C. | 18 November 2004 |

Trent Blizzard, Blizzard Internet Marketing, Inc.

There are two questions we hear frequently that we’d like to address:
What do you think about Flash?
What do you think about Virtual Tours?

What do you think about Flash?
Flash is an increasingly common web-development language; it allows a webmaster to create a website that is interactive and visually appealing. Innkeepers often ask us if Flash loads quickly enough, if enough visitors can see it, and if it works well. We have seen many Flash websites that load quickly for the average user. When done properly, these sites do not appear to be any slower than standard ones. The vast majority of web users (over 95%) are indeed able to view them.

Often, Flash is used as an element in a standard HTML website. The Flash component is generally in a photo slideshow or the navigation, though there are a lot of other applications for it as well. See Spa at Harbour Inn - St. Michaels, MD for an example of a Flash slideshow. Using Flash as a component on your website offers the following advantages:

It is easy for a webmaster to develop
It loads quickly
It looks great
It is accessible to most users
It is search engine friendly

Some websites are built entirely of Flash. These websites can raise the bar for excellence with eye-popping visuals and interactive features. They are a great way to sell a high-end product. See The Horned Dorset Resort - Rincon, Puerto Rico for an example of one of these websites. If you are seeking a high-end Flash website, choose your developer carefully because quality can vary greatly.
There are more poor Flash websites than excellent ones. Please note that there are some disadvantages to an entirely Flash website:

It takes longer to develop, and is typically more expensive to develop

There is a potential for serious search engine issues, though they can be mitigated

The most common form of Flash is also the least popular: the little "movie" that introduces a website. We don’t think these serve much of a purpose, although very rarely a truly effective Flash intro movie comes along. Most users just click the "skip intro" button. We recommend you use a smaller flash movie integrated into your website’s homepage instead of a full flash movie.

Some samples of Flash on websites:
www.horneddorset.com/ - Flash Website
www.elkcoveinn.com/ - Flash Navigation and slideshow
www.blizzardinternet.com - News ticker & navigation, below the ticker
www.yellowbrickroadnl.com/bb-industry-links.htm &
www.magnahospitality.com/properties.htm - Flash map navigation.
www.seagrape.com/index.htm & http://www.oceanspraymiami.com/ &
www.moodygardens.com - Flash home page accents.
www.moodygardenshotel.com/ - Flash slide show.

What do you think about Virtual Tours?
We know that virtual tours are an effective way to sell a high-end product. While many people are concerned about load-time, our stats indicate that virtual tours are popular with consumers. We believe they increase conversion rates, and our clients are usually glad that they have them on their websites. Here are a few tips:
Make sure you have great flat photography in place before investing in a virtual tour

There are many virtual tour formats available. For most people, finding the vendor you feel comfortable with is more important that choosing a particular format for the virtual tour. Make sure you look at the samples from various vendors and the licensing they provide before making your selection. The format used should be the last thing considered when making the selection, if it’s considered at all

Give site visitors the option to see the virtual tour, since people with slow internet connections usually won’t view one

See our spotlight Virtual Tour Company, DV Tours, in this month’s newsletter.