Question Mark In URL??

[netviper]

So I am looking at a site for a client, and I think I already have my answer, but wanted to check with you guys.

First off the site is in FLASH and HTML.  I told the client to dump the flash site, but she isn't willing right now.

So the URLS are generated like this.

Flash:

http://www.mysite.com/#/page/7ca2/wedding-pricing/

HTML:

http://www.mysite.com/?/page/7ca2/wedding-pricing/

checking the site in Google with a site:mysite, none of the interior pages are indexed at all.

So that is telling me that Google is pretty much ignoring everything past the # or ?.

Is that correct?

My recommendation is to dump the flash site and redo the URLS in a SEo friendly format.

[netviper]

I think you would have to turn flash off to see it on a desktop.

But yes, my recommendation is the dump the flash version, keep the HTML version and restructure the URLS.  Only then does it make sense to start SEO. (thought you could argue that is SEO)

[jesse-landry]

Well maybe a mobile version. But from the desktop I can't seem to get to it. Anyway if the site can be recreated in HTML with the same look and functionality, why does she want the Flash site? Mention the speed factor to her as well... Site takes far too long to load.

[netviper]

I thought it was a full flash site also until I pulled it up on my IPAD.  There is a full html version there.

http://www.sweetlight-studio.com/

[RobMay]

Jesse's right. AS much as your client doens't want to upgrade and rework the entire site (build an equivalent in HTML or PHP), there isn't much you can do. This is a full FLASH site, locked SWF and Google isn't going to crawl or index any of the content or information.

You could do a few other things to help the business on a local level:

1. Build up all the social profiles and media needed to support Google local search. Social media, Google+, FB and Twitter sould be a good start. Even a LinkedIn profile to support the company and business.

2. Add in a WORDPRESS customization feature to the site, and build up a blog for content marketing and development. Work to create content around each of these categories and redirect users back to the company site. You don't have specific landing page URL's to use and optimize, but it's a cost effective start if they are unwilling to bend on going the route that will benefit them the most.

I've had clients like this and it's the hardest thing to tell them everything they have or are doing is wrong on many levels. It's probably the most sensitive area when dealing with a client you don't want to upset Tough road ahead for sure.

Cheers!

[jesse-landry]

You know I may have been partially wrong.. Some of the pages are being indexed and text as well. It's certainly not doing any favors though and the navigation is rough to begin with. I can barely see the pages in the nav bar.. Maybe tell your client that and it could help.

But looking at this shows me that not only does the question mark not matter (to answer your original question) but there is a bit of crawling going on:

http://gyazo.com/c13a1988a5a7d02a4661bf9a658c3c63.png

[jesse-landry]

Well the HTML site is redirecting to the flash site as far as I can tell. And the URLs are all goofed up and silly. Oof. You got your work cut out for you here, especially if the client is unwilling to change as you're describing.

Anyway because there is nothing but a Flash site here, Google is not crawling it and it's not being indexed from what I can tell. I grabbed a couple strings of text and ran a search for them and the site didn't show up. The homepage is indexed, but it will never appear in the desired SERPs as you already well know...

Your client would really hate me because I'd be trying to convince them to change their entire company name. I realize this is a localized business but there are 3 different "sweetlightstudio.com" websites that all look the same to me. Now I know there are cities at the end of each one but I guarantee you a large portion of potential customers get confused and end up on the wrong site and then say "wait I don't live in San Francisco what the heck is this" and leave.

Well good luck with this one! Ha!