Topic: Maintaining New Site

http://www.grand-entrance.com
My first real flash site that I have to maintain. I didn't do the design, but I've already picked out quite a few things from the source files that I'll be able to optimize. My question for you all is this: what design features, such as navigation and/or layout improvments could be made? Are there any sore thumbs sticking out to you flash pros that I can fix? General comments are welcome as well.
One other thing that really gets me is the fact that there is white text on the main page to try and catch search engines... I'm told that's a big no no and that google can drop you for it, but what's some good ways to get a good search engine rank with flash sites?

~Sir_KiTree~Scan~
..::ill communications network::..

Why it's Flash instead of html is beyond me. The front page's "search engine optimization technique" is shameful and dangerous, illegal from the pov of every search engine of worth.

If seo is a concern, perfect defining reason/arguement to go html instead of Flash. (X)HTML would be more accessible, search engine friendly, portable and doggonit, I don't see a reason for this to be Flash! Granted, I didn't surf the whole thing.

Sorry I can't speak to your Flash issues, I'm no expert there.

Thanks Jason. I completly know what you're saying about it not being and HTML site... but the client wants flash and I'm not being paid to redevelop the whole thing, just optimize and maintain. So until he's willing to spend the money (which maybe i can convince him of) we'll leave it to the flash.

As for the front page 'SEO technique', i'm just gonna throw all that into noscript tags and that'll at least make it legal for now. But any other recommendations in that area would be appriciated.

~Sir_KiTree~Scan~
..::ill communications network::..

I figured your hands were tied but I couldn't not say that.

When I first got into search engine optimization or search engine page ranking a few years ago I just typed those key phrases into Google and went to the site on top Which was bruceclay.com - Search Engine Optimization, Search Engine Ranking (a little plug to see if he'd pop in and say hello). He's still near the top today and has tons of great advise on his site to get you started, or used to anyhow, I haven't been back in a long time. I learned the base from him though, and have supplemented as I go with various sources, webmasterworld is a good spot, the FAQ here probably has some good stuff in it, Emps knows things and what he knows he generally dumps there.

My number one concern with search engine ranking techniques is that they are providing a service and relevant to internet citizens, notr cluttering search engine results with meaningless sites returned. I don't think your site is doing that which is cool, but the hidden links is a big no no (you might want to specify a background color if you truly want to hide them, from people like me, with a non-default background color)