Meant to say 'flash splash page with animation'...

Thanks again

I agree 100% about splash pages, but for those with flash site it seems the only way to have anywhere to a) offer the link to the html mirror site, and b) add text that can be read by the search engines...

I think some of the points in that link were about the downside of a fancy flash with animation, etc, though I do think they are are horrible whichever way they are done.

The blog page. If they are interested, there should be a Home link on the blog page to take them to the splash page (barf - this page is pretty much what I think about spash pages).

That makes sense, and ties in with what I have read. I get the impression that photographers using a flash template optimise their splash page as best they can with as many keywords as possible. I think I am correct in saying that this helps a bit, but limits them because as you say, they could put more keywords on other pages if they had them.

I suppose what I don't understand is whether, if they put more keywords into a blog entry, does that bring visitors into that particular blog page, or to the splash page and then to the website?

Thanks again. I am a little confused with how the html site and/or the blog brings visitors in to the site.

Google is only interested in HTML, so if you haven't got any (and it doesn't have to be a separate site, it can be on the pages with the flash pictures) you won't appear in search results.

A blog can help because you keep adding content, and Google notices that (as long as it is well linked) and comes back more often.

But IME if you are offering photography based in Nottingham, say, you will get the best results by having the title of your home page as 'Broken Record - Professional Photography in Nottingham, Derby and Leicester' or whatever. Have another page 'Wedding photography in Nottingham...', and 'Corporate photography in ...'

Thanks again. I am a little confused with how the html site and/or the blog brings visitors in to the site.

Re my previous site - to be fair, my friend did it at a big discount, and there were some minor errors which she fixed when she could. The not being able to amend it was a problem, but wasn't her fault, and it served me well for period I needed it for.

The 'net curtain' effect is being used to avoid the blocky effect of blowing up a the low resolution images downloaded from Flickr to full screen: I don't like it either, so I would turn it off and use higher resolution images. On reflection though, I think the first script would work better if you wanted some text on the page as well anyway.

You are absolutely right, you must be able to change the text and images on your site yourself: this is what I meant by 'back-end system', sorry I should have explained that better. Beware that what you mean by 'template' is not what many purchased flash sites are: often you can only put in your text and images once, if you want to make any changes you have to pay again. It looks like that is not the case with porfoliositez, but make sure you check if you are going somewhere else.

I see that that template generates an HTML version which Google will index if pushed in the right direction, but this means that anyone following the links will go to the HTML site instead of the Flash version (unless you use some server trickery). Google for 'portfoliositez denver metro colorado' and the first link will show you what I mean.

It sounds to me that you had a bed experience with getting your existing site together: whoever you use in the future I hope it works out better.

Thanks again. Interestingly the full screen gallery you linked to has a kind of 'net curtain' effect over the images on my browser...

I remembered a crucial part of my requirements which was to be able to update and change the site at will, which is why I was looking at templates. I'm now leaning towards the flash templates in the short term while I do some more research, but I'm really grateful for all the advice I got here - it's helped me sort my thoughts out a lot....

May pop back up with more questions in a bit

Now MrA - that was totally uncalled for - how am I sposed to do work now looking at the pissing rain after looking at those lovely pictures!

Ooo I think I am liking the full-screen gallery from the same people even better. Needs a bit of tweaking for iPhone goodness but that's fairly easy.

The images in that demo are hosted on Flickr which cuts out the need for backend integration, but does slow things down too much for a professional site IMHO.