Search Engine Optimization: Silverlight VS Flash
Ah, they did it. Or so some would have you think.
Microsoft is including an XML presentation layer in Silverlight to address a major problem with Flash: Search Engine Optimization.
Of course, with Flash, you need to use the SWFObject to provide copy to search bots. Otherwise, you are transparent to them.
With Silverlight, you have XML. Quite advantageous. At least, that is what Microsoft would have you believe.
A gentleman over at http://albatroscr.com/seosilverlight/ has made a Silverlight page to see if it got indexed.
Apparently, Google chooses to overlook XML that is application-specific, as would be the case with Silverlight XML.
Remember Accessability. It isnt kosher to require a web surfer to require a specific proprietary plugin of any sort. You need to include alternate text.
So, before you convert all your Flash Pages to Silverlight, do your SEO and create a plain HTML page (how boring, yes I know…) to be indexed.
Then, either swap it out with SWFObject or include it with your Silverlight code. Either way, keep your content out of proprietary software.
Same old story, new spin.
Thanks for your time.
Best,
Josh Milane
MIT Technical, Boston
