Let me start by saying I have little experience with putting flash on homepages. My experience with flash has been to make a photo slide show for an artist on CD, not for web.
So, when it comes to flash, I do have opinions on how and when to use it. Here are some:
When to use it:
1) For wii games ( a simple game could be a good marketing angle to promote your service or products)
2) Slider Show for your powerpoint presentation( make sure it works and tests it before you actually go to the place)
3) Eye candy, Eye candy, Eye candy. (when you want to impress your artistic, creavite and programming skills )
When Not to use it:
1) When making the whole home page in flash..as the user waits for it to load…and look another ” click here to enter” link….Didnt we already enter the site?
2) Navigation. So you made an amazing website and the horizontal and vertical navigation bars are in flash…but wait, I cant see them because I dont have the latest flash player…So now I have to download it and go back again…wait did I download the right one (can possibly happen).
3) Just for the sake of it in terms of a small business (1 person who sells jewlery, art, or service).
Here is a interesting quick read on the Case Against Flash
