Flash to HTML? Will I lose rank when I return?

[SEObleu.com]

My clients site in in flash! I am taking it down and building an all HTML site.  the domain is 11 years old and google has only indexed 3 pages...Yikes!  My question is that when I rebuild the site and optimize it for certain keywords and get my placement moved higher and then switch back in 6 months to the all flash site. Will I lose my gained rank?

[RyanKent]

The bottom line is your site is ranked based on search engine crawling. Your present flash site is mostly not crawlable so only 3 pages are indexed. When you switch to HTML assuming you offer proper navigation the site will be crawlable which should result in more pages being indexed and, if your content is of a quality nature, better rankings.

When you switch back in 6 months, how exactly will you switch? If you move back to your 11 year old site, then yes your results will return to the same as they are now. You will lose any gained ranking.

An alternative is to build a flash site on top of your new HTML site. Those who visit your site with flash-enabled browsers will see the flash content. Those who do not have flash-enabled browsers will see the HTML content. Your indexing and ranking will therefore be maintained.

If you use the latter approach, it is important your HTML content and flash content are in synch. It would be considered black hat and punishable to offer one set of content in flash and a different set of content in HTML for the purpose of manipulating search rankings.