It is always a good idea to let your visitors know that a Web page contains animated content, before the page attempts to load and to give an idea of how long that might take. If a plug-in is required, inform your users and let them know where they can find the plug-in. You should not assume every browser has the latest Flash player plug-in. Some users will not have the rights to install plug-ins on their own machines, or firewalls may block downloads.

Some users may have older computers, less advanced graphics cards, or slow Internet connections, all of which may affect the way your content is displayed.

By erring on the side of caution and accepting that not everyone will be able to view your animated graphics, you will see the importance of providing an alternative fully accessible version of the content.

Use animation wisely - unnecessary and annoying flashing graphics for the sake of showing of your new found Flash skills will soon turn off your users. Use animation when it is really is the best way of conveying the message.

The eye is naturally drawn to moving objects, and animation certainly is seen by advertisers as a great way to gain attention, Web-savvy users may however instinctively tune out when they see animations, assuming them to be ads. Be careful that an animation conveying important information, does up going unnoticed.

If the animation loops continuously or repeats every time the page is loaded, it will quickly become irritating. Allowing users more control over when the animation starts and stops is a good idea (e.g. setting an animated GIF to repeat a set number of times - if you want the user to have the option of seeing the animation again, let them know they can refresh the page to restart the animation).

Giving users the option to go back or move forward through the different stages of a more complex Flash animation will also make for a more user-friendly resource and caters for all users whether they want to whizz through or take their time.