Is Your Small Business Website Multi-Browser Compatible?
Most people still use Microsoft Explorer to browse the internet, but the landscape is definitely changing. As more web users switch to other internet browsers such as Firefox, it's important to make sure that your website's functionality and user experience remains intact across multiple browsers.
Browser User Share.
Browser statistics on TheCounter.com show that Firefox has gained a large number of new users over the last 3 years:
* March 2005 - MS Explorer (90%); Firefox (5%); Safari (1%).
* July 2008 - MS Explorer (78%); Firefox (17%); Safari (3%).
Is your website Firefox compatible? If not, do you know what percentage of your website visitors are using Firefox? How might this affect user experience and, in turn, your bottom line?
5 Areas of Compatibility.
Datalink, an Australian web development firm, uses the following categories to assess website performance in terms of browser compatibility:
1. Accessibility - Can users access your content? This is the most important compatibility category because your small business doesn't really exist if users can't read what's on your website.
2. Critical Functionality - Are basic website functions available i.e. navigation, ecommerce, contact forms; etc?.
3. Basic Visual Design - Are all visual elements in sync? In many cases website visitors can read the content, and see some graphics but some images and visual web elements don't line up properly.
4. Non Critical Functionality - Are secondary website feature available i.e. other navigation aids, site maps, links, etc?.
5. Sophisticated Visual Design - Does the website look perfect and support certain features on particular browsers that are available on all browsers?.
Opportunity Cost.
Browser incompatibility can have a negative effect on your small business - a site with compatibility issues can:
* Cause users to question your professionalism - Is your website a reflection of the services you provide?.
* Damage your brand - Will bad user experiences prevent you from gaining trust or eventually eroding your brand equity?.
* Cause loss of business - Consumers have high expectations and declining patience when it comes to their online experiences. For example, a colleague switched regional airlines because he could reserve his flight online but, due to browser issues, could not pay for his ticket. He got tired of having to call to complete his transaction every time and switched to the competition.
Case Study.
One of my small business clients experienced browser compatibility issues before re-designing their website earlier this year. When they first started their small business in 2005, they decided to program their website using MS Publisher, which is not compatible with Firefox.
As their business grew and they began to establish a presence online, website browser incompatibility became an issue. Clients, vendors and business associates started commenting on the fact that their website was not completely visible on Firefox.
Before deciding to have a new website designed, they installed Google Analytics on their existing site to gather some data about their visitors, including the type of browser they used. As it turned out, Firefox was being used by 35% of the users entering their site.
The small business owner was concerned that Firefox users connecting to their website would get a bad first impression and never bother contacting them. In addition, their brand image would be at risk if (negative) word of mouth started to circulate.
They decided it was a good investment to redesign their website, using a programmer that guaranteed compatibility across multiple browsers. Recognizing the importance of browser compatibility prevented any permanent damage to their brand and helped continue their positioning as a professional service provider.
Is Your Small Business Website MultiBrowser Compatible - To learn more about this author, visit Mark Smiciklas's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
![]() | |
| |
No article feedback found. |
| |
Leave Your Feedback |
|
| |
| |||
Jeff FosterWebBizIdeas.com is a Minneapolis website design company founded to help people start an internet business by providing them with website, business, and internet resources that help foster the growth of successful online businesses and develop innovative Internet business ideas. We specialize in internet consulting & internet marketing. - Visit Jeff Foster's Website |
|||
Casey GollanCasey Gollan, Business Coaching & Mentoring Programs. Add $1 Million to $10 Million in the next 1 to 3 years. Since 1996 Casey has to added hundreds of millions of dollars to businesses. Watch a free video see client results Business Coaching website. - Visit Casey Gollan's Website |
|||
Cheryl MatthynssensCheryl is a life skills coach, licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and a 20 year entrepreneur. Cheryl's dedication to achieving a life of balance led to her expanding her teaching from the simple managing of life's daily challenges to adding financial well being as well. A direct marketer with DrinkACT, she is gaining ground in the online community with her concepts of making sure business owners, entreprenuers and employees have well rounded life styles. She opened up a small affiliate site - The Balance Guide- to help others find resources for mental and emotional well being. Visit Cheryl's blog to see more of the diversity beyond business she has began offering online at www.thebalanceguide.blogspot.com - Visit Cheryl Matthynssens's Website |
|||
John AlexanderJohn has taught keyword research and SEO skills to small groups of business owners and Webmasters from over 80 different countries world wide since 2002. John is also the Director of Search Engine Academy ; Co-director of Training at Search Engine Workshops offering live, SEO Workshops with his partner SEO educator Robin Nobles, author of the very first comprehensive online search engine marketing courses at SEO Training Online and the SEO Workshop Resource Center. I look forward to hearing from you! - Visit John Alexander's Website |
|||
John BrennanJohn Brennan Ed.D. Dr. Brennan is President of Interpersonal Development, LLC, a training and development firm. Interpersonal Development has provided sales training and coaching to more than 3,000 sales reps from over 100 companies. A native of Australia, Dr. Brennan received his doctorate from the University of Rochester. His dissertation researched the effectiveness of Behavioral Modeling Technology in training people in interpersonal skills. While he has spent most of his career designing or delivering training, he was also a Vice-President of Sales of a training and development franchise with operations in 25 markets. Dr. Brennan has designed and delivered sales training in North America, Asia, Europe, Australia and the Middle East. He has been a guest speaker at numerous national and regional professional conferences. When Microsoft wanted Best Practices articles on sales for their web site, they called Dr. Brennan. The results are at http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/FX011387391033.aspx His firm’s clients have included Volvo, The Prudential, Merrill Lynch, Eastman Kodak, Gannett, Equifax Europe, the Economist Group and countless small businesses. - Visit John Brennan's Website |
|||
Jay Kubassek(Jay's Full Bio: EvanCarmichael.com/jaykubassek) In five years, Canadian-born entrepreneur Jay Kubassek went from selling mufflers at a Midas franchise to revolutionizing Internet marketing with the 2004 launch of CarbonCopyPRO, a online marketing education company, now worth over $20 million with customers in over 160 countries.
As an independent film producer, his upstart film fund Aliquot Films is currently producing a films with Spike Lee and Abel Fererra (starring Ethan Hawke and Dennis Hopper.)
Jay's entrepreneurial spirit is irrepressible. He’s the owner of five companies, a professional speaker and trainer, international real estate developer/investor, extreme sport enthusiast and emerging philanthropist. Jay resides in NYC with his wife Jamie, son Milo and dog Cooper. Visit Jay's official website: www.JayKubassek.com - Visit Jay Kubassek's Website |
|||
David BarrDavid Barr is the President of Venture Opportunities, Inc. David has been a professional business broker/intermediary since 1980 focusing on General Business Brokerage and Mergers and Acquisitions representing client transaction value from $400,000 to $20,000,000. Mr. Barr has handled the sale of over four hundred and fifty companies. David earned a university degree from the State University of New York majoring in economics and business. David holds the Mergers and Acquisition Master Intermediary and the Certified Business Intermediary designations from the International Business Brokers Association. He is also a Senior Business Analyst and a Texas licensed Real Estate Agent. For more information about David and Venture Opportunities, visit www.bizdealmaker.com. - Visit David Barr's Website |
|||
Anne BarrAnne Barr has over 26 years experience in sales and marketing, six years as a franchisee. She has assisted over 367 business owners and purchasers to achieve their goals in career change, transition and exit strategy. She holds the designation of Certified Franchise Executive from the International Franchise Association, Certified Business Intermediary from the International Business Brokers Association and Board Certified Broker from the Texas Association of Business Brokers. Anne is active in professional organizations, networking groups and volunteers for non-profit entities. As owner/operator of four successful businesses, Anne has proven people skills and enjoys helping clients find the right "fit" in business ownership. Visit www.FranchiseOpportunitySpecialist.com for more information about me and my company. - Visit Anne Barr's Website |
|||
|
To learn more about the Evan Elite Author Program please contact us. | |||
![]() | |
![]()
| |
![]() | |
|
| |
![]() | |
|
| |
![]() | ||||||
|
![]() | ||
|
| ||
![]() |
| Have you written articles that would be of value to entrepreneurs? Become an expert on our site by publishing them! Expose yourself to a wide audience, drive more traffic to your website and get more sales! Click Here for details. |
|
|
![]() |
| Modeling the Masters: Learn the true secrets behind Walt Disney's business success factors & grow your company! Video produced by Phanta Media |
|
|
![]() |
"Learn straight from Evan how you can Make a Full Time Income (And More) from a Website"
Click Here To Learn More |
|
|
|
|
Get advice & tips from famous business owners, new articles by entrepreneur experts, my latest website updates, & special sneak peaks at what's to come!
|
![]() |
|
|
![]() | ||
|
Top 50 Blogs For Startups
Top Blogs To Watch In 2008 | ||
|
Top 50 Debt Blogs
Learn To Get Out Of Debt | ||
![]() | ||
![]() | ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||













Subscribe to Mark's articles











