Google recently announced that Google Sites and Google Docs will be phasing out support for older browsers, including Internet Explorer 6. This change begins as early as March 1st, and all users of these Google products may notice some issues when attempting to operate these Google Applications from within an IE 6 browser.
Why is Google Dropping Support for IE6?
The official explanation from Google is that modern applications need modern browsers to operate effectively. This move is also a response to the recent cyber attacks on United States firms believed to have originated in China. These attacks made use of a security vulnerability in Internet Explorer.
How Does this Help Me Market My Denver Small Business?
If you're going to have a presence for your Denver Small Business on the web - you need to decide which browsers your website will work with in order to reach your targeted audience. You want to ensure that your website is able to be seen by the most possible target clients. At the same time, you want to make sure that your website doesn't have to compromise on design or functionality just so it can be viewed in an older browser. Finding this "sweet spot" of reach and functionality requires some analysis.
Browsers My Websites Support
When I develop a website, microsite, or landing page, I make sure that the website works well in the following browsers:
- Internet Explorer 7, 8
- Firefox 3, 3.5
- Google Chrome 4
- Safari 3, 4
You'll notice that I don't support IE6. There are many reasons not to support IE 6:
- Using my analytics data, I have determined that less than 5% of my visitors use IE 6
- IE 6 is a nightmare to make work with more modern designs
- A website visitor that hasn't bothered to upgrade their browser in the past three years probably isn't a target of me or my clients
- The recent security vulnerabilities aren't encouraging
- Major companies are dropping support
When putting together your website, focus on your target clients. The overwhelming majority of your clients are likely using browsers more advanced than IE6. This trend will only continue as time goes on and support for IE6 gets phased out.