Is developing for Internet Explorer necessary?

Everyone knows what Internet Explorer is. It’s that browser you use to download a different browser. There are a lot of different options, each with their pros and cons. Google Chrome is by far the most popular but may not suit some people because of the fact it chews up a lot of RAM. Safari is rarely found on anything other than an Apple product and the other main option is Firefox which had a brief period of being really, really bad.

When you look at the current browser usage statistics (http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_stats.asp) Chrome is sitting at just over 60% whereas Internet Explorer is under 10%. So the question comes up, is it really necessary to develop a website for Internet Explorer considering the fact that it is used so little?

Most people reading this would remember the dreaded Internet Explorer 6. At the time it was the most popular browser by far but to make sure a website would display properly on it a developer would have to include lots of weird, contradicting things that somehow combined into a working piece in IE6. Since then (thankfully) Internet Explorer has gotten a lot better. The interface is now quite clean and the actual browser is very fast, usually only just behind Chrome with most tasks.

Another point to consider is this, Internet Explorer is now very standards compliant. There are a few little things here and there, but the majority of the time the website will display exactly the same in the latest version of IE as it does in Chrome. Actually, in my experience, nowadays, it’s Firefox that requires the most ‘tending to’.

I know what you’re thinking. “Why hasn’t he given us an answer yet? Is developing for Internet Explorer necessary?” Well you could always do a quick check, in CSS or JS, for any versions of Internet Explorer and display a message to the user ordering them to download a better browser in order to view your amazing website but the simple fact is, yes, you do still need to cater for any weird little problems that Internet Explorer has, just like you need to cater for any weird little problems that any browser has. Even though only 10% of people use that browser, if your website gets 1000 visitors a day, that’s 100 people who are missing out on your content. Which is 3000 people a month (approximately, I did some serious rounding up with those figures) but the point is that you can see how quickly it adds up.

Besides, the only major issue I’ve come across lately is embedding different fonts on your website and with a simple little conversion tool and the code from this post http://css-tricks.com/snippets/css/using-font-face/ you should be fine.

If you want to check out how we have catered for Internet Explorer just head over to our portfolio on www.asit-group.com

Till next time

Alec

Question and Answer Time: Ask ASIT Group.

1. How much does a website cost?

A website can cost a little or a lot - that is, things like its appearance, complexity and purpose all have an effect. Web developers (like us!) will work with clients to understand their needs and wants, and following that, can put forward a proposal for pricing.  To get you started, we have an excellent guide to pricing on our website http://www.asit-group.com/ and if what you're searching for isn't listed or you feel you require something special, drop us an email and you will hear from us as fast as humanly possible!


2. How do i get people to visit my website?

One of the biggest questions we get asked, and the answer is complicated.  Driving traffic to your website can come in a variety of ways, the nature of your business also has a huge impact and can massively change how you get your visitors. Typically though, people that see your site have a chance to visit it, this is nice and easy, flyers, paper / billboard advertising, listed advertisements, all of these will help people see your site.  Additionally, connecting with sites of similar interests and having them link to you is also an excellent way to do it.  There are so many other ways too, but I feel these are my favorite!


3. Why aren't I at the top of Google?

Let's first start with how Google ranks sites, and why some are higher than others.
Google likes sites that have HUGE daily traffic, a site with a million daily visits will just about always be higher up than a site with a thousand daily visits (as long as they are both relevant to the search criteria).  Secondly, a site that has a lot of other sites linking to it will be very likely to be at the top of a search, see, a site with a lot of other 'backlinks' is more likely to be relevant and provide the searcher with valuable information pertaining to their search.
Finally, Google loves compliant, updated sites, and that is where we can come in, building your site in certain ways and using certain tools will allow Google to search and index your site easier, also, making sure you have a skilled web developer that doesn't have any errors in his code is very important.


4. How long does a website take to make?

This is again, a difficult question to answer, simple websites can be deployed in a few days to a week, whereas large, complex websites can take weeks or even months to finish, it is all relative to the needs of the client and the project that is undertaken. Getting in contact with us early allows us to establish a deadline and milestones early on so you are always in the loop. When
you choose ASIT Group, you are assigned your own consultant that is with you throughout the entire development process, our commitment to customer satisfaction and transparency is second to none.


5. How can I add things to my website - I'm not great with computers?

When your website is completed you will always have your own customer interface just for your (or your employees) to use to update, administer, and manage your site.  We create an easy to use interface that is well structured and labeled. If you can Google, e Mail, and Facebook (or any of the three) we can create a portal that you can use easily and without frustration.

Well, that't it from us, catch you next time!