I recently started a new blog and after just a week I’ve seen visitors using 18 different browsers/versions of browsers. Did you know when all versions of all browsers are considered there are more than 50 potential browser programs someone landing on your site may be using.

I dare say my blog is like many other sites, 82% of all my traffic are using either IE or Firefox. What to do with the other 18% then? I’m showing Safari, Seamonkey, Mozilla, Opera, Chrome and others. The best way to check if your site appears ‘normally’ on most browsers (all is probably optimistic) is to run a check.

Browser Shots offers a free scan of your url, you can preselect all or some of the known browsers prior to running the scan. Results can take a while so brew some more coffee while you wait. When you get back you can see if your site by definition is due a serious overhaul or not. The older the site the more potential for that being the case, especially when you consider how many versions of each browser have been released over the years.

Again, the key to deciding what to do with your site is knowing where it stands in real terms. Hopefully checking browser views will help.

Tim at greenseedwebdesign

This is the first suggestion in a series of ideas to improve your current web design. If your site isn’t performing as it should it’s critical to assess if navigation and other  improvements will provide a benefit or if you might be better starting fresh.

Modifying an existing site (especially as it ages) can often take more design/programming hours than just cleaning the slate and building something new and (importantly) contemporary. So…it’s best that you take the time to review what you have and make an educated decision.

Feedback Army have a solution that involves people (yes…real people) who will review the site and answer questions that you set! You can submit 3-6 questions (some examples are provided) and for a fee you will get responses specific to a review of your site. They advertise it as risk free so it’s a good place to start.

We’ll provide the same service for you at Green Seed Web Design if you have a site that needs a facelift, has poor navigation or perhaps a replacement completely. Our initial consultation will provide suggestions and recommendations and is free you contact us. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, if you’ve done the hard work of having someone arrive at your site it’s business suicide to have a site that doesn’t keep the visitor engaged.

Tim at greenseedwebdesign

This is a JavaScript User Interface (UI) and the variety of applications are all listed on the site. With this you can build borders that give off light and an effect similar to flash. The visual appeal is that with an effect similar to filtered glass the dominant color of the page refects back into the pop up window.

Again, the images captures the use better than my description so I’ll need to dig into a thesaurus for better words than translucent. Needless to say it’s Open Source and has been tested with Firefox2 , IE 7, Firefox 2, Opera 9 and Safari 3.

Just worked it out….it’s like looking through frosted glass!!

Tim at greenseedwebdesign