As much as I do not care for Google Chrome (lacking in user privacy) this browser is gaining in popularity; though it is my guess this popularity is due mainly because many users are unskilled/unmotivated at uploading and installing Firefox, Safari or Opera browsers to use on their many new devices.
A good example: I recently purchased a Samsung Tab E tablet and Google Chrome was the preinstalled browser. However, due to Google Chrome tracking, I immediately installed my favourite browser which is Firefox.
And, yes, before Google Chrome users shout at me about new privacy settings, there are ways to block Google from setting cookies, etc. You can follow the techniques detailed on Steven’s post at: http://www.stevenferrino.com/google-chrome-tracking-your-every-move/ to do this if you use Google Chrome and don’t want to be tracked.
So, now I bet you’re going to ask me how, as a website designer, am I able to check that the websites I design are in fact browser compatible; and that is a great question.
Simple; do an internet search for “check website for browser compatibility” (feel free to change the wording slightly. Tweak it for your use) … minus the quotation marks, of course, and you will see a list websites offering this service … some whose service is even offered free of charge.
Using this browser testing tool sure solves your potentially missing out on a website visitor who might not be able to opt in on one or more of your offers because your website is not browser compatible.
Think about it, would you come back to a website where the form is not working correctly in your chosen browser?
I know I wouldn’t.
To top this off; a website that is truly browser compatible has no worry as to WHICH browser is in the lead!
Sources:
http://venturebeat.com/2015/05/01/chrome-passes-25-market-share-ie-and-firefox-slip/
http://lifehacker.com/5763452/what-data-does-chrome-send-to-google-about-me
http://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-prevent-google-from-tracking-you/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Chrome

Trish, Firefox is my favorite browser too. When I was doing web design with Dreamweaver, I loved the built-in browser checking capability. I’ve gotten lazier now that my main sites are WordPress sites but I will take your advice and check for compatibility. Thanks!
Good idea Beth, because not all WordPress themes are browser compatible. I have been shocked to see how many “professionals” have not go a browser compatible website. Personally, I found Dreamweaver a pain. It kept adding far too much clutter (unnecessary code) with it’s drag and drop option. I much preferred the old WYSIWYG or HTML editing software like 1st Page.
Important post! I know lots of small businesses that don’t even look at the different browsers to see how their site shows. When I redesigned my website a few years back, I wanted to check to make sure the mobile and the main browsers would show it the way I wanted it to be seen. It worked pretty well. There were a few issues we had to work out, but that was easily corrected. Thanks for the reminder.
You’re very welcome Sabrina, and you’re right. There are still far too many websites by “pros” that are NOT browser compatible.
Thanks for this, Trish! I’m going to check mine now 🙂
That’s great Susan, I’m glad you found this post valuable and helpful to you.
Thanks Trish, I am going to do this check as you suggested!!
You’re very welcome Teresa, I’m glad you found this post helpful to you.
I have Google Chrome & I love their extensions. I also have Safari which I hardly use.
It’s very easy to get “stuck” loving one browser over another Roslyn. However, as website owners, we need to make sure our websites are easily viewed and navigated in ALL browsers, else WE are the losers. If Google Chrome and Safari display a website perfectly but Firefox and IE don’t … look at all THOSE browser users who will bounce from our websites VERY quickly.
I know when my developer was setting up my website, she checked it on a lot of browsers…some I had never heard of. I LOVE Safari, as I have a Mac. As my computer is 6 years old, Firefox is ridiculously slow on it and Chrome is no longer supporting the version of my operating system. Safari is sadly no longer compatible with Twitter, only Twitter mobile. This is really my biggest beef with technology. It becomes outdated and obsolete too soon. As far as why our websites need to be searchable on all browsers, I totally get that! I can’t imagine designing a website that people can’t find. Thanks for explaining the “whys”, in such an easy to understand way, Trish!
Beverley, I have come across website with forms for ebooks that could NOT be filled in using Firefox, and web pages that did not display correctly in Firefox and/or IE browsers. Being browser compatible is not just making a website searchable but rather simply usable.
This is a great point for website user/readability that I speak on. We have to realize that not everyone uses what we use.
BTW, you can use Chrome’s incognito tab and you have your privacy back, not to mention several other means. I love all the extensions available to me… FF is getting there and well IE… it is so out of date it is ridiculous. lol
Thanks for the “heads up” on using Chrome privately Kristen. I will give that a try on my tablet, but still prefer using FF.
Many people don’t take the extra time to check their work in all of the most commonly used browsers, but it does matter. Especially if you’re the person using one of the browsers that doesn’t display your content correctly! Great reminder to consider the rendering, not only the content, Trish. I will not allow my love of Chrome to distract me from showing some attention to the other browsers.
Good for you Meghan, you will be ahead of most by not ignoring all other browsers when checking compatibility of a website.
Thanks for tip to check browser compatibility. I’m a chrome user – and learned about incognito tab some time ago. Like everything else, we’ve all got individual tastes / preferences. So interesting to see what grabs people (in positive or negative) ways.
You’re right Deb, once we the “customer” have had a negative experience with a product or service it’s pretty tough to change our minds. However, I still make sure websites I design are Chrome-friendly too.
I will be doing the search next. Thanks. Oh and question…I thought Internet Explorer wasn’t supported any more and that Edge took over.
Great point Karen, and Thank YOU for making it. As a website designer, I should have mentioned the Edge browser too!
However, IE11 is still available for Windows 10 users… if they want it: http://www.windowscentral.com/how-find-internet-explorer-windows-10-if-you-really-need-it … and, some are recommending Windows 10 and Windows 10 mobile continue using IE if you’re running web apps that need ActiveX controls: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/mt156988%28v=vs.85%29.aspx
Great to know about checking different browsers. Will be adding that to my to-do list. Also, I checked into using Chrome incognito. One site said that your ISP and the website you visited stilled recorded you. If anyone has more information on the value of using it, I would appreciate learning more.
Thank YOU Joyce for bringing up this issue. I went searching to discover why for you (and those who read this after) and this is what I discovered: “When you use incognito mode, Chrome doesn’t record any history or cookies, and it disables browser extensions. This means that third party services like Facebook, Google, etc that use cookies to track your movement across the internet to serve you better ads won’t follow you to the incognito tab.” For the complete information: http://www.guidingtech.com/33828/chromes-incognito-mode-private/