Web Site Design Basics: Browser Optimization

Enhancing browser optimization

Browser optimization is important when designing a basic website, because it can determine the success or the failure of a blog, web page or web site.  

Nick Stamoulis, from "Search Engine Optimization Journal", suggests:

“SEO best practice dictates that a full-optimized site means every single page of that site (from homepage to individual product/service pages to the About Us page) has been properly optimized for SEO. This includes conducting keyword research, possibly rewriting the content, writing Meta tags and descriptions, customizing the URL, developing an internal linking structure and more.”

The word optimize means “to make as effective, perfect, or useful as possible” and thus, the task of a web site designer becomes one of an ongoing quest to develop the best possible web site.

Optimizing a computer is “to write or rewrite (the instructions in a program) so as to maximize efficiency and speed in retrieval, storage, or execution.”

When a web designer creates a large number of web pages over time, they may not always be compatible, inter-related or inter-linked. When it appears that they are not compatible for some reason, rewriting the web pages may bring about an improvement in terms of compatibility and browser optimization.    

With respect to computers, there are also other meanings for the word optimize, namely “to find the best compromise among several often conflicting requirements, as in engineering design”. 

Browsers are not all the same in terms of their basic technology. Sometimes there are features and options on one browser that do not appear to function properly on another. Installing a different browser may help, as updated browsers can offer different options and features, as well as increase functionality because of more advanced technology.    

Choice of browser:

In the year 2011, there are an increasing number of browsers available on the Internet for web site designers. These include Windows Internet Explorer 9 (IE9), Google Chrome and Mozilla (Firefox 3.5), to name just a few. Computer technology is in a continual state of transition with computer technologists always seeking to improve the technology. Installing an updated browser is relatively easy with a free download.     

Speed:

With browsers, there can be problems related to speed and display. The proper choice of browsers can improve both.

Search engine optimization (SEO):

Search engine optimization (SEO) involves the use of key words and key phrases that a spider or crawler from a search engine can locate. White Hat SEO is preferable to Black Hat SEO and is more likely to succeed.      

Site mapping (or indexing):

Using key words to build a site map enhances the likelihood of increased readership and higher ratings on a blog, web page or web site.

Structure:

An appropriate topic, related title and headings with the use of appropriate key words and key phrases, help to increase the relevance, ratings and ranking of a web page. 

User-friendly tools:

Different browsers offer user-friendly tools with features that can vary. Having the appropriate browser required for the installation of a certain user-friendly tool, allows that tool to function properly on a web page.  

Mega content (also containing key words and key phrases):

Mega content can vary. Most browsers are relatively compatible with mega content or have a compatibility feature that allows the proper display of mega-content. 

Mega tags and description (hidden or embedded tags):

Many browsers allow information to be encoded, hidden or embedded on a blog, web page or web site. This information is not immediately visible, but may assist in the function of the web page. At times, it is copyright information or ownership oriented and identifies the web page. 

Choice of URL:

An appropriate choice of a website address (URL) helps to increase the number of visits to a blog, web page or web site. The URL address should include key words.  

Internal linking:

Internal links allow the interaction of articles on the Internet. There may also be inter-linking of web site pages, on a larger web site.

These are just a few of the basics in web design with respect to browser optimization.

“On site SEO tip: Weigh time vs. return” by Nick Stamoulis suggests, “When it comes to optimizing your site, it is important to not lose the forest for the trees.”