While the part of me that’s getting old says, “why can’t we just do it like we did before,” the techie in me is excited. The move to mobile in use of the Internet marks a huge step toward the removal of the barriers between us and our connections to each other and information. The device itself is becoming more transparent and allowing us to interact more directly with content, in more ways, on our own terms. As a website designer and developer, I find this both a bit intimidating and a bit exhilarating. When I first started building websites, what drew me to it was the way we could take a few simple rules and build something greater than the sum of it’s parts.

Some aspects of this shift concern me – in particular the move from a more “open” Internet to one that’s walled off for the sake of security and proprietary experience. In a way it’s a return to the old days of CompuServe and AOL, where the producer of the device controlled the experience of the user. It falls to we developers to maintain the push toward stepping outside of the intended bounds of the new products and systems. Yet it’s easy to understand the drive behind this change. People are tired of spam and viruses, and a more protected environment is appealing.

Another effect this shift will have will be to make large-scale fancy website designs a bit irrelevant. (You know, the ones with all the flowing shapes and flowered patterns, with animated photos and fancy Flash.) For years now, many web designers and developers have pushed for content-based websites, where the design is more a subtle part of the whole, while the content is flexible to accommodate as many viewing/reading devices as possible. This trend will only increase, as the range of devices increases. I think this is a good thing.

If you haven’t jumped in and joined the ranks of the smart phone owners, don’t feel bad, as of the date of this posting I haven’t either. But it’s about time.

This policy came about because back in 2007 Facebook had intended to remove the profiles of some students at Virginia Tech who had been killed. Because of online protests and a letter-writing campaign by friends and other Facebook members who heard that the pages were to be removed, the company instead decided to memorialize them.

Facebook’s official memorializing explanation from the FAQ page is:

“When a user passes away, we memorialize their account to protect their privacy. Memorializing an account removes certain sensitive information (e.g., status updates and contact information) and sets privacy so that only confirmed friends can see the profile or locate it in search. The Wall remains so that friends and family can leave posts in remembrance. Memorializing an account also prevents all login access to it.”

Alternately, you can also request that the profile be taken down completely. Either can be done by filling out this form. You will need to provide online proof, such as a link to an obituary, as well as some other details like the email address that was used for the account, birth date, etc.

A browser is like any other program. It is usually best to keep it updated with the latest free patches and updates. Unlike other programs like Microsoft Word or Photoshop, any self respecting browser will never require you to pay to switch to the most recent major version (switching from version 2 to 3 perhaps), or even updates (upgrading from 2.3 to 2.4 for instance) . You can feel free to update all you want without having to shell out money.

Why does my browser need to be updated?

You’re probably pretty busy. You might not have time to keep your software updated. A browser should be no exception, right? The thing is, browsers are not like other programs. They are your portal to the World Wide Web, and most of the rest of the population on the planet. Thus, they potentially also have access to the scum of the world who would love to steal your personal information.

Keeping your browser updated has many benefits including:

1. The newest software is usually the most secure to hacking and other security threats. No software is ever perfect, but keeping your browser updated will help you stay ahead of the bad guys out there.
2. The newest browser software displays web pages the best without errors like things being positioned where they shouldn’t be. Keeping your browser updated makes it easier for us web designers to make websites. For instance, currently around 9% of people use Internet Explorer 6 (which is 2 versions old). This browser doesn’t display web pages correctly, and makes the web design process take longer because of additional troubleshooting we have to do.
3. Newer browsers add features to help save you time and make using your browser easier. And…it’s free!

What about my settings and bookmarks?

Worried about your settings and bookmarks being lost in the update process? No fear. All modern browsers will keep your settings and bookmarks automatically when you update. Some will even let you import bookmarks from other browsers you have on your computer during the installation process. Just pay attention to the windows that come up when you are updating.

It might not be your fault!

If you’re working at a company or organization that doesn’t have the money to have someone update their computers, or has to use older browsers for some reason, you may not be able to keep your computer there updated. In that case, I urge you to keep your own personal computer updated.

Well, how do I keep updated?

• Not sure which browser you are using or where to go to update it? A simple way to find out is to visit our business home page. When you get there, if you are using an old browser, a box will display telling you what browser you use and how to update it. Or, you can do one of the things listed below:
• If you are using Firefox (our favorite browser), it should inform you any time updates are available. If not, you can download the most recent version.
• Download the newest version of Internet Explorer.
• Download the newest version of Chrome.
• Download the newest version of Safari.

Things change. Don’t be afraid of letting your website evolve and grow better with time. Often, once a website is completed, it’s left alone for years. This might be because it was such a hassle getting it finished in the first place, or maybe no one can find the password and the last web guy seems to have disappeared, or it might be just that you don’t see anything wrong with it. However, you should periodically reassess your website in terms of whether or not it’s doing anything for you. What do you and your business need from your website?

A difficult hurdle for many is that if you’re a business, then your website’s content isn’t for you. It’s an all too common mistake that the CEO of the company requires the site design and content to be “just so” because that’s what they like. With no thought given to the people you’re trying to reach with the website, this is a recipe for mediocrity and lack of ROI. As tough as it sounds, the typical website visitor doesn’t care about YOU, they want to know what you can do for THEM. The websites that focus on that, will always be more successful.

I found a great commentary that goes into this in some depth, focusing on real estate websites. (I think it applies to most other types of businesses as well.) It’s Rethinking Your Outdated Website, by Vinny LaBarbera on his Real Estate Marketing Blog.

When thinking about redoing your website (or building it in the first place for that matter) it’s good to get feedback from other people. But if you do this, make sure to get a wide sampling from different types of people. Those closest to you will tend to answer questions like “what do you think of my website” in the same way that husbands answer their wives when asked “does this dress make me look fat?” Your best feedback will come from a total stranger.