Optimizing your WordPress website for all browsers can often be annoying. Not only do you need to make sure your browser works with Firefox and Internet Explorer, but you also need to make sure it works with older versions of those same browsers whenever possible.

One method some WordPress bloggers use is to actually refer their Internet Explorer users to Firefox through the use of the Get Firefox Banner WordPress plugin. This plugin will detect people using a version of the Internet Explorer browser and automatically display a banner promoting the free Firefox web browser along the top of the page. When users click on it, they will be taken to a web page where they can download Firefox.

Here is how it looks:

Firefox Banner Plugin

when you upload and activate the plugin, you will be given a few options in the Options panel. You can choose various text and background colors, and the banner will allow your your readers to close it easily to avoid offending any readers.

While this plugin is not a substitute for optimizing your web page for Internet Explorer, I don’t see how it could hurt to promote a better web browser to your readers.

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Kyle Eslick

Kyle Eslick is the founder and primary author of WordPress Hacks. You can learn more about him at KyleEslick.com or you can follow his personal tweets here.

There Are 5 Responses So Far »

  1. Zhu says:

    I’ve been considering it for a while now, since my blog looks much better in FF (I designed it for FF). But I’m afraid the banner will only annoy readers…

    After all, not everyone likes FF, even though I find it much better than IE, I have to accept that. Besides, a lot of people still read blogs or browse the web from their workplace, where they can’t install any additional softwares anyway,

  2. Kyle Eslick says:

    Zhu,

    I hear what you are saying. I would suggest polling your readers or just giving it a try for awhile and monitoring your site to see if it affects anything. It does come with a big X next to it for people to easily close it if they are annnoyed. :D

    Unfortunately, you don’t generate any income by converting people, so the only real benefit of this plugin would be for your site to look better to readers.

  3. Luke says:

    Thanks very much for the plug friend, I hope your readers find it useful if they download it :)

  4. Frank says:

    If this was like a ribbon to go in the top right corner, i’d use it.

    Like this: http://www.websiteribbon.com/

  5. loy says:

    I have tried this plugin, and I find it unnecessary. A few of my blog’s visitors have complained that I “insulted” them by telling them that they’re using an unsafe and outdated browser. Hehe…

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