Google Chrome web browser is a user-friendly browser that can be used for average browsing and is also powerful enough to satisfy the needs of more advanced users. Chrome has several other great features that offer a number of advantages:
One is the fact that it won’t crash on you with the multipurpose architecture that protects you from a bad Web page or application bringing your browser down. Each window, tab and plug-in operates in its own environment so even if one site is faulty, the others will keep running. Isolating each application and site in a limited environment also increases security.
Chrome works fast – really fast. The multiprocess foundation means that one slow site won’t affect the rest. You can just click on a different window or tab. The same is true with plug-ins. Chrome also stays out of the way with its streamlined interface design. Most of the screen space is dedicated to the site you are on without logs or buttons taking up space.
You’ll also appreciate how much simpler searching is. An important feature on Chrome is its Omnibox, which is an integrated all-purpose bar located at the top. You can type a search term or URL and Chrome will just take you there, no questions asked. Omnibox also learns your preferences, like a good friend over time. Once you visit a site, Chrome will remember that the site has its own search box and will give you the option of using it from Omnibox, which automates keyword searches.
Chrome also gives more control over tabs with tabbed browsing new power. What this does is that it makes it possible to grab a tab and drag it into its own window. You can also drag and drop tabs into existing windows so you can combine them. You also get the option of starting up in any tab configuration of your choice, be it a custom setup or the set of tabs you were looking at in your previous sessions. With other browsers, this capability is only possible with third party add-ons.
Chrome also acts like a ‘gentleman’ and opens new doors on your home page. Your most visited sites are remembered but you can override the dynamic home page with any page, much like you can set the default search engine to any preferred service. You’ll also appreciate that Chrome lets you stay incognito with the option of private browsing.
Google Chrome browser extensions
Another great offering that can give marketers better results is Chrome extensions. Below is a look at seven that can really turn around your marketing campaign.
PicMonkey is an in-browser software for photo editing that makes it fast and easy to edit and customize photos. You can use it to get into the landing pages of competitors and take a screenshot to refer to and improve your landing page. Another extension is Awesome Screenshot Capture which you can use to capture not only part of a landing page, but a full page.
There’s also Eye Droppe which you can use to see the color a competitor is using on their landing page that is making it look so good. WhatFont is another extension that can be used for, you guessed it, finding out what font another site is using. Lastly, for web design, there is Page Ruler that helps you figure out the page dimension of a competitor’s landing page.
Chrome extensions can also be used to see the PageRank of a website with Google, which can tell you whether guest posting on a site would be worth it or not. Then there’s Sidekick by HubSpot. Sidekick is an app that makes it possible for you to know that your email has been opened or your link has been clicked on for the purpose of follow-ups.
The other side of it
To be fair, Chrome does have another side of it, or misgivings that have been pointed out. They include that it is only in its first beta, which may mean some teething problems and that you will have no add-ons, which is a big draw for Firefox fans, and that you will not be able to synchronize across a network of computers as can be done on Firefox with Mozilla’s Weave option.
There are also concerns about lack of standards such as with text formatting and the fact Chrome gives competitors an edge because of Google’s privacy policies and data sharing with advertisers. There’s also concern about the fact that Chrome has dropped the URL dropdown bar and installed Omnibox instead and the fact that Chrome History functions are not as versatile as those built by Firefox, which means some history power is lost.
More to gain than to lose
The benefits of Chrome Web browser and the extensions outweigh the concerns. Some of the concerns are about potential scenarios rather than actual threats and some just need a user to adjust to new settings and formats. You can also be sure that Google never sleeps and is always working on bettering Chrome and all its offering which means greater browsing experiences and better tools for marketers.
