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The Numbers Behind the Browser Wars (and What it Means for Marketers)

We all have our go-to browser that we use on a daily basis, which makes it easy to forget that other browsers are still in use. In fact, Litmus recently dug a little deeper into the world of browsers, and found some interesting info about some old favorites that are still leading the pack.

As of September 2012, 51% of web-based email programs are viewed using old reliable, Internet Explorer. This is compared to 21% viewed on Firefox, 14% on Chrome and 13% on Safari. It may be a bit of shock to realize that Internet Explorer is still that widely used, but Litmus found that that lead is actually decreasing.

From March 2011 to September 2012, Internet Explorer and Firefox use for email and general browsing actually decreased more than 15%, while Safari use increased more than 50% and Chrome increased by more than 90%.

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What do these stats mean?

For brand marketers, it means that a significant amount of potential customers are using browsers that we aren’t necessarily using. This could result in a variety of issues, including site navigation problems, and potentially frustrated customers.

It’s essential to test emails and updates to your site on a variety of browsers to ensure the best possible experience for all users. The best way to do it is by using a site like Browserstack.com. Check out our digital marketing toolbox for more essentials. Find the full Browsing Around Infographic here.