Basics of Developing Chrome-Friendly Websites

Google is undeniably the smartest search engine to the inquisitive eyes, channelizing information corresponding to the users’ queries in a single click. Along with precise channelization of web information, Google, through its browser Chrome, also carries the potential to clearly mark the secured and unsecured websites. Thus, Google is focusing on gifting its users a standardized solution to achieve favorable results.

HTTPS: The preferred protocol

HTTP was the most commonly used protocol for accessing any website pages through the web browser. Using this application layer protocol, every communication happens over plain text. It gives a possible chance to the hackers for illegitimate access between the browser and the website. To address this issue, HTTPS was introduced. HTTPS keeps the information in encrypted form between the browser and the website.

Chrome encourages users to use and validate HTTPS standards for their websites. HTTPS standard encrypts the channel of information from the browser to the web server. Thus, data from the secured HTTPS websites can never tampered by anyone. In comparison, the HTTP websites are unencrypted and may lead to a possible hack into the users’ device. Moreover, malicious viruses and malwares can be a severe threat for the users. To ward off users from visiting such unsafe websites, Chrome’s 68th version will be launching in July with an extremely helpful new feature, which distinctly displays “Not secure” in the address bar for any HTTP website. This will persuade users to use the secured and encrypted HTTPS websites to serve their purpose. Google aspires to emphasize on the importance of HTTPS standards with the addition of this feature and subsequently giving a boost to users’ safety.

With an alarming increase of cyber-crimes, Google has taken up this initiative that moves the world towards a safer internet. Chrome had embarked on this realistic journey long back to warn users against unencrypted websites. Chrome’s announcement to indicate the unencrypted HTTP websites as “Not secure” has raised an alarm for all HTTP websites to migrate to HTTPS standards.

Chrome’s new policies will assist in protecting a large chunk of data on the internet that is extremely sensitive, additionally educating users about the websites they can trust. A browser is the only client-facing tool and with Chrome distinguishing which websites are secured and which are not is a big boon for end users.

Other key practices for a successful website

In addition to the HTTPS standard preferred over HTTP, Google’s also lists out a few more key practices that assist the search engine to crawl, index and understand a website’s content to list out the most desirable links for possible answers. Google refines the results accordingly and removes those links that do not comply with their standard guidelines. Google’s intelligent Search Engine Optimization provides the best links under the search results only if the following conditions are met:

• Responsive Web Design
  Google ranks website designs that are highly responsive to mobile and tablet screens as well. Any website capable of handling requests from hand held devices would be ranked higher on the search results. It is essential that a website loads properly and efficiently across devices. There shouldn’t be any hindrance in the website performance while being viewed on any form of device. Any user that views the website should always be satisfied with the website design, performance and content across platforms and devices.
• Homepage
  Information oriented website having an impressive homepage is the core requirement for an SEO. This means that every website should use the common keywords that the crawler will usually type on the search bar for results. Using those keywords in framing sentences on a homepage is a good idea but they should not occur unnecessarily. Google bans those website that try to trick users with their unethical practices to improve the website ranking.
• Avoiding irrelevant keywords
  Never flood a website with popular keywords that are irrelevant to the website context. This can risk the website from being displayed under Google search results. In addition, using hidden text or links is a deceptive step and violates Google’s guidelines.
• Static Text Link
  Static Text link are more preferable than links created through JavaScript or any other features. Many browsers block unnecessary javascripts or require permission to run dynamic content. A static text link is easily recognized by any browser and does not demand additional user actions. Static text links are identified by any search engine and are thus useful in bumping a website towards the top of a search result list.

Preventive steps for every Website

Apart from the above mentioned directives, Google also suggests the following steps that help in ensuring that there are no limits to what a website can accomplish:

• Continuous monitoring of websites by their owners against any vulnerability such as hacking. It is extremely important to remove the hacked content that is misleading to users.
• User-generated spam should be removed immediately, if it is displayed on your website.

Google’s Webmaster Guidelines is the epitome for a successful and search friendly website. It gives a comprehensive solution for systematizing a website that wants to expand its reach to prospect followers. Moreover, Google has now initiated some of its refined solutions on Google Chrome browser to suggest users against visiting unsecured content.