Complexities and responsibilities have increased in the dot-com world as compared to what they used to be a decade ago. Imparting a consistent and seamless user experience is not a piece of cake anymore. While websites and web applications have made life easier in the virtual world, it takes rigorous testing to please users.

Nothing turns users away as quickly as a bug-filled browsing experience. To avoid that, it’s vital to ensure that your application or website behaves as per expectations regardless of the browsers, browser versions, operating system, and the device your audience is using. That’s when cross browser testing comes into the picture.

In this post, we are going to take a look at the top eight strategies for successful cross-browser testing. But before that, first, we will understand why it’s important to have a strategy for the same.

Why Is It Important To Have a Cross-Browser Testing Strategy?

It’s needless to say that cross-browser testing is more than just an imperative step to make your site launch-worthy. But with ever-increasing devices and frequent browser updates, the task can easily become challenging. Moreover, cross-browser testing can also become tedious and repetitive in the absence of a proper structure.

Top 8 Strategies for Successful Cross-Browser Testing

Now that we get the gist of why a strategy is important for cross-browser testing, let’s move on to the top 8 that help in making the process a breeze. Trust me, by the end of it, you will realize that these strategies can make catching bugs easier and aren’t labor-intensive. Let’s begin.

1. Rank Website Components and Pages On a Priority Basis

I can’t stress this enough. There is a lot to test before the launch of a website. If you try to do everything at once, it can become overwhelming. The efficiency of cross-browser testing will also decline. Therefore, it’s important to prioritize various website components and pages with the aim to reduce the quantum of work for covering the entire website.

Don’t think of prioritizing as ignoring some components. Instead, with this approach, you should be able to cover as much as possible of a site by testing the least number of components and pages. To get started, the first step is to perform a detailed assessment of the website. Review the pages and pick out components different pages have in common. Some commonly used shared components include side navigations, page templates, and callouts.

When you reduce a website down to common components and templates, it significantly reduces cross-browser testing efforts. Of course, that doesn’t mean you skip out on the unique components and templates. You are going to have to individually test them. But the good part is that you can skip those you tested previously.

For instance, let’s say that the navigation menu that displays on multiple pages wasn’t working fine on one page. You tested it and fixed the issue. So, when you jump on to testing another page, you don’t have to test that particular navigation menu again. This strategy helps testers move forward with testing without having to switch back and forth multiple times. A good practice is to begin testing with the homepage and move along to uncover other pages.

• Select The Right Browsers and Devices

To make cross-browser testing successful, you need to know the preferences of your customers when it comes to browsers and devices. You will have to keep on revising the list of browsers and devices you have picked for testing according to changes in demand.

Devices can quickly go out of fashion. So, keep on conducting regular analysis to replace and update as required. The same goes for browsers and browser versions. Old versions can become obsolete in the blink of an eye with updates. Make sure you add them to your revised list.

• Use Codeless Solutions With Artificial Intelligence-Powered Cross Browser Testing Tools

Even the most experienced IT pioneers can’t guarantee 100% perfection. Somehow these stubborn bugs and errors make their way through a software application! It’s hard to come across companies who don’t use DevOps and CI in today’s world.

While it helps them achieve faster results, Artificial Intelligence can increase the pace of this process further. By providing codeless solutions, AI minimizes the QA team’s efforts and saves a lot of time. It also cuts down on human intervention and reduces flakiness in various test cases.

• Leverage The Power of Parallel Testing and Test Automation

When you automate selenium tests, it enhances the test execution time. Combine this approach with parallel testing and nothing can beat the productivity. 

For instance, a single test case is going to take 200 minutes execution time if you are testing a combination of 20 devices and browsers. Parallel testing will help you accomplish the same task in just 20 minutes. You can use a selenium grid to simultaneously run test cases in various environments.

• Reuse Code Snippets

Reusing code snippets from various previous projects can save a lot of time when it comes to testing and development. After all, there is no harm in reusing something that you have already done before. Of course, you might still have to write some tests for or the reused snippets. However, they won’t be requiring extensive efforts.

• Write Clean Code

What’s the worst thing that can happen when you are trying to work with another person’s code? In my opinion, trying to decipher extreme complexities in their code can be frustrating. It’s a no-brainer but writing clean code will enhance the productivity and motivation of your team members.

A clean code is more understandable and readable. But if all programmers don’t follow this approach, this strategy can easily fail. That’s when enforcing code guidelines can come in handy. Moreover, installing linters in the IDEs can check the code for errors and spelling mistakes.

• Be Mindful of Security Requirements

Call me glass half empty, but the internet is dark and full of malpractices. Therefore, using security-compliant and certified products fulfilling all security requirements goes a long way. Being mindful of security needs in domains such as insurance and banking is more important considering their highly vulnerable nature.

• Make Room For Flexibility, Scalability, and Customizations

Flexible hardware, as well as software integrations, are a must in this excessively dynamic market. At any point, they should provide plenty of room for customizations since the market demands keep on changing.

Your device lab should facilitate easy adding and removal of devices according to the requirements of the project. But the changes shouldn’t affect other functionalities as there is a certain level of uncertainty surrounding the combinations of devices, operating systems, browsers, and browser versions. All in all, it takes a combination of flexibility, customization, and scalability to adapt to upcoming requirements. This helps in providing quality products to customers within the stipulated time range.

Final Words

The evolution of the software industry doesn’t have to be scary. In fact, the advancement is something to adopt and embrace as it brings a wide array of new opportunities and innovations. No matter how many combinations you have to test, as long as you have a proper plan and an impeccable testing strategy, you can ensure a seamless browsing experience for your users.

As long as you take the right pick for your cross-browser testing tool, you’re good to go. For instance, LambdaTest has been a pioneer in cross-browser testing for quite some time now. Imbibing the trust of more than 300k users, it offers Selenium test automation on different desktop, iOS, and Android browsers.

While cross-browser testing in the 21st century can be challenging than ever, it doesn’t have to be excruciatingly daunting. I can say with some confidence that if you implement a combination of the above 8 proven strategies for success, you can definitely simplify the process. So, what are you waiting for? Start implementing and watch your customers convert!

If you think running a business is hard, wait till you have to find ways to advertise it. Link building is one of the best ways to advertise your business, but it is not as easy as it sounds and requires a lot of hard work and dedication. 

Convincing random strangers to come to your website and buy products from you takes a lot of time. You have to follow up on a proper strategy and make sure that your link building game is up to the mark so that other websites link to your business without asking, and people buy products from you without a doubt.

If you try to run a link building campaign on your own, it is going to take you years to develop a successful methodology. Due to this exact reason, link building agencies like https://www.globexoutreach.com/ offer effective services to their clients so that they take the burden of link building off their shoulders.

In this article, I am going to take some burden off your shoulder, too, by highlighting five underrated link building ideas that you can implement to gain a following for your ecommerce website. 

Guest Posting on Relevant Websites

The very first and the most beneficial thing you can do for your ecommerce website is to publish content about your services on other relevant websites. All you have to do is to give value to your readers, and they will be happy to read your articles and blog posts.

A lot of publishing websites allow businesses to insert a few links in the articles and blogs. You can use this as an opportunity to bring new traffic and followers back to your website. However, before you begin your guest posting campaign, you should research the publishing website to make sure it’s relevant.

Partner With Local Businesses

Another thing that can help you boost your ecommerce sales is to partner up with other local businesses in your area. Even if you are running your business online, you rely on the local community for sales, which is why you must advertise your business in front of them so that they know about you. 

The more connections you make in your niche, the better it is going to be for you in the long term as you can easily get more links for your website. It is a very efficient way of raising awareness about your brand and joining the local forces so that you create a name for yourself.

Offer Products for Review

As you are running an ecommerce website, you might have a lot of products in your catalog that you might want to advertise. The best way to do so is to look for websites that do product reviews for the items you want to advertise and reach out to them.

Getting positive reviews about products on your website is going to create a lot of hype about your business. These five simple steps will help your product get more Google reviews. People are going to feel confident when they buy products from you, and you can also earn a backlink to your website through these product reviews.

Host PR Events 

Just because digital marketing is so prevalent these days doesn’t mean that you have to give up on traditional marketing methods. Hosting PR events and launch parties is still one of the most lucrative ways to make a name for your business and attract a lot of customers. 

However, you have to be precise with your marketing strategy when hosting a PR event as it is going to cost you’re a considerable amount of money. Make sure that you achieve all your short and long term goals through the event and get proper coverage so that you get value for your money.

Look for Brand Mentions 

Running an online website means that you have to make it easier for people to find you on the internet. If people don’t know who you are and what you do, they will never be able to learn what products you are offering and what makes you the best in the business.

Anytime someone mentions your brand on the internet, you get a free opportunity to earn a link back to your website. You can use different tools like Google Analytics to keep an eye on every time someone mentions your website. You can then follow through on that mention and ask them to link the mention so that you earn valuable visitors. 

Voice over Internet Protocol or VoIP is the technology that allows you to make and receive phone calls over a digital network instead of an analog (regular) phone line. VoIP converts your voice, an analog audio signal, into a digital data signal that you can transmit over the internet. It allows you to make free phone calls directly through a computer or other digital device using any standard internet connection. VoIP bypasses telephone companies entirely, meaning you don’t pay them any charges or fees. 

How Does VoIP Technology Work

Voice over IP uses the internet protocol, a fundamental building block of the internet, to transmit its signal. For phone calls, your voice (audio) gets converted into data packets. These data packets can then be sent anywhere in the world through the internet in milliseconds.

Today, making a call using VoIP is similar to making a regular call – you don’t have to use any specialized equipment. VoIP is built on open standards like Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). SIP removed the need for installing expensive, specialized VoIP equipment by providing interoperability between internet protocol VoIP apps and various types of phones. 

Making VoIP to VoIP Calls

Once you call, the SIP establishes a connection with the server of your VoIP provider. Your VoIP provider’s server connects to the person you are calling. When they answer, the SIP makes the connection. As you talk, your voices are converted into packets and sent back and forth in real-time. When you hang up, the SIP terminates the connection. 

Making VoIP to Landline (PSTN) Calls

VoIP gateways allow you to directly call conventional landlines or PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network). A VoIP gateway is a SIP component that converts digital voice to analog and analog to digital, depending on the device you’re using.

When you call, the SIP connects to the VoIP gateway through your VoIP server. The VoIP gateway receives the data packets, converts them into an analog signal, and sends it through the PSTN to the receiver. The analog reply signal is sent through the PSTN to the VoIP gateway, converted into a digital signal and sent through the VoIP server to the SIP back to your device. 

Benefits of VoIP   

• Low cost 

Making calls using VoIP is extremely low, far cheaper than making conventional calls. 

• High-quality audio 

VoIP calls have excellent audio quality. Voices are clear, not garbled, muffled, or fuzzy. 

• Customizable features 

VoIP gives you the ability to integrate certain features into your calls, such as call queues, call recording, and autoresponders. Fortunately, VoIP service providers often include these options in their business service plans. 

• Portability 

VoIP allows you to carry your phone service wherever you go. As long as you have an internet connection, plug in your device, and you can make and receive calls without difficulty. 

Downsides of VoIP 

• High latency 

This is the time delay between the two ends of a VoIP call. Latency varies depending on the speed of your internet connection, and generally, the slower your internet connection, the greater the latency. 

• Jitter 

This type of latency is caused by data packets arriving in the wrong order or late. Most VoIP networks create a jitter buffer first to collect data packets and put them in order before delivery, and most VoIP callers notice the jitter. 

• Packet loss 

The jitter buffer may get overloaded, resulting in the dropping or loss of data packets. This issue also may sporadically occur during conversations where whole sentences may be lost. 

Conclusion

VoIP is simple to set up and use for everyday business and personal calls; all you need is an internet connection. It requires no technical expertise apart from plugging in a power cord and a network cable to your phone. Unlike other calling apps like Skype or WhatsApp, VoIP allows you to call a telephone line directly, and they will hardly know the difference. Carrying VoIP with you is as easy as playing online Playtech casino – all you need is internet access on your tablet or mobile phone, and you’re all set!