If you have a website hosted with CPA Site Solutions and have email via the Workteam Collaboration Suite, then you should be aware of some changes with Internet Explorer 6 and Google. Google plans to discontinue support for Internet Explorer 6.

Shared Calendars is One Feature Offered by the Workteam Collaboration Suite

IE 6 Not Supported. Google plans to discontinue support for Internet Explorer 6 starting March 2010. According to an email sent out to those who use Google Applications, “over the course of 2010, we will be phasing out support for Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 as well as other older browsers that are not supported by their own manufacturers. We plan to begin phasing out support of these older browsers on the Google Docs suite and the Google Sites editor on March 1, 2010.”

Since the Workteam Collaboration Suite is powered by Google Apps then the proposed change potentially affects those who use it. If you are of the 10% of those who still use IE 6 then you might consider some alternatives.

Switch to Firefox. In a previous post there is mention of many reasons to switch to Firefox. The decline of IE 6 can now be added to the list of reasons to switch.

Update Internet Explorer. It is free to just upgrade to IE 7 or just jump to IE 8 (option available within the same link). If you are like the other roughly 36% of users who like Internet Explorer then this is probably your best option.

Use Chrome. Google’s browser is called Chrome and, although only launched in September of 2008, already has over 10% of the browser share of users. It is faster than many of the other browsers and is easy to use. If you are interested in new frontiers this might be your option.

Use Safari. Safari is the default browser for those people who use a Mac. Even so if you own a PC you can use it as well.

Use Opera. You can also download Opera for free. Although only 2.2% of people use it, it is still an alternative to IE 6.

Although support for IE 6 is declining, there are alternatives. If you use the Workteam Collaboration Suite provided with any website hosted by CPA Site Solutions, then you want to be sure to choose one of the alternatives above.

Have a comment? Fill out the form below.

Getting listed on Google’s local search results is a must for any CPA website to be successful. Second to getting listed is getting people to review your accounting website. This post is about the third way to improve your local listing, through updating your business categories.

Local Map Showing CPA Site Solutions

Business Categories. According to Google, “Categories are ways to classify your business that help Google show your business for the right searches.” You establish your category in the initial listing process but these can be updated at anytime.

Updating Categories. Again, according to Google, “The Local Business Center will suggest categories that match what you type, but feel free to create your own if you don’t see a category that fits your business.” To clarify, you have to choose one of the categories that Google automatically lists. After that you can, and should, create your own.

Custom Categories. You can customize four category listings. You can take what people might search for and update these categories appropriately.

Example. Lets use a CPA firm in Winooski Vermont that is Quickbooks Certified. I might add the following categories for this fake business: Winooski Vermont CPA, Winooski Vermont Taxes, Winooski Vermont Tax Preparation, Winooski Vermont Quickbooks.

Use Some Caution. There can be some abuse to custom categories and Google looks for this. If you try to stuff your categories, for example with terms that might help your business show in a lot of searches but not directly related to your website, you will actually get penalized.

Since Google local searches show at the top of any search, just below sponsored listings, it is important to maximize this potential. Taking the time to create custom categories is another way to make sure your CPA website is viewed by more people interested in your services.