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Ever search for CSS info and run into some article — perhaps even one or a dozen on this site — that looks promising until you realize it was published when dinosaurs roamed the planet? The information is good, but maybe isn’t the best reflection of modern best practices?

I’ve wondered that a bunch. And so has Chris. But so has Brecht De Ruyte and he’s actually doing something about it, along with other folks who make up the W3C CSS-Next community group. I worked with him on this article for Smashing Magazine and was stoked to see how much discussion, thought, and intention have gone into “versioning” CSS.

The idea? We’d “skip” CSS4, so to speak, slapping a CSS4 label on a lot of what’s released since CSS3:

CSS3 (~2009-2012):
Level 3 CSS specs as defined by the CSSWG. (immutable)

CSS4 (~2013-2018):
Essential features that were not part of CSS3 but are already a fundamental part of CSS..

From there?

CSS5 (~2019-2024):
Newer features whose adoption is steadily growing.

CSS6 (~2025+):
Early-stage features that are planned for future CSS

The most important part of the article, though, is that you (yes, you) can help the CSS-Next community group.

We also want you to participate. Anyone is welcome to join the CSS-Next group and we could certainly use help brainstorming ideas. There’s even an incubation group that conducts a biweekly hour-long session that takes place on Mondays at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time (2:00 p.m. GMT).

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It’s Time To Talk About “CSS5” originally published on CSS-Tricks, which is part of the DigitalOcean family. You should get the newsletter.

Customer service is the assistance provided to customers at every stage of their interaction with your brand, from pre-purchase to post-purchase. It aims to ensure a smooth, positive experience and extends beyond just resolving issues. This includes offering proactive, high-quality support through multiple channels such as phone, email, text, chat, and social media, often supported by advanced software.

The seven pillars of great customer service

To master customer service and foster customer loyalty, service leaders should focus on these seven best practices:

1. Integrate customer service with the organization

   Consistent customer interactions are key. Whether using self-service or speaking with a rep, continuity is expected. Integrating customer service with a CRM system gives agents access to vital customer details. This holistic view enables more informed and effective support, reducing redundant information requests and ensuring smooth service.

2. Provide support across all channels

   Today’s customers expect support through various channels. Here’s how to manage each effectively:

   – Voice: Modern voice support integrates with cloud telephony and CRM systems, allowing real-time data access and interaction transcription, so agents can focus on providing support.

   – Mobile: Mobile apps and messaging platforms enable asynchronous communication, allowing customers and agents to interact over time while keeping a record of interactions.

   – Social Media: Integrate social media data with customer service and marketing platforms to offer a unified view of customer interactions and address issues effectively.

   – Email: Automated workflows can convert emails into cases and route them to the right team members, ensuring efficient handling of support requests.

– Self-Service Channels: Help centers and customer portals offer immediate solutions to frequently asked questions, minimizing the need for more resource-demanding support options.

– Chatbots: AI-driven chatbots or conversational AI bots handle routine queries and escalate more complicated issues to human agents, boosting efficiency and customer satisfaction.

– Video: Video support provides real-time visual assistance for troubleshooting and guidance, enhancing the customer experience with face-to-face interaction.

3. Balance quality and speed

   Finding the right balance between speed and quality in support is essential. Omni-channel routing directs cases to skilled agents, and automation boosts efficiency by streamlining processes. Automated workflows help agents, and self-service options let customers resolve issues themselves.

4. Train agents in both soft and hard skills

   Effective training is key for improving interpersonal and technical skills. Agents should master empathy, active listening, and product knowledge. Deliver regular training sessions on the latest products and technologies to ensure staff remain current. Additionally, offer comprehensive contact center training to keep team members well-informed and proficient in their roles.

5. Foster team collaboration

   Collaboration among team members is vital, especially in remote work settings. Promote regular communication and case swarming, where agents and experts work together to tackle complex issues. This approach encourages knowledge sharing and skill development.

6. Revise success metrics

   Traditional metrics like handle time are important but don’t provide a complete picture. Use a variety of metrics to evaluate service effectiveness:

  – Customer Satisfaction (CSAT): Gauge customer satisfaction with service through surveys and feedback.

 – Revenue: Assess whether high-quality service correlates with increased sales and transactions.

– Customer retention: Track customer behavior after interactions to assess whether the quality of service affects their loyalty.

– Customer effort: Assess how easily customers can resolve their issues and identify opportunities to make the process less burdensome.

– SLA performance: Measure actual performance against service-level agreements (SLAs) to identify areas needing improvement.

Handling difficult customer situations

Dealing with challenging customer situations effectively is crucial for maintaining positive relationships. Here are strategies for addressing common difficult customer sentiments:

1. Angry customers

   – Remain calm and apologize sincerely.

   – Use a soft and even tone.

   – Acknowledge their frustration and work towards a resolution.

2. Indecisive customers

   – Identify their specific concerns and provide clear, confident recommendations.

   – Offer useful information to help them make a decision.

3. Demanding customers

   – Reassure them of your willingness to help and find a reasonable compromise.

   – If necessary, escalate to a higher authority for resolution.

4. Dissatisfied customers

   – Listen attentively and acknowledge their feedback.

   – Offer solutions or improvements based on their input.

Best practices for effective customer service

1. Keep communication professional: Maintain a respectful and friendly tone. Avoid taking customer behavior personally and ensure that your communication reflects your organization’s values.

2. Remain calm: Manage your emotions and avoid escalating the situation. Practice mindfulness to stay composed.

3. Speak softly: In tense situations, a softer tone can help de-escalate the conversation and maintain control.

4. Practice active listening: Focus on understanding the customer’s perspective and respond thoughtfully. Use verbal affirmations to show engagement.

5. Give them time to talk: Allow customers to fully express their concerns before responding. This demonstrates empathy and understanding.

6. Understand the customer’s point of view: Practice empathy by considering their feelings and viewpoints. Reflect on their concerns and show a genuine desire to resolve their issues.

7. Assess their needs: Determine specific customer needs to provide targeted solutions. Communicate your efforts to address their concerns.

8. Seek a solution: Ask customers for their ideal resolution if you’re unsure how to proceed. Focus on finding a satisfactory outcome.

9. Ask for support: Involve colleagues or managers when necessary to address complex issues or provide additional assistance.

10. Maintain a positive relationship: After resolving the issue, check if there are any other concerns. This reinforces your commitment to customer satisfaction.

Conclusion 

Customer service shapes your brand’s identity and success by building trust and loyalty. The seven pillars of outstanding service—integration with your organization, multi-channel support, quality and speed balance, effective agent training, team collaboration, refined success metrics, and careful handling of tough situations—create a framework for excellence.

By adopting these practices, your team will exceed expectations, turning challenges into opportunities for stronger relationships. Focus on professional, empathetic communication and advanced tools to enhance satisfaction, drive retention, and contribute to your business’s success.

Featured Image by Racool_studio on Freepik

The post Customer Service Optimization: Best Practices and Pillars for Excellence appeared first on noupe.

This article is a sponsored by Bryntum

Team, assemble! Need to coordinate a crew of superheroes across the globe to save the world? A scheduler can help. Same for web applications that serve any group of collaborating users — whether that includes wearing a cape or not.

Event calendars and schedulers may often seem the same; sometimes, a calendar is all you need. However, a scheduler does a lot more than block out a day or time slot, especially for the “supervisors” and “managers”, i.e., the Nick Fury of the teams, who do more than give out assignments and due dates but also need to track the usage of available resources — like staffs’ work hours, or inanimate resources, like an operating room in a hospital — to ensure the efficiency of each task, resource, and process.

In this post, you’ll find some of the best commercial web scheduler libraries (JavaScript based) with amazing UX and high efficiency that are currently available. Let’s dive in right away, shall we?

Bryntum Scheduler

This super easy to integrate scheduler works seamlessly with any frontend stack such as Angular, React, Vue, or vanilla JS. The Bryntum website has examples in all the supported frameworks, and numerous sample use-cases to assist your integration process.

As for its appearance, if any of the modern themes provided with the scheduler won’t do so, you can quickly achieve a tailored look using CSS or SASS variable-based styling while still maintaining high-performance and responsive rendering throughout different screen sizes.

Now, the features are where the rubber meets the road. Drag and drop support; Export to Excel, PDF, and PNG; Custom data fields and filtering; Dependency arrows between events for process visualization; And many more. Here’s a comprehensive list of their scheduler features at Bryntum’s website.

That’s not all. There’s a Pro version. The highlight is the Resource Histogram — which is an intuitive overview of resource allocation. Additionally, there’s Travel time visualization, Overview of non-working hours, Skill matching, and more in the Pro tool chest. Plus, rewiring any of the default actions to your liking is an effortless undertaking due to the many configuration settings provided in the API.

Support is available by means of professional services, active forums, and a slew of exhaustive documentation comprising live demos. You can start a 45-day free trial right away or contact their sales team for any inquiries regarding pricing and features.

DHTMLX Scheduler

Here is another modern scheduler with the availability of integrations with over ten different frameworks, including some of the popular JavaScript ones like jQuery. The DHTMLX scheduler offers a default theme (in both light and dark mode) uses gradients to standout. However, if that’s not your cup of tea, and neither is any of the other themes, there’s also the option to tinker under the CSS hood to customize the look.

Apart from the fundamental features, like being able to set up recurring appointments, and the Pro features, there’s also a Google Maps integration to include rich location data to the events. In Pro version, there’s the multiple resource view — the overview of allocated resources — that comes handy in delegating tasks, and to track the efficiency of each delegation. PDF export is available as an add-on.

Support is accessible through technical requests, forums, and API documentation. A 30-day free trial can be opted. For licensing and pricing, you can drop them a message or schedule a call.

MindFusion Scheduler

Although not feature-extensive but budget-friendly, the MindFusion scheduler (ready to download and test) is a good place to start if its rudimentary components are enough to get the job done for you and you don’t mind rolling up your sleeves to do a little revamp.

Basics like appointments, multiple calendar views, drag-and-drop, timetables for resources, and such are covered. CSS themes allow for easy alterations according to your preferences. Schedule export/Import in XML and JSON is included. A few sample use-cases are also available for you to peruse.

For technical support, you can drop in a ticket, check out its forum, or even acquire any of its consulting services. They also offer discounts for eligible customers. Even though seemingly a little bland, their documentation is robust. For any queries, you can reach them through email or phone.

DayPilot Pro Scheduler

There’s an open-source version that you can build up from. However, the Pro version is something not to be missed out on. The period for technical support for the Pro version is less than that of what DayPilot ’s peers offer, but it doesn’t skimp on features and is within a reasonable price for a single developer plan.

Most features expected to be in a Pro version are included, like the Resources overview, Resources utilization snapshot, comprehensive filtering, drag and drop, export options, etc. Besides the handful of themes provided, custom styling can be done with CSS. Some samples are also available to learn from.

The scheduler works with most of the common JavaScript libraries, and documentations are present for each separately. Support is available through forums and email. You can contact them for quotes and licensing queries. There’s a 60-days trial available.

Syncfusion Scheduler

With a complete keyboard interaction setup, Syncfusion Scheduler is accessible and friendly. In addition to vanilla JavaScript, it’s also available for React, Angular, Vue, and Blazor frameworks.

All major scheduler features are present. Appointments, Timelines, and Agendas are covered. Export is available in Excel documents; export and import are possible with iCal documents.

Styling can be done by overriding the default CSS file. There’s a theme builder, too, to assist in creating a custom theme. And a few UI kits, like one for Adobe XD, is provided with the scheduler.

API documentation is available for all supported integrations. There’s a 30-day trial period, or you can check out some editable demos to try the product. Or you can contact Syncfusion through a form or any of the contacts provided at their site for more information. Technical support is provided via requests and forums.

Conclusion

For teams working remotely across the globe or together in an office, as well as for any group of collaborating users, a scheduler can be a valuable tool indeed. If you’d like to share a scheduler that you’ve tried and loved, please let us know in the comments. Happy scheduling!

Christian Heilmann gave this talk at Typo3 Developer Days. I’m linking it up because it strikes an already stricken nerve in me. The increasing complexity of web development has an inverse relationship with the decreasing number of entry points for those getting into web development.

I love how Christian compares two hypothetical development stacks.

He’s definitely a bit glib, but the point is solid. Things are more complex today than they were, say, ten years ago. I remember struggling with Grunt back then and thinking I’d never get it right. I did eventually, and my IDE was never the same after that.

It’s easy to get swept up in the complexity, even for those with experience in the field:

This world is unfortunately becoming lost or, at least, degraded — not because it is no longer possible to view the source of a webpage, but because that source is often inscrutable, even on simple webpages.

— Pixel Envy “A View Source Web”

Christian’s post reminds me that the essence of the web is not only still alive but getting better every day:

• Browsers are constantly updated.
• The web standardisation process is much faster than it used to be.
• We don’t all need to build the next killer app. Many a framework promises scaling to infinity and only a few of us will ever need that.

He goes on to suggest many ways to remove complexity and abstractions from a project. My biggest takeaway is captured by a single headline:

The web is built on resilient technologies – we just don’t use them

Which recalls what Molly White said earlier this year that there’s always an opportunity to swing the pendulum back:

The thing is: none of this is gone. Nothing about the web has changed that prevents us from going back. If anything, it’s become a lot easier. We can return. Better, yet: we can restore the things we loved about the old web while incorporating the wonderful things that have emerged since, developing even better things as we go forward, and leaving behind some things from the early web days we all too often forget when we put on our rose-colored glasses.

We can return. We can restore all the things. So, tell me: do you take the red pill or the blue one?

To Shared Link — Permalink on CSS-Tricks

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Christian Heilmann: Let’s make a simpler, more accessible web originally published on CSS-Tricks, which is part of the DigitalOcean family. You should get the newsletter.

Imagine walking into a bustling corporate event filled with anticipation. The room is abuzz with conversations, and the energy is palpable as employees and leaders prepare for a day of learning and collaboration.     

As the keynote speaker takes the stage, the atmosphere shifts to focused attention and excitement. This transition marks the crucial moment in the event, where insights are shared, and leadership principles are highlighted, setting the stage for transformative discussions.

Corporate events are essential for fostering growth, building team cohesion, and sparking innovation. A significant highlight of these events is often a leadership keynote speaker, whose role is pivotal in setting the tone and motivating attendees. 

But what makes these speakers so inspiring? 

Let’s delve into the key elements that enable a leadership keynote speaker for corporate events to leave a lasting impact.

1. Engaging Storytelling

Leadership keynote speakers use storytelling to engage their audience, making abstract concepts relatable and driving key messages home in memorable ways. They connect with people on a deeper level because their stories frequently touch on familiar themes like invention, cooperation, and resilience.

This approach turns a presentation into a dynamic and immersive experience that leaves a lasting impression on the audience. 

2. Expertise and Credibility

Leadership keynote speakers’ credibility is based on their extensive experience, practical insights, and real-world applications. Their blend of theory and practice enhances their authority and makes their message more impactful.

The combination of theory and practice reinforces their authority and provides valuable, actionable insights for the audience. 

3. Visionary Thinking

An inspiring keynote speaker challenges conventional thinking, encouraging the audience to envision new possibilities and innovative solutions. These speakers inspire attendees to rethink their approach and embrace change by offering innovative solutions and forward-thinking ideas.

This visionary approach empowers individuals and organizations for continuous improvement and growth. 

4. Emotional Connection

Effective leadership keynote speakers for corporate events know how to tap into the emotions of their audience. Through passionate delivery and genuine empathy, they create an emotional bond that enhances the overall impact of their message. 

This emotional connection is crucial because it motivates people on a deeper level, inspiring them to act and embrace change. When attendees feel understood and valued, they are more likely to be receptive to new ideas and motivated to implement them.

5. Practical Takeaways

Image Source

While inspiration is essential, practical takeaways are equally important. Leadership keynote speakers provide actionable insights and strategies that attendees can apply immediately. 

Whether it’s through specific leadership techniques, team-building exercises, or personal development tips, these practical elements ensure that the audience leaves with valuable tools to improve their performance and contribute to their organization’s success.

6. Customization and Relevance

To truly inspire, a leadership keynote speaker must tailor their message to the specific audience and context of the event. This customization involves understanding the unique challenges and goals of the organization and its employees. 

By aligning their speech with the audience’s needs and interests, the speaker ensures that their message is relevant and impactful. This personalized approach demonstrates respect for the audience and enhances the speaker’s credibility.

7. Interactive Engagement

Modern leadership keynote speakers often incorporate interactive elements into their presentations. This might include Q&A sessions, live polls, or group activities. 

These interactive components not only break the monotony of a one-way speech but also engage the audience more deeply, making the experience more dynamic and memorable. Interactive engagement fosters a sense of participation and collaboration, which can motivate attendees.

8. Strategic Alignment

Leadership keynote speakers frequently tailor their presentations to the strategic goals of businesses. Their material is tailored to align with the company’s aims and difficulties, with clear guidelines for executives and staff to follow.   

This strategic alignment guarantees that the message is applicable to the organization’s future direction and existing goals, in addition to being motivating. Keynote presenters use a strategy that effectively connects inspiration with execution, enabling participants to apply newly obtained insights to their specific roles and responsibilities.    

9. Long-term Impact

Image Source

Several keynote speakers provide follow-up resources and support to reinforce the lessons learned during their presentations. This may consist of access to additional materials, workshops, or consulting services.

Proficient keynote speakers aim to leave a lasting impression that continues to motivate and inspire long after the event concludes. Their goal is to spark long-term change and improvement, encouraging attendees to take sustained action towards their personal and professional goals. 

Conclusion

A leadership keynote speaker transforms corporate events into memorable experiences through engaging storytelling, credible expertise, visionary thinking, emotional connection, practical takeaways, customization, and interactive engagement. By inspiring individuals and organizations to strive for excellence, leadership keynote speakers for corporate events play a crucial role in driving growth and innovation in the corporate world.

Featured Image by rawpixel.com on Freepik

The post How Leadership Keynote Speakers Inspire at Corporate Events appeared first on noupe.

In the dynamic and competitive world of B2B, finding ways to stand out and grow your business can feel like navigating an endless maze. But what if there was a way to cut through the complexity and supercharge your growth? Enter sales outsourcing—a game-changing strategy that lets you focus on your core strengths while seasoned experts handle the sales hustle.

Imagine having a powerhouse sales team at your disposal without the headaches of hiring, training, and managing an in-house staff. Sales outsourcing can deliver that and more, offering benefits like cost-effectiveness, scalability, and access to top-notch expertise. In this guide, we’ll explore the ins and outs of sales outsourcing, debunk common myths, identify red flags to watch out for, and help you find the perfect partner to elevate your business. Get ready to discover how sales outsourcing can be your secret weapon for achieving unparalleled growth and success in the B2B arena.

Understanding Sales Outsourcing

First things first: what exactly is sales outsourcing? It’s about entrusting your sales activities to a third-party service provider. These pros offer a range of services—from lead generation and appointment setting to full-cycle sales management. By outsourcing these functions, you can tap into top-notch expertise and resources without the hefty costs of maintaining an in-house team. Think of it as having a secret weapon in your business arsenal.

Why B2B Companies Should Consider Sales Outsourcing

Let’s face it—managing sales isn’t always a walk in the park. You might be grappling with limited time, a lack of sales expertise, or the constant struggle to generate high-quality leads. Sound familiar? Sales outsourcing can be your solution. By bringing in experienced sales professionals, you’ll have strategies that actually work, freeing you up to focus on what you do best. 

So, when is the right time to consider sales outsourcing for your B2B company? Here are some optimal scenarios:

1. When Scaling Rapidly: If your company is growing quickly and you need to scale your sales efforts to match, outsourcing can provide the necessary resources and expertise without the long lead times associated with hiring and training new in-house staff. This ensures you don’t miss out on opportunities due to a lack of sales capacity.
2. Launching a New Product or Service: Introducing a new product or service to the market requires a focused and strategic sales effort. Outsourcing can help you quickly ramp up and execute a targeted sales campaign, leveraging specialists who understand how to penetrate new markets and drive adoption.
3. Entering New Markets: Expanding into new geographical regions or industries often involves navigating unfamiliar territory. Sales outsourcing partners with experience in these areas can provide valuable insights, connections, and localized strategies to ensure a successful market entry.
4. During Economic Downturns: In times of economic uncertainty, maintaining a full-scale in-house sales team can be financially burdensome. Outsourcing allows you to maintain robust sales efforts while managing costs more effectively, helping you stay competitive without overextending your budget.
5. When Experiencing High Turnover: High turnover rates in your sales team can disrupt your pipeline and slow down growth. Outsourcing provides stability and consistency, ensuring your sales efforts continue seamlessly even as you address internal HR challenges.
6. Lacking In-House Expertise: If your existing team lacks the expertise needed for complex sales processes or specific industries, outsourcing to specialists can fill the gap. These professionals bring a wealth of knowledge and proven strategies to the table, driving better results than a generalist team might achieve.
7. Focusing on Core Competencies: Sometimes, it’s simply a matter of focus. Your core team might be better utilized in product development, customer service, or other areas crucial to your business’s success. Outsourcing sales allows your team to concentrate on what they do best while experts handle the sales function.
8. Short-Term Projects and Campaigns: For specific projects or sales campaigns, such as seasonal promotions or trade show follow-ups, outsourcing can provide the necessary boost without long-term commitments. This flexibility allows you to scale your sales efforts up and down as needed.

Debunking Common Myths About Sales Outsourcing

Despite its many use cases, sales outsourcing often gets a bad rap due to common misconceptions. Let’s set the record straight:

1. Myth: Outsourcing means losing control over sales.
   • Reality: A reputable outsourcing partner works closely with you, ensuring alignment with your goals and maintaining transparency. You remain in control of strategy and outcomes.
2. Myth: Outsourced teams don’t understand my industry.
   • Reality: Many outsourcing firms specialize in specific industries. By choosing a partner with relevant experience, you gain access to professionals who understand your market and its nuances.
3. Myth: Outsourcing is only for big companies.
   • Reality: Sales outsourcing is scalable and can be tailored to fit businesses of all sizes. Whether you’re a startup or an established enterprise, there’s a solution that fits your needs.
4. Myth: It’s too expensive and not cost-effective.
   • Reality: When you factor in the costs of hiring, training, and maintaining an in-house team, outsourcing often proves to be more economical, delivering high ROI through increased sales efficiency.

Choosing the Right Sales Outsourcing Partner

Finding the right partner is crucial. Here’s what to look for:

1. Industry Experience: A partner with experience in your industry will understand your market and challenges better, leading to more effective sales strategies.
2. Reputation: Do your homework. Read reviews, testimonials, and case studies to gauge their track record. A reputable partner will have a history of success.
3. Flexibility: One size does not fit all. Look for a partner who can tailor their services to your specific needs, providing a customized approach.
4. Pricing: Ensure their pricing structure fits your budget and offers good value. You want a partner who provides quality services without breaking the bank.

5 Red Flags When Vetting Outsourced Sales Partners

Choosing the right sales outsourcing partner is critical, but it’s equally important to be aware of potential red flags:

1. Lack of Transparency: If a potential partner is vague about their processes, success metrics, or pricing, it’s a sign they might not be fully trustworthy. Transparency is key to a successful partnership.
2. Poor Communication: Frequent communication lapses or delays in responses can indicate future challenges in collaboration. Effective communication is essential for aligning goals and strategies.
3. Overpromising: Be wary of partners who guarantee unrealistic results. Sales processes involve many variables, and no reputable firm will promise overnight success.
4. No Track Record: A lack of case studies, testimonials, or verifiable success stories can be a red flag. Established partners should have a proven track record and be willing to share their achievements.
5. High Employee Turnover: Consistency is crucial in sales. High turnover rates within the outsourcing firm can lead to disruptions and a lack of continuity in your sales efforts.

What’s Next?

Sales outsourcing offers a strategic advantage for B2B companies looking to grow their businesses without the headaches of managing an in-house sales team. By tapping into the expertise and resources of seasoned professionals, you can overcome common sales challenges, streamline your operations, and focus on what you do best—delivering outstanding products and services.

Whether you’re scaling rapidly, launching a new product, entering new markets, or simply seeking to optimize your sales efforts, outsourcing can provide the flexibility and expertise you need to thrive. 

Remember, the right outsourcing partner is out there—one who aligns with your goals, understands your industry, and delivers real, measurable results. So, don’t hesitate. Explore sales outsourcing today and watch your B2B business soar to new heights.

Featured Image by Stephen Dawson on Unsplash

The post Supercharge Your B2B Growth with Sales Outsourcing: Here’s How appeared first on noupe.

As we’ve been hearing constantly for the last couple of years, AI will soon replace every creative job and we’ll all have to retrain as mechanics or tree surgeons or something. This prediction, apart from being unrealistic, also sounds totally dystopian.

Welcome to the August toolbox. We’ve found goodies for designers, developers, project managers, domain admins, and those of you who wear all of these hats.

We have been talking about CSS3 for a long time. Call me a fossil, but I still remember the new border-radius property feeling like the most incredible CSS3 feature. We have moved on since we got border-radius and a slew of new features dropped in a single CSS3 release back in 2009.

CSS, too, has moved on as a language, and yet “CSS3” is still in our lexicon as the last “official” semantically-versioned release of the CSS language.

It’s not as though we haven’t gotten any new and exciting CSS features between 2009 and 2024; it’s more that the process of developing, shipping, and implementing new CSS features is a guessing game of sorts.

We see CSS Working Group (CSSWG) discussions happening in the open. We have the draft specifications and an archive of versions at our disposal. The resources are there! But the develop-ship-implement flow remains elusive and leaves many of us developers wondering: When is the next CSS release, and what’s in it?

This is a challenging balancing act. We have spec authors, code authors, and user agents working both interdependently and independently and the communication gaps are numerous and wide. The result? New features take longer to be implemented, leading to developers taking longer to adopt them. We might even consider CSS3 to be the last great big “marketing” push for CSS as a language.

That’s what the CSS-Next community is grappling with at this very moment. If you haven’t heard of the group, you’re not alone, but either way, it’s high time we shed light on it and the ideas coming from it. As someone participating in the group, I thought I would share the conversations we’re having and how we’re approaching the way CSS releases are communicated.

Meet The CSS-Next Community

Before we formally “meet” the CSS-Next group, it’s worth knowing that it is still officially referred to as the CSS4 Community Group as far as the W3C is concerned.

And that might be the very first thing you ought to know about CSS-Next: it is part of the W3C and consists of CSSWG members, developers, designers, user agents, and, really, anyone passionate about the web and who wants to participate in the discussion. W3C groups like CSS-Next are open to everyone to bring our disparate groups together, opening opportunities to shape tomorrow’s vision of the web.

CSS-Next, in particular, is where people gather to discuss the possibility of raising awareness of CSS evolutions during the last decade. At its core, the group is discussing approaches for bundling CSS features that have shipped since CSS3 was released in 2009 and how to name the bundle (or bundles, perhaps) so we have a way of referring to this particular “era” of CSS and pushing those features forward.

Why We Need A Group Like CSS-Next

Let’s go back a few years. More specifically, let’s return to the year 2020.

It all started when Safari Evangelist Jen Simmons posted an open issue in the CSSWG’s GitHub repo for CSS draft specifications requesting a definition for a “CSS4” release.

This might be one of the biggest responses — if not the biggest response — to a CSSWG issue based solely on emoji reactions.

The idea of defining CSS4 had some back-ups by Chris Coyier, Nicole Sullivan, and PPK. The idea is to push technologies forward and help educators and site owners, even if it’s just for the sake of marketing.

But why is this important? Why should we care about another level or “CSS Saga”? To get to that point, we might need to talk about CSS3 and what exactly it defines.

What Exactly Is “CSS3”?

The CSS3 grouping of features included level-3 specs for features from typography to selectors and backgrounds. From this point on, each CSS spec has been numbered individually.

However, CSS3 is still the most common term developers use to define the capabilities of modern CSS. We see this across the web, from the way educational institutions teach CSS to the job requirements on resumes.

The term CSS3 loses meaning year-over-year. You can see the dilution everywhere. The earliest CSS3 drafts were published in June 1999 — before many of my colleagues were even born — and yet CSS is one of the fastest-growing languages in the current webscape.

What About The CSS3 Logo?

When we look at job postings, we run into vacancies asking for knowledge of CSS3, which is over 10 years old. Without an updated level, we’re just asking if you’ve written CSS since the border-radius property came out. Furthermore, when we want to learn CSS, a CSS3 logo next to educational materials no longer signals current material. It kind of feels like time has stood still.

Here’s an example job posting that illustrates the issue:

But that’s not all. If you do a Google search on “Learn CSS” and check the images, you might be surprised how many CSS3 logos you can spot:

About 50% of the images show the CSS3 badge. To me, this clearly signals:

1. People want badges or logos to aid in signaling skills.
2. The CSS3 brand has made a large impact on the web ecosystem.
3. The CSS3 logo has reached the end of its efficacy.

CSS3 had still has a huge impact on the ecosystem. The same logo is trying to say it teaches Flexbox all the way to color-mix() — a spread of hundreds of CSS features.

What Exactly Does “Modern CSS” Mean?

CSS3 and HTML5 were big improvements to those respective languages — we’ve come a long way since then. We have features that people didn’t even think were possible back in 2012 (when we officially spoke of CSS3 as a level).

For example, there was a time when people thought that containers didn’t know anything and it never be possible to style an element based on the width of its parent. But now, of course, we have CSS Container Queries, and all of this is possible today. The things that are possible with CSS changed over time, as so beautifully told by Miriam Suzanne at CSS Day 2023.

We do not want to ignore the success of CSS3 and say it is wrong; in fact, we believe it’s time to repeat the tremendous success of CSS3.

Imagine yourself 10 years from now reading a “modern” CSS feature that was introduced as many as 10 years ago. It wouldn’t add up, right? Modern is not a future-proof name, something that Geoff Graham opined when asking the correct question, “What exactly is ‘Modern CSS’?”

“Naming is always hard, yet it’s just something we have to do in CSS to properly select things. I think it’s time we start naming [CSS releases] like this, too. It’s only a matter of time before “modern” isn’t “modern” anymore.”

— Geoff Graham

This is exactly where the CSS-Next community group comes in.

Let’s Talk About “CSS Eras”

The CSS-Next community group aims to align and modernize the general understanding of CSS in the wider developer community by labeling feature sets that have shipped since the initial set of CSS3 features, helping developers upskill their understanding of CSS across the ecosystem.

Why Isn’t This Part Of The Web Platform Baseline?

The definition of what is “current” CSS changes with time. Sometimes, specs are incomplete or haven’t even been drafted. While Baseline looks at the current browser support of a feature in CSS, we want to take a look at the evolution of the language itself. The CSS levels should not care about which browser implemented it first.

It might be more nuanced than this in reality, but that’s pretty much the gist. We also don’t want it to become another “modern CSS” bucket. Indeed, referring to CSS3 as an “era” has helped compartmentalize how we can shift into CSS4, CSS5, and beyond. For example, labeling something as a “CSS4” feature provides a hint as far as when that feature was born. A feature that reaches “baseline” meanwhile merely indicates the status of that feature’s browser implementation, which is a separate concern.

Identifying features by era and implementation status are both indicators and provide meta information about a CSS feature but with different purposes.

Why Not Work With An Annual Snapshot Instead Of A Numbered Era?

It’s fair to wonder if a potential solution is to take a “snapshot” of the CSS feature set each year and use that as a mile marker for CSS feature releases. However, an annual picture of the language is less effective than defining a particular era in which specific features are introduced.

There were a handful of years when CSS was relatively quiet compared to the mad dash of the last few years. Imagine a year in which nothing, or maybe very few, CSS features are shipped, and the snapshot for that year is nearly identical to the previous year’s snapshot. Now imagine CSS explodes the following year with a deluge of new features that result in a massive delta between snapshots. It takes mental agility to compare complete snapshots of the entire language and find what’s new.

Goals And Non-Goals

I think I’ve effectively established that the term “CSS” alone isn’t clear or helpful enough to illustrate the evolution of the CSS, just as calling a certain feature “modern” degrades over time.

Grouping features in levels that represent different eras of releases — even from a marketing standpoint — offers a good deal of meaning and has a track record of success, as we’ve seen with CSS3.

All of this comes back to a set of goals that the CSS-Next group is rallying around:

• Help developers learn CSS.
• Help educators teach CSS.
• Help employers define modern web skills.
• Help the community understand the progression of CSS capabilities over time.
• Create a shared vernacular for describing how CSS evolves.

What we do not want is to:

• Affect spec definitions.
  CSS-Next is not a group that would define the working process of or influence working groups such as the CSSWG.
• Create official developer documentation.
  Making something like a new version of MDN doesn’t get us closer to a better understanding of how the language changes between eras.
• Define browser specification work.
  This should be conducted in relevant standardization or pre-standardization forums (such as the CSSWG or OpenUI).
• Educate developers on CSS best practices.
  That has much more to do with feature implementations than the features themselves.
• Manage browser compatibility data.
  Baseline is already doing that, and besides, we’ve already established that feature specifications and implementations are separate concerns.

This doesn’t mean that everything in the last list is null and void. We could, for example, have CSS eras that list all the features specced in that period. And inside that list, there could be a baseline reference for the implementations of those features, making it easier to bring forward some ideas for the next Interop, which informs Baseline.

This leaves the CSS-Next group with a super-clear focus to:

• Research the community’s understanding of modern CSS,
• Build a shared understanding of CSS feature evolution since CSS3,
• Grouping those features into easily-digestible levels (i.e., CSS4, CSS5, and so on), and
• Educate the community about modern CSS features.

We’d Likely Start With The “CSS5” Era

A lot of thought and work has gone into the way CSS is described in eras. The initial idea was to pick up where CSS3 left off and jump straight into CSS4. But the number of features released between the two eras would be massive, even if we narrowed it down to just the features released since 2020, never mind 2009.

It makes sense, instead, to split the difference and call CSS4 a done deal as of, say, 2018 and a fundamental part of CSS in its current state as we begin with the next logical period: CSS5.

Here’s how the definitions are currently defined:

CSS3 (~2009-2012):
Level 3 CSS specs as defined by the CSSWG. (immutable)

CSS4 (~2013-2018):
Essential features that were not part of CSS3 but are already a fundamental part of CSS.

CSS5 (~2019-2024):
Newer features whose adoption is steadily growing.

CSS6 (~2025+):
Early-stage features that are planned for future CSS.

Uncle Sam CSS Wants You!

We released a request for comments last May for community input from developers like you. We’ve received a few comments that have been taken into account, but we need much more feedback to help inform our approach.

We want a big representative response from the community! But that takes awareness, and we need you to make that happen. Anything you can do to let your teams and colleagues that the CSS-Next group is a thing and that we’re trying to solve the way we talk about CSS features is greatly appreciated. We want to know what you and others think about the things we’re wrestling with, like whether or not the way we’re grouping eras above is a sound approach, where you think those lines should be drawn, and if you agree that we’re aiming for the right goals.

We also want you to participate. Anyone is welcome to join the CSS-Next group and we could certainly use help brainstorming ideas. There’s even an incubation group that conducts a biweekly hour-long session that takes place on Mondays at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time (2:00 p.m. GMT).

On a completely personal note, I’d like to add that I joined the CSS-Next group purely out of interest but became much more actively involved once the mission became very clear to me. As a developer working in an agency, I see how fast CSS changes and have struggled, like many of you, to keep up.

A seasoned colleague of mine commented the other day that they wouldn’t even know how to approach vanilla CSS on a fresh website project. There is no shame in that! I know many of us feel the same way. So, why not bring it to marketing terms and figure out a better way to frame discussions about CSS features based on eras? You can help get us there!

And if you think I’m blameless when it comes to talking about CSS in generic “modern” terms, all it takes is a quick look at the headline of another Smashing article I authored… this year!

Let’s get going with CSS5 and spread the word! Let me hear your thoughts.

Resources

• CSS-Next Group Homepage
• CSSWG Drafts Issue #4770: Let’s Define CSS 4
• CSS-Next Issue #92: Initial CSS Level Categorization