Is Your Website Responsive? Know The Importance of Responsive Websites.

Websites with responsive web design is a website that is able to adapt to the various screens it is being used on, regardless of what device it is. The website automatically reformats to give users a better experience that is well suited to their devices and can give your website a number of benefits as well as be being in line with Google recommendations. Are you still not convinced?

Okay, so according to a study by Econsultancy, 62% of companies that designed their websites to be mobile friendly had an increase in sales. So why not create a website that is optimized not only for mobile but for all the devices in between? That’s where responsive design comes in. Responsive design is an approach to creating websites that allow for the site to work and look good on any device, from the largest TV screen to the latest smartphones. It uses HTML, CSS, and sometimes JavaScript to optimize a website to the user’s screen.

Responsive design shouldn’t be confused with the now antiquated mobile-only site. A responsive design requires that you only have one website and that it is coded to adapt to all screen sizes, regardless of which device is being used. The mobile-only site template is technically a completely separate website that requires the business to have a second subdomain that should only be accessed from mobile devices and is not optimized for different screen sizes.

INCREASE IN MOBILE USAGE

Well, Ofcom’s report revealed that in 2014 only 22% turned to their phone first for browsing the internet; proving a real surge in mobile use. The availability of 4G has also impacted how people use their mobile devices. Over the course of 2014, 4G subscriptions skyrocketed from 2.7 million to 23.6 million.

Back then, it was reported that two-thirds of people had a smartphone, with 33% of internet users admitting their smartphone was the most important device for going online. We spent twice as long online on our smartphones than laptops or personal computers.

GOOGLE’S RECOMMENDATIONS

Google introduced recommendations in 2015 that related to responsive web design and began rewarding sites that were fully optimised for mobile platforms. Google now uses mobile friendliness as a ranking signal in search results; this is something we’ve known for some time. Businesses began to take note of its importance since that announcement, but now Google has moved on to even bigger heights.

Pros of responsive web design

With an all device friendly website, all content and pages are flexible across all screen resolutions and devices. Whether you’re viewing a website on your smartphone or a laptop, it will be unified and easy to navigate despite the differing screen sizes. Providing an optimal experience for the user across the board, responsive web design means your user can read and navigate the site with minimum resizing and scrolling.

Responsive design can improve user experience which will translate into a positive impression and perception of your brand and business. If your client can access your website easily on all platforms, they’re more likely to return to you for more business in the future and it more than likely means a higher conversion rate for your website, sounds great no. In a world where so much traffic comes from mobile devices, it’s important that you’re accommodating this factor through your website.

Responsive web design is now also important as a ranking factor, as mentioned earlier. Sites that are responsive will generally load faster which is likely to boost your ranking and decrease your bounce rate. Responsive web design can also make social sharing easier, helping you to grow a bigger audience for your brand.

SEO campaigns and website maintenance are also a much smoother process for mobile-friendly websites. Responsive web design means you only have just one website to look after; it’s also quicker and less expensive than making a stand-alone mobile application in addition to your desktop website, right?

With mobile-friendly or responsive websites now being an industry standard, take a minute to ensure your web design is the best it can be.