Responsive design is when your web page is designed and created with a flexible layout. This layout responds to the user’s screen size. So when the user clicks through to your site, the layout of the website is modified accordingly. This design helps package your content perfectly for any user, whether they're using a mobile, tablet or desktop screen.
Zooming in on your screen to be able to read text clearly and having to scroll left and right just to read a complete sentence is a thing of the past.
This responsive approach to web design is essential for any business wanting to appeal to their online audience. Why? Find out below.
Sometimes, when you visit a retail site, for example, you’ll notice in the address bar that there’s a ‘m’ before the URL. That means they have built a mobile-specific site - a separate site to their desktop version. Having a separate mobile site means double the website work, from development to updating the content - who has time for that?
A responsive site means you appeal to all of your users regardless of their device. In a consumer research study conducted by Ofcom in 2016, it was clear to see the rapid adoption of multiple devices. Whereas five years ago the majority of the UK population might have browsed the internet with their desktop computers at home, in 2016 it was a completely different story. Respondents were asked the question ‘which of the following devices do you have in your home?’ 1000 UK participants answered as follows:
For businesses to be able to confidently cater to all of these different devices, a responsive layout is the best, most cost-effective and time-efficient option.
It’s not just the customers who are expecting your site to be easily navigable on mobile - Google favours sites that are mobile-friendly.
Google first rolled out its mobile-friendly algorithm, dubbed ‘Mobilegeddon’, back in April 2015. Since then it has been on a mission to ensure any mobile user’s experience is vastly improved. Why wouldn’t you want to offer all your users a superior mobile experience around your site? Appealing to all users, regardless of device, means you’re increasing time on-site and potentially increasing your online conversions.
Not sure if your site is mobile-friendly? Google has created a simple mobile-friendly testing tool for webmasters. Simply paste your URL into its search box and nervously await the results!
Who knows what the next new device is going to be in the near future?. But if your site is prepared with a responsive web page layout, chances are you’ll only need to tweak your site rather than have to re-build your layout. Responsive design is built by screen size rather than device size, that means it’s pretty flexible and ready to combat any new devices that may be used to browse your site!
If you’re worried your site might not be up to scratch for the mobile-user, get in touch for your free, no-obligation web design consultation, today!
