With over 60% of web searches originating on mobile devices and 77% of Americans owning smartphones, you cannot afford to ignore mobile users. Responsive web design is when your website is built using a flexible grid so that your website adapts to your user’s screen resolution using CSS media queries. This provides a more optimal and consistent user experience, which converts more traffic into leads or sales.
A great responsive website is characterized by:
- Loading in less than 2 seconds
- Content is legible and does not require zooming
- Content fits the screen’s width and does not require horizontal panning
- Links and tap targets are reasonably sized and spaced
Responsive web design is far more efficient than having a separate mobile site because it reduces web maintenance costs since there is just one version to maintain and track.
Not sure if your website is mobile-friendly? Check out Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test. Are you curious about how your website renders on mobile devices? Check out Responsinator.
Still not convinced? Here are some more great reasons why you need a responsive website.
Mobile Usage is Exploding
Not only has mobile traffic surpassed desktop and laptop traffic as of two years ago, mobile usage is skyrocketing. If your website is not mobile-friendly, people are definitely not converting and likely leaving your website.
More People Shopping on Mobile
Many people are constantly glued to their smartphones while watching TV or shopping in stores so making your ecommerce website responsive is a must to stay in business.
Social Media Increases Mobile Users
The majority of social media consumption occurs on mobile devices. Thus, sharing links with Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter drives more mobile traffic to your website.
Improved SEO
Not sure why your website is not showing up on Google? Not having a responsive website could be one of the reasons. Google wants to provide their users with the best user experience possible and since websites that are not mobile-friendly aggravate users, Google buries them search results. Responsive websites will always rank better organically. Google also prefers responsive websites over separate mobile sites because it eliminates duplicate content.
Future Scalability
With responsive web design, you do not have to worry when new devices come out because your website is fluid and will adjust to any resolution. Images are resized and content is reflowed based on screen sizes with media queries.
Optimal User Experience
With responsive web design, users do not have to pinch and zoom. Everything is legible and the website always fits the width of the device.
More Efficient
Investing in a responsive website means you only have one version to update which minimizes content management costs. Also, it is much easier to track and report on a responsive website rather than a site with a separate mobile version.
In Conclusion
If your website is not mobile-friendly, we recommend redesigning it altogether. Adjusting a non-responsive website to be responsive is just like putting a Band-Aid on your problem and you likely will not be happy with the end result. Contact us today about responsive web design.