The use of mobile devices like tablets and smartphones to browse the internet has exploded over the last five years also with people have been using more amount of mobile internet traffic than has overtaken desktop traffic. Because of this, there has been a huge shift in the way websites are used and displayed.
In the past, websites were simply optimised keeping the with desktop computers in mind, but now designers have to build with a mobile approach first to really capture a user experience design.
Website users by default are now expecting a mobile responsive site, and if they find a website that is not optimised for mobile browsing they may be less inclined to engage with you.
In order to decide if moving to a responsive design is right and very important for you, it’s worth first understanding the basics of responsive web design.
What is it?
Responsive website design ideally means that you will get the best user experience whether you look at the site on a smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer.
Because the site is built to re-size and restructure itself depending on the viewer, it is more engaging and easier to use.
How did it start?
The idea and the urge to have a mobile responsive website is quite recent, the term only being widely used in the last 10 years. It is important to note that ‘mobile friendly’ sites have been around for a little longer, and are actually a very different concept, which can get confusing for people who are not in the industry.
For a while now there has been the option to create a site that is mobile friendly – which really just means it doesn’t look terrible when you look at it on smaller screens. Mobile friendly website version would often necessitate the purchasing and use of a second domain which used to get after the rise of search engines and the increasingly sophisticated algorithms of search engines, adversely affected both SEO and user experience.
Why is responsive so popular?
- Simply putting it forward, people like responsive sites because they are easy to use.
- Whether you’re shopping online or trying to find business information or are going through some course, having a website that looks great and is easy to navigate on your phone means you will engage with more people.
- Because of the amount of choice out there for different businesses, it is easy for clients and customers to pick and choose between different websites.
- To find the one website the customers like the most. Firstly, user experience is one major factor in setting businesses apart from their competitors.
- This progression has led to many designers adopting a mobile-first approach to designing and developing sites, this means that the site is made assuming and thinking that it will be used primarily on smartphones and tablets rather more than on desktops.
What makes responsive websites different from the normal websites..
- Few years ago websites were based on fixed widths so the layout would appear with the same proportions no matter how big or small the screen was you were using to view the site.
- The responsive websites operate on a fluid layout structure, which means that depending on how big the screen is, the site will adjust to its measurements. You can try this out by resizing your browser window to see if the site expands or shrinks when its elements get too small or big on the computer screen.
- The other very important element to responsive design is called a media query used the coding. Media queries are set of questions your responsive website will ask the particular browser or device to determine how it should adjust itself flexibly. Thus these help the site appear optimal and give it queues as to how the design appears on your screen.
Advantages of Having a Responsive Web Design For your Website
It increases sales and conversion rates- It increase your visibility in search engines
- It saves time and cost on mobile development
- It saves time and cost on-site management
- No more worrying about duplicate content
- Easier link management
- An arguably better user experience
- Google recommends it
What is involved in developing a responsive design -
Cost Effective – Building a responsive website takes a lot more work than building a regular website. Several complete web designs have to be created in order to cater to the different screen sizes the site might be viewed on. Developing these different options requires more time and expertise, and the cost can often come a bit of a shock.
As technology continues to move at such a rapid pace, it’s important to remember that websites are now an indispensable element of engagement for any business, and over 20% of Google searches are made on a mobile device.
Testing And Assurance – You will need to set aside a certain amount of time and money to make sure your site responds to different screen sizes appropriately. Testing needs to be performed not only on several different types of browsers but also on different devices and different operating systems.
The amount of time this will take will also depend on how complex your site is and the kind of elements that are integrated into your site. This part of the process is one of the most important as it is vital to identify any issues before the site goes live.
Limitations – As with any web design, there will always be a lot of limitations. Also i will be a lot more flexible than standard web design, it is always important to fully map out your expectations and requirements of your site. For example, if you use a lot of banner ads your site would be hard to optimise for smaller screen sizes, or if you wanted to embed elements in iframes, like youtube videos or calendar applications.
Conclusion -
If your site is more than two or three years old you might be thinking or its high time to think about offering your web visitors an easier interface through which they can connect with you. Whether you have an eCommerce store, a site that provides vital information, or even if you just want to reach more potential clients to give them a number to call for your services, responsive web designs can help you reach your audience.
With the right web design, you will not only find your clients and customers staying longer on your website because of your great new design, they will find getting in contact with you or purchasing from you easier than ever. It is also very important to mention that with Google’s latest algorithm changes, having a responsive site will put you ahead of any competitors who don’t have one yet in the search engine’s rankings.
Sometimes, it can be difficult to work out where exactly your website stands on the responsiveness scale. You can use Google’s mobile-friendly assessment tool here to see if your design is up to scratch.
We @75way Technologies offer beautiful, customised responsive web design solutions for individuals and small businesses medium, and large. If you’re interested in upgrading to a modern, responsive site with a flexible and easy to use contact us today itself.
So reach out to us at www.75way.com for any further details.
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