What is Responsive Web Design?
You have probably heard the phrase being bandied around, but what actually is a responsive website? And does your business really need one?
A responsive website is one where the content on the screen changes in relation to the type of device being used by the viewer – for example, a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop.
If we were to go back in time say 20 years, people would have been using large, clunky desktop computers with very bulky screens, there were no smartphones, and the only tablets we would have been using were the ones prescribed from a chemist!
So, the content on the websites we were browsing did not need to adapt, because there was no reason to do so.
However, technology has changed dramatically over the last couple of decades and now there are many kinds of smartphone, mobile phone, tablet, laptop, and desktop and the screen sizes are all totally different.
When you have a website that has been created using responsive web design, you are ensuring that whatever your visitors are viewing not only looks good on the screen, but that they can also easily navigate around and find the information they are looking for.
This is because websites built with responsive technology are capable of detecting what type of device is being used to browse them – such as a smartphone – and then adapting the content accordingly to fit properly on the screen.
This means your website will always work seamlessly on desktops, tablets, and mobile phones as it will automatically adjust to any screen size, so there’s never any need for your customers to pinch or zoom to view the content.
Responsive websites are also preferred by Google, so choosing a website that uses responsive web design means that your chances of ranking highly in search results are instantly improved.
How to test if your website is responsive:
1. Open up your website on your mobile phone.
2. Look at your website - do you have to pinch the screen or scroll horizontally to view all the content?
According to Google, 61% of people will leave a website if it’s not mobile-friendly because it’s not easy to find what they’re looking for on a smartphone or tablet.
3. How quickly does your website load?
Is your website painfully slow on a mobile? 40% of customers will abandon a website if it doesn’t load in under 3 seconds, which means non-responsive websites are more likely to lose out on business to fast-loading competitors.
4. Is using your website on your mobile phone a positive experience?
67% of people are more likely to buy a product or enquire about a service from a mobile-friendly website. Websites that are easy to use and navigate on smaller screens provide a much better user experience and this encourages people to become customers.
5. Carry out a search for your type of business on Google – can you find your website in the results?
Responsive websites are favoured by Google, which often means they’ll appear higher than websites that aren’t mobile friendly in search results. Upgrading to a responsive website greatly increases the chances of more people discovering your business online.
Do you think you could be losing business because your website is not responsive? At it’seeze Web Design Exeter, we specialise in creating professional, affordable, and fully responsive websites that are one of a kind. Get in touch with us today to find out how our responsive web design services could help you reach more customers and boost your sales.
Tagged as: Web design
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