Without getting too technical about web design techniques and strategies, responsive sites are designed to “respond” to how a growing number of multi-device users surf, browse and buy things on the internet. The idea is that, when your web designer creates your website, they will build it using techniques that allow any device to use it, be it a desktop, laptop, tablet or smartphone. Today, even smart watches and smart apparel are beneficiaries of responsive website design.
In creating a responsive site, you not only add to the number of potential users of your own website, but a responsive website designer can open up a world of newer marketing opportunities for you. Here are three reasons why you should ensure your website is responsive.
Why respond with responsive web design?
According to data research company Statista, the number of users supporting smartphones in Ireland will jump to 4.06 million units by 2022 (ref 1) . That number was 3.42 in 2017 – which mean responsive website designers will need to brace themselves for a near 20% jump in mobile user traffic.
So, what does this mean for you? Well, for one, it means that if your website only really works well on desktop PCs, you are likely to be left behind. In just 4 years’ time, your competitors, who are currently working with a web design agency to create a complete mobile version of their site, will have a 20% larger marketing opportunity than you will.
(ref 1: https://www.statista.com/statistics/494649/smartphone-users-in-ireland/ )
1) Get rewarded
Reading the trends ahead correctly, back in 2015, Google provided some recommendations around responsive website designing. The expectation was that, as cellular technology, such as 4G (and now more increasingly 5G), became more popular, mobile devices will become ubiquitous. And that would require websites to be responsive by default. To encourage every web designer to embrace responsive designing concepts, Google started rewarding sites that were mobile-enabled.
With responsive web design, your site can now be rewarded for mobile friendliness. Anyone with a mobile device will therefore be able to have your website included in their searches. Why? Because google will consider mobile friendliness when rewarding sites with a search rank. Web designing, using a responsive approach, will therefore give you a competitive advantage in search queries, over your competitors' sites that aren’t designed for responsiveness.
2) Get first dibs on customers
If your website design agency hasn’t spoken to you about responsive design yet, it’s time for you to have a conversation with them. If you postpone that talk, it’s likely that your competitors’ sites might be first in line on web searches – courtesy of Google.
Late last year (Dec 2017), Google launched their “Mobile first” indexing strategy – a strategy that primarily helps mobile devices search for content faster than other devices. Any Website designer who created only desktop versions of their websites, or whose desktop versions were starkly different from the mobile versions will lose out. If you want first dibs on customer acquisitions, you need to have a responsive website design.
3) Reach out to prospects near you
Today’s customer is highly mobile, and often makes spending decisions on the go. If you are a bricks and mortar store, then responsive web designing can help you track and attract customers and prospects in your store's vicinity, who may be equipped with a mobile device. Proximity marketing, a technique to reach out to potential clients who are in the proximity of your store, is a corner stone of mobile web design technique to encourage impulse spending. However, it is only possible to benefit from such impulse buying if you are able to reach a prospect at the right time – when he/she is nearby, and not sitting at a desktop somewhere. And to do that, you need to embrace responsive web site design techniques.
Respond now…or get left behind.
Any savvy web designing agency will tell you that the numbers don’t lie. A 2017 survey of the Irish retail environment, conducted by renowned consulting firm PWC (ref 2) , predicts that in the next four years the country’s e-commerce industry will surpass €14.1 billion - that’s more than double what it was in 2017.
Yet another statistic, that underlines the urgency of responsive website designing, is that 30% of Irish retailers are expected to use their mobile phones as the primary shopping tool. If your website isn’t available for them to see – on their mobile devices – what chance do you have of getting their business?
Website design is constantly changing and evolving. But one thing is certain: The mobile revolution is here to stay! So, if you haven’t started building a responsive website yet, it’s time to act now…or you’ll be left trying to play catch-up with the competition.
(ref 2: https://www.pwc.ie/survey/2017-pwc-total-retail-survey.html )
If you have any questions about your website and using it to generate more business give us a call on 01-6216866 or email info@myit.ie
