The Basics
Internet access is available to a huge variety of mobile devices such as smart phones and tablets, and you need to consider how your website looks on each of them.
You may have a great looking website on a traditional desktop but when someone visits it on their mobile phone it just looks wrong. This is sure to affect your click through rate and conversion rate in a negative way and the figures for the amount of people using smart phones and tablets to view websites is far too high to ignore that.
So what’s the answer? Responsive web design.
What Does It Do?
Using a web development technology known as ‘media queries’, responsive web design tells a website which device it’s being viewed on and adapts its layout and appearance accordingly.
For example you might find that certain websites appear to be too wide to be viewed properly on your phone and it’s like your just viewing a snapshot of the site instead of the whole thing. Media queries allow you to view it just the same as if you were on your PC at home, as the dimensions and layout of the site will have adapted to your device.
What Are The Advantages?
One of the major advantages of responsive web site design is that it makes the user experience of visiting your website on any platform much easier and much more enjoyable.
This is hugely important in terms of engaging your web visitor (prospective client) and turning them into paying customers which is the main aim of most websites.
If a user is struggling to navigate through your site because it’s not adapted for their mobile device then they are likely to leave it and try one of your competitor's sites. Alternatively if they can easily access the information they need, sign up or make a purchase just like on their desktop computer then you are opening yourself up to a lot more customers.
Who Should Be Using It?
Most businesses should be thinking about a responsive design - any business where the customer base has smart phones and tablets and want to access the business owner's website.
This content needs to be equally accessible with any device that the visitor may be using - the reader wants to be able to read the information you are providing as easily as possible, it’s as simple as that.
Some other types of websites that would benefit hugely from responsive web design are ecommerce sites who sell their products through their site. For an ecommerce site the more straight forward you make it for the customer to make a purchase the better and so responsive design is a must.
Can You Afford An Responsive Design Versus An App?
The big brand companies all have apps specifically built for smart phones and tablet devices. That’s all well and good for them but the average website owner doesn’t have thousands to spend on getting a smart phone app developed and even if they did, getting it out there and into the public awareness is another battle entirely.
With app development you also have to consider building an app for each of the mobile platforms: android, apple, blackberry, windows, etc.
Responsive web design is the ideal solution as it can tick numerous boxes for your business - it can be your main business website, your mobile website and the platform you use to put mobile functionality on rather than getting new apps built on an ongoing basis.
Is your website responsive and able to adapt its appearance and layout for the range of devices that your website customers are using?
If not then you should really consider one as the advantages for you as a website owner and for your new and existing customers are huge. Contact MyIT Website Design Crumlin Dublin 12 if you have any questions and we'd be happy to answer them for you.
