Submitted by: Debbi Cunnington
A responsive website design changes your website based on the size of the screen being that is being used. It limits scrolling, uses images that resize to fit the screen automatically and the end result is a clean yet branded experience for the user.
To check to see if your website is responsive, open your website on a browser. Now click to make the window smaller, continuing to decrease the width of the horizontal viewing area. If you see a fluid movement of images, text and whatnot, this is a responsive design and this is extremely important!!!
It isn’t enough to build a website and assume ‘they will come’. This should be old news by now, however, with smart phones, IPads and Tablets taking up a huge share of the internet user market, it is now more important than ever to have a website that serves up content based on what device the visitor is using.
1. People Use Many Different Devices
The days of everyone using a desktop computer with basically the same size monitor are over. Visitors on a computer versus a phone are completely different in terms of their needs. Typically, someone on their phone is looking for specific information – a place to eat, a phone number, directions, hotel, etc. They want information and they want it fast. If they are making a purchase, they want it to be quick and easy; no multiple clicks and confusing instructions.
2. Crunch the Numbers
With one quarter of global web searches conducted on a mobile device, you have to get on board with the idea that a single website display will be okay with your visitors. It won’t be and they will leave your site.
3. Your Website Must Be Readable
When you look at a website on a small device, such as phone or tablet, size absolutely matters. Have you ended up on a site that looks like a tiny version of the regular site? It’s so small! The text is tiny, it’s impossible to get around without a lot of left to right scrolling and it’s a huge PITA? What does the visitor do when they see that? Leave.
Is this an experience that you would recommend? Would you purchase something under those conditions? Then why do you expect your visitors to be happy with that experience?
4. Must Keep Your Visitors On Your Site
Bottom line is that you have to keep the visitors on your site to get them to make that purchase, sign up with that link or do whatever it is you want them to do. If they leave your site, that’s that.
5. Google Likes Responsive
As discussed earlier in this post, visitors who have a hard time with your non-responsive website will simply leave and find someone who gets it (responsive rox!). On top of that, Google takes into account the ‘user experience’ and will penalize your site if it lacks mobile capabilities.
“To improve the search experience for smartphone users and address their pain points, we plan to roll out several ranking changes in the near future that address sites that are misconfigured for smartphone users.” Yoshikiyo Kato, Software Engineer, on behalf of Google Mobile Search team
So, go and take a look at your website and check for responsiveness. Is your site responsive?
About the Author: Debbi Cunnington is the owner of Cimmeron Studios, where we have been providing services since 1999. Starting out as a Virtual Assistant and Bookkeeper, Debbi taught herself design, coding and WordPress along the way. Now an accomplished designer/marketer/developer, Debbi and her team are perfectly skilled to provide complete web marketing & design services for your business. Visit our site at
cimmeronstudios.com/
to find out how Cimmeron Studios can help you make the most of your business.
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