BLOG | Custom Web Design 7 Important Guidelines for Effective Responsive Web Design

Doesn’t it just irk you when you’re on your phone and the display of the website you’re visiting is not the responsive web design you are expecting?

Sure, you can resort to the usual “pinch and zoom technique” to try and access the other parts of the page. But in most cases, it just doesn’t work. So then, what do you do? You try another option, which is to tweak around with your mobile browser and get it to load the desktop version of the site. It works for a while… until you notice that some important elements are missing. Sigh.

Frustrating, isn’t it?

You don’t have any other choice but to get on your laptop or desktop in order to navigate the page. Then again… who has time to make all that extra effort when you can just find another service provider on mobile? Specifically, one with a responsive web design, of course.

Wait, you haven’t heard of responsive web design, yet?

Then clearly, you’ve been missing out. It’s the primary solution to your dilemma, the dilemma of losing online clients. And no, we’re not joking.

Responsive web design allows your website to readily format and scale itself depending on what device your web visitor may be using. This means that your clients would no longer have to pinch and zoom (or resort to other tactics) just to do the things they need to do on your website!

Installing a responsive web design equates to added convenience for your prospects. (And with added convenience comes added sales in the future as well.)

But before you jump into the hype, here’s a couple of pointers from Proweaver that should help you come up with your very own responsive web design:

1. Prioritize mobile

   Gone were the days when we used to rely on desktop devices to connect to the internet. Sure, we still make use of our laptops, but we’re usually fine with surfing the web just through our phones. With that in mind, it’s best that you also mold your website with mobile use as the main focus. To do that, you should:

   • Know the trends

     Don’t be so keen on configuring your custom web design with the latest model of smartphones and gadgets in mind (because, really, not everyone is able to use higher tier devices). Rather, you should focus the design on your website content and how users will be able to experience it.

   • Learn the dimensions

     Is there a standard? Not really. And because of that, it would be in your best interest to design at least 3 versions of your page (depending on different browser widths) to ensure fluidity. Common dimensions to take note of include one that is less than 600px, another one that is in the range of 600px to 900px, and lastly, one that is greater than 900px.

   • Scale the images

     You want to use a particular image, but will it look just as good on mobile as it does on the desktop? Think of how the picture will be displayed when it shows up on a monitor, tablet, or smartphone before you set it into place.

2. Consider the context

   What do your web visitors expect to see when they first land on your page? What kind of details would they need to be convinced to convert? Proweaver explains that it’s important for you to:

   • Build the ambiance

     Visual stimuli can go a long way as it is able to set the mood of your prospects. And if done right, it might just put them in the mood to make a purchase or sign up for a service.

   • Entice the senses

     Curiosity is a powerful drive. If you’re able to wield it properly, you will lead your web visitors to where you want them to be―at the product catalog or service menu. Inject carefully worded call-to-actions to make this happen!

   • Gather the facts

     Last, but definitely not the least, it’s important that you fill in your web visitors on all the information that they might need about your product or service.Through this, your brand will have an easier time building trust with your clients. (And with trust established, you will gain a higher chance of retaining more customers through the years.)

3. Remember, user experience is key

   Just like you, everyone wants convenience. When your business website is able to deliver that and a comfortable user experience, your clients will be more likely to stay and browse through your page. The longer they stay, the more likely they will be able to make a purchase, share your content, and increase your site’s ranking with search engines. But how exactly will you improve user experience?

   • Keep the flow consistent

     Uniformity prevents confusion. Before you work on your final web design, create a sitemap. This will allow you to arrange texts and images in a way that allows better navigation.

   • Design the buttons to be appropriately sized

     Are the buttons on your website too small for a thumb to tap on? Are the labels on them too minuscule to read? Make adjustments to form a more ergonomic design.Aside from changing the size, another good way to do this is by coloring the buttons in hues that will separate them from the rest of the page.

   • Check the input methods
     Desktop devices make use of a mouse pointer and a keyboard for easy typing. But for a smartphone user, the experience is a lot different. Be generous in spacing your buttons and clickable areas to give easier access.

4. Titillate the audience with typography

   Don’t certain fonts just leap out of the page and grab your attention? Using stylized typefaces is a great strategy, however, you should also make sure of its readability. After all, none of it would make sense if your average web user isn’t able to decipher the information on your website. To implement proper typography, you should:

   • Consider the font size

     Smaller font sizes may look appealing and present a soothing minimalist design, but it’s not always easy to read. (Especially for older members of your market and those who don’t have 20/20 vision.)On the other hand, font sizes that are too big might cause your website to look too crowded, so be sure to find the right balance between the two.

   • Use the bold typeface for emphasis

     The thicker, the better. However, be careful not to use too many bold fonts as they can end up distracting your client from the correct navigation of your web page.Utilize thicker fonts only in texts that you need to be highlighted the most (such as blog titles and call-to-actions).

   • Direct the eye where it needs to be

     Bold, italicized, and stylized font faces don’t just aim to make your website look more aesthetically pleasing. They are also able to guide the line of vision. And in some cases, they can even help make your call-to-action prompts more effective.

5. Improve overall navigation

   How do clients usually maneuver their phone when browsing the web? With the use of a mobile device, your best bet would be to make use of a template which allows infinite scrolling.

   But of course, that’s not the only option that can enhance your website’s navigation. You should also keep in mind to:

   • Keep the icons organized

     A cluttered website is a big no-no. Not only will it lead to confusion on your web visitor’s end, but it can also prevent them from navigating your site properly. Set your icons in one coherent area. The neater they appear, the better they will be able to function.

   • Make the direction uniform

     Does your website scroll down or to the side? No matter which option you pick, be sure to utilize the same combination with all your other web pages. This minimizes the learning curve for getting familiar with your website and reinforces client interaction.

   • Simplify the instructions

     Are your call-to-actions worded appropriately? Fanciful phrases are great, but be sure to construct them in a way that they can be understood at one glance. With it, your business website will be able to convert more prospective clients with ease.

6. Focus on loading speed above all else

   Having a beautifully designed website won’t make your users stay if it ends up straining a web visitor’s patience.

   No matter how much of an eye candy your website is, if it’s unable to load within a minute or two, all the hard work you placed into designing it will be put into waste. To prevent that, you should:

   • Compress the images

     No one, absolutely no one, enjoys slow loading speeds. Even small delays can cause prospective clients to change their mind and cause them to opt out of your website instead. Following that line of thought, it’s only fitting that you concentrate on enhancing speed by reducing the image sizes.

   • Remove the unnecessary details

     Do you really need that big of an image to call your customer’s attention? Does your site depend on an animated overlay
     to create sales? If your answer is no, then you might as well get rid of those additions. By doing so, your web pages will be able to load more quickly.

   • Optimize the image files

     Have you heard of SVG graphics? Scalable vector graphics are a great option for responsive web design because they are not just scalable (as the name implies), but they are also resolution-independent. Plus, they come with great browser support!This means they won’t put your images in danger of being pixelated. All you need to do is whip up some magic with CSS and Javascript to put it to work! (If you need assistance with design and coding, Proweaver can help!)

7. Test thoroughly

   
   Now that you have the basics covered, it’s important that you check how well your website runs on the actual devices.

   This will allow you to gain a better scope of how the overall user experience would be like once a responsive web design is set into place. Make sure you don’t skimp on anything:

   • Try the design on your own device

     How does the navigation feel from your own perspective? Does it feel comfortable? Or will you need to make further adjustments? Make note of your thoughts and use them to calibrate your design afterward.

   • Try the design on a smartphone and tablet

     After you test the design on your own device, you should also test it with other gadgets to see how it looks. Consider asking a friend for their opinions too. They might be able to point out certain factors that you have missed.

   • Try the design on a laptop/desktop
     Yes, more clients make use of their mobile devices when going online. But, you also can’t ignore a good percentage of web users who prefer to surf on their laptops and desktops. Be sure you look into that as well!

Are you ready to implement responsive web design?

If you don’t have prior experience in the field of custom web design, things can be quite difficult. You might encounter roadblocks with coding and need to continually try out options to see which works best. And as an entrepreneur, you won’t always have the luxury to personally invest your time in a project such as this.

Well, you don’t really have to worry about any of that. We can take the wheel from here and make your website anew. With a team of highly experienced web designers, we won’t just give you a responsive web design, but one that is created with the goal to further your business.

Tell us, what vision did you have in mind for your business website? When you’re ready to make the change for your page, don’t hesitate to speak with one of our representatives through a call

!

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