Isn’t a regular website more than enough? Not always.
Representation is everything in a business. One bad segment can influence how well your business is going. This holds true for your business website as well. If it isn’t able to keep up with the rest, it is bound to fail. But, don’t worry. There are options you can take to prevent that. One of which is by implementing a responsive web design.
What is a responsive web design?
We’re not lying when we say that making your website responsive is a great approach to web design. Why is that? Well, it allows websites to readily scale themselves to the end user’s viewing device. No matter how small or how large the gadget being used is, your business website will always look perfect. No unreadable texts, no misplaced images, and no missing content. Everything is in place and right where you want them to be. As a result, it brings the optimal browsing experience for your web visitors.
This concept of web design has been around for quite a while now. But it wasn’t until the mid-2000s when developers realized its full potential. It was also by that time that smartphones were becoming more and more popular. Since then, the viewing flexibility of websites became a pressing need. Web developers have labored left and right to create web designs that offer such flexibility. As an answer to this need, a responsive web design was put into place.
Why do you need a responsive web design?
A responsive web design doesn’t only benefit you. It is also helpful to your web visitors and your web developers as well. Here are the reasons why:
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It pulls inbound traffic
How do most people browse the internet? Do they use their desktop devices? Yes, most people still do, but a huge number also surf the net with the use of a mobile device. This is because mobile devices are lighter to carry around. Plus, with today’s technology, it’s as capable as any laptop.
You can use this to your advantage. Consider this: a responsive web design is created with mobile use in mind. You can lure in more mobile users to your site with it.
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It reduces costs
Starting up a website requires a sizable amount of money. You’d have to pay double if you go with the original route and have an extra mobile website made.
Sure, going for a responsive web design can be a pricey investment. But think of the positive repercussions which come with it. Thanks to a responsive web design, your site will be easily optimized. On top of that, you won’t have to worry about your website being outdated so soon.
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It lowers maintenance needs
Do you have a separate mobile site? That means you’re paying for more than you should since you need extra support and testing.
Get a responsive web design instead. It presents the optimal web layout for every page and device. You can even say it brings in a “one-size-fits-all” approach. Additionally, it requires only standardized testing and maintenance too. That’s fewer headaches for the developers and more revenue for you.
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It boosts loading speeds
In this day and age, people want instant gratification. There is a great chance that web visitors will leave if your website isn’t able to deliver in the first few seconds.
Will they ever return? That’s unlikely, even more so when there is another service provider that can do better. Competition on the market is tough. Step up your game with the help of a responsive web design. It uses caching and other techniques to optimize your site. With it, you can get faster loading speeds, thus, pleasing your clients.
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It decreases bounce rates
Responsive web design brings a better user experience. Web visitors are inclined to stay longer on your site if they like what they see. At times, it even entices them to explore the other pages of your site.
If your site isn’t responsive, the audience isn’t able to stay engaged. They will bounce more quickly to another site as a result. You don’t want your competitors to have that kind of advantage, do you?
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It increases conversion rates
If you think lowering your bounce rates is enough, think again. What you need is to establish a consistent user experience throughout all devices. Once you have that down, you can easily convert new customers.
How does that work exactly? See it this way. When consumers are deciding to convert, they don’t want to be redirected to a device-specific site. For one, it takes too long. Other times, it can just be more confusing. By then, you would have lost your window of opportunity. That’s why you should go for a responsive web design. It won’t only load your website quicker. Thanks to its responsiveness, your website will look professional across all platforms. Easy as pie.
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It provides easier analytics reporting
It’s important for you to know where your web traffic comes from. This tells you which promotions work and which don’t. It also points you to where improvements are needed the most.
Now, when you have many versions of a website, tracking can be difficult. This is because you will need to individually follow each of the user’s conversion paths. However, with a responsive web design in place, the whole process becomes simpler. You can make use of Google Analytics and other tools to obtain a report without extra effort. It even points out how well your content is being received on different devices.
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It improves SEO
Have you heard of SEO before? It refers to Search Engine Optimization. With better SEO, your website will have a higher rank on search engine results. This means more people will be able to see and access your website.
Now, there are many ways to further your SEO. One of which is with the help of a responsive web design. Through it, you can create stronger backlinks. You can improve the mobile-friendliness of your site. Plus, you can also avoid duplicate content which lowers your search ranking.
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It upgrades online browsing experience
Now, more and more people prefer to browse the web through their mobile devices. (You probably do too!) Who can blame them? It’s much more convenient. You can simply take the device out of your pocket and get what you need online.
Unfortunately, old websites can’t keep up. Think about it. They aren’t originally formatted for mobile use. Small screens can’t showcase all that they have to offer. As a result, a lot of pinching and zooming would be needed to access the content. Most users don’t have the patience for that. Some would simply quit on the task and find another site.
Don’t want your website to be the victim of click and run? Then consider switching to a responsive web design as an alternative.
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It betters the offline browsing experience
Nowadays, both smartphones and tablets have HTML5 enabled. Most responsive web designs are built on that. What does this mean for you? Thanks to website responsiveness, your web users can continue browsing even without an online connection. Convenient, isn’t it?
Customer engagement never truly ends with this feature! By the time users go online, their conversion will only be a matter of time.
What are the things you should consider when switching to a responsive web design?
The whole change can be hectic. But we assure you, it’s well worth it. Here’s a couple of things you should think about before making the big switch:
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Number of screens needed
Creating a responsive web design can be more intimidating than a custom web design. You will have to prepare several screen sizes for it. (Still, it’s not as difficult as making separate websites altogether!)
By default, you should go for these dimensions:
- 320×1024 for mobile.
- 768×1024 for tablet.
- 1024×1024 and 1440×1024 for desktop.
Which devices do you want your website to be available in? Consult your web developers if you have a specific device in mind. Don’t vouch for high-end devices too much, though. Remember that not the majority of people can afford those! Go for what is most practical instead.
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Position
How will the elements on your website be positioned after resizing? Popular websites like Google prefer to keep things centered. But you’re free to do as you like. Get those creative juices flowing! Don’t resize the thumbnails on your site as well. It will make your custom web design look more proportionate.
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Sizes
You have two main options when it comes to thumbnails and icons. As mentioned earlier, the icons and thumbnails can be automatically resized. This will allow them to fit the screen in the best possible way. You can also go about it by reducing the number of thumbnails in each row. Either way, you need to use a grid system to make this work. Ask Proweaver to know more about it. -
User interaction
Think about your web user’s convenience. Will it be comfortable for them to access your web interface? You can add in either a sidebar or a hamburger menu to save space in smaller devices. But, be careful not to rely too much on hover. Go for an alternative because that feature is not available on most touch screens.
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Image and text
These two elements will resize themselves as needed. Hence, there’s no need for a lot of tweaks. Still, you should consider readability and placement. Adding too big of an image on a small display can hinder legibility.
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Feedback
Check on what web visitors have to say. Knowing what they think will help you continually improve your web design. Besides, they’re the ones browsing your website regularly. It’s only fair for you to heed their opinion.
Lastly, here’s a pro tip. Start by doing a custom web design that is fitted for mobile. It will make your website load faster on smaller devices.
Why is that so? The programming behind a responsive web design starts from the top to bottom. Placing the mobile codes right up top will boot your website faster on smaller devices.
The conclusion
Why do you really need a responsive web design? Simple. It puts you ahead of the competition. Besides, a number of companies have already gone through with it. You can’t risk being left behind. True, there’s no knowing how technology will change over the years. But, implementing this format brings a better future to your business website. It can pull in more clients, can represent your brand successfully and it can lower your costs. All in all, having a responsive web design is a win-win solution for all your needs.
Who can you ask for help when it comes to creating a responsive web design?
You’ll be glad to know that custom web design is not the only ace in our pocket. We’re right here if you need help. Our team has a dedicated group of web designers that will cater to you. No matter what business industry you may be in, we got your needs covered. Check our work portfolio! We’ve made numerous websites from a wide range of clients.
In fact, we’re a one-stop-shop. We don’t just handle web design; we can provide you with web content too. Speak with one of our representatives today. (You can find our contact details below.) We’ll gladly set you up with a FREE sample―both for the web design and content. No commitments, no hidden charges. Let us know what you need and we’ll get started.
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