Ever since the means by which people access the internet moved on from just desktop PCs to laptops, tablets, and mobile phones, the term ‘responsive web design’ has been in the vocabulary of anyone who works in, or has an interest in, web design. That should include any business owner who needs a new website designed because one of the critical design elements that they must insist upon is that their website is responsive.
If you have never come across the term responsive, or have, but are unsure what it means, let us cover that first. Having a responsive website means that when it is viewed, regardless of the device being used to view it, it displays properly. In other words, the website ‘responds’ to the device, and thus alters its dimensions and proportions so that text and images can be read and seen clearly.
Obviously, the fact that your website can be seen on all devices provides you with a huge advantage with regards to improving user experience, conversions, and the overall impression any visitor will have of your website and your business, but it is not the only reason why having a responsive website is important, as we are about to explain.
#1: Mobile Is Taking Over
One of the devices that a responsive website will be seen on properly is a mobile phone, and the importance of that increases every day. Why? Well, it is for the simple fact that mobile browsing has taken over from desktop browsing as the majority. In other words, there will be more online traffic coming from mobile devices than there will be from a desktop computer or laptop. That gap is only going to widen as the months and years go by.
What this means for your business, is that when it has its website built or redesigned, unless that web design is responsive, you will effectively be excluding the majority of online traffic from seeing your website. That is a scenario that no business can allow, especially if it has local competitors who have had the foresight to have their web designers build them responsive websites.
#2: It Costs Less
If a business’s website is not mobile responsive, to ensure that those using devices other than a desktop PC can view it, multiple versions of that website need to be built. In other words, it needs a version built for desktop, a version for tablets, one built for mobile and so on. Instead of paying for just one website, they end up paying for multiple websites which is obviously going to cost more.
#3: One Responsive Website Is Easier To Maintain Than Many
Following on from the fact that building multiple websites costs more than building just one responsive website, there is also the consideration you have to make about the commitment and resources necessary for updating and maintaining multiple websites. The work required to plan for updates, security and maintenance is greater and becomes akin to spinning plates as you have to oversee several websites versus just one.
#4: Improved SEO = Higher rankings On Google
Data relating to how long visitors will remain on responsive websites show that the time they spend is longer, and this is a significant ranking factor when Google is assessing your website. Also bear in mind that Google prioritizes mobile searches meaning that if you do not have a responsive website, it is going to appear further down the search results.