What is Responsive Web Design & Why is it Important?

So what does ‘responsive’ mean?  In a nutshell it’s all about how your business customers interact with your website.

Rapidly advancing technology in the last few years has produced a wide range of mobile devices of all shapes and sizes, allowing us to browse the internet anywhere anytime, not just on our PCs at home.  Over half of all internet traffic now takes place on mobile devices, and with over half the UK’s population now owning a smartphone, it is clear that responsive websites are now essential in this highly competitive battle for our attention.   We all know from our own personal experience of browsing sites on the web that the viewing experience varies enormously.  Mobile devices allow us to change the orientation of an image in a second with a single touch, so it is therefore is essential to maintain the integrity of the original site so as not to disengage the viewer’s attention.  A poor mobile experience can lose you potential customers in a flash.

So, today’s websites must ‘fit to screen’ across all devices and over the wide range of platforms without the loss of the user experience; what looks great and really engaging on an iPad needs to  give the user the same viewing experience on an android smartphone or Notepad, for example.  Sites that are not responsive when viewed on different devices may lose elements of the site’s navigation functionality, may not work well with ‘swipe’ or ‘touch’ movement, may not load fast enough, and may result in considerable distortion.   Result?  Your viewer is frustrated and leaves your site.

Your audience is constantly on the move nowadays and expects a quality browsing experience at all times on all their devices.  If you’ve not already done so it is seriously time to health check and re-assess your web presence – is your site working hard for you?  Are your analytics telling you potential customers arriving on your site are not staying?  Are you considering a major sales drive?  Any or all of these motivations should also ring the ‘time to go responsive’ bell.  It is not enough that your site looks good on all these different devices, investing in the move to a responsive site by existing site owners will also ensure your site is future-proof; a cost saving in the longer term.

• Content can be created once and delivered to multiple devices
• The user experience is the same no matter which device accesses the site’s content
• As consumers increasingly use mobile devices to shop, responsive design can ensure this activity is familiar on a desktop, phone or tablet
• With over half of the UK’s population now owning a smartphone, content must be optimised for this channel
• Marketing opportunities can be enhanced with complementary services all delivered instantly across all customer touch points

One final thought to leave you with – we know that Google, as the by far largest search engine, prefers responsive websites, and we also know that responsive design is an essential part of small business digital marketing.  Combined, these two facts alone should convince you to reassess your own web presence.  By not considering the switch to a responsive website, businesses are potentially turning their backs on an already large and very rapidly growing market.

At PS Web Design we specialise in helping small business and start-ups with their website requirements, using a careful approach and detailed plan and in particular bearing in mind availability of resources.  We have always believed in working alongside our clients as their businesses grow, supporting them and giving our very best advice for their web needs along the way.

PS Web Design supplies affordable web design services in many areas of the UK, including  Leicester,  Leicestershire, Rutland, Northampton, and the East Midlands.

If you are currently planning for a website or want to up-date and overhaul an existing website, give us a call for an informal chat to see how we can help you save money and gain a quality on-line presence.  Please get in touch on 0116 2793000 or email us at enquiries@psweb-design.com