The mobile age is upon us, and web design is no longer confined to a desktop computer. With an unprecedented number of people accessing the web on their smartphones and tablets, responsive web design has become an absolute necessity for businesses to remain competitive.
Responsive web design is a method of designing websites to ensure they are optimized for all devices. The website must automatically adjust its layout, text size, image size, and other elements to fit properly on whatever device the viewer is accessing it from. Without responsive web design, a website will not look its best on certain devices and visitors may quickly leave if the website isn’t easy to use.
With mobile web traffic outpacing traditional desktop use, the importance of responsive web design cannot be overstated. Responsive design provides customers with the best possible user experience no matter what device they are using to browse the web. People expect a site to look and function as expected for any device they access it from. Responsive web design is the best way to ensure that happens.
A website designed specifically for one device line (such as smartphones) requires two separate development efforts, and can quickly become a maintenance headache. In addition, without responsive web design, businesses will be leaving people with certain devices on the sidelines. This includes people who use older versions of mobile browsers, as they won’t be able to access the website in its entirety.
Responsive web design also ensures your website maintains its search engine presence. Every time you duplicate your website for multiple devices, you are creating another “outdated” version of it. Search engines don’t want to display outdated information, and they will be proficient at detecting which version of the website should be promoted in search results.
If you want to stay competitive and engage with customers in the mobile age, it is absolutely essential to invest in responsive web design. Responsive design ensures your website looks and functions properly for any device, eliminating extra development time and maintenance headaches. It also ensures customers accessing your website from older versions of browsers don’t get left behind, and that your website maintains its search engine presence. Invest in responsive web design, and you’ll be prepared no matter what device people view your website from.