4 Benefits of Responsive Design

Is the responsive design option right for you?

Studies have shown that on average more time is spent on responsive websites than non-responsive. source
You may be bleeding customers today if your website is not optimized for multiple devices using a responsive design. As more people convert from a desktop to mobile devices for email and surfing the web, you need to be sure your site is accessible. The wrong screen size may cost you customers or sales. Research has shown that mobile devices are continuing to gain the users’ attention over the desktop. For example email, an easy item to collect data on for research, is opened first on mobile devices 65% of the time. This is a huge jump from the previous year (2013), which was about 46%.

Give users a consistent experience

The challenge is to present content in a structure that’s user-friendly and appealing regardless of how the user chooses to engage with it. Responsive design is one of the best ways to give your user a consistent experience across all channels; mobile, tablets, and web and should be explored with your designer/developer as a fit for your needs and objectives.

Embrace the grid

In responsive design the ‘page’ is based on a grid layout. Using media queries the page will re-paginate for devices and screen sizes; content will reflow and image sizes will adjust based on the device and screen size of your user. By targeting multiple screen sizes in the design of your site, your visitor will experience the content in its most optimal format and also enjoy a consistent experience from one device to the next. Nothing tells the story better than experiencing responsive design – or lack of – first hand. Test Size lets you enter your site URL and see a simulated view of it on popular devices and screen sizes. Learn what your visitor sees.

Retail is loved by the mobile user so love them back

If you are a retailer, you’ll also want to be aware that retail sales using tablets and smartphones have experienced dramatic surges in recent years, and this is not just with the younger set, more accustomed to technology. For the 2013 holiday season, “Late shopping was the rule, and it was the over 45s who led a last-minute shopping dash.”

4 Benefits of responsive design

The challenge is to present content in a structure that’s user-friendly and appealing regardless of how the user chooses to engage with it.

Consistent URL or site architecture makes your content easy to share.
Improved user experience by insuring a similar experience from one device to the next.
One set of URLs can boost your standing in search engines. It’s very SEO friendly.
With a single funnel for code, content and assets, it’s easier to build and maintain – build it once.

No matter what your company size is, building user experience into your (re) design process will lead to greater engagement by your users and give you better returns.