Responsive Websites and Why They Benefit Your Business

Before we explore the reasons behind why you need a responsive website, it’s probably a good idea to run through what constitutes a responsive website.

Way back in the annals of time (or all of 5 years ago) all websites were built to fit perfectly onto a laptop or desktop screen. It was just the way it was…people used laptops or desktops and there was no need to consider anything else.

Then the mobile device explosion came about and frustration grew among people who wanted to browse, shop, check their emails whilst on the go…only their favourite sites just looked weird on their mobile screens. Nothing fitted, things didn’t work as well and it was just plain irritating. Users might have to scroll all the way over to the right in order to read a complete sentence or to find a button for something…or they might find they couldn’t see images or adverts as well as when on a laptop.

Web developers and designers worked to come up with a solution and responsive design was born. The idea is that when a website is built, the code which is used to make it work is altered to ensure that the site adjusts itself automatically so that no matter what device it’s being viewed on, it responds just as well. The resolution changes to suit laptop, tablet or phone and even the images adjust accordingly so that the whole thing may be enjoyed as it’s meant to be.

If your company’s website is not responsive then changes need to be made as soon as possible. Without a responsive website you are risking losing whoever is being left out of comfortably using your website and lost custom is never a good thing.

Shoppers who rely on their mobile devices for instance simply won’t shop on a site which isn’t compatible with their phone; phones generally have a portrait mode for their usual setting and two column layouts won’t work well because users need to constantly scroll back and forth in order to read all the text available. This may mean users cannot see or miss important features on your site because they don’t fully scroll or lose interest. If a consumer cannot immediately see the “markers” of a trustworthy website such as their social media buttons and their “about us” page then they will lose faith and leave.  When you’re putting your bank details into a site, you at least want that site to cater to your needs as a customer.

There’s also the consideration that many people change devices throughout the day; the person who starts off on their phone as they go to work and meander through their busy routine will potentially later on, turn on their laptop as they’re relaxing at home because the screen is larger and more comfortable to view.

Your business needs to be equally accessible to all no matter what device they’re using…the responsiveness of your site is part of the foundations of success in terms of how well your company’s site will perform.