5 Reasons Why Every Business Needs Responsive Design

We live in a world where mobile devices are usually within arms reach.

From smart phones to tablets, we’ve become accustom to accessing the Internet o visit sites, search for information and even interact with our friends, family and brands on social media sites.

By the end of this year, Gartner reports that at least 57% of the U.S. population will have a smart phone in their pocket.

Google has announced that this Fall, over 30% of web searches would be done by mobile device!

At TKG, we’ve been seeing mobile visits to our clients’ websites grow upwards of 150% or more over this past year. That means if you are a business and you do not have a mobile website that is using responsive design, you’ll need to get in the game quickly. If you wait, you may risk loosing visitor traffic to your competitors who have already invested in using responsive design to make their websites friendly to mobile devices.

5 Reasons Why Your Website Needs Responsive Design

1. Responsive design improve user experience. It’s much easier to read a mobile website page that quickly displays the most important information relevant to your business. (Ever try to read a full website on a tiny cell phone’s mobile browser?)
2. Even your grandma may be using a mobile browser. Even older generations of consumers are moving to adopt smart phones. Do you want your grandma to be able to find your website in her mobile browser.
3. Mobile websites let your customers find when it’s convenient. People search for information as they need it; and that means your business needs to take advantage of every opportunity to get in front of customers. Most people do not wait until they get behind a desktop or laptop computer to search for things they want now; they search using mobile devices that are convenient.
4. Mobile devices let customers contact you on the spot. If your business has a brick and mortar location, the smart phone can be prompted by the mobile-friendly page to have customers call, e-mail or find your business location on a map. This is an incredible tool and a primary reason why many business owners/managers quickly opt to use responsive web design.
   
5. Responsive web design can help you stay ahead of competitors. Your competition is already working on making their website display better on mobile devices such as smart phones, iPads, notebooks and tablets. They may be using one of several different methods responsive web design and gaining an edge over competitors.

1.  Responsive Design Websites

First, if you do not have a responsive website, it’s time to get that old site upgraded with new code. You’ll at least want your full website displaying nicely in all types of mobile browser options. And, if you are planning to have your website redeveloped anyway, why not explore responsive design?

A website that incorporates responsive web design will allow it to adjust automatically to any screen size. This means that the site can be made to display the most relevant information visitors are looking for, no matter what the size of display screen.

The full website is pre-planned and designed to scale down to every size browser, removing unimportant elements as it is viewed in smaller screens. Responsive web design does cost more, but in the long run, it will adapt and look great in the ever-changing host of browser sizes.

2.  Mobile-Only Websites

So, you don’t want to shell out the cash to redesign your website, but you would like to have a second site designed specifically for mobile devices. One option is to build a mobile website that is designed to display in a mobile browser in lieu of your full website when it detects that a mobile browser is being used by the visitor.

Like responsive website design, a mobile website can be a great option because mobile sites are designed for smaller screens. You can keep it simple by offering customers just a few pages of information, or elect to create a version for mobile commerce.

3.  Mobile Splash Pages

Another option that is least expensive is to offer a mobile splash page. One way to have a mobile website is by offering one page that auto-displays when a mobile user visits your company’s website.

You keep it simple by offering a description of your business with phone, address and e-mail. If they touch the phone number, the smart phone prompts them to call; if they touch the address, a map pops-up showing your business’ location; and if they touch e-mail, the customer can quickly send a message to your company right from their phone! If more information is needed, the visitor can always select “View Full Website.”

What Will You Choose?

The statistics show that mobile devices have become a mainstream part of our culture in the U.S. and around the world.

The only choice you MUST not make is to ignore this trend.

From the three options I mentioned above, what sticks out to you as the best choice?

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