Responsive Web Design – Why It Is a Must for Modern Websites

With the increase in smartphones and other mobile devices, these days, responsive web design has become the hottest trend. These devices have changed the approach regarding design and user experience. Responsive design does not only maintain and normalize similar appearance for the website on different devices but also focuses on factors like click versus touch, pixel resolution, optimized markup, and many others.

Responsive web design is an approach that recommends the design according to the behavior of users. Usually, it is based on platform, orientation, and screen size. Most of the users use a handheld device to explore different websites. This makes them comfortable to browse from any device they wish. They do not have to waste their time going home to explore the web pages on their desktops.

How does responsive web design work?

Responsive websites offer a seamless viewing experience for the users holding different devices to explore a website. Fluid grids are used by responsive websites. Every page element is sized by proportion instead of pixels. Thus, if you contain three columns, you do not have to think about the width it should be. Also, some media like the image is resized relatively which lets it stay in its relative design elements or column.

Some related problems:

• Mouse VS touch

Design for mobile devices creates the problem on mouse and touch. Users use a mouse to navigate and select items on desktops whereas fingers and the touch screen is used on smartphone or tablets. If you are used to selecting with a mouse then selecting with a finger on the screen might be difficult.  Thus, a web designer should consider touch.

• Graphics and download speed

There are different types of problems with graphics, advertisements, and download speed. On the portable or mobile device, it is better to display a few graphics compared to the desktop view so that the site loads faster on smartphones as well.

• Apps and mobile version

A few years back, you might have thought about developing an app for your web solution. But, due to the increase in mobile devices, it is difficult to develop apps and versions for all devices and operating systems. Here, responsive design which is flexible for the entire device is useful.

Benefits of responsive web design:

1. Recommended by Google

Since responsive design contains one URL with similar HTML despite device that makes search engine Google easy and efficient to crawl, index, and develop content. But, if you develop a separate mobile website, it contains a different URL and HTML compared to its desktop which makes Google crawl and index various versions of a similar website.

Besides, Google suggests responsive design as content with one URL is very easy for users to interact, share and link to the content that has a different mobile website.

For instance, mobile users sharing content from a mobile website with a friend circle on social media platforms using the desktop to access the content might be difficult. This does not give a good user experience as user experience is also one of the essential ranking factors which might affect the ranking of your web solution.

2. Better user experience

Any device your users use to visit your website, you assure to provide an outstanding experience to them. They do not have to waste their time shrinking and zooming the images or text on the screen. Here, the content easily adjusts the screen of the device. This makes the user more convenient to view and navigate your site.

Indeed, a better user experience makes your website useful among wide-ranging audiences. If the audience can connect with you and get the way to complain, you will have a way to improve and do it better in the future. Happy faces of customers employing your website benefit more sales and revenue.

You may also check: Best WordPress Design Trends for 2024

3. Easy multi-device adaption

Easy multi-device adaption is one of the essential benefits of responsive design that adapts websites on various screens. This makes your web solution easy to access on different devices. Think about the handcrafted web solution that adjusts and optimizes well for your users with any type of device.

The true power of responsive web design is to adapt to different screen sizes. Also, it updates the web design industry and competitive landscape of business web solutions.

Based on the screen size, your web solution moves, content relocates, images get resized, typography might update and the layout changes will adjust to provide an exceptional user experience despite the device your customer users to explore your business website.

4. Cost-effective

Even though responsive website takes longer to put together, they live longer. It is easy and cost-effective to maintain, support, and update the website. This saves both time and money.

Integrating a responsive website makes it much easier and quicker to update the website and develop new pages. This helps business to save their precious time and money and utilize it in other important work.

5. No more duplicate content penalties

If you desire to make two different websites for mobile and desktop devices instead of a responsive design, you surely release duplicate content for a similar product. This can be time-consuming as well and running a similar page for different setups is not easy.

To make your content specific and relevant for users you must develop a responsive web design. Also, a responsive layout lets you turn on and off the content for the entire device.

6. Easy to maintain

Developing a different version of websites can be expensive, time-consuming, and difficult to maintain. Also, you need to allocate more time and effort to update the website. Here, developing responsive web design makes your work easy and you can update your website instantly.

Besides, you do not have to update the website for different platforms one after the other. You will save both time and effort by avoiding the headaches of working on the different versions of your website.

7. Stay ahead of the competition

Responsive web design is still new and this trend might not be followed by some businesses. Most business websites might not be responsive. So, if your website is responsive then you are ahead of your competitors. You can find a huge amount of web solutions and business proprietors who do not feel comfortable investing in the new technology as it is new. However, many business owners are ready to find the best web design company and get the help they need to improve their online reputation.

Also, the search engine Google desires to treat the responsive website especially. This surely puts your online business ahead of competitive circumstances.

8. More effective website management

The management of responsive design is less expensive. It takes less time to manage one website than to manage multiple sites. You will have less content to manage and get all the information on one interface than working and wasting time on different sites and URLs.

Yet, deciding on a responsive website is up to you.  If you do not want to go for responsive web design, you can also manage a separate website for various devices. However, it takes more time, effort, and cost. If you follow a responsive website, you can utilize that time, effort, and cost in other useful work.

9. Reduction in bounce rate

You get away from a website that is not relevant or informative. Even when your website has an attractive design but does not work properly for mobile users bounce rate can be a big issue. Mobile web solution rate suffers a high bounce rate if the content they provide is not displayed or is uncomfortable to browse.

Also, Google takes the high bounce rate as a sign that the website does not offer relevant content to the users. The problem can be solved by designing a responsive website and including all the content in one URL.  Here, you do not have to compromise on the content that you wish to display. This assures that users receive the information they are searching for which keeps them engaged in the web page. So, responsive design plays a significant role in reducing bounce rates.

10. SEO benefits

One of the benefits of responsive design is that you do not have to optimize the content for a different link as there is only one link for one content. The structure of the URL stays similar for every device that your user uses to explore the website.

Also, with a responsive website you enclose one URL which is convenient to update and optimize the content. This can help to boost sales generating more traffic and customer engagement.

Final Thoughts

These are some benefits of responsive web design. It is essential for every kind of website. Any type of business you hold either e-commerce or promote your service online, responsive design helps to boost your traffic with more conversion. If you want to stay ahead of today’s competition, start making a responsive website. There are lots of web Design Companies who can help you to develop the responsive websites.

How to make your website mobile friendly? Learn more about it at FirstSiteGuide.com.