Did you know that internet searches on smartphones and tablets account for more than half of all web browsing today?
As a website owner, it is critical that you know how most of your visitors are accessing your website. These days more than half of all internet searches come from smartphones and tablets. This means that a high percentage of your customers are viewing your content from smaller screen sizes than your average laptop or desktop computer. If you have an older website that has not been optimized for different screen sizes, you may be missing out on a lot of potential business.
What is responsive web design?
Responsive web design is a design approach that adjusts the way a website looks depending on the size of the screen on which it is being viewed. Before responsive web design was the norm, websites were not optimized for smaller screens and their design was fixed. Most sites were hard to navigate on smaller devices and didn’t offer a good experience to the user. Responsive websites are flexible, so they can change across a variety of devices to give users a positive experience no matter how they view the site.
Business owners and organizations who rely on their online presences to grow their businesses need to know how their websites look on a variety of devices. If a potential customer can’t make a purchase from your online store seamlessly or view your content easily, they will most likely move on to a site that gives them an easier experience. Here are some other reasons why your business or organization website needs to be responsive.
Mobile Isn’t Going Anywhere
Many web developers and designers have begun to focus on mobile devices for a reason – they aren’t going anywhere! The statistics tell us that the number of people using smartphones to perform the majority of their internet searches is growing year after year. And with the number and variety of new devices that are being developed all the time, having a responsive website now could save you a lot of time and money in the near future.
Trends in User Behavior
Research has found that many users will do their initial web search on a smartphone, and then move to a laptop or desktop to revisit the website or make their final purchases. So what does this tell us? The overall User Experience across all devices will be vital for website owners who want to keep their conversion rates high. Not only does it provide users with a seamless and positive browsing experience, but it says a lot about the professionalism of your business.
Benefits for SEO
If Google recommends responsive web design, then it’s no surprise that a responsive design can help your website’s SEO. A responsive design increases your site’s usability, meaning users will stay on your site longer. A website that has great usability results in a decrease in bounce rates and may help you achieve higher rankings. Responsive websites also tend to have faster page load times, another factor that can positively impact your ranking.
There are many factors that influence the ranking of your website, but having a responsive website will only help you. If you have questions about SEO or if you are wondering how it can help your business grow, contact us at ACA Web Consulting to talk about your options and how we might be able to help.