Have you ever opened a website on your phone or tablet (heck – or even your smart fridge), only to find that it’s too hard to read or doesn’t fit on the screen?
That’s because the website is not responsive.
Responsive web design is when a website looks and works great on all devices, like computers, tablets, and smartphones. In this blog post, we’ll talk about why responsive website design is not only still important, but why it’s absolutely vital.
6 Reasons Responsive Web Design Still Matters
1. Everyone Should Be Able to Use Your Website
One of the biggest reasons to have a responsive website is to make sure everyone can use it. More and more people are using smartphones and tablets to go online. In fact, almost half of the people on the internet use their phones to browse websites! That’s a lot of people, and if your website doesn’t look good on a phone, they might leave and not come back.
A responsive website will automatically adjust to the size of the screen it’s being viewed on. That means people can use your website on any device, and they won’t get frustrated because it’s hard to read or navigate.
2. Google Likes Responsive Websites
Did you know that having a responsive website can help you show up higher in search results on Google? Google is the most popular search engine, and they want to show people the best websites. They know that people like websites that work well on their phones and tablets, so they give a better ranking to websites that are responsive.
What Google really likes is mobile-optimized sites that load quickly and smoothly on phones. In fact, in 2020, they first announced mobile-first indexing. This means they index new sites based on how they load and display on mobile.
So ensure your site looks good and functions properly across all devices, but especially make sure it loads quickly on mobile.
3. Responsive Design Saves Time and Money
When you have a responsive website, it’s like having one website that works on all devices. That means you don’t have to make a separate website for computers, tablets, and smartphones. This can save you a lot of time and money because you only have to make updates to one website instead of several.
Plus, when you have a responsive website, you don’t have to worry about making sure everything works on different devices. The website will automatically adjust itself, so you can focus on making your content awesome instead of worrying about how it looks on different screens.
4. Responsive Design Provides a Better User Experience
When people visit your website, you want them to have a great experience. A responsive website can help with that because it makes your website easy to use on any device. People won’t have to zoom in and out to read your content, and they won’t have to struggle to click on small buttons.
When people have a good experience on your website, they are more likely to stay and explore. They might even tell their friends about your website or share it on social media, helping you get more visitors and grow your website.
Not to mention, in today’s day and age, the buying process often spans many different devices. Someone may start their research at work on their desktop, then move to their phone while on their lunch break, and pick things back up at night on their tablet. You want their experience to be seamless at every stage through responsive design.
5. Responsive Design Keeps You Ahead of the Competition
If you want your website to be successful, you need to stay ahead of the competition. One way to do that is by having a responsive website. If your competitors don’t have responsive websites, people might choose your website over theirs because it’s easier to use on their phones and tablets.
Plus, having a responsive website shows that you care deeply about your visitors and their experience, reflecting well on your overall business.
6. Responsive Design Keeps You Ready for the Future
Technology is always changing, and new devices are coming out all the time. By having a responsive website, you can make sure your website is ready for whatever comes next. If a new type of phone or tablet comes out, your website will still work great on it.
This means you won’t have to worry about updating your website every time there’s a new device or screen size. Your website will automatically adjust and keep looking great. Speaking of the future, videos in web design are the future, and responsive sites help make videos look great on any device.
Commit to Responsive Website Design
In today’s world, having a responsive website is more important than ever. It makes your website easier to use for everyone, helps you rank higher on Google, saves time and money, improves the user experience, keeps you ahead of the competition, and ensures your website is ready for the future.
If you want to implement responsive design, check out this helpful post on progressive enhancement, a framework for thinking about how to implement responsive design.
By investing in responsive website design, you can make sure your website is welcoming and accessible to all visitors, no matter what device they’re using. This can help you grow your website and reach more people. So, if you haven’t made your website responsive yet, now is the time to make the change! Let me know if I can help!
