Is your Website Mobile Friendly?

Traditionally business website design have been built to predetermined widths of around 920-1000 pixels wide, this was to accommodate the average screen size of 1024x which has slowly graduated to 1280x.

With the fixed width approach the majority of people received an acceptable viewing experience but what of those on smaller screens? Well, admittedly not so great. This was an industry wide concern.

Mobile is often Cost Prohibitive?

Then came mobile specific websites, which were typically a pared down offering, aimed at mobile and small screen devices. Mobile sites are certainly a step-up and in the right direction, however often this involved the complete redesign and build of the website. The costs to smaller businesses became prohibitive and that’s still often true today – hence so few having their own mobile site.

This is where, over the past few years, responsive website design has really come to the forefront.

What exactly is Responsive Web Design?

A responsive website can automatically tailor the page layout to best suit the users viewing device and so giving them the best and most seamless experience.

Why is this important?

Technology moves at a fast pace – your customers no longer merely use desktop browsers to view websites and browse the web. Your customers are using a wide variety of devices such as iPhones, Smart TVs, Smartphone, iPad, Netbook, Games Consoles and much more.

Essentially it allows us web designers to make web page elements flexible and adapt to the screen size.

Any Hard & Fast Rules?

In numbers terms if >25% of your visitors are on mobile, you can’t neglect 1 in 4 of your potential customers by not catering for their device and circumstances.

Ideally you’d cater for 100% but we appreciate not all businesses have the time or budget to tailor their website in such a way.

However if your business relies on it’s website for trade i.e. generating leads or in the case of ecommerce, selling products, then you should be considering a responsive website design regardless.

The Analytics don’t lie

Over the past few years we’ve seen a significant rise in the proportion of mobile and tablet based users, not just on our own website but across hundreds of clients sites too.

There are exceptions to the rule of course, strictly traditional ‘9-5’ businesses in matures sectors can show a much lower mobile viewing percentage.

Where we’ve seen an uplift across the board in mobile for ecommerce websites, every last one of them! That’s clearly significant.

If your website holds a traditional shape and format it will be awkward on a mobile device but many users will persevere if they need your information. However, when shopping which typically requires a lot more important and browsing, your customers won’t be so forgiving.

Responsive Design – Yes or No?

Here at Marden Web Design we’ve started to roll out more and more responsive websites, we firmly believe that giving all of your visitors – regardless of device – a solid browsing experience is imperative.

As we see the rise of mobile browsing and it becomes a larger proportion of your website visitors, the traditional fixed format website needs to be addressed by making it responsive.

By building business websites responsive we improve the user’s experience, any by improving their experience they spend longer on your website and are less likely to leave when they first arrive on a mobile device.

For business, responsive design is extra ammunition in your arsenal. When implemented correctly it helps retain customers through an improved, flexible browsing experience and should certainly be on your list of things to do.

For More Information:

Marden Web Design | 888-569-5501