If you’ve been doing your web design research, and we’re sure you have, you’ve heard this before. Responsive web design is very important for your business or organization. The question now is do you need to follow this advice or should you consider it only if you have the time and money?
Before we get to the answer, let’s make sure we’re speaking the same language. Responsive web design adapts its appearance and functionality based on a user’s device. It will match a visitor’s screen size and operating system. In other words, someone using a laptop computer would use one version of your website. Another user on a phone sees an optimized layout developed for them.
Now that we’re on the same page, let’s go back to the question at hand. Do you need a responsive, mobile-friendly website? The answer is a resounding “Yes!”. Let’s look at a few of the most important reasons why.
Your Users and Customers are on Mobile Devices
Many surveys and audits have confirmed one undeniable fact. More than half of all web traffic now originates from phones and tablets. That trend will only increase over the next few years. By 2020, two-thirds of your users will most likely be on smaller screens.
In case this isn’t clear, the majority of your customers or visitors are on mobile devices. Without a responsive website, how can you reach them with a positive experience? You will risk having them take their time, attention, and money elsewhere.
Mobile Functionality Affects Your Online Marketing
Hey, guess who’s well aware of the trend towards mobile usage? Google. Shocked? We didn’t think so. As a result, they’ve programmed their search engine to adapt accordingly. Google now prioritizes websites that have full mobile functionality.
Of course, anytime you find a reward, you’ll also find a punishment. Marketers with mobile-friendly websites are seeing a boost in their search traffic. But, those without responsive websites are losing ground in the search engine listings.
You may not have any concerns about giving customers a great user experience. (Oh, come on, now, of course you do). But, it’s worth upgrading to a responsive web design for the online marketing benefits.
It’s Better to Have One Website Than Two
You could get around the problems of having a website that isn’t phone and tablet-friendly. How? By launching a second mobile version. In fact, that used to be a popular solution in our industry.
We’ve learned a thing or two, though, and the best answer is clear. It’s easier (and cheaper) for companies to maintain a single website than two. Also, with a single site, you only have one set of backups, analytics, and security concerns to think about. There’s no need to create a brand-new website when you can add responsive coding to the one you already have.
Getting a Responsive Website Won’t Kill Your Budget
There’s a common misconception floating around about responsive design features. Some believe that adding them to your website means having to start from scratch. It’s true that many of our clients do decide to make other upgrades and improvements at the same time. But, that’s not required.
You have a lot to gain from making your new website responsive. And, you won’t have to give up nearly as much as you think from your marketing budget. So, responsive web design is cheap, easy, helpful, and necessary to stay up to date with modern users. What are you waiting for?
Want to Learn More About Responsive Web Design?
If you want to know more about responsive web design, or have your web presence reviewed by a team of expert designers and programmers, contact Atlantic BT to schedule a free consultation today.
