What Is a Responsive Web Design?

A responsive design is a website that adapts to the width of any electronic device like a cell phone, tablet, or desktop computer.

The internet in the early 1990’s was not engineered for tablets and mobile phones because these devices were an afterthought. As many more devices were invented over the next 20 years, custom website designers had huge challenges in creating many different website versions that would look on all the screens for these new devices.

The answer was a responsive web design. A responsive web design could now allow custom website companies to make one template that was compatible with all electronic devices.

Responsive Web Design %

Most websites made in 2014 and earlier are most likely not mobile friendly. Also known as a ‘responsive design’.

So what was the problem? Simply put, in a way you could say in the early 1990’s web designers were building with exact numbers such as 800 pixels wide for a website. This is what is called a fixed website, the problem with a fixed, or static website is that it does not matter what device you look at the website on it will always be 800 pixels wide. So if you have a big screen 25” computer screen it will look very small, and if you have a small 16” computer screen, it would look very big.

When web designers started using percent’s, such as 100% width, this told the website to adapt to 100% of the screen. So it did not matter how big or small the computer screen, or the mobile phone screen was because the website would adapt to fit 100% of your screen width.

Why do I need a Responsive Design?

The purpose of a response web design is that you can have one website that is perfectly viewable on all device screens like computers, cellphones, and tablets.

So no matter who your visitor is, they can read your website and your custom message without any trouble. This helps to increase business phone calls, and contact form submissions for new customers. This is one form of lead generation.  

 Simply put, this is where the future online searches and customers are heading too more and more everyday, mobile.

If users on mobile phones and tablets cannot view your website, they will click back and find a different website that is responsive to their device. Responsive websites feel and appear more professional, and enhances the user experience, while also building trust with that visitors on Google for taking them to a vetted website, with a mobile friendly website design.

 In 2010 the CEO of Google at the time said that Google will be prioritizing “mobile-first” website designs. Today, many, many years later we know that having a mobile friendly website does help significantly with google rankings.

Click here to run the Free Google Mobile Friendly Test to see if your website is mobile friendly.

What are the advantages of a responsive web design?

• Screen Width Adaptation – As we mentioned above, a responsive website will adapt to the width of the mobile phone, tablet or computer screen it is being viewed on.
• Compatibility – The advantage of this is that any visitor who comes to your website can interact with your website and read your pages, services pages, blog, company story and history, contact information, location, logo, and more.
• More Sales – This ease of usability on your website helps to increase your conversation rates and get more customers. Especially if your competitors are not using a responsive web design.

One thing is for sure, we are now in a new digital age of design, marketing and sales.

A responsive website is designed and developed to adapt and adjust its layout and content based on the device and screen size it is being viewed on. It ensures that the website delivers an optimal viewing experience across various devices, including desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones.

Here are the main advantages of having a responsive website:

1. Improved User Experience: A responsive website provides a seamless and consistent user experience across different devices. Regardless of whether a user visits your website on a desktop or a mobile device, they can easily navigate, read content, and interact with your site. The user experience remains intuitive and user-friendly, leading to increased engagement and a positive perception of your brand.
2. Increased Mobile Traffic: With the growing number of users accessing the internet through mobile devices, having a responsive website is essential. A responsive design ensures that your website is mobile-friendly and compatible with different screen sizes and orientations. This allows you to capture and cater to the increasing mobile traffic, maximizing your reach and potential customer base.
3. Higher Search Engine Rankings: Search engines, like Google, prioritize mobile-friendly websites in their search results. Having a responsive website can positively impact your search engine optimization (SEO) efforts. It signals to search engines that your website is user-friendly and provides a good experience for mobile users, potentially leading to higher search engine rankings and increased organic traffic.
4. Cost and Time Efficiency: Maintaining a single responsive website is more cost-effective and time-efficient than managing multiple versions of your site for different devices. Instead of developing and maintaining separate websites for desktop and mobile, a responsive design streamlines the process. Any updates or changes made to your website are automatically applied across all devices, saving you resources and effort.
5. Improved Conversion Rates: A responsive website helps improve conversion rates by ensuring a smooth user experience and removing barriers to engagement. When users can easily navigate your website, read content, and complete desired actions, such as filling out a form or making a purchase, they are more likely to convert into customers. A positive user experience on mobile devices can lead to increased conversions and sales.
6. Enhanced Brand Consistency: A responsive website allows you to maintain consistent branding across all devices. Your website’s design elements, content, and messaging remain cohesive, strengthening your brand identity. Consistency in branding builds trust, familiarity, and recognition among your audience, fostering a stronger connection with your brand.
7. Adaptability to Future Devices: A responsive website is designed to be flexible and adaptable. It can easily accommodate new devices and screen sizes that may emerge in the future. As technology advances, you can ensure that your website remains accessible and optimized for the latest devices, without the need for significant redesign or development efforts.

 If you are not fully alert and up to date with the latest trends and technology, Your competition could pass you fast.

But have no fear, the good news is that Tampa Bay Marketing is here to help you with all your digital marketing and SEO. We have been helping many companies in the Tampa bay area with local Tampa SEO since 2010. Or if you need national SEO we can also help with that.

In conclusion, a responsive website offers several advantages, including improved user experience, increased mobile traffic, higher search engine rankings, cost and time efficiency, improved conversion rates, enhanced brand consistency, and adaptability to future devices. By embracing a responsive design approach, you create a user-friendly and accessible website that adapts to the evolving digital landscape, effectively engaging and satisfying your audience across all devices.

Contact us today for a free website analysis to see how we can help your website and business.