Responsive web design is no longer optional, it’s mandatory
The last few years have seen the rapid growth in the use of smartphones. In 2014, only a small percentage (22%) of people with such a device used their phone to search the Internet. Only 2/3 of the population owned a smartphone.
The introduction of 4G internet, as well as other innovations, had an impact on the way people used mobile devices. Then, throughout 2014, 4G subscriptions skyrocketed from 2.7 million to 23.6 million.
As 2016 came to a close, mobile devices overtook desktops when it came to web usage, meaning more people are searching the internet using smartphones and tablets rather than their desktop or laptop computers.
This shows a huge transformation in user behavior; For example, in the UK, people use their mobile devices to shop, bank and verify their social media account online. According to a study, 7 out of 10 adults use their smartphone, and this includes people over the age of 65, as the public is becoming more technological today.
These are the main reasons why it is very important to consider investing in a responsive web design. Businesses need a website that can display well on the screen of all types of mobile devices, as people might browse a website with the use of a smartphone or tablet.
Importance and advantages of responsive web design
Responsive web design allows content and web pages to adjust to all kinds of resolutions and devices. So even if people browse a website using their smartphone or laptop, it will still be easy to navigate regardless of different screen sizes. Responsive web design provides an optimal experience for users, which means they can view and navigate the site with minimal resizing and scrolling.
Since responsive web design has the ability to improve the overall user experience, this can allow users to perceive a business and brand in a more positive light. When customers can easily access a website on any platform, they are likely to return for business in the future and the website is more likely to get a higher conversion rate. During this time, when more traffic to sites is coming from mobile devices, it is essential to consider this factor when creating or maintaining a website.
As mentioned above, responsive web design, as well as mobile-first indexing, are also critical factors in ranking. In general, responsive sites load faster, making them more likely to increase rankings and decrease bounce rates. Social sharing is also much easier with responsive web design, allowing a business and brand to develop a larger audience.
When a website is mobile friendly, SEO campaigns and site maintenance also become much smoother. With responsive web design, you only have to manage one website, making it faster and less expensive than adding a separate mobile app to your desktop website.
Now that mobile-optimized websites have become an industry standard with the help of mobile-first indexing, businesses need to make sure they have the best web design possible.