Is Your Website Responsive?
It was not long ago that all websites were designed for computer and laptop screens. That all changed when mobile devices came along. At first, many companies developed second websites designed for the small mobile site screen, but that created the additional difficulty of maintain two separate websites.
Today, the responsive website design has taken over with more companies coming on board. There are definite advantages when using a single, responsive website that pays benefits from search engines to customer convenience.
More People Using Mobile Devices
According to Pew Research, 64% have cellphones while 42% have tablets in the US. Plus, more people are now searching the web on their mobile devices as compared to computers and laptops. For businesses that do not have responsive website designs, they are missing out on a large audience that is only growing by the day.
Search Engines
Google, far and away the most popular search engine on the internet, uses an algorithm that emphasizes responsive website design. This means that when selecting among otherwise equal websites, it will rank the ones that are responsive higher which means that having one is of great benefit to your online business.
No More Mobile Site Website
With no mobile website to maintain, you no longer have to worry about updating the content of two sites. A common issue with many business owners who had two or more sites that offered the same content was keeping up with both. Plus, the SEO made it more difficult because duplicated content drove down search engine rankings, even if the sites were aimed at different devices. A responsive website eliminates having to create similar content for both computers and mobile devices which means that you can focus on other challenges.
Financial
In addition to not having to keep up with two sites, there is also the financial advantage that having a single website brings when it serves computer and mobile site devices. First, a site that is not friendly to mobile device means it gets less traffic, fewer customers, and less income. Plus, if you have a mobile site, that means you are paying for two sites that offer similar content and that increases your overhead. Having a single site with a responsive design is the most economically efficient and will help keep the overhead down.
Improve Experience
When you consider the difficulties in using a mobile site, a responsive website design can really shine. This means that you can view it on any size screen and know whether it is working correctly. This will improve your rankings on search engines and your customers will appreciate not having to bounce between sites as they visit your online business.
Overall, a responsive website design offers many advantages for your business. By accessing larger audiences and providing on a single website, you can save money while reaching more potential customers. Plus, you avoid the expense of having to fund a mobile site and updating with content that cannot be duplicated which only creates more work.
