With the increase in the use of devices with varying screen sizes, it is essential to create your web design with a responsive design in mind. A responsive layout arranges the content on the screen in an aesthetic manner when transitioning to a smaller screen. This provides a positive user experience for consumers when visiting your website on a portable device.

Mobile Devices

We see people in the line at the store on their Android device. The woman walking down the street is on her iPhone. In today's world, smart phones are everywhere and can do so many things. We are a mobile society in constant use of mobile devices, whether we are at home, on the job, or out exploring. Mobile devices have transformed exponentially in the last decade, and will continue to do so. In essence, smart phones and tablets have replaced the home computer for many of Americans. According to Pew Research Center, recent research suggests that 77% of Americans own smartphones, up from 35% in 2011. In addition, over 50% of Americans own a tablet. Most noteworthy, many utilize their smart phone as their primary access to the internet. Therefore, it is essential that websites are created with a responsive design to meet the needs of the mobile device user.

SEO Optimization

Search engine optimization (SEO) is essential in promoting website visibility and traffic, thereby increasing a business' success. The popular search engine, Google, drives current recommendations regarding SEO. Mobile friendliness, or responsive design, is now one of Google's criteria for determining ranking in search engine results pages. So what significance does that have for the website owner?

Benefits of Responsive Design

Several benefits are seen with responsive web design. As described above, SEO is enhanced by the use of responsive design. We can see this through both cross-device compatibility and positive user experience, two important SEO criteria. And we have learned that optimal SEO has a huge impact on website traffic and business success. Secondly, not only does user experience increase SEO, but it also encourages customer opinion of the website and business. If the client has a positive experience on a website, they will be more likely to return. Nobody likes to use a website that is not responsive. The information content of the website, as well as graphs, tables, buttons, menus, and form fields, are very difficult to see and utilize. Thirdly, responsive design affects business costs. With responsive design, one website can take the place of two. Creating a website useful on all devices eliminates the need to create a separate mobile site. Maintenance is thereby decreased when only one website needs to be updated. As you can see, responsive design elicits many benefits. And as different screen sizes become available, responsiveness will undoubtedly become more complex. However, the benefits to your business through website visibility, user experience, and cost containment will be long-lived.