Responsive web design: What it is and how to have one

Giving users the best experience while browsing is the ultimate goal of every website owner. Whether you are selling a product or a service, or are advocating a cause, making your website convenient to use and navigate can spell a huge difference. This ultimately begs the question “what is responsive web design?”

Before going deeper into this question, it is equally important to note the reason why customer experience is an important concern. The reason why so much premium is placed on this is that the buyer’s purchasing power can dictate whether or not your business will survive the cutthroat competition. 

What is responsive web design?

This concept of having a responsive web design has long dominated the digital world, transforming how businesses stay relevant and keep their online presence. If a site has a responsive design, it can easily adapt to the type of gadget or screen every online user is using. The website reformats automatically to improve good user experience, seamlessly suiting their devices. For the business, one of their biggest takeaways is being consistent with Google recommendations. 

It was in 2010 when this concept was first introduced, and since 2015, it was actively recommended by experts. Since then, web site designs were continuously updated to accommodate the changing needs and demands of the online market. 

Why should your website have a responsive web design?

After answering the question “what is responsive web design?”, the next question that should be answered is “what is the purpose of responsive web design?” This part aims to answer that. 

The use of smartphones significantly impacts the need for responsive web design. Six years ago, a huge chunk of the online community was already using a smartphone to browse the net. This number may seem negligible, but back then, it already accounts for more than two-thirds of the entire population of smartphone users. When new innovations like the 4G internet were rolled out, the number of smartphone users rose from 2 million to 24 million. 

Eventually, in 2016, the number of mobile web users surpassed the number of desktop users. This signaled a dramatic shift in consumer behavior, with more and more people using their smartphones and other mobile devices to scroll through their social media accounts, carry out financial transactions, and shop for items that they need. In fact, various studies reveal that seven to eight in ten adults are more tech-savvy now than ever before. 

Another unputdownable reason why you should seriously consider investing in responsive web design is that Google is also using this as a metric in choosing which websites should rank better in the results pages. If you offer a better user experience, there is a very high chance that your website will appear in the first two pages. 

Important elements of a responsive web design

There are five important elements of a highly responsive website, and these are the following: 

  1. Consistency – This means that your visitors are guaranteed the same satisfying experience when they browse the different pages of your site. The most crucial step to achieve consistency is making sure your key content, contact information, and navigation menu are easy to find. 
  2. Compatibility – When it comes to this aspect, your web developer should ensure that their design is accessible on any device or platform with a sizable user base. 
  3. Whitespace – This is commonly known as the “amplifier” that helps site visitors find and focus on the most important content of your site. Your web developer must be able to observe a line spacing and font size that complements the amount of whitespace on any kind of screen. Also, they must ensure that margins and paddings are not lost even on smaller screens. 
  4. Intuitive navigation – It is crucial to note that the quality of user experience is predominantly dependent on the responsiveness of the website. Intuitive navigation means that the user can find whatever they are looking for easily, without any inconvenience. 
  5. Optimized images – Consider the fact that most online customers will access your website through their phones using data. This means that they may have a hard time downloading larger sized images. This can easily result in a frustrated customer and an abandoned website. Make sure to optimize your website images for mobile use, too. 

The phenomenal shift in consumer preferences and behavior, along with your goal to get a higher ranking on Google, are enough reasons to invest in responsive web design. If you can give all your users optimal browsing experience, you will not only establish your brand, but will also have an easy time getting your message across any online platform. If you want a great design for your website I’d suggest checking Juno Creative. It is a creative design agency which is offering WordPress, e-commerce responsive web design.