Responsive Web Design: Your Key to Cross-Device Compatibility

Let me guess: you are probably reading this piece on your mobile device or your iPad. If you are, consider for a moment that you need to continually pinch and zoom across the screen to read what’s written. Now, would you stay till the end of the blog? 

We all know the answer to that one: hell no!! The one thing that plays out negatively for both businesses and users is non-flexibility or non-responsiveness when it comes to website design. Some brands may prefer to maintain a dual website, one for mobile viewing while the other for those who like to browse on the desktop. However, this approach is not only a drain on finances but also doesn’t pan out well on the SEO front (hello, duplicate content!). Did we also mention the extra strain of managing two websites?

There is a cool, not-so-new way wherein you can kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. Back in 2010, Ethan Marcotte coined the term responsive web design or RWD, which turned out to be the panacea of many woes affecting the user experience on websites. 

In the blog that follows, we will hash out the basics of responsive web design, understand its importance, and then peruse some ways to incorporate it into your website. Let’s hit the throttle!

Understanding Responsive Web Design 

Ever seen a magic cube? Yep, that intriguing three-dimensional object that renders a similar appearance across planes and layouts. Now impose that in the world of web design as you check out Google’s opinion on RWD.

“Serves the same HTML code on the same URL regardless of the users’ device (for example, desktop, tablet, mobile, non-visual browser), but can display the content differently based on the screen size. Google recommends Responsive Web Design because it’s the easiest design pattern to implement and maintain.”

Quite succinctly put, we say! 

Delving Into the Importance of Implementing a Responsive Web Design

With Google’s mobile-first indexing and Mobileggdon algorithm update in 2015, the stage was set for a revolution of sorts. Cost-effectiveness, ease of management, and a stellar user experience across screens and devices are a by-product of fluid layouts and grids incorporated in RWD to name a few! Let’s check out some of the undisputed benefits of this design innovation.

1. Enhanced user experience:

When in doubt, always crunch some numbers, and here, as well, they tell a telling tale! A solid 53.03% of online traffic comes from mobile devices, closely followed suit by desktop users and, to a lesser extent, tab users. This means that you just cannot afford to neglect the traffic coming in from those glued to their mobile screens in search of relevant content. Responsive web design can enhance the user experience by providing a consistent and seamless interface across different devices and screens. It can also reduce the need for zooming, scrolling, or resizing, which can frustrate the user and increase the bounce rate.

2. Level up your SERP rankings: 

Your ultimate goal is conversions, and for that to materialize, you need to have the visibility of a lighthouse in the dark oceans. You need to offer relevant content in a responsive layout so that people get what they are looking for without feeling the need to switch screens or websites. 

With Google’s mobile-first indexing, it makes a lot of sense to invest in building a responsive web design that also solves the issue of duplicate content that may come up with maintaining two separate pages for desktop and mobile viewing.

3. Realize improved SEO, better conversions and sales:

When you make the requisite efforts to make your website more responsive and screen flexible, you automatically pave the way for improved SERP rankings, better SEO, enhanced viability and reach, and, of course, improved conversion rates. 

Responsive web design can boost your SEO ranking by making your website more compatible with Google’s mobile-first indexing, which prioritizes the mobile version of your website over the desktop version. It can also improve your site’s speed, usability, and accessibility, all factors that Google considers when ranking your website.

RWD can increase your conversions and sales by making your website more appealing and engaging to your potential customers. It can also help you reach a wider audience and cater to their needs and preferences, increasing customer loyalty and retention.

4. Save the moolah!

If you are looking for the perfect way to save that dough while you rake in that extra moolah, investing in a website that is responsively designed will indeed prove to be a smart move in the long run. 

Having different sites for your mobile and non-mobile visitors can be costly. You can save hard-earned money by leveraging responsive design, which lets you create one site design that works for all visitors and all devices.

Along with the above-mentioned benefits, there is an added advantage of a more streamlined approach towards site management with just a single site to look after and audit regularly.

How to implement responsive web design?

There are different ways to implement responsive web design on your website, such as:

•  Using CSS media queries:

CSS media queries are rules that enable one to apply different styles to your website based on the device and screen size of the user. You can leverage media queries to adjust the layout, font size, images, navigation, and other website elements according to the screen width or height.

•  Using flexible grids and layouts: 

Flexible grids and layouts are methods that allow you to create a fluid and proportionate layout for your website that can adapt to any screen size. You can use relative units such as percentages or ems instead of fixed units such as pixels or points to define the width and height of your elements.

•  Using responsive images and videos:

 Responsive images and videos are techniques that allow you to optimize the size and quality of your images and videos for different devices and screens. You can use HTML attributes such as srcset or sizes to specify different versions of your images or videos for different resolutions or pixel densities. You can also use CSS properties such as object-fit or object-position to control how your images or videos fit within their containers.

Summary

In conclusion, it will be germane to say that investing in a responsive web design for your brand’s website can make the difference you wish to see in your business numbers. We suggest that you get in touch with our expert UI/UX designers in the house of Mavlers, who know the secret sauce that goes into building a great responsive website! Hit us up now!