(Updated: 23 January 2023)
As we continue forward into the digital age, it’s not surprising that businesses are taking the necessary steps to bolster their online presence. However, with the drive to be everywhere all at once, businesses often forget the importance a responsive website design can have on their sales strategy.
Websites remain one of the main drivers for online sales, and with consumers moving more towards the convenience of mobile devices, the need for mobile responsive websites is vital to a company’s success in the digital space. Google changed the game for digital marketers and online businesses in 2015, by rewarding mobile responsive websites over non-responsive ones.
What Is Responsive Website Design?
You might still be asking: what is responsive website design, exactly? A site made with responsive website designs optimises your site’s interface so that different sized and shaped IoT devices can automatically resize your online content. This means that any device (from smartphones to tablets) can easily access and navigate your website without manually resizing or scrolling around online content Everything on your site should fit on a mobile display as perfectly as it would on a laptop or desktop. All of your text should be readable, your images clear and site navigation just as seamless. Companies need to put their best foot forward at every opportunity and having a great browsing experience for site visitors is fundamental to a positive and productive online experience.
5 Reasons Why You Need Responsive Website Design
- Boost online traffic to your website
According to a Statista Global Mobile Traffic 2022 report, mobile devices (excluding tablets) generated 58.99% of global website traffic. Therefore, only focusing on desktop user experience when it comes to your website design will cut you off from over half of your potential customer base. As a company wanting to take advantage of the business opportunities presented by mobile internet users, having a mobile-optimised website can help improve your company’s online visibility and accessibility for new and existing customers – thus being able to boost traffic to your website.
- Create better online experiences
Creating a positive user experience is a must in all areas of business, especially in today’s market. According to a GoodFirms 2021 survey, 73.1% of professional website designers believe that a non-responsive design is one of the top reasons why visitors will leave a website, along with slow loading times, terrible navigation, low quality design, and poor content structure. Improving all these areas can help your business create a better user experience (UX), showing customers that you care, which will intern drive brand loyalty and potentially increase sales.
- Improve your rankings on Google
Having your website easily accessible across devices is every business owner’s dream. However, we can’t stop there! According to Databox, 70% of marketers see SEO as more effective than PPC. You see, Google strives to provide users with a seamless searching experience – find what you need, when you need it, with a few simple clicks. Therefore, optimizing your website SEO for both desktop and mobile users can give your business a “leg up” in organic rankings on Google’s SERPs.
- Improve loading speeds
Have you ever been on a site that seemed to take forever to load? Yes? And do you remember how quick your decision to leave that site was? Exactly! Time is precious, customers want to be able to access content at a fast pace and with minimal complications. Based on a study conducted by 55 and Deloitte, decreasing your website load time on mobile by 0.1s can not only influence a customer’s buying journey but ultimately results in increased conversion rates. This proves that website loading speeds are an important performance metric to keep in mind when it comes to your responsive website.
- Grow your potential customer base
Mobile-friendly websites are a valuable asset for any modern business, in any industry and of any size. Responsive websites give mobile users the same opportunity to access your goods, services or information as desktop users, without compromising on computer accessibility. Unadaptable websites alienate half of your potential target market and limit cross-platform access from social media to Google Ads. Make sure that mobile users are able to get to your site as soon as they find you online.
Responding To the Call
The amount of online activity, Internet users and mobile devices are increasing by the day. As the spaces and opportunities for digital sales increase, responsive website design will remain a key component of online success. It is clear that as consumption of online content on mobile devices increases, the ability for your business website to adapt to any screen becomes more important. Website owners should follow the trend and ensure their pages and online sales are being optimised.
Cognite Marketing is a digital marketing agency that specialises in branding, web development and content creation. If your business is looking to integrate responsive website design into your online strategy, contact Cognite Marketing today.
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