Is Your Website Responsive?

Split view for websites, mobile phones, tablets, different sized monitors… Can your website survive? How your website fits the device it’s being viewed on is important. If your website isn’t adjusting well to a device, you could be losing potential and even current customers. Although, this is a relatively new issue that began with the popularity of smart phones in the early 2000’s, there is no excuse for a nonresponsive website. Responsive web design ensures that your website visitors will have the best experience possible and continue coming back for more.

Breaking It Down

If a website appropriately adjusts its layout to the screen size of the device it is being viewed on, it’s responsive! Simple as that. If your website is stagnant and gets cut off or the text and images are severely altered by various screen sizes, it’s time to give your website layout a little TLC. Your website needs to respond and be functional on any device, especially because now, nearly 2 of every 3 minutes spent online is through a mobile device.

Customers Come First

Your website’s viewers are all potential or current clients. They’re on your website to see what your business is all about and what you can offer them so you should do everything in your power to keep them on your website for as long as possible. Hiring a professional website designer is one way to get the responsive website your company needs; they know what works and what doesn’t. Also, a web designer has expert knowledge regarding which layouts will be best for your website. Your website’s organization should work for your users and you. If people still solely used relatively similar sized computer monitors to access websites, then your web design wouldn’t require a second thought, but times have changed. In order to give your website visitors what they want, you need to invest time into making your site responsive.

Can Be Optimized

Not only can you make your website adjust to different sizes, you can truly optimize your website content for different platforms. Features like “calls to actions” can be made larger, making them more easily seen on smaller screens like those of smartphones. Responsive design truly changes the entire user experience, not just the way a website looks. Also, good news, you don’t need to purchase a separate mobile site because pre-existing websites can be altered.

Now Which One?

The website layout that is the old timer of all layouts is static. A static layout was the go-to layout before accessing the internet through various devices became popular. With a static layout, the page will have one size that doesn’t change. This worked in the past but with the many devices people utilize to view websites now, static layouts are frustrating and difficult to use.

• Fluid Layout

A fluid or liquid layout isn’t foolproof but is better than a static layout. This layout will fill the width of a page in any size screen by using percentages for widths. Although it is fairly simple to design a website using a fluid layout, viewing a fluid layout on a large or teeny screen could result in text and images being stretched and difficult to view.

• Adaptive Layout

Adaptive page layouts focus on device sizes through the use of CSS media queries. This allows the website to use the width of the browser in order to provide an optimal website layout. Through the use of pixels, adaptive layouts will have set widths that the website can adjust to. This is great if you’re viewing the website on a device that is the size of one of those widths, but not so great if your screen isn’t one of the established sizes.

• Responsive Layout

We recommend using a responsive layout above all else.  A responsive layout utilizes relative units and media queries to organize the design and website content. A website that has a responsive layout will adjust to the screen size as an adaptive layout does but also maintains the correct content sizing as a fluid layout does. Frequently, responsive layouts are first created for mobile devices and then expanded for tablets and desktops.

No matter the size of the screen, a responsive design will adapt. Times have changed since the

1990’s and websites need to change with them to keep users engaged. The way we create and view websites is more complex than it’s ever been before. We hope this blog has helped you understand the importance of having a responsive website design and the possibilities it presents your business. For more help with creating a responsive website, contact Creative Juice today.