People have access to so many different devices – laptops, smartphones, tablets, desktops… It presents a unique challenge for web designers: how to create a seamless and engaging user experience regardless of the device people use to access your website. This is where responsive web design comes in.
A responsive website is a must-have – it ensures your website adapts to the dimensions and orientations of different devices. Let’s discuss the basics of responsive web design and how to implement this important strategy on your website. Make sure you always give users the best experience, no matter what device they use.
What is Responsive Web Design?
Responsive web design is a web development strategy that ensures a website’s layout and content automatically adjust to fit any screen size. The website will adapt its layout, images, and buttons to suit the device’s screen size and capabilities.
The experience of accessing a website is much different on a laptop versus a smartphone, right? On a mobile device, buttons need to be bigger because someone clicks them with their finger versus a mouse. A tiny button on a mobile device is impossible to click without zooming in on the page, and that’s just annoying!
The goal of responsive web design is to give users a consistent and positive experience on your website no matter how they access it.
Importance of Responsive Web Design
Did you know that 60% of all Google searches are performed on mobile devices? And yet, when we’re designing a website, we often do it all on a desktop. We must remember that users access our websites in different ways. These are some other reasons why responsive web design is important for business owners.
User Experience
Imagine using a website on your laptop every single day. You know the ins and outs of where certain pages are, easily finding what you need. One day, you need to access the website on your mobile device. Suddenly, you have no idea where that one page is. It’s not where it usually is and you can’t find it anywhere. Not to mention, you have to zoom in on the page to use the website search bar, but the results are too tiny to read.
This is the scenario we’re trying to avoid. We want users to have the same experience with our brand. A responsive design adapts the navigation menu and other elements to be easily accessible on any device. This makes it quick and easy for users to find what they are looking for.
SEO Benefits
Google prioritizes mobile-friendly websites in their search results – did you know that? If your website isn’t mobile-friendly, you are less likely to rank on search engines. On the other hand, a responsive design boosts your website’s visibility in search engine rankings, which drives more organic traffic to your site.
Improved Accessibility
Along the same lines as user experience, responsive web design improves accessibility. It ensures your content is readable and easy to navigate on all devices, including those with assistive technologies. Many places across the world actually have legal requirements for website accessibility. Responsive design practices help meet these standards.
Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Responsive Website
Here is a quick guide to create a responsive web design. These are the steps we use when creating new websites for our clients.
1. Planning and Wireframing
First, we plan the website to meet the goals of our client. We research their target audience and the devices they most often use. This information can be found in Google Analytics.
Then, we start to sketch the layout of the website (called wireframing). These are a few tools you can use to do that:
- FlowMapp (my fav!)
- Sketch
- Adobe XD
- Figma
During this step, we focus on the structure and flow of the content. Each page should tell a story and make sense for the user. We add calls to action throughout each page, taking them to other relevant content. We recommend creating wireframes for different screen sizes to visualize how the layout will adapt. This planning step will help you when creating the website.
2. Choose a Responsive Website Builder
Because of the importance of mobile-friendly websites, most website builders will include elements to help you create a responsive website. My preferred platform is Showit. It’s a drag-and-drop website builder that gives you a lot of freedom to create your website, just how you would like it. Picture Canva, but for websites.
You can also use Squarespace or Wix if you’re looking for templates to help you get started with a responsive design. ShowIt also has an extensive template library.
If you use a template, ensure it adjusts automatically to fit different screen sizes. Look for templates that are mobile-friendly and have positive reviews.
3. Customizing the Template
Now it’s time to get started creating your website. If you’re using ShowIt, utilize the builder’s drag-and-drop editor to customize your chosen template. Insert new sections, delete elements you don’t need, and insert your branding. You can do all this without coding!
Then, use the built-in tools to adjust the layout for various screen sizes. You can also preview your changes on multiple devices to see how your design looks on phones, laptops, etc. Some builders will automatically adjust your changes to different devices. On others, you’ll have to make the change on all views. Remember to do that if needed. It’s always best to preview each device before publishing the page.
4. Adding Content
You have your general layout – now you need text and images to build your website. Ensure all the content you add is easy to read on different devices. Again, always preview your changes before publishing. The biggest issue I usually see is poorly sized images on mobile devices. They usually appear either too small or ginormous, which is a bad user experience either way. Your website builder will have tools to ensure images resize correctly for different screens.
5. Test
You knew this one was coming, right?! Ensure your website provides a positive user experience on all devices. Use your website builder’s preview tools, but I also recommend using the devices you have, too. Search your website on your mobile device. How does it look? Is it easy to use? Can you read everything on the page?
I also recommend asking people for feedback. Have them find your website on their preferred device. What was their experience? Gaining feedback will help you make adjustments to provide the best user experience.
Do You Have a Responsive Website?
Every website should be responsive. You never know how people will find and access your website, and it’s important to provide them with a consistent and positive experience across the board. If your website isn’t responsive, it’s time to make the change. Follow the steps I outlined in this blog, or contact me today. I’d be happy to help you create a responsive web design.
