The days of stationary web browsing strictly from behind a desktop computer are over. Today's customers are on the go, relying on their smart phones and tablets to go online and get information at lightning speed. Over the past three years there has been an explosion in mobile devices, which includes tablets. In 2010 it was typical to see mobile device visits at 3 to 5 percent of total visits to a given website. Today, the majority of websites receive 25 to 50 percent of traffic from mobile visitors. This number will continue to increase making it even more impressive for companies to innovate with a responsive website design that adapts easily to the different browser sizes and technology of today's mobile devices.
What is responsive design?
A responsibly designed website adapts automatically to the viewers browser – from desktop computers to mobile smart phones to tablets – the content and images fit the browser so a user does not have to scroll back and forth and side to side to see the entire page. Instead of seeing only part of your web page when viewed on a non-traditional browser, the web browser automatically detects the type of platform accessing the website and adapts the page to fit the viewers screen, leaving the navigation, text and forms large enough to easily read and access without adjusting the browser.
It can be a frustrating experience trying to get information on a website that does not adapt to the browser's space. If a customer can not easily scan a page and find what they are looking for then they will most likely go back to their trusty friend Google and visit a competitor's site.
Apple and Flash do not mix
You know that fancy Adobe Flash slide show, banner and presentation that your web developer charged you an arm and a leg for? Adobe Flash is not compatible on iPhones and iPads. A responsibly designed platform incorporates non-Flash tools that work regardless of the browser. So, those important graphics and presentations can easily be viewed.
We're a fast moving society and the ability to access information instantaneously on a variety of technology platforms has caused us to all to be a bit more impatient. The percentage of mobile and tablet visitors to your website are only going to increase. Is your website laying out the welcome mat to this on-the-go technology or slamming the door in its face?
