When designing a website, there used to be one primary aim for a web designer: keeping a consistent feel and look to the website. No matter where the web page was to be viewed – laptop, desktop, or mobile device – the aim was to make sure that the website always looked the same.
However, in order to keep up with modern times and Internet users’ viewing habits, static designs are become less popular and the new dynamic, responsive website is the desired look for an increasing amount of website owners; before long a responsive website will be a must-have feature.
A responsive website adapts to any size device to allow for an optimal screen viewing. That means no matter the device a visitor is using, they can see all of the content, not just some of it. If you’ve ever viewed a website on a smaller screen and have not been able to see all of the content then you’ll know how annoying it is to not being able to access all of the services you need; that is a static website and the disadvantages of that type of design are plain to see.
By laying out and coding a website, a developer can easily solve this problem, allowing the optimal screen viewing experience whether the visitor is using an iPhone, Kindle, or mobile. Whatever the device, the content will always be fully displayed, and all of the options are assessable.
Responsive design also makes it possible for the website to adjust the visual layout according to the device, ensuring an attractive design.
Some people might not want to invest in the extra cost of responsive design, however, if your costumer cannot access the services on your site the chances are they will go somewhere else, and as an increasing amount of people use a range of devices to access the Internet while they are on the move, your website needs to be able to respond to that demand – or get left behind.
A responsive design will help your website to stay ahead of the competitors by always being assessable. The way people view digital content has changed and will continue to change, which is why investing in a responsive design that responds to your visitors’ needs is essential.
Photo: Image courtesy of Chasing Daisy on Flickr