When you look around at the tremendous amount of gadgets on the market today, it’s not shocking to discover that mobile Internet usage is predicted to increase overwhelmingly by 2015 with a growth of 16% from 2010. The old-time favorite, the desktop, will be going by the wayside.

People are increasing their use of mobile devices like iPhones, smartphones, and tablets. A tiny device in your hand can now achieve tasks once performed on desktops. Internet surfing, QR codes, purchasing products, selling products, checking emails, and browsing websites all occur within easy reach of the consumer.

How is the mobile gadget tsunami affecting business?

Well, one thing is for sure, the change in the way people consume online information and view websites calls for a shakeup in the way your business presents its website via mobile devices. A scaled-down version of a standard website is not enough. Your website must be mobile-friendly as well.

In most instances, this is not a dominant concern. Your website can be designed for desktop users with another site, especially for mobile users. However, it is possible to have your site function equally well on both a desktop and mobile device. The answer is “responsive web design.”

What is Responsive Web Design?

Responsive design is a website designed in a manner in which all content, images, and structure of the site remain intact on any number of devices. For example, when you access one of your favorite websites on a desktop, you get the total view of the site.

If you go to that same site on your tablet or iPad, the site reorganizes itself to fit on the smaller screen. In other words, the website does not suddenly turn into some obscure image you hardly recognize on your device.

What’s so great about responsive website design?

The need to change devices for viewing different websites is removed. If the site looks good on your iPad, it should look just as appealing on any tablet or mobile phone. In any event, there are a few extremely valuable reasons why you should make the change to responsive design for your website. Fortunately, experts like Links Web Design can effectively hook you up with a fantastic site that can breeze right through any device on the market today.

Making The Switch is Painless

In the past, websites were originally designed for desktop users. Mobile device versions were inadequate functional-wise. There were too many “bells and whistles” integrated into the desktop version.

Choosing what is most central to a viewer on a mobile gadget with restricted bandwidth, processing capabilities, and screen dimensions means getting rid of the riff-raff. Become more focused on what is essential. The goal is to offer a better experience to your customer.

Still, some businesses have not made the transformation to this important trend. Whether because they are not aware of responsive design or a tight budget, mobile usage has skyrocketed. It’s time to get on the ball.

Here are a few stats about how much mobile usage has increased:

• Over 20% of Google searches are currently performed on some type of mobile device.
• A few years ago, over half of all regional searches were carried out on a mobile device.
• Emails totaling 25.85% are opened on mobile phones, with an additional 10.16% opened on tablets.
• Smartphones total 1.08 billion and 3.05 are SMS enabled out of 4 billion mobile phones total.

Time & Money Issues

The idea that creating a responsive website will be the death knell to your budget is simply not true. Though the expenditures to create a responsive website cost a bit more than developing a traditional website, you save. Because that one site is designed to fit any mobile device.

That tremendously cuts down development costs. Furthermore, a responsive design reduces the total ownership cost by way of abolishing the need to keep up multiple versions of your website such as a desktop and mobile version. In the long run, investing in responsive website design is the smartest move you can make business and technology-wise.

The Consumer Experience

Though content rules and breaking down that content leads success metrics, the consumer’s experience enables them to take in the content on any website via the gadget of their choice at any time. Therefore, responsive web design revolves around offering consumers the best user experience regardless of whether they use a desktop, tablet, iPad, smartphone, or smart TV.

Google Calls The Shots

Why is responsive design high on Google’s list? First of all, it is more efficient for Google’s bot to crawl the site. Afterward, it indexes, then organizes all the content online. With responsive design, all websites have only one URL and identical HTML with all devices.

When a business has both a desktop and mobile site, a different URL and HTML are used for each. This makes Google crawl and index manifold adaptations of the same exact site. In addition, with only one site and URL, it is a great deal easier for users to share, interact, and connect with content on that site compared to a site with varying pages for mobile and desktop users.

Google is fine with that as well. The reason is that someone may share a mobile site on a social network. One of their connections might view the same mobile site on their desktop. However, that viewer sees a less than stellar site because it was actually designed for mobile. This disappoints users.

Google understands that disappointed users go somewhere else causing bounce rates to grow. The site disappears from mobile searches. This creates chaos with Google’s external link algorithm causing on-page inaccuracies harming a site’s SEO. Overall, it’s just not cool and bad business for both Google and all websites not receiving any benefit from responsive design.

Boost Conversion Rates

Besides the fantastic search benefits in addition to making users happy, responsive design is capable of increasing conversation rates from all mobile users around the globe. If a website does not function on a mobile or other gadget, users cannot predictably convert. Think about all the people shopping via a mobile device. The percentage is astronomical at any given time.

Therefore, when users need to do more work than required to complete a conversion, it’s less likely that they convert. Nonetheless, it goes a little beyond that. For instance, because a responsive website design can fine-tune to any screen, developers can control how all those conversion components appear on various mobile gadgets.

As a final point, responsive design allows you to perform vital high-end A/B testing and heat mapping. This can be achieved through software like Optimizely and Clicktale. In other words, you can compartmentalize users by their mobile devices.

Acquire a better view of how those users intermingle with your site. This allows you to discover what sales strategies and marketing techniques work and which do not. Having this information helps you to increase conversion rates.

You Have to Keep Up!

In the world of business, you have to stay on top of your competition. Therefore, if the amount of users utilizing mobile devices consistently increases, you must cater to their needs by creating a mobile conducive site. Moreover, 85% of adults believe that mobile sites are just as functional, or better than, desktop sites.

Take it Easy

Keep this in mind, you have different desktop and mobile websites. The need to manage differing SEO campaigns for each site will be a requirement. Being on the business end of things, you will find it much easier to manage one SEO campaign and one website.

It’s just practical. It makes perfect sense. Not only that. You satisfy your customers and those working on your site in the process. Don’t forget! Because there is only one site to manage, responsive design is more economically sound as well.

This is What it Boils Down to 

Internet traffic originating from mobile gadgets rapidly rises every day. With more Internet users browsing the web on their mobile devices, it is imprudent to think that the current trend is something you can “easily bypass” until it boils over. It’s not the case. “One size fits all” for tablets, smartphones, and other mobile devices is becoming the norm.

One thing responsive web design has practically eradicated is flashy, over-the-top sites that place quantity over quality. Internet users today prefer to “get to their destination” quickly. Browsing takes on a different meaning when a mobile device is used.

In most cases, the user knows what they want. When your site pops up online, fancy intros and flashing lights is not their idea of a pleasant viewing experience. For your site to be more attractive to users, you should have quality content, design, ease of navigation, and something that won’t consume your budget. If that’s what you are looking for, Links Web Design may be your solution.

How Links Web Design Can Help You

There are two ways to get anything done, the right way and the wrong way. Links Web Design can develop a workable website for you that is functional across all mobile devices, the right way.

This includes:

• Hand Crafted Website Design – Your site is “tailor-made” specifically for you. No pre-made templates are used. Your distinctive brand and image will be fully reflected on your website.

• Ease Of Website Navigation – Your site encompasses all the core services and products in your website’s navigation. This is crucial! Internet users want to experience quick, easy navigation on a clear page that takes them “directly” to where they want to go.

• Clear Call To Action – Prospective customers can easily comprehend the next step to begin working with you.

• Responsive To Every Device – Your site automatically restructures for the best possible display on any device with an up-to-date web browser. This includes any devices in the future.

• Social Networking Capabilities – We design your website in a manner that permits visitors to engage with your company brand through any social media network.

• Security – Security is of the utmost importance. Links Web Design can give you peace of mind. Your website and your customer’s data are well protected.

• Website Updates – Updates are automatic. This way, you can concentrate on your business, not your website.

The “proof is in the pudding.” Links Web Design makes scrumptious desserts!

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Links Web Design is a Website Design Company in Bangor, Maine.