Google’s announcement of an update to their mobile algorithm has increased the importance of responsive sites in recent years. A responsive website is more than just the latest design trend, it’s something which needs to be taken seriously. Everyone from Google’s key decision makers to SEO professionals will tell you that it is essential for your business.
Mobile phone use has long overtaken desktop use for browsing online and responsive design must take this into consideration. A mobile phone user will not not remain on a site that is difficult to read or navigate due to poor mobile design.
What is responsive web design?
The size of the devices we use to browse the web varies greatly, from desktops and laptops to mobile phones. A responsive website adjusts itself automatically depending on the device being used and displays information in a readable format making it immediately user-friendly.
A responsive design benefits SEO
Google’s goal is to provide high-quality, hyper-relevant search results. A responsively designed website will increase your chances of appearing at the top for key terms related to your niche. This will boost traffic and conversion rates.
If you are looking for an agency that can create a responsive website, make sure they offer a range of services, including design and SEO. You can be sure that your website will be SEO-ready from the start. For help with Web Design Swansea, contact a site like https://www.accent-adc.co.uk/
Shareable and social media-friendly
A responsive website will help you achieve your goal of encouraging social interaction and sharing your content on different platforms. You can focus on creating content and measuring how well it resonates with your audience, knowing that your content will be presented the way you intended.
Web designers of high quality can integrate social sharing buttons into responsive designs, so that your audience can easily share an image, video, or article in their social feeds with just a few taps or clicks, benefiting both the visitor and your business.
Additional Benefits
A responsive design can save you money over the long-term, since it eliminates the need to create and maintain separate designs for desktops and mobiles.
A responsive design can help you focus on creating a cohesive and consistent digital brand identity across all platforms and for all types of devices.
Design details that help search rankings
A responsive layout works best alongside other design choices that support SEO. Small changes can lift your position in search results, so they are worth raising with your design team from the start. Including relevant search terms in each page URL can improve rankings for those terms, and it makes addresses more memorable and professional, which helps build trust.
Images need attention as well. Naming files accurately and adding suitable alt text gives search engines more information about who you are and what you do. Keep file sizes under control so they do not slow the page down.
Speed matters on every device. People do not want to wait for a site to load, and if they are made to, they will probably look elsewhere for answers. A capable server and a streamlined site help keep loading times low, which suits mobile visitors in particular, since search engines penalise sites that are not built for browsing on the go.
How responsive design pays its way
Part of the return comes from running one website instead of several. A responsive site adjusts itself to any screen, from phones and tablets to televisions, so there is no need for separate versions for different devices. A single site is easier to update and maintain as new devices appear, and it is cheaper over time.
Search engines such as Google prefer responsive design, so it can help you appear higher in results, and running SEO and marketing for one site is simpler than for several. Responsive sites also tend to load quickly, which matters because slow pages lose visitors before they have seen anything.
The biggest gain is in user experience. A site that works smoothly on whatever device someone is holding keeps people on the page longer and reduces bounce rates. Visitors who have a good experience are more likely to buy, return later and recommend the business to others, which is how the investment pays for itself.
