What is Responsive Website Design?

Responsive website design which is also known as RWD uses CSS and HTML to automatically resize, decrease or increase a websites layout, so it adapts to be visible on all major devices (PC’s, Laptops, Tablets, and Mobiles).

Don’t get left behind

As we shift into the era of using mobiles, iPads and other devices to browse, websites must now offer a new approach to delivering a fully responsive experience for visitors as well as looking appropriate on smaller screens. Our responsive website design service deals with all browsing issues.

We design visually stunning webpages

.

We create mobile friendly websites

.

How does RWD work?

A cascading style sheet or CSS is what defines the layout and format of a websites’ pages. This technology is used to allow a webpage to adjust to the width of a browser on any device type. JavaScript is used work alongside CSS for resizing purposes and for more complex matters including turning mouse usage in to touch activities.

Initially websites used to be created with a “fixed” layout so when viewed on a desktop PC you would see a visibly sound webpage, but when you look at the same page on a mobile phone and because the layout is “fixed” it is unable to shrink down to fit a smaller screen and users will be forced to scroll sideways to see everything that is on your site.

Images and other elements can also be distorted, and site speed can be really affected plus the navigation menus may not work either. Another factor that a fixed layout has trouble to adapt to is that nearly all mobile devices can be turned to change the orientation from portrait to landscape, this poses big problems for fixed layout websites as it just does not have the capabilities of performing such a task.

When did responsive design start?

In 2007 browsing the world wide web on mobile phones came in to play and this gave websites a whole new challenge to face. During this period, it was common for web designers to create a separate site for viewing on mobiles. This was completely different to the desktop version. The mobile site would have all your content and images stripped down and condensed to make it easier to use on mobiles.
In 2010 some bright spark came up with the idea of using the same website and content but in different layouts for the design using Html and CSS and this was named RWD (responsive web design) and since then it has continued to advance and improve how we view websites on mobiles and other devices including Kindle, iPad, Apple mac and Android.

.

How can you tell if a website has an RWD?

Visit the website on a mobile or handheld device and also view it on your desktop browser to see if the webpage resizes to fit the different browsers and if it does then it has a RWD.

You can also check here, which is Googles very own responsive test and if a site does not pass the test it is not fully responsive.

.

Will my new responsive site still work on older browsers?

Yes, however when building a responsive website HTML5 is now used but you will find that older versions of IE (internet explorer) unfortunately do not support this.

However, we can apply JavaScript solutions that will resolve this issue.

What you get with a responsive design

  • When we create a responsive website, all the content and pages will have a flexible layout across all devices, browsers and screen resolutions.
  • The site will be easy to navigate on all different size screens and browsers.
  • Visitors will get a great user experience across every browser and device.
  • Your webpage speed will be optimal for all devices.
  • The responsive design we create will mean your users can read and navigate the site with minimal resizing and scrolling.
  • You will get a better conversion rate with a responsive website design.
  • Having a responsive design is great for search engine optimisation and may benefit rankings.
  • It takes away the need to code separate webpages or sites for all the different devices and browsers. We will build one that adapts seamlessly on every device.
  • We use the latest web coding languages (HTML5 and CSS3) to keep to programming standards.

Why do you need it?

  • It has been said that 57% of users will not recommend a business with a poorly designed mobile website. A bad mobile online presence can make your company look amateurish and out of touch with today’s modern customer. If you optimise your webpages for mobiles or other handheld devices from the start it will guarantee you get more traffic and increased revenue.
  • Google have been quoted to say that 61% of its users are unlikely to return to a mobile site if they had issues accessing it and approx. 40% visit a competitor’s site instead.
  • Approx. 88% of customers who look for a local business on a mobile device will contact or visit that business within 24 hours. So, obtaining professionally designed responsive webpages will make the consumers decision easier.
  • Google have also quoted: Sites that load within 5 seconds on any device see 25% more ad visibility and 70% longer session duration. Speed plays a vital role with any webpage and ensuring your website is up to speed on all your browsers and devices will help to make you successful online.

Talk to our RWD experts about making your website mobile friendly

On a planet where nearly, all internet traffic now comes directly from mobile devices, it is vital that your websites layout is completely compliant with responsive design standards. Have a chat with one of our expert responsive website design team and we will guide you through the process of getting your site working efficiently on any device or browser.