As the saying goes, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” This applies to responsive web design. Despite certain shifts in our society regarding how we access and receive information online, the aspects of good web design will endure. Good, responsive web design takes the best of your website and adapts it for viewing anytime, anywhere.

To strategically code your website for various devices, you will need to understand the difference between responsive and unresponsive design.

Responsive Design

Responsive design makes websites professional and fully functional on all kinds of devices, like phones, tablets, and computers. The website changes its layout to fit the size and dimensions of the screen. For example, on a smart device, the website might load stacked information and images to make them easier for the reader to consume. On a desktop, the same content and images might load horizontally to fill the larger space.

The great thing about responsive design is that the developer codes the website once, and the information naturally transitions to the device in use.

Unresponsive Design

In unresponsive design, the entire website simply shrinks to fit the device instead of adapting to different screen sizes. This often leads to frustration when users have to pinch and zoom in to hunt for information on mobile devices originally designed for larger desktop screens.

Responsive Design Avoids:

• Clunky Zooming— Having to zoom in or out on a layout to view it properly.
• Inconvenient Scrolling—A screen that doesn’t adjust for web viewing will cause you to scroll down to see all of the content.
• Incorrect Resizing—Images that don’t resize properly from desktop to mobile will not load proportionally.
• Unnecessary Panning—You will have to scroll left to right repeatedly to read text that doesn’t adjust for a smaller screen.

5 Ways Responsive Design Matters

1. Better User Experience

If your website’s layout is unattractive or inefficient and results in a negative user experience, users will be unlikely to return. This reaction may seem drastic, but in a world where the competition is steep, and options are plentiful, making a good first impression is essential.

2. Better Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Your Google ranking is in part based on user experience. When your users have a positive experience on your site, Google will reward you with better search engine rankings, encouraging more clicks and visits to your website.

3. More Conversions

When more people visit your website, your opportunity for conversions is greater. Visitors convert to customers when they trust a company and the products or services it offers. Research shows that a majority of customers base a company’s credibility—at least in part—on its web design.

While your site can be impressive to look at, if it’s not usable, visitors won’t convert to sales. For example, if a customer’s shopping cart keeps glitching, coupon codes don’t work, or the payment page won’t load, they will likely seek to purchase elsewhere. That’s why any good Shopify web design agency will always build you a responsive website.

4. Shorter Loading Times

Images can grab people’s attention immediately, so it’s important to have good-quality visuals on your website. When web developers don’t build a website to work on all devices, like phones or tablets, images take too long to load. This misstep can make the website slow and frustrating to use.

Responsive web design helps fix this problem by using special layouts and image sizes that automatically adjust to different screen sizes. Doing so allows the pictures to appear clear on any device, so whether someone is on a computer or a phone, the images will load without issue.

5. Enhanced Mobile Friendliness

Responsive websites help prevent images, text, and navigation from losing quality on smaller screens like phones and tablets. For example, a website that adjusts to fit different screen sizes makes it easier for users to view and navigate. Some believe a separate mobile website works better, especially for sites with many articles or online stores. However, having two websites can hurt your search engine ranking.

On the other hand, a responsive website keeps everything in one place, giving users a smooth experience on any device while maintaining your unique brand reputation.

Conclusion

In today’s digital world, having an internet presence that can easily transition from desktop to mobile and back again is critical for the success of your brand. The heart of responsive design is user-friendliness. While the tools and techniques for designing websites may evolve, the core goal of making content accessible and engaging stays the same.

An excellent custom web design agency can ensure that your website adapts and stays user-friendly across any device, no matter how much technology changes. Contact our Utah web design company, serving Salt Lake City, Orem, Ogden, Layton, Provo, and surrounding areas. And remember, while design trends may shift, a great user experience is timeless.