Responsive Web Design

One design fits all approach towards web design and development – According to Kayla Knight a responsive web design automatically changes its layout depending on the user’s behaviour and environment based on the screen size, platform and orientation.

This includes Desktop, Laptop, Tablet, Smartphone, Gaming consoles and Television. There are three important components of responsive web design i.e. fluid grids, fluid Images & videos and media queries.

At Websites ‘N’ More our designers like to approach any web design project using the ‘mobile first’ or progressive enhancement approach i.e. working on smaller screens first and then moving their way up to larger screens.

The focus is to prioritise content for mobile screens first (linear layout) and then for Desktops and other larger devices.

Working on smaller screens first also means that we have to answer some difficult questions at the start of the project given that there are far more constraints (lesser screen space, lesser processing power, slower internet and a different usability) to deal with.

This results in achieving better levels of user experience as it forces us to think about content hierarchy and work within a restrained environment first rather than later.

Why is it time to go responsive with your web design?

  • According to Australian Multi-Screen Report, 49% Australian households own a Tablet, 80% of the Australian population aged 14+ owns a Smartphone and 32% of Australian households own Internet capable Television.
  • As reported by Nielsen, out of the total time spent engaging with digital content, 43% is on Smartphone, 18% on Tablet and 39% on PC.
  • ACMA also reports that 68% Australians now use three or more different devices to access the internet and 23% using five or more devices to access the internet.
  • There has been a 97% increase in volume of mobile data downloaded in Australia. (Q June 2014 as compared to compared to Q June 2013).
  • According to Australian Digital Lives a report published by ACMA in 2015, Australians used the following devices to access the internet, 70% on Smartphones and 50% on Tablets.

What can responsive web design do for your business?

Seamless Viewing

A responsive design would ensure that your website can be easily viewed across a plethora of devices i.e. Smartphones, Tablets, Desktops, Televisions and Gaming Consoles. Working with Fluid grids, images and media queries also means that your website is ready for the next generation of devices.

Better User Experience

A responsive design would ensure that the users can easily navigate through the website and perform desired actions thus leading to higher levels of user experience. According to research done by Google, if a user is unable to navigate through a website on a mobile screen there is a 61% chance they will leave the website and move to another website offering the same product or service.

Lower Bounce Rates

Research indicates that a responsive website leads to higher levels of user engagement thus leading to lower bounce rates.

Better Load Speed

A responsive web design is a scaled down version of your Desktop website and thus allows for faster loading speeds. This also helps in achieving lower bounce rates.

Better Organic Rankings on Search Engines

If your business relies on online marketing channels such as search engine optimisation then responsive design is a must. Google rewards you with a better organic ranking if your business website is responsive.

Ready for Social Media Audience

If your business uses content marketing or social media marketing as a part of its overall marketing strategy then having a responsive design means that you are ready for your target user. Mobile devices are the most popular devices used by Australians when it comes to using social media apps such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Responsive Web Design FAQ’s

What is Responsive Web Design?

Responsive web design is the ability of a website to respond or adapt to the device in order to provide a user the best viewing and navigational experience.

Are all the websites you develop responsive?

Yes, given that users are users are accessing the web from a variety of devices including smartphones, tablets and laptops we need to design websites using responsive web design techniques. Put simply responsive web design is now a need rather than a want.

Can I convert an existing non-responsive website into a responsive website?

That depends on how your website has been built. We will need to inspect the build in order to provide a confirmation on this. Feel free to get in touch with us.

Why do I need a responsive web design?

Given that users are now using multiple devices to browse the internet, it is essential that a website should be able to respond to the dimensions of a device and provide the use the best viewing and navigational experiences, thus the need for a responsive website.

Furthermore, search engines like Google have clearly stated that a responsive website provides a positive user experience, therefore, stands a better chance of getting a higher ranking on the search engine as compared to a non-responsive website.

Is there an extra cost for making a website responsive?

Our quotes automatically take into account that the website will be responsive so this is something we don’t quote for separately.

What technologies do you utilise to build responsive websites?

We use a variety of technologies to deliver responsive websites. On the frontend you have HTML, CSS, Angular JS and Bootstrap. And on the backend we can utilise PHP based content management systems such as WordPress, Joomla! Magento, Drupal and other PHP based frameworks based on the requirements of the project.

Would you use ready theme or build a custom theme to build a responsive website?

This will depend on the requirements of the project and the budget that a client has. If we are able to achieve the requirements of a project using a ready theme then we will utilise one or else we will build a theme from scratch.

Will my website work with all the different browsers?

Yes in theory it should, upon the completion of a project, we will test your website on all the popular browsers to make sure that the website can be viewed properly by uses. This is what we call cross-browser testing and is something we mention in our quote.

Do you think it is time for you to go responsive with your web design? Get in touch with our web design experts at our Sydney office to discuss your project requirements