Drumroll please…… We are finally at #1! We saved not only the “best” for last, but also the most important as well! With the staggering growth of mobile devices like smart phones and tablets, as well as mobile device usage, via games, apps, social media, and websites, it is now more essential than ever that your business website is mobile friendly. Your website should be versatile in every way so that your clients and prospects can easily browse and find information, regardless of what type of device (phone, tablet, desktop, etc.) they are using.

You may be asking yourself, “What is responsiveness?” Responsiveness is basically exactly as it sounds, responsive. As mentioned above, people are accessing websites from a multitude of platforms these days. When a website is responsive, it’s display and overall functionality molds and forms to whatever platform is being used at the time, in order to keep a consistent flow for the user. We have all gone to a website on our phone before and been frustrated because it was to big for the screen, or you had to zoom in and out throughout your entire time on the site… This is not fun at all, and is very detrimental to your audience!

We have done our best to outline the benefits of a responsive website for you below, and we highly recommend you read these thoroughly so that you understand the true value as well as necessity of responsiveness in todays world.

1. Responsive Designs Adapt To Different Platforms

   Want your web design to look great, no matter the device or screen size? Then responsive web design is the way to go. But don’t just think about today with smartphones and tablets. Think about tomorrow with smart watches, and Google Glass, and whatever new devices pops up for internet viewing. Responsive web design and development will work for them too. If you are planning to redesign your site, check out this source.

2. One Site = Easy Management and and Increased R.O.I.

   There are still currently organizations that have two websites highlighting the exact same content: 1) their main site and 2) a mobile version of their site. This was a fairly common practice before responsive development became the preferred method. That meant multiple versions to manage and update – inefficiency!

   With a responsive site, your site will adapt to each device, providing the relevant layout and content that best meets the users’ needs. A responsive site takes the hassle of having to duplicate and manage two websites simultaneously. That also means lower web content management costs and higher R.O.I.. Sounds like a no brainer if you ask us.

3. Responsive Sites Provide A Better User Experience

   We can sit here and talk about all the different reasons to have a responsive site, but the thing to take away most is that they all connect back to one goal: provide a better user experience for your audience. For example, a responsive site means no more side scrolling and zooming in with your fingers on your phone.  This in turn keeps your audience happy, and with a better user experience comes reduced bounce rates, boosted website conversions and improved brand perception!

4. Improvement of SEO Rankings

   Responsive development is WordPress’ recommended approach for mobile web design. Per WordPress search engine guidlines and standard recommendation of any SEO company, responsive websites will perform better in search rankings because they provide a better user experience than sites that are not mobile friendly. Additionally, search engines like Google react better to responsive sites that use single URLs vs. having different URLs for separate mobile versions of websites.

   Furthermore, mobile phones now have a separate Google search algorithm as well, so just because your site ranks high via a desktop search doesn’t mean it will continue to rank well for individuals for perform the same search via their phone. If you think search optimization is important, than your site better be responsive.

5. Mobile Phone Usage is on the Rise

   According to a new study, more than 58% of American adults own a smartphone and almost 60% of all website traffic is from mobile devices. In fact, there are currently more mobile devices on earth then their are people. And every month mobile usage continues to grow, so every month more and more prospects and customers will view your website from a mobile device. If their experience viewing and interacting with your site is poor, they’ll likely have a lower option of your brand, and they’ll also be more likely to visit a competitor’s site.

6. Online Shopping Is Very Popular

   Online shopping has skyrocketed over the last few years. Why? Well it is easier than hopping in the car and driving to the store and it is even easier if you can do it in your favorite chair, while watching TV. According to one study, 80% of consumers regularly use their smartphones to shop online. And 70% of shoppers now use mobile phones while in stores during the holidays. If your products and services aren’t easy to view from a phone, you’re missing out on an opportunity. We aren’t suggesting you have to sell a product online necessarily, but you need to be aware of how much online commerce happens everyday.

7. Social Media Increases Mobile Visitors

   According to a recent study, over 55% of social media consumption now happens on mobile devices, so sharing links from social media sites like, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, or Google Plus to your website will mean even more traffic and viewing of your website from mobile devices. So if you have a social marketing strategy and want to leverage social sharing of content, get responsive. It’s as a simple as that…