Responsive web design allows web pages to render quickly and easily on a variety of devices and different screen sizes. This is a must in today’s world where more website visits are happening via a mobile device than a desktop computer. And this number will continue to grow.
In addition, Google has changed its algorithm to take this growth into account. Implemented this past spring, the search engine takes webpage load time into consideration when returning search results.
So, responsive design is a must for your website. How do you do that? What things must you consider?
- Understand how your visitors use mobile. Google analytics can help you with this. Look at how many visitors use a mobile device and which pages or other features do they access the most. This will help you in your planning process.
- Create your design plan first. Web designers will usually start with a wireframe and the visual design before moving into the coding process. Knowing what you want to end up with will help you plan for responsive design. Here are two tools to help you make your site responsive:
- Adobe Edge Reflow connects directly with Adobe Photoshop CC, making it easier to create a static design responsive.
- InVision allows users with the link to test an interactive prototype of your website.
- Do not overdesign. Remember, the key is to have a fast-loading site. Over-designing it will just slow it down. In addition to faster load times, you cut out the clutter. This allows your visitors to focus on the important info, which increases your conversion rates.
- Be aware of your font selections. Select your fonts so that the text is easy to read regardless of the screen size. A good average is between 45 and 90 characters per line.
- Build for flexibility. By designing on a grid system and using measurements in percentages and not pixels, you create the flexibility you need for responsive design.
You can even test your site with this hack from Google to see how mobile-friendly your site is.
If you want to go further than the Google hack, we can help! Contact us to see how our team can help make your website more responsive and stylish.
