Responsive Web Design. A fad or already standard?

It is completely opposite. I will try to explain the responsiveness and prove that it is important issue, which is not only a fad.

In 2015 more people will visit websites from the mobile devices than from desktops

That statistics is enough to present essence of the problem. Data included below shows how important in modern world mobile devices are. Let’s face it – more and more clients become familiar with company’s offer via mobile website. It’s crucial to have interface, offer and services/products presentation designed also having in mind users of tablets and phones with touchscreens. It’s very likely that each day you lose a lot of customers if your website is not adjusted to the mobile device users. Statistics show that:

• Over 1/3 of web surfers use smartphones.
• Amount of searches done from mobile devices increased 4x in 2010.
• 95% of smartphone users confirm that they were looking for local company this way.
• 77% of smartphone users contacted with the company found this way via e-mail, 61% called, 59% visited directly.

Recent studies confirmed that smartphones are used not only for communication. 80% of Poles answered that for them cell phone is a tool via which they search for and browse information about companies’ products and services. Every third checks prices in stores or on auctions using his cell phone. Interestingly, already now 55% of traffic on Twitter and 33% on Facebook comes from mobile devices. Our startup GoDealla, local coupons and deal-of-the-day promotions aggregator, each month logs tens of thousands entries from the mobile devices. Most of those users are limited with 786x1024 and 320x480 resolutions.

5 most common mistakes

Customer, who is searching for information using a phone, behaves differently than web surfer using desktop. Mobile customers are impatient and it is important to give them a possibility of finding desired data almost instantly. 66% of people won’t come back to the “problematic” mobile website and what is more – during that time nearly half of potential customers will visit competitive, “correct”, mobile website. Here are the most common mistakes:

1. Lack of mobile interface Browsing mobile website is ruled by different patterns, that is why mobile interface should take into account touchscreens’ restrictions.
2. Usability errors Mobile context requires to direct user quickly and efficiently to the most important content of the website. Basic features are most important. All else, which isn’t part of business “core” is not relevant.
3. Neglected mobile marketing Advertisements of your company are not visible for the users searching for information via smartphones or tablets.
4. Slow loading times Mobile websites are designed and coded differently than desktop ones. “Interior” of the mobile website, which is quality and code optimization together with graphics compression, determines if potential customer decides to take our offer.
5. Forgetting that... user is most important Wanting to pass as much information as possible we forget why users really decide to visit our website. What they expect and what content specifically they seek? Does mobile version supports them during performing basic tasks?

Responsive Web Design

Long story short, responsive website is the one which “intelligently” adjusts to the device on which it is displayed, no matter if it is a smartphone, laptop, or tablet. Website designed this way automatically changes its size displaying, depending on the device, most significant content for mobile users.

Having responsive website we don’t need to worry what kind of device our client is using, what restrictions it has, etc. We have guarantee that always and quickly he will reach the content he is interested in. Below examples of responsive designs prepared for akumulator.pl portal, which we’re currently designing.

Advantages of building responsive version:

• Lower maintenance and update costs (one website version).
• Certainty that website will be rendered correctly in each screen resolution.
• Faster access to information, for which customer is looking.

For more examples we recommend to visit responsive websites gallery Mediaqueri.es.

‍