What is responsive web design? A responsive or flexible website is a website that looks good on multiple devices. In simple terms, a responsive web design uses “media queries” to figure out what resolution of device it’s being served on. Flexible images and fluid grids then size correctly to fit the screen.
Why do I need a responsive website? As we all know, more and more people are using the Internet from devices other than their desktop. If they cannot easily read your site information, they will quickly become frustrated and leave. If people lose interest in your website and leave, you lose money to your competition. You can access what devices are used to view your website in your Google Analytics data.
How do I get a responsive website? Most templates that are used in a CMS (Content Management System) like WordPress, Joomla, Drupal etc. are now responsive. In some instances they are considered a premium template and you will pay a small fee (generally $35 – $75) to have your template be responsive. In the past web designers would have to make two separate sites, one for desktop and another for mobile. A mobile site will look different from viewing on desktop and some elements will not be shown. Generally, at the bottom of the home page, there will be a clickable option to view full site. Often, once people are interested in your site they will choose to view the full site, knowing they will have to scroll and shrink to get the information they need.
In summary: If your website is not yet responsive, give your webmaster a call and let them know you want to upgrade your template today! The sooner your site can be easily viewed on multiple devices, the more likely onlookers will become leads and not bounce off, giving your competitors a chance to win their business.