In many ways the internet has been shaped by the people who use it, with browsing habits and tech trends helping to reformulate the way that websites are designed and services are offered online.
At the moment, the influence of mobile browsing is being felt throughout the industry. In 2015 it is estimated that in the UK alone there will be 38 million mobile users who own smart devices with internet access, with the market soon set to be completely saturated by advanced handsets.
Of course high levels of smartphone and tablet ownership are not enough to result in a sea change in web design; it is the ways in which people are using these devices that make a difference.
Social networking sites like Facebook were amongst the earliest to cater to mobile users because millions of people began accessing up to the minute posts from friends via their portable handsets. And there is profit to be made from doing this, as Facebook recently reported a significant rise in the revenues it is generating from mobile ads.
Not every company can afford to spend so much on adjusting its website and online services to mobile users. But thanks to responsive web design Worcestershire firms can harness courtesy of firms like shineinternet.co.uk it is far easier to achieve this while still sticking to a budget.
The Rise of Responsiveness
Because smartphones are kept with the user at all times, they are rapidly becoming the first port of call for any internet-based needs they might have. And so people are searching for sites and visiting them on their pocket-sized device which relies on a small touchscreen display rather than a desktop monitor, keyboard and mouse.
Responsive web design focuses on the idea that a single site should be able to cater to both desktop and mobile visitors, rather than forcing businesses to create two separate domains, one for each audience.
Dynamism in the style of a site’s design is achievable in a number of ways, but the overriding idea is that the menu system, content and any multimedia elements should automatically resize to fit the screen of any device used to access the site.
This has all sorts of benefits, chief amongst which is that it is no longer necessary to automatically redirect smartphone and tablet users to a mobile-optimised site that sits apart from the desktop pages.
Search Specialism
The improved user experience is not the only reason that the internet is becoming mobile friendly, as responsive site designs are also a factor that impacts SEO.
Google’s latest algorithm updates now take into account whether or not a site is able to adapt for viewing on mobile handsets, with the mobile-friendly tag now appearing next to eligible search results.
So for sites that want to increase clicks, maintain their rank and even rise above competitors, embracing mobile friendliness is a sure fire tactic and one which you should plan to adopt as soon as possible.
