By Clint Sanchez · Published · Updated · 1 min read
Quick answer
Responsive web design is a way of building a website so it responds to the screen size of the device viewing it. Instead of separate sites for desktop and mobile, one site rearranges its elements to fit any screen. Mobile internet use passed desktop use in 2014, so a site that works poorly on phones loses visitors and the customers they would have become.
Key takeaways
- A responsive website detects the screen size of the device and rearranges its layout to fit.
- One responsive site replaces the old approach of building separate websites for desktop and mobile.
- Mobile internet use grew every year and overtook desktop use for the first time in 2014.
- The user experience on many older sites is poor on phones, and visitors leave before they contact the business.
- Happy mobile visitors turn into customers more often than frustrated ones.
A homeowner in Denham Springs who finds you on a phone after a storm, with the power out and the laptop dead, is judging your business by how the site behaves on a five-inch screen. Service businesses across the Baton Rouge metro get most of their calls from mobile search, and a site that needs pinching and zooming sends that call to the next result.
What is responsive web design exactly?
Today, the Internet is one of the most important forms of media. And the internet is mostly consumed using desktop computers. Right? But wait, how about mobile devices, smartphones, and tablets? The share of Internet usage on these devices is growing every day. In 2011 mobile browsing took a share of about 11 percent. In 2013 it was near 25 percent. And 2014 was the first year mobile exceeded desktop Internet usage. So what does all this mean to you?
Want this handled for you? We build and market websites for Louisiana businesses, and we will tell you honestly if you do not need us.
Your website must be responsive!
If you don’t want to lose any potential clients then you need a great-looking Web site that is optimized for mobile browsing. Because the problem of many current Web sites is that the user experience on mobile devices is, well how do I put it?
Terrible. And, that’s a mission for responsive design.
A responsive website responds to the screen size of the device you’re viewing it on.
So instead of creating different Web sites for different devices. Your responsive Web site rearranges the elements to fit any screen.
So, you’ll get more happy visitors which also leads to more happy customers.
Interested in a responsive design for your website?
Do you want one of those responsive websites for your business? Well, that’s something we can definitely help you with. Get in touch with us today.
Thinking about a new website, redesign, or rebuild? Talk through the project before you spend a dollar, 15 minutes, no sales pitch.
About the author
Founder & Lead Developer · Denham Springs, LA
Clint has built and marketed websites for 26 years, since founding BlakSheep Creative in 2000. He is also a 29-year firefighter and a 23-year member of IAFF Local 557, which is where the bias toward plain answers over sales copy comes from.
- Veteran-owned
- Firefighter-owned
- IAFF Local 557
Common Questions About Responsive Web Design
Short answers to the questions that come up most on this topic.
How is responsive design different from a separate mobile site?
Why does a website need to work on phones?
What happens to visitors when a site is not mobile-friendly?
Does responsive design change how the site looks on a desktop?
Is a responsive website enough to bring in more customers?
Your next step, without the guesswork
No surprises, clear next steps, and a fixed price before anything starts.