While it’s clear that website design is a must nowadays, what a lot of people fail to understand is why is this such a paramount. Sure, it helps you leave a much better impression on your customers but to what degree and how does this exactly benefit your business? In order to answer some of these questions, here are five benefits of responsive website design that you need to be aware of.
1. The number of mobile users
The first major reason why your website needs to be responsive is due to the fact that there are more people using mobile than desktop devices. When it comes to the number of people online, mobile users are a majority since 2015, while in 2017 Android officially became the most used operative system for internet browsing. This alone indicates that the vast majority of your customer base is using mobile devices, which is why you need to find an adequate way to reach out to them.
2. A competitive edge
The next thing you need to understand is the fact that even though going for responsive website design should be a must, the majority of SMBs are still not abiding by this rule. This means that by making your website responsive, you’ll make it easier for your audience to tell a difference, which will result heavily in your favor. According to some surveys, about 7 out of 8 businesses don’t have a responsive design, which means that it will be quite easy for you to shine.
3. Keeping up with device development
In the past, people used to tolerate a tad lower responsiveness, sometimes even attributing it to the limitations of the device that they’re using. Nonetheless, smartphones nowadays are much more potent than even the strongest desktop setups were just a couple of years in the past. With platforms specializing in the retail of high-end unlocked mobile phones, more and more people will be able to afford these outstanding devices. This means that you need to ensure your online presence can keep up.
4. Online sales
M-commerce is currently on the rise, which is why giving your audience a chance to buy with the use of their phone might be a great idea. Nonetheless, a non-responsive website is not as trustworthy. Therefore, your audience will be quite reluctant to trust you with their money and complete the transaction. Even if they do go through with it, the customer experience won’t be pleasant, which will result in a smaller chance of customer return.
5. Great for offline sales
Even if you’re not focused on online sales but want to give your brick and mortar a quick boost, you need to keep in mind that about 78 percent of local mobile searches result in offline sales. This means that people are there to check your offer, make sure they’ve got the right address and see if you have any special offers they could use. By failing any of these three tests, you stand to lose a potential customer. Nonetheless, if your website is not responsive enough, you stand to fail in all three of these fields.
In conclusion
As you can see, the web design helps you achieve a reputation boost, increases your sales and prepares your website for the future. In other words, it prepares your business for growth in several important fields that you’ll eventually have to tend to, sooner or later. Moreover, it helps you set the course that might be even more rewarding in the future, especially since it’s already quite obvious that the future that we’re heading towards is increasingly mobile.
Mike is an Australian business consulting specialist. He’s working with companies that outsource their IT maintenance. He often writes about technology, business and marketing and is a regular contributor on several sites.