At this point, almost every small business has a website to promote their product or service. However, many focus on attracting customers who are browsing on a computer or laptop. Those accessing the site on their phones or tablets might not have the same great user experience, prompting them to take their business elsewhere. Responsive website design can be the solution to this problem and allow you to attract customers, no matter what device they use.
This technique makes use of breakpoints, usually determined by the width of the screen, to figure out what the website should look like. Then, it is optimized according to the device the user is currently on. As a result, it will be much easier for potential customers to navigate your site and find the content they are looking for. This can create a much better impression and allow you to increase your conversion rate.
What Is Responsive Website Design?
Around 55% of adults who use a cell phone access websites on their device. Similarly, many people now browse the internet on a tablet instead of their computer. All these devices have different screen sizes and shapes, and your website might not look optimal on all of them. A responsive design can solve this problem because it adapts the way your content appears to the width of the screen.
For example, potential customers who access your landing page on their desktop might see three columns. That way, they can see a lot of information very quickly and find out about your product or service without scrolling down. However, someone on a phone might only see the most important column, so they can read your content without having to strain their eyes or scroll left to right.
The Way Decisions Are Made
You might have heard that people make a decision about you and your business within a split second of visiting your website. If it is slow to load, the information is unclear, or the layout is inferior, you might have lost a customer forever. What’s more, most people won’t want to read very small text, so the size of your content must be adapted to the size of their screen.
In this way, a responsive design can help you make a much better impression on everyone who finds your site on the internet, not just those users who happen to be on a desktop. If your information is laid out clearly and succinctly on their phone or tablet, they are much more likely to get in touch with you and request further information or to check out your website on their computer or laptop once they get home.
The Devices People Use
As mentioned, your potential customers might use a wide variety of devices. In fact, the same person could be accessing your website through their phone, their tablet, and their desktop at different times. The first point of contact will often be the mobile phone, as they search for your product or service while on the go. Then, they will come home and keep browsing on their home computer before making a final decision.
The age of your customers also plays a role in the way they access your content. While the younger generation is much more likely to browse on their phone, people over 65 might use a tablet because of the larger screen size. No matter who your target clientele is, they are likely to own several devices and use them all to access information about small local businesses.
The Functions Your Website Must Have
When designing your website, you might believe that the primary purpose is to inform people about what you offer. However, a website can go far beyond this and act as a representation of your physical business. In fact, you should make it as interactive as possible, allowing your customers to perform multiple tasks online. For example, you could include options to book appointments with you or purchase your products directly through the site.
In addition, you might want to include a contact form that makes it easy for people to ask you questions and request further information. Sometimes, it can also be helpful to add a survey to your page, which allows you to figure out what your customers are looking for. All these features need to be included in responsive website design and accessible across all devices. That way, people can interact with you no matter how they access your content.
How Can a Business Management System Help?
A responsive website design is a great way to make your website attractive to customers on various devices. However, it can be hard to implement if you don’t have much experience with creating websites. Luckily, there are professionals available who can help small companies optimize their online presence and attract a wide range of customers through the internet.
Such a business management system is much cheaper than hiring your own IT team, yet it can offer you a similarly comprehensive solution to your technology needs. Our specialists here at Anthem Software will start by creating your website from scratch or updating your current one, then testing it to see whether it works well on all devices. Over time, your site will be adapted to the changing needs of your business and your customers.
Creating the Website
When you first contact us, we will have a look at your current setup and let you know what’s working and what isn’t. Maybe you don’t have any technological solutions set up yet, in which case we will start by building you an attractive and functional website. Or else you already have one, but it is very basic and doesn’t fully represent what your business does.
In either case, we can change this and optimize your online presence. That way, your website becomes a representation of your in-person business, and anyone visiting it will quickly see what you do and why you are the best choice for them. By using a responsive design, we won’t leave any gaps, and we’ll ensure that everyone sees you in the best light possible.
Focusing on Clarity and Ease of Use
When thinking about what’s most important in website design, many people will speak about the colors and look of the page. But arguably, functionality is even more important, and most of your potential customers will be more impressed by a website that works well than one that is flashy. People are impatient on the internet, so they will click away if they can’t find what they are looking for within a few seconds.
For this reason, you need an easy-to-navigate menu that can be accessed on all devices. What’s more, it should be simple for customers to purchase your product, book an appointment with you, or get in touch to request more information. Displaying these options prominently on all devices is an integral part of responsive website design.
Usability Testing
Once your website has been created and optimized by our team, we will do extensive usability testing to make sure it is functional, no matter what type of screen your customer is accessing it on. Depending on the size and resolution of the device, the experience could be completely different. We will try out various ways of reshuffling your content to figure out which one best aligns with your goals and promotes your core message.
During this step, we welcome your team’s feedback and input. Since you know exactly what you want to achieve through your website, you can best tell us what works and what doesn’t.
Continual Adaptation
Over time, your business will grow and change, and your website will need to reflect this. That’s why your service isn’t a one-off quick fix but a long-term solution that adapts to your needs. Every few months, we will reevaluate whether your site still offers the best experience to your customers, and we can update it with new content you have created.
In addition, we will also help you keep on top of security. Hackers and cybercriminals are constantly developing new methods of accessing your sensitive data, which is why a security solution you implemented a year ago may no longer adequately protect you today. With our extensive knowledge of the industry, we can protect you and your customers on all the devices they browse with.
Need a More Responsive Site?
Responsive website design is a way of adapting your content to fit a wide variety of screen sizes and resolutions. Nowadays, having a website that works great on a desktop computer isn’t enough because a large proportion of your customers might be using phones and tablets to access your content. They should be able to find the information they need, book appointments, and purchase goods no matter what device they are on.
If you don’t have a specialized IT team working for you, it can be hard to implement these ideas and optimize your website on your own. A comprehensive business management and marketing system could help bridge the gap between your online presence and your in-person product or service. Get in touch with us at Anthem Software to speak to one of our specialists and find out what solutions we offer.
