Whether you need a brand new business website or you want to revamp the one you have, chances are you are considering the mobile web. According to recent studies, 80% of internet users own a smartphone. This goes to show just how important mobile marketing really is. If your website isn’t mobile-friendly, you are severely behind the times and potentially missing out on capturing new customers.
Popular search engines are now using your website’s mobile-friendliness as a ranking factor. This means that not having a mobile-friendly website could affect how your website ranks in the search engine results.
So what is the difference between a responsive website and a mobile website? The differences are quite large. Let’s take a look at each one and how they work.
What is a Mobile Website?
A mobile website is a separate website that views well only on mobile screen sizes. It typically lives on its own domain or sub domain. Many mobile websites have a domain such as: http://m.yourwebsite.com. They are fairly easy to create as they contain mostly text, buttons, and a few images.
The problem with a mobile site is that it doesn’t adapt to various screen sizes. For example, viewing a mobile site on a smartphone may look fine. However, if you open up the same site on a larger screen such as a tablet or desktop monitor, the website will still retain the size of a smaller screen.
This isn’t the best user experience and could, in fact, deter user’s from browsing your website from their mobile phones.
What is a Responsive Website?
A website which uses a responsive design is a bit more complex to create but well worth the effort. Unlike a mobile website, a responsive website does not need a separate domain to work. It is the same website, but it adjusts its size according to the size of a screen.
As a screen grows larger or smaller, the text and graphics on a responsive website increase or decrease in size. This gives your website a more fluid appearance.
Another huge plus about responsive websites is that a web designer can maintain the design of your website across multiple devices. This makes for a better user experience.
We made a brief video explaining responsive websites – check it out.
Considering the large percentage of people who browse the web on their mobile device, having a responsive website is the best choice. It is sure to improve your user experience which should lead to increased conversions.
Contact us today to request a quote and learn how responsive design can benefit your business website.