News

01 December 2014

Google favours responsive design

Here’s something you may not know, and if you don’t then you really should:

Google and other search engines are now starting to favour sites which have been built using mobile responsive design over those who haven’t. This means that if your site isn’t crafted with the intent of being viewed on, not just a desktop computer, but also a laptop, a tablet or a mobile phone then it’s likely that you won’t show up very highly on search engines, and you’re therefore a lot less likely to be viewed.

Why responsive?

Mobile and tablet-friendly sites have seen a huge increase within the last four years, and it’s not difficult to see why. According to mobiforge, a study in May 2014 by the International Telecommunication Union states that there are nearly 7 billion mobile subscriptions worldwide, meaning that the equivalent of 95.5% of the world’s population currently has access to a mobile phone.

It has been predicted in a few sources that mobile internet users are set to overtake desktop users within the next year. Sources state that at the beginning of 2014 38% of internet users accessed the internet from a mobile and 21% use a tablet, compared with 41% who continue to use the traditional desktop. These statistics mean if you haven’t already, it’s probably time to start thinking about engaging with 100% of internet users through making your site responsive!

The biggest technical reason behind Google’s decision to favour responsive sites is its ability to use just one URL per website, which makes it easier to link and share content with other sites, whereas sites which aren’t mobile responsive need a new URL in order to redirect tablet and smartphone users to sites more friendly to them. 

Benefits of a responsive site:

  • Accessible for tablets, laptops, desktops, TV as well as all makes and models of smart phones
  • Increase your audience
  • Higher chance of increasing your sales and conversion rates
  • Much easier for visitors to use and therefore they’re more likely to stay on your site and browse
  • Means your web visitors can easily bookmark your pages and read them later, as well as share them on social media
  • Compacts content meaning you won’t have to spend as much time and money on site management
  • Easier to access on the go
  • No need for a separate site, so no duplication of content
  • And now- you’ll increase your visibility in search engine behemoths like Google

 What can you do?

Senior now offers responsive design as standard for all our new builds. Talk to one of the team today to find out more.

 

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