Why Did Google Put so Much Importance on Responsive Web Design Last Year?
The
introduction of smart devices and ease of availability has shifted the internet
usage patterns, from desktop PC to handheld smart devices. Research in 2015 saw
internet usage on smartphone devices increase over desktop. All businesses
should ensure websites are compatible with devices. Being compatible in
different ways means websites can automatically detect devices being viewed and
adapted to screen size for effective browsing.
- Better User Experience
With
increasing use of smartphone devices, responsive web design ensures a better
user experience. Apart from user experience that the responsive site provides,
there are other aspects like higher SEO rankings, cost-efficiency and ease of
accessibility.
- Higher SEO Rankings
As a
search engine giant, Google dictates what needs to be carried out for search
engine optimisation. In suggestions on how to gain higher rankings, responsive
website design remains right on the top. Google prefers responsive design
primarily because it is easy for search engine robots to index and crawl the
site. This helps in reducing on-page SEO errors.
- Reduced Bounce Rate
Responsive
sites offer various features, when accessed on mobile devices. Rather than
adapting to the screen automatically, reloading mobile versions can be a reason
for high bounce rates. Slow loading, page errors and issues with readability
make non-responsive sites a major issue. Bounce rates rise due to search
engines being unable to generate interest or hold on to viewers. In contrast,
for websites with in-built responsive web design, the page opens instantly fitting to the screen
size, as it does on a PC. This ensures users stay on the web page and browse
easily, while reducing the bounce rate.
- SEO-Friendly Designs
When
businesses do not opt for responsive website designs, they are forced to manage
and maintain two or more versions. This increases the number of SEO strategies
to gain page rankings on the same search engines. With responsive sites,
businesses focus solely on main website functioning. A single Pathwwway Ltd SEO
campaign is enough to maintain page ranks. Additionally, canonical or
plagiarised content is greatly reduced.
- Effective Maintenance
Responsive
website designs are easier to maintain as against mobile versions of desktop sites.
Smart devices are updated at instant speed. Mobile versions of the site need to
be updated at an equally rapid pace, if mobile sites work on these devices.
This makes mobile sites expensive and cumbersome to maintain.
- Increased Sales
Responsive
web design offers a user-friendly experience, and ensures effective web content
can drive sales. A quality website design is accessible through smart devices
which helps businesses to reach out to wider niches and targeted audiences.
Using smart, user-friendly designs offer benefits for business entities. A
business with an innovative and responsive site can win over customers and
reach a global audience more easily.
Smartphone
devices are commonly used these days. As per the figure, 5.10 billion
smartphone users worldwide endorse the importance of shifting to responsive
website designs. This creates better user experience for the netizen.
Responsive website design allows a website to offer better viewability across
screen and device sizes, making managing the SEO strategy way easier. So,
responsive design is the best option for a mobile SEO strategy that works.