When talking about web design, the terms “mobile friendly” and “mobile responsive” often get used interchangeably. This is understandable, as both terms refer to the same concept: Creating a website that is optimized for viewing across various mobile devices. It also takes into consideration factors such as ease of navigation, readability, image quality, and load speed on different screen sizes and types. In order for a modern website to be successful, being diligent in designing for mobile devices should always be top of mind.
However, it is important to understand the difference between “mobile friendly” and “mobile responsive”. There are important distinctions between the two. In this article we’ll break down what each of these terms mean, as well as the benefits of both.
What Is Mobile Friendly Web Design?
A mobile friendly website is simply a smaller version of what the site looks like on a desktop. This means that although the website is smaller, it is still readable on a mobile device. The buttons on mobile friendly websites are also designed to be easy to click on smaller screens.
There are however, a few pitfalls to mobile friendly websites. One is that the sizing of mobile friendly sites is static. It’s meant to work well on every device size, but this isn’t always the case. The aesthetics of the website may be poor on certain devices. Also, navigation menus don’t always translate well on certain mobile screens.
Why Is A Mobile Friendly Website Important?
With mobile devices becoming the preferred method for users to access the internet, it is increasingly important for businesses to have a website that is mobile friendly. A mobile friendly website can do the following:
- Enhance the overall user experience on mobile devices.
- Improve SEO. Google prioritizes websites that are optimized for mobile over those that are not.
- Acquire more website visitors, as over 60% of people search from a mobile device.
- Have faster page loading speeds, making it more likely that visitors will stick around long enough to convert into leads or customers.
- Make it easier for users to find relevant information quickly, helping to reduce potential bounce rates when customers are unable to find and access desired content on their device.
What Is Mobile Responsive Web Design?
Mobile responsive web design is an innovative approach to website development that enables websites to scale and adapt their content for optimal performance on any device, regardless of size or operating system. Responsive web design provides a user-friendly experience no matter what device the website is accessed from by re-sizing or adapting the layout of the page based on screen size, resolution, and orientation (landscape or portrait).
The Importance Of A Mobile Responsive Website
Having a mobile responsive website is important for many of the same reasons as a mobile friendly site. A mobile responsive website can:
- Enable your website to automatically adjust layout, navigation, and content to the size of a user’s screen ensuring customers have a seamless experience no matter what device they are using.
- Increase visibility in search engine results.
- Minimize page abandonment from frustrated users attempting to navigate a site that is not optimized for their device.
- Allow users to quickly locate what they’re looking for on the site while providing an optimal user experience that encourages engagement and conversions.
- Drive greater customer satisfaction, more visitors, and increased revenues.
Which Is Better: Mobile Friendly Or Mobile Responsive?
Both mobile friendly and mobile responsive web designs can offer effective solutions. However, there is no denying that mobile responsive websites provide more flexibility and fluidity by creating a consistent design that automatically adjusts to any size device, no matter how wide or narrow the screen may be. Responsive web design also keeps the aesthetics of your website intact, regardless of the size screen a visitor is viewing from.
So for those that want to ensure their website looks great and provides an optimal user experience, responsive web design is the way to go. It has all the same benefits as mobile friendly design, plus a few additional features.
How Do I Find Out If My Site Is Mobile Friendly Or Mobile Responsive?
Up until this point you may not have even been aware that mobile friendly and mobile responsive are two different things, and now you’re left wondering which type of design your website has. One way you can test this is by navigating to your website on your computer and then clicking the corner of your screen and dragging it to make the window smaller.
If your website still looks the same and is just smaller, then you have a mobile friendly design. This isn’t a terrible thing— it’s certainly better than not being optimized for mobile at all. Now if your website reorganizes itself to fit the smaller screen then it is mobile responsive.
You can also test this on your mobile devices to see if your website is a smaller version of what it looks like on desktop, or if it has reorganized itself to fit your mobile screen. If you find that your website is indeed mobile friendly and you’d like for it to be mobile responsive, this is an adjustment that can be made.
At The Alchemy Consulting Group, we’re experienced in developing responsive websites that are accessible across a variety of digital devices and platforms. Every element of our sites follow standards in coding to enhance performance and speed while providing an optimal user experience. Or if you have a business that is not yet online, we can work with you to design and build a brand new website that will enhance your online presence.
It’s also important to note that we can make sure your website is ADA compliant, meaning it’s accessible to all users, regardless of their abilities. You can find out more about ADA compliance and why it’s mandatory for all businesses in this article.
If you have questions or are interested in learning more about our website services, call us at 877-978-2110, or schedule a call to speak with one of our experts at https://calendly.com/gordonvanwechel/15min.
