Web design trends are incessantly changing and evolving, but there’s one hard-and-fast rule every web designer should stick to – ensure they create responsive websites.

 

A responsive website looks and feels the same on desktop and mobile. It can perfectly adapt to all screen sizes and resolutions, providing an excellent user experience (UX) at all times.

To help you achieve your digital goals and create responsive websites, we talked to experts from one of the best web design companies in New York. In this article, we’ll share their proven tips on how to boost website responsiveness.

 

But first, let’s see what responsive design really means and why it is important.

What Is Responsive Design?

Responsive design is a web development approach used to create content that automatically adjusts to various screen sizes. 

 

A responsive website ensures: 

 

  • the best possible user experience for your audience
  • the optimal viewing experience on all devices  – users have no need to use the pinch-to-zoom gesture to see well your content on smaller screen sizes 
  • lower bounce rates
  • increased user retention and potentially higher conversion rates

 

If you’re still not convinced responsive design really makes that much of a difference to users, here are a few facts that will prove you otherwise:

 

  • it takes 0.05 seconds for users to form an opinion about your website
  • users spend less than 3 seconds scanning your website content
  • mobile accounts for approximately 55% of web traffic worldwide 
  • over 70% of global eCommerce sales are generated via mobile.

 

Responsiveness stands as the pillar of a successful business website. Whether your goal is to convert existing users into customers, attract new visitors, improve search rankings, or simply create a beautiful, trustworthy online presence, having a responsive website is paramount.

 

And if you follow these tips our friends from one of the best web design companies in New York shared with us, you’ll be able to easily create a responsive website. 

 

#1 Start With Mobile-First Design 

When you start crafting a website, you should first devise designs and prototypes for mobile devices. 

 

If you do it the other way round and start the design process from the desktop end, it would be harder to create a responsive and well-functioning mobile site. Content would probably be split into nonsensical chunks on smaller screens and that could lead your target audience straight to your competitors.

 

By sticking to the mobile-first approach, you can rest assured your site will be responsive and look equally beautiful on all devices, including devices with high-density retina screens. 

#2 Stick To Fluid Grid

Years before responsive design became essential, designers mostly used the fixed grid to organize website content. They would assign fixed pixel values to columns while margins remained flexible.

 

But in order to create responsive designs that are equally beautiful on desktop and mobile, fluid grids are a far better choice. 

 

The fluid grid entails a flexible content width, allowing websites to adapt to the size of the screen they are viewed on. The width can either expand or contract to fit the screen from edge to edge. 

#3 Select Elements To Display On Smaller Screens 

Creating a responsive design doesn’t mean your mobile website will be the exact copy of the 

 

In fact, smaller screens often require you to leave some elements out of the original design to avoid having a cluttered mobile site.  

 

For example, instead of displaying the main navigation at the top of the screen, you can opt for an elegant hamburger menu and place it in the corner of the screen. With a single tap, the menu can open across the entire screen, allowing users to choose which page they wish to visit.

Why Is Responsive Design Important?

 

Responsive design isn’t a trend – it’s an essential technique that ensures your website meets the needs and expectations of your users regardless of the device they explore your site on.

 

A responsive website tells your target audience you are serious about what you do. It sends them the message that you care about good UX and want to ensure all viewers can enjoy equally appealing content on all screen sizes.

 

Moreover, no matter how new and advanced a phone, computer, or tablet may be, a responsive website looks stunning at all times on all screens.