The number of people who access the web using a mobile device has doubled since 2010. As smartphones and tablet computers become the norm rather than the exception, and people increasingly go online for their purchasing decisions, the business implications are overwhelming, to say the least.

In these changing times, just having a static website is not enough; you need to have one that works on all possible web browsing devices.

Conventionally, websites have always been designed for display on a desktop or laptop computer. Such webpages do not make for an optimal display on any other internet browsing device such as a smartphone or an iPad.

Devices differ in terms of the platform and screen size as well as the orientation. So, a webpage that works on a laptop may not suit a mobile phone. With a?responsive web design, the approach is to create a website that responds and adapts its display based on the device it is accessed on.

Designing a responsive website requires the use of grids and layouts that are flexible, in an intelligent combination with images and CSS or jscript media queries.

Such a web design is capable of switching its parameters of content and image size, resolution and scripting to provide a display that is optimised for the browsing?device.

How a Responsive Website Design Helps?

Using a responsive web design is advantageous in several ways.

For one, having a website that adapts itself means you do not need to have separate designs for every possible gadget that someone may use. This saves you not just the additional effort but also a significant amount of money, given the fact that website design and development is quite expensive.

Besides, this factor is quite important when it comes to determining the traffic your website attracts.

Considering that users today have such a wide range of websites to choose from, they are more likely to prefer a website that provides them optimised display. Refusing to have an adaptive website may just prove to be an effective way of driving traffic to a more astute competitor.

When you incorporate the principles of responsive web design, it makes for a linearisation of content that is optimally presented over the entire spectrum of display systems available.

With all the on-going advancements in this field, you need to have a website design with fluid, flexible grids and layouts to suit not just presently-existing devices, but also those that may be developed in the next few years.

• Close to 50 per cent of all internet users in the UK used their mobile phone to go online in 2011, says the Office for National Statistics
• 6 million people accessed the Internet over their mobile phone for the first time in the previous 12 months.
• At least 28 per cent of the UK population have used their phone to make a purchase, and half of all online sales on Mother?s Day in 2012 originated from a mobile device.

What does all this imply for your business?

Being able to anticipate and respond appropriately to user expectations has a major influence on your financial bottom line. The future is all about adapting – and this is what new website designs need to do. Responsive web design is the future.

At Designbull, we create all websites to be fully responsive for any screen. If you?are looking to update your website to a fully responsive, future-proof site?do?contact?us.