A Quick Guide To Understanding Responsive Web Design

Responsive Web Design - A Quick Guide

The proliferation of mobile devices at all levels of resolution and color quality has made web design more complex than ever. That's because it's hard to predict what kind of browsing experience a potential customer will be having when they find your site now that devices come with screens in practically every size and resolution. That's where responsive web design comes in. When you follow the best practices for RWD, you don't have to build separate sites for desktop and mobile users, which also means you don't have to choose between favoring tablets and favoring phones on a mobile site.



Principles of a Responsive Web

RWD emerged as an industry solution to the growing problem of mobile sites being unable to serve the full range of emerging smart devices in the early 2010s, because that was also when multi-monitor setups and wider ranges of workstation screen resolutions really took off. Responsive website design incorporates the best practices for accessible websites alongside adaptable display settings when done properly, so you can reach as many potential customers as possible.

1. Site design should incorporate adaptive style sheets that change the layout of information according to the end user's display orientation, resolution, and color capabilities
2. Metadata and alt text should be complete for every page, both for indexing and accessibility purposes
3. Content management systems that separate the addition of information from the design process are preferred
4. Adaptive CSS needs to be updated to incorporate compatibility with new screen resolutions and sizes as they become available
5. Responsive sites are constantly updated sites because they evolve to meet the changing best practices as new solutions to design challenges proliferate

If your site follows the best practices for responsive web design, it's more likely to index smoothly in search engines and to rank appropriately for your marketing efforts and geofocus.

Building a Responsive Website

If you're wondering how to set up the adaptive CSS layout commands you need to change site design on the fly, don't worry too much about it. Outside of the web development community, implementation of these principles tends to be as simple as choosing the right combination of content management system and template. For example, if you're building a blog and site in Wordpress, there are many templates that incorporate responsive design automatically in both the free and premium sections of the content catalog.

Advanced RWD Services for Business

Looking to build a custom branded site from the ground up? it's a good idea to hire experts. After all, if you wanted to be a web developer, you already would be, and digital marketing firms bring in design teams to work out responsive sites for you. That way you can concentrate on the best messaging possible. Whether you're looking to have a truly unique visual imprint on every screen or just trying to make your web portal work for everyone, hiring an experienced RWD developer is often the best option for complex websites.

Rebranding With Responsive Design

The good news is that rebranding efforts are easier than ever before thanks to the advent of RWD as a mainstream web design strategy. If your site's template already adapts to the user's screen, then you just need to upload new art assets, photos, and SEO tuned text content to change up your major visual features. There's no more redesign from the ground up unless you're looking to add completely new online services, and there's also no need to keep maintaining separate versions of your site for different device types.

Making the Most of Responsive Sites

It takes a lot of behind the scenes work to make complex websites into responsive powerhouses that can serve any customer. While simple sites with informational resources, blogs, and other standard features can be loaded into a template with just a little customization, that doesn't work for everyone. If you're trying to create a real point of difference in your branding, you need a visual style that can't be purchased from a template store. That's why it's often best to hire experts for your major site overhauls. Most digital marketing companies with full site optimization services in addition to SEO will be able to help you with this, so how do you pick the right one?

Collaborate Within Your Community

There are a lot of options out there when you're looking for digital marketing services. Most of today's effective search engine optimization strategies rely on geolocation to drive local customers for businesses that rely on face to face services and transactions. Even when cultivating an online storefront, a local focus helps because you can take design meetings without extensive travel, making it easier to collaborate closely on each new campaign you devise. Fitz Designz provides full spectrum digital marketing support to businesses looking for a local touch in the Santa Rosa, California area. Reach out today to learn more about how your business can make the most of a responsive website design.