Spend a few moments browsing any of the ever popular theme aggregation websites for a WordPress theme and you’ll see the same word over and over: responsive.
This theme is responsive.
Fully responsive.
Now 50% more responsive!
Okay, I made that last one up, but you get the point. Most themes are responsive these days and it’s a major selling point for theme developers. But why is it so important that your website by responsive.
In a nutshell, a responsive website is one that adapts to whatever device a user happens to be viewing that website on, be it a desktop computer, an iPhone, a tablet of any sort, and so on and so on. It is critical that your website be responsive. Why? Because that first item in my list – the trusty old desktop computer – is becoming a rarity in internet viewing habits.
Okay, maybe not a rarity. But with so many options for looking at the internet, more and more digital consumers are using anything and everything but a desktop to surf the web. Think about how many times you’ve poked around on your tablet while lazing on the sofa or looked for some decent Mexican food near wherever you happen to be via your phone. A lot of your customers, both current and potential, are doing these things and you need to make sure you are findable and viewable in the moment they want to find and view your business.
If you currently have an older business website that is not responsive, you need to get a new website that is responsive! Stat!
Here are a few points to help you decide to make that leap:
1. Think about your target demo. Does the average age of your customer base fall below 45? They’re looking for stuff with phones and your business will be dismissed out of hand if they can’t find and read your site on their phones.
2. Check your email marketing stats. Most mail programs offer robust stats on user response to your email marketing including the operating system used to view an email, the browser used to open a link, etc. This can give you a lot of insight into just how people are trying to access your site.
3. Check your Google Analytics. Just like email marketing programs, Google Analytics will give you a wealth of data to see just how many people are using desktops v. other devices.
If you’ve considered those three things, you’ve most likely come to the conclusion that yes, you do need to be responsive. So get on it!
