Responsive websites across user devices are crucial for providing an optimal user experience. A responsive site adapts seamlessly to different resolutions, allowing users to navigate your content effortlessly regardless of what device they are on. In this latest GAIN LINE insight, we will offer awareness into best practices to ensure your site can perform well.
Why Does Website Responsiveness Matter?
A responsive website ensures that your site design adjusts to different screen resolutions, which enhances user experience, for businesses this means:
- Increased User Engagement: A responsive design makes navigation easier and keeps users engaged longer.
- Better SEO Rankings: Popular search engines like Google prioritise multi-device friendly sites, meaning that responsiveness can improve search rankings.
- Higher Conversion Rates: Whether you are looking for visitors to make purchases, or fill out forms, or take advantage of CTA’s, having a well optimised responsive site makes it easier for users to take action.
Testing For Accessibility
To ensure your website is fully responsive and accessible, it is crucial to design with flexibility and inclusivity in mind. A responsive design automatically adjusts content to fit different screen sizes, from smaller laptop screens to larger desktop monitors, the result of integrating responsive design will provide a consistent and user-friendly experience. You can regularly test with tools like Lighthouse to verify that your site meets WCAG standards across devices, ensuring that users can navigate your site with ease, whether they rely on keyboard navigation, or screen navigators. Investing in accessibility as a modern business is integral to ensuring your website remains at the top of its game. To read more on this, check out another insight of ours here.
All sites should strive for WCAG AAA compliance when considering attaining a fully responsive site. Aiming for this means focusing on elements like text resizing, color contrast, and navigability to ensure users with visual auditory. Alternatively, motor impairments can access content regardless of the device they use. At GAIN LINE, we treat accessibility integration to our web builds as a priority. Elements and distinctive designs like these are implemented by our team of front-end web developers, Adam Faux (Senior Front-End Developer), and Luke Patridge (Junior Front- End Developer).
Testing Across Real Devices
While developer tools can give you a general idea of how a website looks on different devices, testing on actual devices is important to ensure the most accurate representation, here’s why:
- Performance Testing: Development tools don’t replicate device performance, such as the speed or behaviour of user’s screens, which can affect user experience.
- Resolution Accuracy: Real devices will give you a clearer picture of how the resolution impacts your layout.
Alternatively, if you don’t have access to every device, using services like BrowserStack or CrossBrowserTesting can be helpful as they allow you to test your website on devices remotely.
Continuously Monitor for Issues
Testing responsiveness isn’t a one time task. For a seamless experience, automated testing tools are easy to set up. For example, tools like Selenium run responsiveness tests whenever changes are made to your website. Selenium is a handy tool for developers to use, as it benefits design flexibility, broad support and ease of use.
Need Help Testing Your Website’s Responsiveness?
How Can Our Team of Experts at GAIN LINE help you?
GAIN LINE has been creating website and software development solutions in Manchester for over 20 years with our tight-knit team of thinkers and creators. Our clients unlock maximum value through insight-led, intelligent development solutions for the future.
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