The size of the screen and the method of input (keyboard or gesture) have tremendous impact on how visitors interact with your site, and people are now moving between multiple devices to access online content.
According to the Pew Research Center, among American adults, 58 percent have a desktop, 61 percent have a laptop, 46 percent have a smartphone, and 18 percent have a tablet. Microsoft predicts that mobile will overtake non-mobile internet use by 2014.
Mobile technologies are changing the way consumers interact online, but many companies are not changing to accommodate their clients. Neil Patel, founder of KISSMetrics, notes that while more than half of smartphone users will buy from a mobile site, less than 5 percent of brands actually have a mobile site.
Ignoring responsive web design could be a huge mistake for any brand, as a bad mobile experience will give your visitors a bad impression of you. According to Compuware, 40 percent of visitors will go to a competitor if you don’t offer a good mobile experience.
Responsive web design is one way to help ensure a good user experience across multiple devices. A good user experience can translate to more visitors, more sales, and a stronger overall web presence.