At this point, we're probably not telling you anything new when we emphasize the importance of effective responsive design. As we've written in the past, any digital marketing strategy has to begin and end with a website that works and is optimized for desktop and mobile screens alike. But how can you learn more about responsive design? Where should you go to get all the information you need to make sure that your website isn't just responsive, but effective in being so?
That's what this post is for. Below are 7 go-to resources about responsive web design.
1) Smashing Magazine
If you're simply looking for an explanation into just what the concept of "responsive design" actually means, this article by Smashing Magazine is perfect for you. Written in 2011, it may be a little dated (or a lot dated, if you count in digital marketing times), but its core concepts and talking points - adjusting screen resolution, flexible images, etc. - ring as true today as they were 4 years ago.
2) Google.com
Another introduction to responsive design comes straight from the search engine giant Google, who has been encouraging web developers to design their websites responsively for years. In fact, it was Google's "Mobilegeddon" algorithm update earlier this year that sent owners of outdated, non-responsive websites in a tizzy for fear of being penalized in search engine results.
The article itself gives readers a near-perfect overview of responsive design, why it matters, and how your website can achieve it. It links to a webinar that accomplishes the same in a visual format, allowing you to dive deeply into the concept from multiple angles. In short, if you are thinking about responsive design, this article should be among your first bookmarks.
3) WebsiteMagazine.com
So just why should you design your new website responsively? For an answer to that question, check out this exhaustive argument from WebsiteMagazine.com that lists numerous SEO advantages of doing so. After reading the article, it will be difficult not to imagine a potential surge in search results once your website is responsive.
4) Hyphenet.com
Of course, the benefits of responsive web design go beyond search engine optimization. So Hyphenet.com compiled no less than 10 distinct business advantages of designing your website responsively, ranging from customer satisfaction to avoiding content duplication. Combine this article with the previous one, and you should have enough bullets in your chamber to convince anyone in your company that responsive design is the way to go.
5) ShayHowe.com
Next, we're getting a bit deeper into the specifics of responsive web design. While nobody expects you to code your own website from scratch, it's nonetheless important to have at least a cursory understanding of how web coding works and just what makes the code for responsive designs so special.
That's exactly what ShayHowe.com does, giving you an introduction into the concept before gradually introducing you to the exact code for responsive design. This article is at once a tutorial and a starting point for anyone who'd loves diving into practical coding or just wants to know more about the concept.
6) W3Schools.com
Oh, you actually want to code the entire website yourself? We don't necessarily recommend that, but feel free to give it a try. W3Schools.com offers a great coding tutorial that, similarly to ShayHowe.com, allows you to gain an insight into the ins and outs of responsive coding. Warning: if you're merely interested in the advantages of responsive design, this link is not for you.
7) Your Web Developer
We'd be remiss not to mention one of the most important resources for anyone thinking of a responsively designed website: your web development company. They are without a doubt the experts in this topic, and can answer any of your questions. And if you don't yet have a web developer on hand, we'd love to be your partner! Contact us to learn more about responsive web design, our specialty in agile development and anything else that you might want to know.
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