If you want to make sure that your website looks great on every device, you should consider responsive design. This type of web design allows you to adapt your site’s layout and functionality to any size screen, from a phone to a huge monitor.
Responsive design is a great way to boost your business’s profitability and brand recognition. It also helps you build trust and engagement with potential customers. However, it’s not something you can just pick up on. You need to understand the technology behind it before you can use it. Luckily, there are three key principles you can follow to get started.
Using a mobile first strategy is a good start. A mobile version of your site will help you test your designs on smaller devices. This will also give you the opportunity to build more trust with visitors and keep them around longer.
The first step in creating a mobile first design is to create a wireframe. This is a visual design that will help you create a template that reflects your brand. Using the correct colors and shapes can make a big difference in your template’s overall look and feel.
For example, you should include a mobile-specific version of your navigation bar. This can be done by using the HTML srcset attribute. A mobile-specific search bar can be implemented by making it highly visible. Similarly, you should ensure that you have a finger-friendly CTA button.
Another useful tip is to optimize images. This will cut down on scaling problems. You should use a small JPG or PNG file to minimize bandwidth usage and load time. Alternatively, you can use tools such as Adaptive Images to resize larger images.
Another tip is to make use of media queries. These check the size, orientation, and resolution of the user’s device and adjust your content accordingly. A media query can be a simple “if” statement, or it can be a complex algorithm that combines the three factors into one logical query.
The media-query trick is not to be confused with the CSS media-query trick. The latter combines a media-query with CSS. This is important because it allows you to control the size and shape of your images and text.
The oh-so-common CSS media-query method can also be used with a fluid grid. This will allow you to create a layout based on percentages instead of pixels. This is especially useful for designing for different screens and orientations.
The oh-so-common media-query method will also require you to make use of other CSS features, such as Flexbox. This advanced positioning system can be a real game changer. It is the CSS version of a “if-then” statement, and can help your web page respond to changes in screen width and resolution.
Lastly, the oh-so-common HTML srcset attribute can be a useful tool. This will allow you to specify the exact size of the image you’re using. For example, if you want to create a picture of the sun, you can specify a specific width and height for the image. The image will automatically resize and adapt to fit the dimensions of the content area.
At Night Owl Sites, all of our websites are mobile friendly, and designed with different devices and resolutions in mind. We know all of the tricks so you don’t have to! Contact us today to see how we can make your site responsive.
