Today, more than ever before, we’re all looking to be able to access the internet from our phones and other mobile devices. This is why responsive web design is becoming more and more critical.
Responsive web design is a technique that allows you to create websites that can be viewed on any device, from desktop computers to mobile phones and everything in between.
If you’re looking to set up a website with responsive design features in mind, here are 10 simple tips and tricks that will help you create an outstanding responsive web design.
1. Use a mobile-first approach
The mobile-first approach is a web design methodology that puts mobile-friendly design first, then scales up to larger screens.
It's important to make sure your website is accessible to mobile users. If you have a responsive website that works well on all devices, you'll be off to a great start.
2. Keep your content brief and well-structured
It’s a good idea to keep the length of your text short and scannable so that it can be easily read on any device. This will help your readers find what they’re looking for quickly and easily.
You can also use sub-headers, bulleted lists, and numbered lists to break up longer pieces of text into smaller chunks that are easier to digest.
This will also help readers scan through the content quickly without getting lost or confused at all.
3. Structure your website logically
Another important web design trick is to arrange and structure your website in sequential order.
This will help readers understand the flow of your website and navigate their way around it. You can do this by including navigation menus, headings, and subheaders.
Apart from making it easy for users to navigate, It'll also make it easier for Google Search to index your content more easily and effectively.
You might also want to consider creating a sitemap or breadcrumb trail so that people can explore different areas of your site more easily.
If there are lots of pages on your site, then try adding in a search box too. This will help users find what they're looking for faster than by browsing through everything!
4. Make sure there’s enough space between elements
One of the best ways you can improve your website is by giving it enough space. Too much content crammed into one area will make it hard for users to see what they need, causing them to leave your website and go elsewhere.
Spacing between different elements on a page allows people to easily read text, find buttons and links, and understand where they are in the site’s hierarchy.
If an element is too close to another, it can get lost in the shuffle when viewers are scrolling or scanning through content. The same applies to images. If you place an image directly above the text, it can make it hard for people to read the words.
The same goes for placing text directly on top of an image. Make sure there’s enough space between elements so that your website is easy to navigate and understand!
Our next point relates to images and how they can be used in different ways.
5. Don’t overload your site with images
If a graphic designer were to ask you, “What’s the best way to make your website look good?” You would probably respond with something like, “Use high-quality images and make sure they are relevant.” This is what you should do.
But that's not the only important thing.
Images can also slow down a web page, which is why you don't overload your website with too many graphics.
If there are too many images on one page of your site, then it will take longer for people who visit your website to load up their browser or mobile device. This could cause people to leave your site before they have a chance to see all the great visuals.
6. Simplify your navigation menu
The easiest way to make sure that your navigation menu is fully functional across all devices and screen sizes is by using a drop-down menu. This menu can be activated by clicking on the menu icon, which will show up in your browser’s toolbar. The drop-down menu will then appear, allowing you to click on any of the links available within that submenu.
This type of navigation option is ideal for mobile devices due to its simplicity and its ability to provide easy access.
Another option is to use a slide-out menu instead of a drop-down one. This type of menu is activated by clicking on a small menu icon that appears at the top-right corner of your screen. Once clicked, this icon will slide out a full-screen navigation menu. This is a good option for mobile devices because it allows users to quickly access links without having to scroll through an entire page looking for them.
Slide-out menus are great because they allow users quick access while also providing them with enough room so they don’t feel claustrophobic when using their device in order to browse through different sections.
7. Consider using a hamburger menu
A hamburger menu is a menu that consists of three parallel lines. This is a very popular way of presenting navigation menus and it allows users to quickly locate the items they are looking for. This type of menu has become so popular that many websites use it as their main navigation tool.
It’s often used to hide the navigation, but also has the ability to make your website more user-friendly by hiding them from those who don’t need it.
Consider using a hamburger menu if you have a large amount of content on your site, or if you want to introduce a new design element into the existing website theme without disrupting its overall look and feel.
8. Make sure that loading time is fast
Loading time is an important factor for users. It can make or break the experience of your website.
It's not just about how long it takes to load, but also about how it looks while it's loading. If your page takes ages to load and then looks like crap, users will leave in a heartbeat.
To avoid this scenario, use a content delivery network (CDN) – they host all of your files on servers around the world so that they load faster and more reliably than if they were hosted on one server in one location.
9. Test your page on all screen sizes
Now that you have a responsive website, it’s time to test it out. You can do this by using a responsive design testing tool.
The most popular one is probably the Google Chrome extension called “Responsinator”, which allows you to simulate different screen sizes and get feedback from users about your page’s experience on these devices.
With this tool, you can even see how well your page performs on mobile devices and whether the images are too small or too big for each device type.
The purpose of testing your website is to make sure there are no problems with the code before launching it live online. That way, no one would have issues accessing it while browsing from their mobile device.
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10. Don't forget to create a responsive design newsletter template as well
While this isn’t exactly a responsive design tip per se, it is important to make sure that you have a newsletter sign-up form on your website.
This way, when users come across your site and want to get updates from you or get more information about what you are offering, they can do so easily by signing up for the newsletter.
It’s also important to make sure that the newsletter sign-up form is easy to find and understand. You don’t want people searching around too much or getting frustrated because they can't figure out how to subscribe!
You should include a link directly above or below any content on your blog or website that allows readers/visitors to subscribe, so they can receive regular updates from you via email.
Conclusion
There you have it! A few simple tips and tricks to make your website more responsive. We hope these tips will help you improve the user experience on your site, and make it easier for people to find what they’re looking for.
If you want to learn more about how we can help with responsive design or any other aspect of digital marketing, please don't hesitate to contact us today.
By understanding these key concepts, you can make sure your website is easily accessible and usable by any device.
Author Bio: Robb Fahrion
Robb Fahrion is a Co-Founder and Partner of Flying V Group. He is passionate about helping businesses grow using the power of the internet. Robb graduated from Chapman University in Orange, CA and currently resides in Costa Mesa, CA. Robb enjoys writing about digital marketing, helping his clients turn their dreams into reality, and he is a HUGE Mike Trout fan.
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