Understanding the Importance of Mobile Responsive Ecommerce Web Design

Responsive design continues to become more important in digital marketing throughout industries. But especially if you are currently or planning to sell products on your website, adjusting your online presence for mobile devices is especially crucial. Is your eCommerce web design responsive to mobile screen sizes? If not, now is the time to make the adjustment.

What is Responsive Web Design?

At its core, mobile responsive web design is a simple concept. Through a change in code, your website can adjust dynamically to individual screen sizes. As a result, it will be equally navigable and easy to use regardless of whether your audience seeks you out on desktop computers, tablets, or smart phones.

The Search Engine Benefits of Responsive Design

Last year, the concept entered the spotlight of digital marketing throughout industries. That's because Google announced a major update, quickly dubbed Mobilegeddon, that would begin to penalise websites not adhering to its mobile guidelines. These guidelines, of course, included responsive web design.

Google's reasoning was simple. The search engine depends on its users finding the right results regardless of search terms. Nearly 60% of all Google searches now occur on mobile devices, meaning that it was in the search engine's best interests to elevate search results their increasingly mobile audience will actually follow.

In the year since, other search engines have followed suit. Now, online merchants face a simple truth: if your website is not responsive, fewer visitors will find you through search engines.

Understanding User Experience Implications in e-commerce

Of course, the importance of responsive web design in Mobile e-commerce goes further than the simple issue of being visible to your audience. Regardless of how potential customers find you, they need to be happy enough while browsing your website to make it to a product page and, ultimately, the checkout process.

Increasingly, your audience accesses your website on mobile devices. A 2014 study found that smartphones and tablets accounted for more than 50% of all eCommerce traffic. Given the fact that mobile users continue to increase in global internet usage, our guess is that this number will only grow in the future. In Australia, more than 35% of all eCommerce transactions are now completed on mobile devices.

For your audience, that trend leads to a definite need to accommodate your mobile users. No type of website structure can do so more effectively than responsive design, which will ensure that your audience can have the same, positive experience regardless of the device they use to access it.

That means focusing on visual content, splitting your text into short paragraphs, and streamlining your navigation. It also means a design structure that adjust its layout and navigation dynamically, depending on the device they use.

When to Get Started on Your Mobile Responsive eCommerce Web Design

Given the above reasons, a website that is responsive is crucial - especially if you are engaging in e-commerce. That leaves a final question: when should you worry about the switch to an online presence that better accommodates mobile devices?

That choice is ultimately yours, but here's our suggestion: sooner, rather than later. Google already punishes websites that do not adjust based on screen sizes, and your web traffic will only grow once the holiday season gets closer. Being prepared for that larger audience with a website they can both find and enjoy can make a significant impact on your year-end revenues.

Are you looking to make your website as successful as possible? Are you selling your products online, but need to increase your revenues? In both cases, responsive web design should be your top priority. To get started in the process, and to learn more about succeeding in eCommerce marketing, contact us.

Read some more of our Woo Commerce blogs:
WooCommerce for Ecommerce: Why your business needs to consider it

Further reading on Mobile Responsive Website Design:
Why your business needs to embrace Mobile Responsive Website Design
Amazing Mobile Website Design Benefits for Your Business
10 Tips for Effective Mobile Website Design
The Impact of Smartphones on Mobile Responsive Design
Mobile Responsive Website Vs Mobile App: Which is better for business?
Do you have a Mobile Friendly Website Design?
Get Mobile or Get Lost. The impact of Mobile Responsive Web Design