Website development has drastically evolved over the past few decades. There was a time when only qualified web designers could make the best websites for SMBs, but thankfully, those days are over. Today's website builder programs such as WordPress have broken the bonds of conformity and allowed even the most humble business owner to build a fantastic website with all the features and design elements built right in.
However, there is a significant problem to address with many websites today. They are not responsive. This means they work primarily on one size screen, most often a computer. In today's world, you are limiting your business's potential to computer users will doom it to ultimate failure simply. Websites are no longer browsed by those sitting at a desk at work but by everyone from every walk of life. Having the top-rated domain registration in the USA is essential. Still, if you cannot allow your site to be viewed by someone on the subway or the visitor to a new city looking for an activity while walking down the street, you are not doing enough. Your SMB needs a responsive site built with WordPress, and here is how to get one.
Optimize Images
One of the worst things about loading a website on a small screen is having an image that appears larger than the screen itself. When you have a responsive WordPress website, all images are adjusted to fit the screen size, so the user does not have to move around the image to try and see the whole thing. With WordPress responsive sites, images are available in a range of options within the system. When the site is requested, WordPress instantaneously notes the screen size and chooses an image that best fits the needs of the user's screen. The system is designed to cache, create, and deliver the right image to the right screen.
Reduce HTTP Requests
JavaScript and CSS are necessary for websites, but they can bog down the system with responsive site configuration. Instead of simply investing in these two attributes, limit their use. By reducing the use of CSS and JavaScript, you will naturally reduce HTTP requests allowing the site to load faster on various screens without messing up the user experience.
Load Assets Conditionally
Have you ever gone to a site that was supposed to be responsive only to find out the configuration of the page was comprised of various over-the-top elements limiting the ability to see information on the site? This is due to not accounting for conditional elements on the mobile-friendly site. Large buttons and over-the-top features might work great for the average computer screen-friendly site but can limit the ability of a mobile site to be user-friendly.
Scale down elements such as images and buttons to make them smaller when loaded onto a smaller screen. This will enhance the user experience and make the site more manageable on smaller screens. Plan out the design for your responsive site and load only what is necessary for functionality on smaller screens. You do not need every website attribute on the small screen format.
Lazy Loading
Utilize lazy loading when possible. Some SMB sites have a lot of information to absorb at the top of the page, with other elements left at the bottom. This is an instance when you can allow the elements at the bottom of the page to be more significant, more involved, and load slower. When you format your mobile-friendly site in this manner, you can allow time to be on your site. It will take some time for your users to absorb information at the top of the page, giving the lower portion-time to load before accessing it. Lazy loading can save you headaches without detracting from the user experience.
If you are under the misconception that mobile devices are just a fad, you will be very disappointed. Mobile-friendly sites are here to stay, and it is up to the SMB owner to ensure their website and all features are ideal for all screens. Where there is still plenty of space for large screen devices, you can never neglect the need to conform to the user's needs. We are more mobile than ever before, and if your website lacks responsiveness, you are missing out on the potential for vast growth in your business. Take the time to examine your WordPress site and WordPress hosting services and ensure all are mobile-friendly and can be loaded on any size screen quickly and effectively.
