Mobile vs. responsive ecommerce websites
FAQs
What is responsive web design in ecommerce?
Responsive web design ensures that information on a store's website is automatically adapted to fit any device's screen size.
A website is called "responsive" when a page can adjust its information to fit both mobile devices and desktop screens. This allows users to easily view the website regardless of the size of their device.
What is mobile design in ecommerce?
Mobile design in ecommerce refers to the process of designing and developing a website for mobile devices. Mobile design is also used to build applications that can be installed and used on smartphones and tablets.
Mobile design includes designing layouts that are easy to navigate and read on smaller screens. It also includes ensuring that all features and functionality are fully operational on mobile devices.
Additionally, mobile design in ecommerce involves optimizing the website or application for faster load times. This is important because mobile internet speeds can be slower than those on desktop computers.
Other important factors include making it easy for customers to purchase products. It also includes providing easy access to account information, such as previous orders and delivery tracking.
Why is responsive and mobile web design so important for ecommerce?
Responsive and mobile development is critical for ecommerce websites for a few reasons:
Online stores can lose sales if the user experience is not optimized. With more people shopping on mobile devices, it’s crucial to make shopping and purchasing easy. If it's too difficult for users to find what they are searching for and make a purchase, they will likely leave.
Second, having a mobile-optimized store gives an ecommerce business an advantage over competitors. A brand with a responsive mobile design is better positioned to generate more sales.
Third, web design optimized for mobile makes it easier for a brand to generate and maintain brand recognition across devices. Brand recognition builds trust with would-be customers.
Which is better for an ecommerce site, mobile or responsive design?
Both mobile design and responsive design can be effective for ecommerce websites. Choosing the best approach may depend on the specific needs and goals of the business.
Mobile design involves creating a separate mobile version of a website for use on smaller screens and slower internet speeds. This approach can be beneficial because it allows for a highly customized experience that is tailored specifically to mobile users.
Responsive design involves creating a single website that automatically adapts to the size of the device being used to access it. This approach allows for a consistent experience across all devices.
Overall, responsive design can make managing and updating a website easier. That's because it eliminates the need to maintain separate mobile and desktop versions of a website.
Generally speaking, we most commonly build responsive sites for our clients, and more rarely build mobile-specific sites.
However, depending on a business’s specific needs and goals mobile design might be preferable.