Why Small Screens Turn a Big Profit

December 11, 2017 6:00 am CDT

Responsive design "refers to the ability of a website to adapt to various screen sizes and orientations without compromising user experience", as defined in Medium's article, Mobile First Design: The Importance of Being Responsive.

In an increasingly mobile-driven marketplace, mobile devices have become the primary platform for viewing online content. Research shows that in 2024 so far, 96% of global users accessed the internet from mobile devices, compared to 62% accessed from a laptop or desktop computer.

What does this mean for your company? With the rapidly increasing and broadening reach of mobile device usage, investing in mobile first design can generate an increased revenue of up to 50% or more, especially among e-commerce sites.

So what is mobile first design? A mobile first design approach can be defined as designing for the smallest screen first, and then progressively enhancing the site for larger screens. As stated in the Medium article, "The rationale behind this strategy is that mobile users have unique needs and limitations, and by addressing these first, you create a solid foundation for the entire site."

So what is mobile first design? A mobile first design approach can be defined as designing for the smallest screen first, and then progressively enhancing the site for larger screens. As stated in the Medium article, "The rationale behind this strategy is that mobile users have unique needs and limitations, and by addressing these first, you create a solid foundation for the entire site."

How does responsive design directly correlate to a business's profitability? Five important ways it drives impact in profits include:

Enhanced User Experience Across Devices - by ensuring a website functions smoothly and consistently on all devices, users can navigate, read, and interact with content effortlessly no matter what platform they're using. By optimizing layouts and images for various devices, responsive design can improve page load speeds, which is crucial in retaining visitors and reducing abandonment rates. When visitors can easily navigate and interact with content, it improves user engagement and likelihood of conversions.

Increased Competitive Advantage - many businesses are still not fully optimized for mobile users, so companies that invest in responsive design can stand out and capture a larger share of the market. In the second quarter of 2024, smartphones accounted for over three-quarters of retail site visits in the United States and generated roughly two-thirds of online shopping orders. Since visitors can access your site on any device, it increases opportunities for engagement, leads, and ultimately sales, giving you a competitive edge over businesses with subpar mobile experiences.

Cost and Time Efficiency - instead of maintaining separate versions of a website for desktop and mobile users, or other devices, responsive design allows businesses to manage just one website. This reduces development, maintenance, and update costs. Since responsive design adapts to new screen sizes and devices without requiring complete redesigns, as new devices are released, businesses are better positioned to stay relevant with minimal additional investment.

Better Analytics and Insights - with a responsive website, businesses can track user interactions on all devices through a single set of analytics, making it easier to gain insights into customer behavior, optimize the site, and make data-driven decisions. Since Google prioritizes mobile-friendly websites in search rankings, businesses are more likely to have increased visibility through search engines as well.

Improved Brand Perception and Trust - responsive design creates consistency in appearance and functionality across all devices, which helps build brand credibility and ultimately influences customer loyalty. A well-optimized, modern website reflects positively on a business’s image, making customers more likely to trust and engage with the brand.

How does responsive design directly correlate to a business's profitability? Five important ways it drives impact in profits include:

Enhanced User Experience Across Devices - by ensuring a website functions smoothly and consistently on all devices, users can navigate, read, and interact with content effortlessly no matter what platform they're using. By optimizing layouts and images for various devices, responsive design can improve page load speeds, which is crucial in retaining visitors and reducing abandonment rates. When visitors can easily navigate and interact with content, it improves user engagement and likelihood of conversions.

Increased Competitive Advantage - many businesses are still not fully optimized for mobile users, so companies that invest in responsive design can stand out and capture a larger share of the market. In the second quarter of 2024, smartphones accounted for over three-quarters of retail site visits in the United States and generated roughly two-thirds of online shopping orders. Since visitors can access your site on any device, it increases opportunities for engagement, leads, and ultimately sales, giving you a competitive edge over businesses with subpar mobile experiences.

Cost and Time Efficiency - instead of maintaining separate versions of a website for desktop and mobile users, or other devices, responsive design allows businesses to manage just one website. This reduces development, maintenance, and update costs. Since responsive design adapts to new screen sizes and devices without requiring complete redesigns, as new devices are released, businesses are better positioned to stay relevant with minimal additional investment.

Better Analytics and Insights - with a responsive website, businesses can track user interactions on all devices through a single set of analytics, making it easier to gain insights into customer behavior, optimize the site, and make data-driven decisions. Since Google prioritizes mobile-friendly websites in search rankings, businesses are more likely to have increased visibility through search engines as well.

Improved Brand Perception and Trust - responsive design creates consistency in appearance and functionality across all devices, which helps build brand credibility and ultimately influences customer loyalty. A well-optimized, modern website reflects positively on a business’s image, making customers more likely to trust and engage with the brand.

Meet Faraj Nayfa. We are currently managing the social media of his restaurant, Hala In, located in Mayfair neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois. He is a seasoned small business owner of 11 years, and is busy with managing the restaurant.

Since he personally has no time or social media experience to curate an online presence for it, EVE has helped to start the foundation for an online following onInstagram and Facebook to reach customers Faraj would previously have missed out on.

It is important to recognize that social media marketing is becoming the new norm. While the start up of a social media strategy can be overwhelming, it doesn’t have to be.

While you focus on your passion of running your business, EVE is here to focus on our passion of helping you navigate the social media world and digital business.

Since he personally has no time or social media experience to curate an online presence for it, EVE has helped to start the foundation for an online following onInstagram and Facebook to reach customers Faraj would previously have missed out on.

It is important to recognize that social media marketing is becoming the new norm. While the start up of a social media strategy can be overwhelming, it doesn’t have to be.

While you focus on your passion of running your business, EVE is here to focus on our passion of helping you navigate the social media world and digital business.

Responsive design isn't just about aesthetics or convenience - it directly supports a business’s bottom line. By prioritizing mobile users and optimizing the user experience across all devices, you are directly driving your business's success. Embrace responsiveness in your design strategy and see how thinking small can produce big results.

As experts in mobile first and responsive design strategy, EVE | user experience design agency has the adeptness to elevate your mobile presence with seamless user experience across all devices. Book a free 30 minute session with us to find out more.

About the Author:

Kelsey Warnock Is a product designer for EVE | UX Design Agency based in Nashville, Tennessee, Detroit, Michigan and Chicago, Illinois. With over 12 years of experience working in digital marketing and products, Kelsey enjoys creating experiences that drive impact and prioritizing accessible products for people on digital platforms. She can be found spending her free hours outside on hikes with her husband, John and Bernese Mountain Dog, Brodie. She would love to connect on LinkedIn.

About the Author:

Kelsey Warnock Is a product designer for EVE | UX Design Agency based in Nashville, Tennessee, Detroit, Michigan and Chicago, Illinois. With over 12 years of experience working in digital marketing and products, Kelsey enjoys creating experiences that drive impact and prioritizing accessible products for people on digital platforms. She can be found spending her free hours outside on hikes with her husband, John and Bernese Mountain Dog, Brodie. She would love to connect on LinkedIn.

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