Responsive web design (RWD) is one of the many aspects that make user experience and with that, ranking on SERP (Search Engine Result Page) and should be the only site format to be taken seriously on the internet. Moreover, with the mobile-first index to be officially rolled out in early 2018, it's no longer a mere competitive leverage to have a responsive site - it is a necessity.
The fact of the matter is the number of mobile devices around the world has surpassed the number of desktop computers and the higher percent of searches come from smartphones and tablets. Therefore, if you still dont have a responsive site, you should set it up, considering there is a very good chance that major part of the traffic to your site is likely due to the usage of the mobile device.
Content is Very Relevant
At the essential level, RWD is highly relevant from an SEO point of view due to its unique code base. Search engine bots such as Googlebot give great significance to simple and well-arranged page structure and information architecture, something they can only find on responsive sites. What is more, Google isn't fond of duplicate or repetitive content. One of the essentials for SEO grand slam is to have a unique content that is not repetitive. If the content of your site is similar or even the same and lacks originality, your organic search rankings will fall off. In order to improve your overall page rankings, you should consider having a single mobile optimized site only. Furthermore, you should apply proven SEO strategies. Why reinvent the wheel?
Speed Matters
SEO's core is not just about having the most relevant answer to user's query anymore. You also need to be the snappiest site to provide it or tempt fate that users will just go elsewhere. Ensuring your pages are fit and ready for hard, efficient work is fundamental in current SEO-friendly web design and it is a factor that results in the pages' ranking progressive decline. Therefore, you should revise the idea of having both desktop and mobile versions of your site as it requires the bots to take more time to crawl each of the pages, thus potentially "hiding a dead body on page two of Google search results". RWD is built on a single URL and code base for desktops and mobile devices, which means swifter crawling and better odds of page rankings. In a nutshell, page speed is another important thing to consider in terms how your site is built as well as the quality and consistency of the hosting you use.
It is All About User Experience
Today, SEO is more about user experience, and it is not wrong to say that responsive design is a genuine aspect of it. Google claims that over 60% of mobile users will go to a competitor's site if they find yours not to be responsive. Almost generally, users not only appreciate those sites where they don't have to pinch-to-zoom or double-tap but invest more time on them as well since all of the content automatically adjusts to the screen of the device. What is more, these users are more likely to recommend responsive sites and are more likely to return. The nuts & bolts are that everybody will rather opt for the things that are best designed to meet their queries, and with fast-growing mobile use of the Internet, responsive design can be a way to offer a better, more custom-fit user experience.
Choose A Theme to Make It Lean and Mean
It is conclusively proved without a doubt that responsive design is a deciding ingredient in SEO. However, how will you make your site responsive, if it is not already? A number of determinants will influence the technique you want to implement. The most relevant ones are the amount of time you can devote to creating it and your budget. In case you don't have enough time or your budget is low, it is recommended to implement a responsive theme. Most sites are based on WordPress, which supports thousands of various responsive themes. Also, most other platforms provide their own themes. Moreover, all the prominent Content Management Systems have responsive plug-ins that help make your site responsive. Some of these plug-ins provide more ways to customize the mobile experience for better content rendering and also have additional features fit for mobile devices.
Sum & Substance
The time of mobile devices is now, therefore get on board and adjust! Nonetheless, you should know that one size doesn't fit all. Don't follow the cookie cutter approach. Be mindful of your line of business and customize usability to the individual site, to put it simply, don't be afraid to invest in your site by hiring a web design agency. Additionally, you need to work hard on optimizing the user experience for mobile devices and, consequently, you will stand in good stead for the energy you invested in terms of traffic and user engagement. If not, your SEO efforts will be affected adversely.
Guest Author
Chloe Smith is a cycling enthusiast, business consultant, and a part-time writer always willing to share tidbits of advice. She believes that passion, courage and, above all, knowledge breed success.