By David Hannes

How to Fix Mobile Usability Issues Found on Your Website with Response Design

Have you recently received an email from Google Webmaster Tools that reads: Fix mobile usability issues found on http://www.yourwebsite.com? If so your website is probably not responsive and was developed prior to the days of response design.

As the email indicates: The errors on these pages severely affect how mobile users are able to experience your website. These pages will not be seen as mobile-friendly by Google Search, and will therefore be displayed and ranked appropriately for smartphone users.

On other words a website without responsive design will affect its placement on search engine result pages.

What Is Response Design?

Response design or responsive design; a flexible design whose layout modifies for each platform that it is viewed on be it a desktop, laptop, tablet or cell phone.

Example Response Design themes by Theme Forest: http://themeforest.net/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&term=wordpress+responsive+design

Responsive web design, originally defined by Ethan Marcotte in A List Apart responds to the needs of the users and the devices they’re using. The layout changes based on the size and capabilities of the device. For example, on a phone, users would see content shown in a single column view; a tablet might show the same content in two columns. Source: https://developers.google.com/web/fundamentals/layouts/rwd-fundamentals/

How to Fix the Issues Preventing Your Site from Being Mobile-Friendly:

If you have a non-responsive website and your site is a WordPress developed website, the easy fix is to install a plugin that will convert your website into a responsive website. The popular plugin, Jetpack, gives site owners the mobile-friendly features of hosted wordpress.com with your self-hosted site and includes the feature Mobile Theme. There are a number of other plugin options too.

This is an easy solution to the present problem at hand, however if you have received this email by Google, chances are your site itself and its theme is quite old and it may be the time to consider a complete site redesign, upgrading to a modern theme that was developed with response design in mind as well as creating an optimum presentation on all platforms; desktop, laptop, tablet and cell phone. If your site

Learn more about how to customize your website to be mobile friendly.

https://developers.google.com/webmasters/mobile-sites/website-software/

Learn more about how to customize your website software in WordPress.

https://developers.google.com/webmasters/mobile-sites/website-software/wordpress

If your website is incurring mobile usability issues and you are not sure how to proceed, consider contacting Creative Developments for a solution to this problem.

To inquire about our web design, video editing, internet marketing or social media management services for you or your business, call us at (480) 968-5096 or email us at [email protected]. Creative Developments is an all-purpose website development company located in Chandler, AZ, servicing Phoenix, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Mesa, Chandler, Glendale, Gilbert, the entire valley, Arizona and beyond.