Nearly 1 billion consumers willuse a mobile device to access the web, yet less than 50% of education institutions have a responsive web site that adapts to this digital revolution. Despite the obvious advantages of a digital addiction, far too many educational institutions lag behind the curve.
Mobile Devices Dominate
The growing popularity of smart phones and tablets, combined with the shift of consumer behavior strengthens the argument for consumer-friendly flexible layouts. If you don’t have a responsive web site chances are you’re missing a significant amount of traffic.
- 88% of teens and adults in the United States own a mobile device
- Promotional click-through rates are astoundingly 72% higher on intelligent devices than on desktops or laptops
- 61% of users leave a page if not optimized for their device
There are literally hundreds of smart devices on the market, each with different parameters to access the web. Unfortunately, the programming for traditional websites is unreadable on mobile devices. Scrolling pages are awkward and many elements like links, navigation buttons and sign-up forms become burdensome on such a small screen.
Responsive web design adapts to the user’s device, internet browser and screen size. Regardless if the user is on a desktop computer, a smart phone, or a tablet, the layout of your website will automatically adjust to the appropriate size and remain user-friendly.
3 Reasons to Switch to Responsive Design
Would you believe there are more intelligent devices than there are people? In fact, in many cases, there is more access to a smart phone than a laptop. Now consider all the students who unsuccessfully try to access your website. The growing popularity of intelligent devices, combined with the shift of consumer behavior emphasizes the need for an adaptable responsive web site.
Consider the top three benefits a responsive web design instantly offers you;
1. No duplicate site required: eliminates the need to develop a mobile version of your site. Configuring a separate mobile website requires new programming code; hence you’ll spend additional funds, not to mention two separate sites requires additional maintenance and additional man hours. A responsive web site simply reconfigures your current code that will adapt to all devices.
2. Continuous connections: consumers want portable accessibility and mobile devices provide instant connections with just one click, anytime day or night. Smart devices have become an indispensable part of our lives, allowing us to remain connected and available at any time.
3. Google recommendations the upgrade: a responsive web site expands the horizon for opportunities and with smart devices becoming the preferred communication tool; Google is recommending the new user-friendly design. Optimization for improved customer experiences is a Google mainstay and the magic of a responsive web site will ultimately boost your search results. In contrast, institutions that fail to adapt to new standards will see competitor’s leap-frog their success.
The bottom line is a responsive web site is a necessity for growth, and it’s easier to be in the lead than to play catch up. Students, tech-savvy staff and connected faculty expect your college, department or unit to have a mobile-friendly web site. Meeting their expectations is no longer a matter of if, but when.
Want to know how your higher education web site stacks up against other departments at your college or with other universities? Request our free website benchmarking review, which will evaluate your site’s search engine optimization rank, social media integration, traffic rank, and more. This is an essential first step prior to redeveloping or refreshing your web site.
