Do You Have Responsive Website Problems?

Responsive website problems happen though business owners often think there is no need to invest time or resources to improve their responsive site.  Thinking like that can cost you money since your responsive site can still have problems that drive customers away. 

Does your site load fast?

In recent years, Google (and other search engines) have made algorithm changes to reward faster sites by ranking them higher.  Why?  Their goal is to deliver the best user experience and a site that loads fast fulfills that requirement. 

Studies have been done and the findings tell us about 50% (or more) of people expect a site to load in less than two seconds.  If it doesn’t, they leave and usually don’t come back. 

Coding is constantly evolving with new methods and techniques that work smarter and more efficiently. The result is websites that load faster.

If you don’t know how long it takes for your site to load, we suggest you do a speed test.  You may be surprised by the results.  Keep in mind results vary depending on the device and internet connection.

Google updates demand attention

While Google is constantly making updates to its algorithm, 2021 is an especially a big year as it’s currently rolling out its Page Experience update.  It focuses on the user and how they interact with websites.

FYI-the update started in mid-June and is scheduled to be completed by the end of August. Read our Page Experience post for details.

Testing for function is vital

Another common blind spot is site functionality, which can be divided into several areas including ease of navigation, mobile friendliness, and browser compatibility.  This is crucial as studies show people leave a website when it doesn’t work correctly, and they rarely come back.

How does that affect your bottom line?  Well, they keep searching and most likely land on a competitor’s website.  The result is a lost sale because you’ve (unintentionally) sent them to your competition.  That’s not good for business.

Does it work in all browsers?

This is crucial as browsers have frequent updates to fix bugs, which can cause problems in the display or function of your site.   Even a new website can have problems if it was not thoroughly test in major browsers.

You may be surprised to know many websites (and templates) are not tested.  Business owners just assume they work properly and have no idea of the number of people who leave their site when they encounter issues.  

New devices present issues

The vast array of devices from smart phones to tablets to laptop can also cause issues.  Like browsers, websites (and templates) are often not tested on varying screen sizes, not to mention all the new devices that came to market after a website was built.

Typical problems include display and/or spacing issues, such as buttons hidden behind a pop-up menu or cut off text.  No matter what the issue, the result is usually the same:  people leaving when a site doesn’t function correctly or is hard to use.

What’s the solution?

As you can see, having a responsive website isn’t enough.  As with any product, the quality of your site determines how well it performs.  Sadly, there are many badly built sites or well-built older sites that underperform due to outdated coding not keeping pace with new technology and devices.

The good news is there is an easy solution to responsive website problems:  a new site.  You do need to do your homework to ensure your new site will be thoroughly tested to ensure functionality in major browsers and across a wide array of devices.  

Contact Sleepy Dog Media Group to schedule an online meeting to learn more about our responsive websites that are put through rigorous testing to make sure they work for everyone on all devices.