What Does a Responsive Website Look Like (and Why Is It Important to Avoid a Penalty)?

The term “Responsive Website” has been in the news lately due to changes in Google’s search engine ranking factors. Google now gives a penalty for sites that are not responsive for the additional devices people use to view websites today. Added technology means that websites have a greater responsibility and need more information to understand the requirements.

If you search Google for terms like ‘why a responsive site is important’, you will find dozens and dozens of recent articles like http://www.huffingtonpost.com/don-dodds/the-importance-of-respons_b_3870347.html to review.

Also, as an example of the increase in mobile traffic, this is one of our clients whose site traffic now almost 40% from mobile devices exclusively, and by the end of the year, will most likely be over 60%, so a mobile friendly website is mandatory for them. You can see the same data for your website by logging in to you Google analytics account and selecting the Technology tab.



Ok, to see a Responsive site –

1) Please go to www.hirease.com.

2) As shown in this image, start minimizing the width of your browser window from the far right closing to the left, red arrow.



3) Continue until the browser edges are about 3”-4” apart.



4) You will notice the website ‘content’ stacks in a vertical column and the navigation converts to a dropdown menu and all text and images retain their scale.



Make sure your website is responsive so you won't incur a penalty from Google.

 

What a stupid title.
There is no PENALTY for having or not having responsive layouts.

It is better if you have it - because more and more people use mobile devices. And website has more traffic.

 

Haa... I've been hearing for the first time the site that doesn't having a responsive layouts is going to get penalized by the Google!!!

 

It's possible in the future this will be apart of the algorithm as more and more traffic begins to go mobile and tablet. If you don't have a responsive website in a few years that could be a reason for not ranking well. There's really no excuse to not have a responsive site in todays day and age. A majority of the themes for all major CMS's have responsive options. You are also neglecting a huge market by avoiding responsive designs.

 

Really , :O I don't think that Google is algorithm is going to detect these things !! I don't think that there is a major need and as far as layout is concern most templates are liquid template i.e Auto adjustable according to the screen size. I don't think it is going to hit sooner. But as we can't bet on so let us just see.

 

A responsive website is a good thing, penalties for not beeing responsive enough are being rumors so far.

 

I have read a good article on Responsive Web Design. You can also see it: http://www.nascenia.com/responsive-web-design-why-and-how/

And I don't think that Google will give penalty those who doesn't have responsive site! :S