Why your website should be mobile responsive

With more and more people using their smartphone to connect to the web, mobile responsiveness is absolutely crucial for any online business. The tourism industry, in particular, has seen a shift in the preferences of travellers who depend heavily on their phones and social media for inquiries and bookings.  

Today, about 50 per cent of global internet users rely on their smartphone to browse the internet. Also, studies show 57 per cent of online consumers don’t recommend businesses without a mobile responsive website. These figures alone should be enough to convince you to invest in the mobile responsiveness of your website. But 'mobile responsiveness' mean, and why does it matter?  

Why responsiveness matters in the mobile world

Mobile web usage has already eclipsed desktop web usage. For tourism operators, this means travellers and customers are more likely to reach you through their mobile devices. For that reason, it's important that your website functions well on mobiles. Text and images should fit the screen, menus and links should be easily navigable. Your site visitors shouldn't have to struggle to find the information they need.

Simply put, mobile responsive websites deliver a better user experience. And a better user experience is going to improve your conversion rate. 

Mobile-Friendly and Mobile Responsiveness 

These terms are often used interchangeably, but there are definitely notable differences between the two. 'Mobile-friendly' refers to websites with functions suited for mobile devices. However, it uses the same concept and layout as its desktop counterpart. Mobile-friendly websites are important for retaining a high search engine optimisation (SEO) rating. However, for businesses, it’s not always the best option.  

A mobile responsive website, on the other hand, is dynamic in design. This means it efficiently adapts to whatever screen the visitor is using. Desktop users will see larger photos and different features than mobile users.   

Smartphones or tablet users will see a streamlined version of the site and will be able to navigate easily using their mobile devices. They will see larger print and fewer words per page. 

Building a mobile responsive website doesn't have to be difficult. There are lots of tools out there that can help you make customise your website and make it mobile responsive. Website builders like Wix or Squarespace will automatically format your site for desktop or mobile. If you run a Wordpress site, you can ensure your theme is mobile responsive. 

If you’re not sure what to do, get in touch with Tourism Accelerator. We can provide advice on how to improve your website's functionality and keep visitors to your happy.