If you run a non-profit organization, you are probably wondering if you should switch to responsive web design—a development technique that makes the layout of a website ‘fluid’ so that it can adjust based on what the screen size of the viewer is, whether it’s an Iphone, Android phone, a Windows tablets, an Apple tablets, or any-size laptops. Below we present five reasons why it is prudent to develop a responsive design for your non-profit’s website:
1. Fixed-Width Websites Do Not Fit Small Phone Screens
Your existing fixed-width site is built to exact specifications that do not respond to the viewing device. Your site might look fantastic on a desktop screen, but it is probably virtually unreadable on a Smartphone. People will find it very difficult to read and navigate your content—much less click your ‘donate’ button—if you don’t have a responsive website.
2. Mobile is the Future
There are no two ways about it. Mobile usage continues to climb and is unlikely to stop. As of May 2013, 56% of people in the world own smart phones, and 67% of them used that phone to access the web every day. Expect these percentages to continue to rise. Another Google study found that 25% of donors who gave online in 2013 made their donations from their mobile device.
3. Social Media Sharing is Easier with Responsive Design
Do you want your non-profit’s cause to be shared by as many people as possible on social media? Then you need to go responsive. As of January 2014, 556 million people use Facebook mobile. The same trend goes for Twitter and other top social sharing platforms. To take advantage of free social media publicity, you need to make it easy for users to access your website across different mobile devices to encourage them to share your message.
4. Responsive Design Makes You Ready for New Devices Yet-to-Come
Because responsive websites are designed with fluid structures, they are able to adapt their layouts to any device today and in the foreseeable future with minimal updates.
5. Boost Your SEO
Google and other leading search engines no longer rely on keywords and content in ranking a site—they also take into consideration responsiveness. This is why mobile-friendly and tablet-friendly websites often rank better.
1. Fixed-Width Websites Do Not Fit Small Phone Screens
Your existing fixed-width site is built to exact specifications that do not respond to the viewing device. Your site might look fantastic on a desktop screen, but it is probably virtually unreadable on a Smartphone. People will find it very difficult to read and navigate your content—much less click your ‘donate’ button—if you don’t have a responsive website.
2. Mobile is the Future
There are no two ways about it. Mobile usage continues to climb and is unlikely to stop. As of May 2013, 56% of people in the world own smart phones, and 67% of them used that phone to access the web every day. Expect these percentages to continue to rise. Another Google study found that 25% of donors who gave online in 2013 made their donations from their mobile device.
3. Social Media Sharing is Easier with Responsive Design
Do you want your non-profit’s cause to be shared by as many people as possible on social media? Then you need to go responsive. As of January 2014, 556 million people use Facebook mobile. The same trend goes for Twitter and other top social sharing platforms. To take advantage of free social media publicity, you need to make it easy for users to access your website across different mobile devices to encourage them to share your message.
4. Responsive Design Makes You Ready for New Devices Yet-to-Come
Because responsive websites are designed with fluid structures, they are able to adapt their layouts to any device today and in the foreseeable future with minimal updates.
5. Boost Your SEO
Google and other leading search engines no longer rely on keywords and content in ranking a site—they also take into consideration responsiveness. This is why mobile-friendly and tablet-friendly websites often rank better.
