Responsive theme or fixed?

[HobbyMounts]

I've got the option to have either responsive or fixed (as it is now) but I'm not convinced it will be any better to go responsive.

I've checked analytics and about 1/3rd of users are mobile and about 1/2 of them are iPads. The rest are mobiles.

What are your thoughts, does it really make it a better experience for mobile users on a responsive website?

 

[JonathanSEO]

33% of all your traffic is significant. Is it ecommerce? Check if people are buying via these devices.

Responsive is definitely worthwhile.

 

[HobbyMounts]

Yes, it's e-commerce. I haven't had time to set up goals yet so I'm not sure I can find out that info from Google?

 

[owas]

I would go for responsive. Its not just mobiles/ipads there is whole new generation of tablets, and not to mention as the new models come out, the older ones will get passed on so theres going to be an ever bigger market via tablets/mobiles.
Also its not just about how your site fits the size of the screen. I was looking at a site on the ipda the other day, and the drop down menus would not work as when you clicked on the top navigation links it went straight to the top category,so is the drop down menu won't work.

Some good stats also

http://www.smartinsights.com/mobile...keting-analytics/mobile-marketing-statistics/

 

[Homer J Simpson]

I agree, responsive is better. However, it's annoying when I try to get the site to show 'in desktop mode' on my phone and they don't. Anyone know why this is? Is it down to the theme/plug-in or is that just how responsive sites are supposed to operate?

 

[HobbyMounts]

This is the only thing putting me off to be honest. I prefer viewing desktop view, even on my phone and even more so on a tablet.

But am I in the minority?

 

[Esk247]

There will be plug-ins/modules released to allow for desktop mode.

Go responsive and adapt the responsive design as plug ins become available or ask someone to make you a plug in that allows for desktop mode to rearrange the page.

Don't go for fixed if 33% of your traffic is mobile format. My other half doesn't use a computer at all now, she uses her iPhone for everything from tickets to shopping to eBay to everything.

 

[transpacific]

You can serve different CSS for different resolutions. Separate design for desktop and for mobile devices. This can be done by detecting browser and device resolution.

 

[Optegris]

You can serve different CSS for different resolutions. Separate design for desktop and for mobile devices. This can be done by detecting browser and device resolution.

Pointless and inaccurate method. You would be left with two sites to maintain whereas with a true responsive site it could be handled with ease without multiple style sheets/files.

 

[Faevilangel]

Only way I know of creating a "desktop" view button on a responsive site is to create a second homepage which doesn't have the responsive css attached, hide this from the navigation and then point the "desktop" view link to this page.

You may also want to noindex it (meta tags) so Google doesn't see it as a duplicate as the homepage.

 

[transpacific]

Pointless and inaccurate method. You would be left with two sites to maintain whereas with a true responsive site it could be handled with ease without multiple style sheets/files.

just use multiple CSS through single site only.

Another way is to have a sub-domain like m.xyz.com for mobile media. Server detects the client and serves appropriate site.

 

[Optegris]

Again there is no need to serve up different css files if you know what you are doing. In addition, browser detection via script is not infallible.

 

[Alan]

I've got the option to have either responsive or fixed (as it is now) but I'm not convinced it will be any better to go responsive.

Why would you NOT go responsive if you have the choice. What downsides do you envisage?


------------

The following is a technical side comment

You can serve different CSS for different resolutions. Separate design for desktop and for mobile devices. This can be done by detecting browser and device resolution.

Yes this is how responsive themes work.

Pointless and inaccurate method. You would be left with two sites to maintain whereas with a true responsive site it could be handled with ease without multiple style sheets/files.

How do you think responsive themes work, if not by detecting browser resolution? True there is a certain amount you can do by using % width and floats generically (liquid layouts), but certainly not doing things like changing menu styles to drop downs etc.
where you would most likely need to start to detect the media size in css and possibly device detection server side e.g. of css size detection

/* Smartphones (portrait and landscape) ----------- */
@media only screen
and (min-device-width : 320px)
and (max-device-width : 480px) {
/* Styles */
}

/* Smartphones (landscape) ----------- */
@media only screen
and (min-width : 321px) {
/* Styles */
}

/* Smartphones (portrait) ----------- */
@media only screen
and (max-width : 320px) {
/* Styles */
}

 

[Optegris]

Sigh. The guy I was responding to was talking about seperate sites. I am well aware how responsive design works thanks.

And it is possible to change say a drop down menu to a select form nav dependent on resolution.

 

[Alan]

Sorry, didn't come across in your post, my mis interpreation.

 

[threenine]

This is the only thing putting me off to be honest. I prefer viewing desktop view, even on my phone and even more so on a tablet.

But am I in the minority?

Never design the site for what you like! You have to do it for the customer!

 

[wayzgoose]

This is the only thing putting me off to be honest. I prefer viewing desktop view, even on my phone and even more so on a tablet.

But am I in the minority?

I think I'm with you and probably also in the minority. I do most of my browsing on desktop and it annoys me intensely when I go to one of my usual sites on my phone and nothing is where I expect to find it. I like to see it "as it should be" and I'll make my way around thank you very much So I guess it's a trade-off between repeat and new visitors.

 

[pbdesigns]

Sigh. The guy I was responding to was talking about seperate sites. I am well aware how responsive design works thanks.

And it is possible to change say a drop down menu to a select form nav dependent on resolution.

At no point did he say "separate sites"...

You can serve different CSS for different resolutions. Separate design for desktop and for mobile devices. This can be done by detecting browser and device resolution.

 

[Optegris]

Well you are obviously interpreting it different to me then...

 

[fisicx]

I think I'm with you and probably also in the minority. I do most of my browsing on desktop and it annoys me intensely when I go to one of my usual sites on my phone and nothing is where I expect to find it. I like to see it "as it should be" and I'll make my way around thank you very much So I guess it's a trade-off between repeat and new visitors.

A good responsive site will deliver exactly the same content in exactly the same way no matter what device is being used.

All that happens id the layout is tweaked slightly to cope with narrower screens. So for example a wide navigation will get folded up or multiple footers divs will get stacked. Font sizes may adjust or a header might lose the RH section and so on but the content will stay the same.

 

[wayzgoose]

All that happens id the layout is tweaked slightly to cope with narrower screens. So for example a wide navigation will get folded up or multiple footers divs will get stacked. Font sizes may adjust or a header might lose the RH section and so on but the content will stay the same.

Exactly

 

[FlatRockTechnology]

I would definitely say responsive - it improves user experience and it makes it so much easier to browse through the website.

We recently had a webinar on the topic of responsive design and how it is different from the mobile website. You can check the video here:

http: // blog . flatrocktech . com /2013/07/02/watch-the-webinar-reponsive-design-now-its-free/

 

[JPMiddleton]

Since going responsive browsing time on a mobile has increased by 15%, bounce rate on a mobile dropped by 12% and sales on any device other than a desktop have increased by 11%.

And there are still one or two niggling issues I haven't got sorted yet, but when I have I expect those numbers to be even better.

 

[fisicx]

^^^This

It doesan't matter whay you like or how you prefer to view a website.

If your customers prefer a site optimised for the device they are using then that's what you need to supply.

 

[JD@fifty6]

Responsive for sure. Mobile browsing on my site went up incomprehensively when I hashed together a responsive design. It's definitely not done well, but it's an evolving design!

 

[HobbyMounts]

Well, it looks like I'll go reponsive then. Atleast I can monitor the browsing and hopefully see some improvements.

Guess the mods I've made to the existing theme will have to be done again, oh well, lol.

 

[JJWinst]

I'm too having to make this decision but at a cost of around £1000 INC VAT to go responsive.

Can I ask whether responsive is the same as having a mobile site? Or is it simply the size changing dependant on what device?

And if what I asked is true wouldn't it be better to not go responsive but instead have a mobile site?

 

[JonathanSEO]

I'm too having to make this decision but at a cost of around £1000 INC VAT to go responsive.

Can I ask whether responsive is the same as having a mobile site? Or is it simply the size changing dependant on what device?

And if what I asked is true wouldn't it be better to not go responsive but instead have a mobile site?

A responsive site is where it scales according to the screen size, so whether you are on an iPhone, an iPad or a desktop PC the experience is consistent. So it's mobile friendly.

Visit this site - http://twitter.github.io/bootstrap/ on different devices, or shrink your browser window to a smaller size and see what happens.

Responsive is usually the best choice. Mobile sites mean you are maintaining two sites, have duplicate content issues to address, multiple URL's and they cost more. I personally think they are only a good choice for certain types of sites, say maybe a big cinema chain or an ecommerce giant.

 

[Alan]

@ JJWinst
The answer to your first question is - no, they are different
- a responsive site just moves the existing content around a bit to become a bit more easy to see and navigate.
- a mobile site (has the opportunity to) completely re-engineer the user experience to suit the usage requirements of mobile users (that are often different to desktop users)
- you forgot to mention the next step up - which is a mobile app - which is give the ability to tightly integrate the features of the phone into your 'site' - example being ability to work with teh camera to provide posting of images (as per the Google + & Facebook Apps)

The answer to your second question is 'it depends'.

It depends on your business,
it depends how important mobile visitors are
it depends on what your budget is

NORMALLY responsive is the cheapest, you have one website to look after, one set of code and it is adapatable.

In your case, I suspect, by the cost of 'responsive' your site is highly customised and feature rich so the expense of a mobile site or even an app MAY be appropriate, if indeed your online functionality is important to your business model.

 

[JJWinst]

Thanks for your responses.

Lastly, is it possible to have the site coded etc and at a later date add responsiveness to the site?

 

[Alan]

Yes it is.

But of course is would be easier to modify it later if that intention was made clear when the initial design & coding was being performed that at some stage you want a fully responsive site.

(I'm actually working through a wordpress theme right now converting it fully responsive, its not hard but it is a bit of a pain reworking some bits that never considered the need for responsiveness, especially things like image sliders)

 

[JJWinst]

Ok thanks. I've just gone back through my quotation and my site now is being charged at £2,500 EX VAT and for a responsive site it is £3,500 EX VAT (an extra £1200 INC VAT)

I'm not VAT registered neither..I can't warranty paying £1200 more just for it to re-size..Does this seem excessive to you?

 

[Alan]

I can't say if it is excessive, I haven't seen the requirement spec or outline designs.

If you are not comfortable, why don't you put the requirements out to some other web designers and get some quotes to compare?