It’s no secret that small phone use is at an all-time high and growing. As a result, mobile website traffic is also growing at a rapid pace, virtually equalling that of desktops. A countless number of people are flocking to their iPhone, Galaxy or a variety of tablets to access information. It has become as easy as speaking into your phone if you wanted to know the score of a game or what time a movie starts. In short, there’s unlimited demand for getting information quickly and easily.

While the transition to mobile use is quite clear, many personal and professional websites are lagging behind. Have you ever found yourself pinching and squinting while trying to read a particular site. That site, which would likely look just fine on a desktop, doesn’t have a responsive design. The term “responsive design” refers to a website that is as easily accessible and navigable on a phone or tablet as it is on your computer screen. Google has even created an algorithm to cater to these mobile-friendly sites. Yet with so much emphasis on making the switch, why are so many people and businesses dropping the ball?

Truthfully, it takes some work (hint, hint). It is likely that some business owners and website managers are seeing the money they’ll need to invest to make the switch, yet not seeing the connection between that investment and the potential return. The issue with that viewpoint is that Google is already favoring mobile-friendly websites and testing ways for them to standout in the near future. Not to mention consumers jumping ship.

Websites that aren’t upgraded are the direct reason customers will look elsewhere, especially when they can do so with just a few clicks. Let’s just say the phrase “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.” doesn’t apply here. People want to be able to easily read, comment, purchase or do whatever is the main function of the site, and they want to able to do it on the device they are currently using.

We at E-Reilly have witnessed first hand the impact of this. We see a much high bounce rate, meaning visitors are immediately backing out of a site, when it’s not mobile-friendly versus it is mobile friendly. Our clients that have made the switch understand that it is clearly the best short and long-term solution for their business. As you can assuredly tell, we highly recommend making the switch to a responsive design now rather than later.

To find out more about why Google prefers mobile-friends websites, please visit: Mashable

Photo courtesy of: Serge Kij