If you’re looking for a website builder, there are all kinds of extras that you need to include in your list of non-negotiables. At the top of the list should be that it includes a platform that allows you to create responsive web designs.
These days, most people are no longer using traditional computers to view Internet content. Instead, they are using mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. So, for your website to be viewable on these types of devices, they must be responsive.
And this doesn’t mean just a one-size-fits-all mobile version. You will need a theme that can encompass any device , whether it’s an iPad, iPhone, Droid, Motorola, Nook, Kindle…the list goes on and on.
Here’s what you need to know about responsive web design and website builder basics:
The Philosophy Behind Responsive Web Design
A web page’s design should respond to the demands set on it by a user. Specifically, it needs to be able to adapt based on a viewer’s screen size, platform, and orientation. The website theme should make use of a platform that uses flexible grids and layouts. If a user switches from one device to another, the website should be able to adjust. The website should respond automatically, without having to be programmed or designed around each and every platform.
Screen Resolution
The first thing that you will want to be able to automatically adjust is the screen resolution. The position of the web display differs from device to device, so the page should be able to take on a landscape or portrait aspect (and in some cases it may have to switch from between one to the next and back again).
If you’ve walked into a phone store lately, you will see dozens of models all with different screen sizes. For a website to be viewable on each of these, it must be built on a platform that has flexible layouts and fluid images and grids. Careful planning and mapping of the site is required before putting the site together.
Resizing Images
Another need is that images must automatically adjust based on what is being used to view a website. One way to do this is by setting a maximum size so that the images will load to their original size unless they are too big to fit in the display. If an image can’t fit, then it will automatically be scaled down so that it will fit without becoming distorted.
You should also worry about image resolution as well as the amount of time it takes for the device to load a high-resolution image.
Media Queries
Another issue that needs to be discussed is CSS3 media queries. These basically allow you to sort through data being relayed from the visitor so that it can adjust the styles of the website to meet the constraints of the visitor’s device. For instance, you can specify a width and then adjust the style of the design if the browser size goes below that width. It also allows you to adjust the resolution size in the same way.
Choosing the Right Website Builder
Having a responsive website is a must these days and if you are designing your own site or creating sites as a living, then it is important to have the tools and the knowledge to help you be a professional website builder. As such, more of your clients will be pushing to have websites that can be viewed easily on mobile devices such as smartphones. That is why it is so important to use a platform such as Website Creator that can give you the easiest abilities to design these pages.
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