The Benefits of a Responsive Sitefinity Website Design

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Everything You Need To Know About Mobile and Tablet Responsiveness

What Does it Mean to be Responsive?

Most web designers focus on large PC/desktop monitors when creating new web designs. Because when making the website, the priority is putting it out there. It is only after that you polish it and add extra features. Up until a few years ago, mobile-friendly website designs were seen as one of those additional features. But the consumer base has changed. And more importantly, their needs have evolved. With an increasing focus on content management, responsive websites are now in big demand.

Project Progress has changed the playing field for content management. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that their Sitefinity responsive websites are in the yardstick by which other CMS projects are measured. So let's break down the basics of Sitefinity responsive websites and how you create your very own!

Everything You Need To Know About Mobile and Tablet Responsiveness

Responsive websites adapt their layout depending on the device being used. The page fits the device’s size automatically. In most instances, four sizes are being taken into account: Widescreen desktop monitors, >Smaller desktop monitors (e.g., laptop screens), Tablet screens, Mobile phone screens

Depending on the size, the content on the website shifts. For example, a website listing products may use four columns on a widescreen monitor. The smaller monitor gets three, the tablet gets two, and the mobile screen gets one. This ensures readability at all sizes. Most web designs already cater to the first two. It’s the last two smaller screen sizes that cause a stir. And lucky for you, they’re the ones Sitefinity helps with.

Features of Sitefinity responsive websites

Top Three Features of Being Responsive

Responsive layouts have a lot going on. And so, there’s a lot to think about. But if you look at the process holistically, it has three main components. How you choose to show text depends on the device your customer is using. It will vary from company to company and phone to phone. For example, you can increase line height and font size on mobile phones.

Flexible text and images will always adjust according to your website's layout. And with the Sitefinity Mobile Friendly Website Design, readability will never be an issue. On the other hand, flexible images can be challenging. Depending on the content hierarchy you set, they may crop, scale, or disappear entirely.

A Fluid Grid

A grid is an essential part of any responsive website. And while these grids used to be rigid, web designers are leaning towards more fluid grids nowadays.

Using a fluid grid for your website means you can scale your layout as needed. The various elements will have the same spacing and proportion. And you can just adjust them to specific screen sizes with the help of percentages.

Media Queries

Media queries determine the CSS you will be using. And, can be referred to as the code that powers your website's flexibility. For example, they identify the portrait orientation of an iPhone or the landscape orientation of an iPad. They also allow you to use various layouts for the same HTML-coded web page on a tablet or phone.

Providing Additional Options for your End-Users

Benefits of Sitefinity Responsive Websites

When a customer opens a website on a phone or tablet, they don't have a lot of screen space. Admittingly, these devices have zoom in/out features. But doing so can be frustrating at times. This is especially relevant in situations where the user needs a lot of different information and has to move around.

Zooming out, moving a little right, then a little left, and zooming back in again can be quite annoying. If you use a Sitefinity Mobile Friendly Website Design, your customers can simply bypass it. All you have to do is move some things around and reduce the number of columns. You'll optimize the layout and make the customer's life easier.

Sitefinity Responsive Websites also allow you to adapt your content. PCs are generally used at home, whereas people carry around their phones and tablets. You can use this information to prioritize the data being presented.

Sitefinity mobile responsive features and benefits

For example, if someone is looking at a restaurant website from their phone, they are probably looking for information on the go. They don't care much about the aesthetics of your website but instead critical and specific data. Therefore, you can remove big pictorial slideshows and move up information about locations, menus, etc.

Furthermore, a responsive website increases outreach to customers on tablets, smartphones, and other smaller devices. Once you consistently provide a pleasant experience, you'll increase conversions, sales, and lead generation. You can even get ahead of your competition because a lot of companies aren't mobile-ready yet.

Less Work - More Functionalities

Sitefinity CMS for Responsive Websites

With the Sitefinity CMS, you can build responsive web designs for your tablets and phones. Using various designs and layouts adapted for each screen size means you don't have to make new content for a specific device or markup. Your existing website will automatically fit all devices.

Sitefinity Mobile Friendly Website Design can be configured to show particular pages and settings for various devices. But for this to happen, you have to define the rules for each one. Then you choose how you want to display the pages. You can read more about Responsive design rules here.

Once you've established the rules, you apply them to a page, page template, etc. Then look at the results in the preview mode. If you're happy with it, your job is done. But if not, you can make adjustments as needed.

You can do quite a few things with the Sitefinity Mobile Responsive Design. For example:

  • Create web content that can be used on various devices,
  • Easily make responsive pages with the Sitefinity drag and drop feature,
  • Design responsive CSS3 media queries with the easy-to-use user interface,
  • Have total control over the Sitefinity CMS layouts transformations.
Step-by-Step Guide and Considerations when going responsive

How to Create a Sitefinity Responsive Design

Before you start designing your responsive web design, there are two key elements to consider.

  • Information Architecture
    Some devices have incredibly small screens, and if you're catering to that market, you need to build the information architecture a specific way. The design for a larger screen won't make do. Similarly, some web applications like mobile banking unconventionally implement their security and logic. So you'll need to pay attention to its specifications.
  • JavaScript Control
    If you are using one version of your website for all the devices, you should consider JavaScript events. Functions like hover and click have versions used on almost all devices. For example, mobile phones have touch, swipe, tap, etc.

The How-To: To create a Sitefinity mobile responsive design, follow these steps:

  • Click the 'Design' option and open 'Responsive and Mobile design.'
  • Click on 'Create a group of rules'
  • Name the group in the 'Name' field. This title will only be used by the Sitefinity CMS to refer to the defined rules
  • Choose the devices you want to set the rules for
  • Under the heading of 'Apply behavior to,' choose how you want to display the pages. The options available are: opening a specially created site or transforming the layout
  • Apply the transformation to the navigating widget by clicking on 'Navigation transformation.' Then click the 'Add transformation' option and customize the settings according to your needs.
  • Activate a set of rules by selecting the 'This group of rules is active' box
  • Click 'done.'
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Clarity Sitefinity Experts

Sitefinity Responsive Websites will change the game for your company. You'll engage your customer base in a way you've never done before. You can even end up getting more customers. Because at the end of the day, these users want businesses to make their lives easier. And that's what Sitefinity is offering you - the chance to create a more comfortable and enjoyable customer experience.

Clarity Sitefinity CMS Experts

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