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Selling Responsive & Mobile Sites on Same Site?

by AZJ0SH
4 replies
How do I market this correctly to not confuse clients?

I have responsive web design for clients with no website, and for those with an existing website who only want a mobile version I also sell mobile sites. How do I differentiate between the too clearly without dumbing it down to the client?
#mobile #responsive #selling #site #sites
  • Profile picture of the author IBMSolutions
    Responsive Sites - A single site design that fluidly adapts to and looks good on any device

    Mobile - A dedicated custom built experience for the mobile platform

    But in terms of best practices you shouldn't be selling mobile sites, you should be selling responsive sites - that is where the industry is heading
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    • Profile picture of the author AZJ0SH
      Originally Posted by IBMSolutions View Post

      Responsive Sites - A single site design that fluidly adapts to and looks good on any device

      Mobile - A dedicated custom built experience for the mobile platform

      But in terms of best practices you shouldn't be selling mobile sites, you should be selling responsive sites - that is where the industry is heading
      Responsive sites do not always work that well on phones and tablets compared to a website specifically designed to work on a phone. For example, I was working with a client who owns a small restaurant, they have a responsive website that looked great on the phone but was missing the features you would want in a mobile site such as a "click to call" button that automatically brings up the phone app to dial the business, a custom google maps option that will load your GPS automatically and give you directions, and a easy to read menu without having to scroll in and out. There is still a huge demand for these kinds of sites, t hey work in conjunction with mobile ready websites IMO.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mr Bill
    Responsive sites very rarely provide a good user experience. Many (most I've come across) "responsive" designers don't care about anything other than squashing the entire website into one small (very long) tube of scattered information using hidden menus that repel users instead of giving them a proper mobile optimised experience. There are some great "responsive" designs but they are very few and far between.

    Give the responsive sites to those who don't have money or don't really care about their mobile users and use a proper user agent driven made-for-mobile website for those who appreciate a great user experience for all their users.

    I've expressed this opinion a few times and usually the "responsive" guys chime in with complaints about my view on this so I'm allowing that there might be some "responsive" designers who do understand mobile user experience. I've asked for samples of good responsive sites but have found very few designers are putting up their sites as examples of a "great mobile user experience". And until they do I will remain of the opinion that "responsive" is only good for the lazy webmaster and not for the poor mobile users or the poor business that's expecting mobile traffic to like their new design.
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    • Profile picture of the author savidge4
      Aside from the obvious that Mr.Bill speaks of the true POWER of a mobile website comes in to play with 2 functions. "Push Dial" and "Map Directions". I will say that I am right now playing with a setup for map directions on a responsive site. Its not going to be as good as a mobile dedicated, but well see.

      When it comes right down to it, it is about the end user. How easy and how good it looks on THEIR end. It is NOT about easy for me! The truth in the matter is Google is the ONLY one that says use responsive. But I can show you the same day they post all the requirements for those that chose to do Mobile dedicated.

      Bing prefers Mobile dedicated, and Yahoo is preferring Mobile dedicated.

      Understand this... Sooner or later, and more and more we are coming into the sooner. Google is going to implement 100% Mobile results for Mobile users. THEY HAVE TOO. Bing already does, and Yahoo is ahead of where Google is right now. On iTunes which app is downloaded more? Google or Bing? ding ding ding Its BING Why? because they are serving 100% Mobile to mobile users.

      I personally build as much as I can responsive. but NOT for mobile use. I build responsive for the difference between a tablet and a desktop. Its not easy to do either. Wordpress sites are ok at it, but not always. A 3 column site.. uh forget it!

      In todays world, if your intention is to give your client the BEST possible RESULTS. You build BOTH! If I have a desktop site client that does not want to pay for a mobile site, I build it anyways. Not as nice as I would if they were paying. But 90% of the time I do this, within a month, they want to me to go full blow with it.

      Hope that Helps!
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      Success is an ACT not an idea
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