June 10, 2013

23 Awesome Tools To Help College Websites Reach More Students With Responsive Web Design

Jun. 10, 2013 at 07:59 AM | By Erin Brown | Comment Count

Recent research indicates that 63% of 4-year institutions don’t have a mobile-optimized website, but 59% expect to launch one within a year. It’s pretty clear that most institutions are up to speed on the importance of “going mobile.” But what does this really mean and how will you get there?

According to a study last year, students and parents said they don’t have one single preferred method of communication, and will respond to an array of online messaging from institutions. And, with so many types of mobile devices out there (tablets and smartphones and laptops, oh my!), it’s tough to optimize your message and design so it’s well received regardless of the viewer’s platform. That’s why more than 50% of higher education institutions have already turned to a strategy called responsive web design. Hobsons Higher Education Digital Marketing

So, what is responsive web design anyway?

Unlike creating a separate mobile website instance, responsive web design is a tactic used to make site design and content flexible enough to adapt to the screen size and platform of the visiting user. To clarify, when a student visits your school’s website, the site will recognize and adapt to whatever device the student is using, whether a smartphone, tablet, or desktop. This ensures the viewer’s web experience is pleasant, regardless of the device they are using, with minimal resizing, scrolling, or panning required.

Why is responsive web design so awesome?

A responsive website works well for so many device types because of the page layout and structure. The design is based on a flexible, fluid grid that can adapt, regardless of access device (Using a Blackberry or iPad? No problem!). This gives a responsively designed website the ability to keep up with not only current devices, but also the development of future devices and technologies down the road.

Jeffrey Veen, vice president of products for Adobe, puts it perfectly: “Day by day, the number of devices, platforms, and browsers that need to work with your site grows. Responsive web design represents a fundamental shift in how we’ll build websites for decades to come.”

So, to get you started with your own responsive web design test run, here are 23 awesome resources for your school's website as you work to implement a responsive web design strategy at your institution: