New Infographic:
Mobile Site or Responsive Design?
Posted by Lynnea on Sep 6, 2013 in Da Blog! | 13 comments
Depending on on your design budget, how frequently you add fresh content and other updates, the value of your SEO, etc., which mobile website design function approach is right for you: native app development or responsive web design?
A new infographic from high-end web design agency Table XI considers the top ten considerations you must answer in order to make an optimum decision. Both a mobile app website and a responsive design will optimize your site to be more appropriate for smaller screens; both will provide simpler navigation and quicker load times. But, there are distinctions, and that is why you must answer ten questions …
Mobile Website or Responsive Design?
I really don’t think this is a question of either/or. A responsive website does not replace an app and an app doesn’t replace a responsive website, they’re not mutually exclusive. In fact, they are complimentary. Apps are great for engaging loyal customers – i.e. people who are familiar with your brand and will take time and space on their phone to download your app. The web is for search and discovery, and is a great tool for attracting new and prospective customers.
For example, Starbucks has a responsive website and an app. I’m not a loyal starbucks customer, but say I wanted to grab a coffee, I would go to starbucks.com and then find a nearby store. There are other people who live for Starbucks coffee, and those are the people who would download the starbucks app to earn rewards, update their card etc. Granted, Starbucks is a huge brand and can afford to build both, but they’re using the two as complementary tools, not as competing tools. Marketers should take the same approach to mobile, don’t think of apps and websites as competing tools.
I like the idea of this infographic, but I think it misses the mark in the sense that the two aren’t mutually exclusive, therefore you can’t provide an either/or decision.
You are absolutely right, Nate. We noticed the disparity right off, but we wanted ton use the infographic and capitalize on the inherent keywords. So what’s the story on Bluetrain? Is Bluetrain a viable alternative to Duda?