I used to think that “mobile responsive” meant that when you looked at a website on a mobile, the site just got smaller, but now I realise that there’s a bit more to it than that!
Best definition I’ve found is by Josh Byers one of the front end developers for StudioPress.
When a website is responsive, the layout and/or content responds or adapts based on the size of screen they are presented on.
A responsive website automatically changes to fit the device you’re reading it on.
Josh Byers – Studiopress
Nice definition Josh… and by way of an example, take a look at the large graphic at the beginning of this post.
The graphic shows the eleven40 child theme and what it looks like on a monitor, a tablet and a mobile… pretty good eh?
You can still read everything, but all the various bits and pieces have sort of shuffled around to make best use of the available space.
Now that… is mobile responsive.
Why is it important that your theme should be mobile responsive?
There was a time when websites were designed to look good on the most common screen size.
It was easy, because screen sizes didn’t vary that much.
These days people browse on the widescreen desktop monitor, the smaller desktop monitor, the laptop, the tablet and the mobile phone.
So… if you want your potential customers or clients to have a good experience when they visit your site, regardless of what device they are using, you need your theme to be mobile responsive.
Why 2013 Is the Year of Responsive Web Design:
Tablet sales are expected to exceed 100 million this year.
Their sales numbers may top notebooks next year.
Smartphones, of course, are also a hot commodity — according to Nielsen, the majority of U.S. mobile subscribers now own smartphones, not feature phones.
Meanwhile, the shift to mobile is happening at an extraordinary speed.
Today, 30% of Mashable’s traffic is mobile. By the end of next year, this may exceed 50%.
Given the rapid adoption of tablets and smartphones — and the fact that users currently seem to prefer reading their news on the mobile web rather than in apps — I think it’s inevitable that 2013 will be the year that responsive design takes off.
Pete Cashmore – Mashable
Mobile responsive design is all about automatically delivering your audience the content they want, within the context that they’re viewing it.
Josh Byers – Studiopress
Which Genesis child themes are mobile responsive?
At the moment there are twenty three Genesis child themes, which are mobile responsive, and just to make it easy for you to check them out, I’ve added a few thumbnails with links below.
Future-proof your site with a Genesis mobile responsive child theme
If you’re serious about providing the best user experience for your visitors and future-proofing your site, click on one of the thumbnail links above and head over to Studiopress to check out their responsive themes.
If you’re looking to buy several Genesis themes for yourself or for your clients then WM Web Design recommend that you purchase the StudioPress Pro Plus All-Theme Package.
With the Pro Plus Package you get all the current Genesis child themes and all future themes – superb value!
Credits:
A big thank you to Josh Byers at Studiopress for his fabulous article on mobile responsive design, from which I have learnt much and quoted often.
Nice compilation of mobile responsive themes from StudioPress. The redesigned Agency 2 theme is next on my hit list of themes to work with…
Carrie Dils recently posted..WordPress Plugin Review: GChart 2.0
Carrie – great to see you on WM.
Great minds do think alike… I’ve just started on a client site using Agency 2.0.
http://www.terrazzoandstone.com/
Love the responsive slider.
Those Studiopress guys are pretty smart. LOL
Keith Davis recently posted..Mobile responsive Genesis child themes
Nice! I’m curious about the WooCommerce integration with Agency 2.0 – whether there are specific templates or whether it just works without the Genesis Connect for WooCommerce plugin. Will you implement commerce on the Europa site?
Carrie Dils recently posted..Picking StudioPress Themes
Pretty sure you need the Genesis Connect plugin.
As I understand it, WooCommerce plus Genesis Connect will work on any Genesis theme not just Agency 2.0.
No commerce for Europa Stone – just showcase and contact info.
Client has promised me some stunning graphics so it should look good.
Keith Davis recently posted..Premise 2.0 – way more than WordPress landing pages
Streamline is my favorite theme
It’s simple, clean and very powerful to keep visitors on your site and capture their emails immediately
Robert recently posted..Scrollider – Scrolling and Sliding Premium WordPress Theme From Woothemes
Hi Robert
Good call – Streamline is a great looking theme and it looks good straight out of the box.
That’s one of the things I like about Genesis themes.
Appreciate you coming over and leaving a comment.
I’ll pay you a visit.
Keith Davis recently posted..Going Green 2.0 – Genesis child theme for WordPress
Hey Keith, thanks for sharing this link. It would be a perfect follow up to our piece on mobile web design. Do you mind if we republish as a guest post from you with an attribution link on the V3 blog? If so, we’d love to!
Shelly
Shelly Kramer recently posted..Kansas City Fittest Execs and Companies Challenge
I’ve been building everything with the Eleven40 theme lately. Love it!
Ria recently posted..Bring your marketing strategy to life.
Just seen your site Ria… fabulous.
I’ll pay you a visit.
Many thanks for the comment.
Keith Davis recently posted..Going Green 2.0 – Genesis child theme for WordPress
I chose the theme for my new site with mobile high on the agenda. I use Focus (the new one, your screenshot is first generation). Where’s the benefit in investing in a new site if it isn’t compatible with mobiles?
Rosie Slosek recently posted..One Man Band Accounting new website launching in September!
Hi Rosie
I advise all my clients to start with a responsive design.
Focus is a great looking theme – sorry I’ve got the old screenshot, thanks for the heads up.
Keith Davis recently posted..Going Green 2.0 – Genesis child theme for WordPress
It can be difficult choosing a theme once you rule out non-mobile responsive designs. It took me much longer than I expected as the choice goes down dramatically.
Rosie Slosek recently posted..Do you want 1:1 help to stop your accounts being a procrastinating stress zone?
I know what you mean Rosie, but fortunately Studiopress are slowly upgrading all the Genesis themes to be Mobile Responsive.
Keith Davis recently posted..Craftiness – Genesis child theme for WordPress