Responsive Web Design

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What is Responsive Web Design?

“Responsive Web Design”, is the buzzword of the year and we’re sure you have been seeing the term used a lot lately. But as catchy as it sounds, what responsive web design really boils down to is making sure a website will look good and function well no matter what hardware device is utilized.  For example, if a smart phone is being used to, say… order pizza through a restaurant’s website, then for a positive consumer experience the customer needs to be able to navigate and type easily on his smart phone without having to hunt and peck for how to process his order.

To be responsive, a website needs the following key items:

  • Context-aware images: fluid images, which appear larger or smaller, depending on the viewing mode. These are also known as responsive images.
  • A flexible, fluid grid: a layout that is easy to resize, designed in terms of proportions. It can easily adjust to the device where it’s being viewed.
  • Media queries: these queries allow you to collect data about the site visitor and apply particular coded styles based on the user’s device, or resolution.

As more and more consumers rely on mobile devices, iPads and tablets, many companies are having to build several sites for different platforms, or provide one hub for content that will respond to the user’s particular device. The challenge to web developers is building a website with long term uses in mind. This is an important step as–in our opinion–the demise of the desktop computer is probably not far off.

In general, Responsive Web Design is less about technology and more about design, and using a set of techniques to present the website content to the viewer based on his or her device of choice. To test if a site is “responsive” on your desktop, you can stretch the screen width back to be larger and smaller, and see the site layout adjust itself to fit to the new width. If it doesn’t, then it is fixed width and less likely to render well across multiple device uses.  If you have various devices, take a look at Gallop Web Services website to see how it adapts to different device uses.

Gallop Web Services | Responsive Web Design

 

Which Browser Are You Using?

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Keep Your Web Browser Updated for Better Security and Internet Experience

Old, outdated browsers can interfere with how a website looks and–more importantly–may be a security risk.  Check to make sure you are using the latest browser versions installed on your computer.  Current versions of the major browsers are Firefox 3.6,  Safari 5, Google Chrome 7, Internet Explorer 8 and Opera 10.63.  If you are using an old version of Internet Explorer and are blocked from updating your browser yourself, try the Google Chrome Frame plug-in. It will bring into IE some of the capabilities of Google Chrome.

Choosing a Website Vendor

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Websites for Small Business Owners

I just read an interesting on-line article from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce which was released yesterday, containing a list of do’s and don’ts for small business owners seeking to build a website for their business. Gallop Web Services operates on the same concepts expressed in the article so we want to share it with you here.  When looking for someone to create a website for you, keep the following points in mind:

  • Use a web vendor with a track record for servicing small business owners. Today’s web vendors should be more about customer service than technology. So look for referrals from other businesses, and ask the vendor if you can speak to some of his or her customers.
  • Look for technology that is “vendor neutral,” which means that if you become dissatisfied with your service you can find a new vendor. If you go with a proprietary software package, you lock yourself into that vendor. Target vendors that use open source software.
  • Have your vendor integrate your site with social networking sites. These sites are great for marketing your business and driving traffic to your site for a low cost.
  • Watch out for hidden fees. Some web companies offer low introductory prices or low monthly fees. Be aware that they may lock you into a multiyear contract, offer bare-bones technology and service, and charge you for additional requests.
  • Do not feel compelled to immediately purchase every software application a vendor may offer for your new site. A website is an evolving tool that is never finished. The right vendor and technology can go live today with the basics such as content management and e-commerce. More advanced applications can be added later.

Source: U.S. Chamber of Commerce magazine