Google Weighs in on Responsive Website Design
Recently we’ve noticed that Google has switched to a partial responsive web design for their maps on Google Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs). They’re also now recommending that mobile sites be built using responsive design.
What is Responsive Web Design?
Responsive web design has been gaining traction in recent months within the web design community. It’s a relatively new way of designing sites to detect a visitor’s browser size and customize the page display to match. You’ll know you’re on a responsive design site when the images change size and the page layout shifts as you resize your browser.
Smashing Magazine’s Responsive Design
Smashing Magazine provides an excellent example of responsive design. Take a look at how their page layout shifts with decreasing browser size.
At 1640 pixels wide:
At 1440 pixel width:
1185 pixels:
1000 pixels:
720 pixels:
400 pixels:
Google’s Partially-Responsive SERP
Google hasn’t gone into a fully responsive design for their search results pages, but they’re moving in that direction.
Take a look at the following screenshots of the Google SERP taken with different browser widths. Notice how the map in the right column changes in size at different browser sizes.
Here’s the SERP at 1180 pixel browser width:
Here’s a 1090 pixel browser view (notice the narrower map):
And here’s the smallest map for any browser below 1000 pixels wide:
Different map sizes are pulled in depending on the size of the browser. This isn’t just a re-scaled version of the same map. It refreshes with a different size as the browser size changes. That’s at least a partial move toward responsive web design for the SERP.
Google Prefers Responsive Web Design
Recently Google also went on record promoting responsive web design as their preferred method for mobile sites.
Google isn’t using a fully responsive site design for their SERPs yet, but I anticipate this is where they’ll head if they take their own medicine.
As WiderFunnel goes into our own cycle of refreshing our site for mobile, we’ll take Google’s opinion into account, and you probably should too.
January 2nd, 2013 at 3:44 am
I agree! This can make our google search more easier and fast.
February 3rd, 2013 at 6:55 am
I agree that Responsive Web Design becomes more important. I'm not sure that it is more expensive. You for example also use WordPress – and there are more and more free responsive themes available with not extra cost. But of course you should test the end result on serveral browsers and screen sizes.
Thanks for taking the screenshots from Smashing Magazine, impressive example of RWD.
February 26th, 2013 at 3:57 am
Truly agree! By these, we make an easier search on google search engine.
March 18th, 2013 at 8:59 am
Thanks for this. We, web designers need this kind of information.
March 21st, 2013 at 8:20 pm
Smashing Magazine’s website is amazing because its easy to use plus the responsive design adds a cooler effect on it. I agree that Google is heading to that direction as well. I am excited to see the changes that they will be making.
March 26th, 2013 at 1:36 am
If you really want to pursue a career as a website developer, it is a must that you know the latest trend like this one in terms of Google's preferred website design.
April 13th, 2013 at 12:40 am
On the top of shared some of the screenshots of the Google SERP obtained with dissimilar browser widths. After reading this expose about browser size info, I have to get lots of idea and this is truly enlightening. Please discuss broadly as soon as possible.
April 13th, 2013 at 10:59 am
100% Right! I agree
April 30th, 2013 at 1:42 pm
Nice to know that even google is giving the rubber stamp to responsive web design!
May 9th, 2013 at 12:59 pm
Massive discussion about responsive web design! Finally i have cleared my concept to know about responsive web design and if i need to know once again then definitely i will look forward to see this site and hopefully i will get benefit from here. Thanks