What is responsive design you ask? Simply put, responsive design is when your website is fit to scale to whatever device the user is on (try resizing your browser and see how the layout of this site changes according to the browser size). So if the visitor is using a small screen like a smartphone, all the parts of your website will rearrange to best suit their needs. For example, there will most likely be bigger menu buttons and text links so the user doesn’t accidentally click on something they didn’t want to. One of the great advantages of using a responsive design is that you don’t need to have two separate websites on different domains. All you need is one domain instead of two, which makes it much easier when updating any type of content. It’s really easy to turn your existing WordPress theme into a responsive one. No, you don’t have to worry about fiddling with CSS codes if that’s something you’re afraid of doing. There are many WordPress plugins that can convert your existing website, it’s as easy as pressing the install button. Without further ado, here are three Wordpress plugins that you should consider using.
1. WPTouch (Pro)
This is one of the most popular plugins out there. And with millions of people already using it, surely it must be pretty good, right? This plugin features WPTouch themes and an “Infinity Cache,” which helps to load your website many times faster than your average responsive site. All images are scaled without you having to do any sort of coding and it is mobile optimized for your audience. This plugin is ideal if you want to have both desktop and mobile-friendly user experiences. There are also many options for you to choose from, whether you have a basic website or an e-commerce one, which requires more coding. The free version is available in the WordPress Plugins repository. If you prefer the Pro version, which include more features and themes, pricing options start at $59 per year, with packages going up if you have multiple websites you want to support. Please visit the website to see what options are best suited to your needs.
2. WP Mobile Detector
This plugin is ideal if you have visitors that don’t use smartphones. WP Mobile Detector will determine whether or not a visitor is accessing your site via a smartphone or a standard mobile phone. It will then load a theme accordingly. It also features seven pre-installed themes, advanced analytics, and covers more than five thousand mobile phones. With the premium version, you can build a custom theme with a mobile theme editor built right in.
3. WordPress Mobile Pack 2.0
If you want to take another step and make your website feel like an app, then this plugin is for you. WordPress Mobile Pack 2.0 lets you publish your existing content on various devices, operating systems and platforms. It features a ready-made theme with six abstract covers and a responsive user interface. You also have the option to customize things such as fonts and colors. This plugin can also be integrated into analytics and has a “full screen” mode for users who want to access your app on a desktop device. Quite possibly the best part about this plugin? It’s free to download and use.
Conclusion
Converting your existing website into a responsive theme doesn’t have to be complicated. All you need is the right plugin for the job, and you’re all set to go.
