Rochdale Online goes 'responsive'

Rochdale Online 'responsive' layout - desktop, tablet and mobile

Regular visitors to the Rochdale Online website using tablet or mobile devices will have noticed that last week the Rochdale Online website became a much more fully fledged feature rich version than the cut down site offered via mobile devices previously - this is because the site has been completely redeveloped to ensure that users of tablets and mobiles can access the same content as desktop readers.

Ian Kimber, Rochdale Online Technical Director, explains what a 'responsive' layout is: "A responsive* website layout ensures that anyone visiting your site via tablets and smartphones, as well as desktop browsers will have a good user experience. It's the simplest way to reach users across a range of different devices, including those not yet 'in the field'."

With a responsive website, the whole site can be managed via a CMS (Content Management System) and is accessible to everyone across multiple platforms and devices. It’s faster and easier to get information across, and a mobile-specific menu gives mobile users what they need.

Rochdale Online managing director, Pauline Journeaux, said: "With over 40% of web access now being via mobile devices it is important to ensure those users can access the same level of content as desktop readers and of course important to our advertisers that their content can be viewed on all devices."

* To view how a responsive layout works you can use the Google Chrome web browser on a desktop/laptop to emulate how the design responds to changes in screen size to typical tablet and mobile sizes. For example, type www.rochdaleonline.co.uk into the Chrome Browser with the window maximised. Now start to slowly reduce the size of the browser window by dragging from a corner and see how the content adapts as the browser size reduces.

Alternatively (and if you don't have Google Chrome web browser), visit www.rochdaleonline.co.uk on your desktop/laptop and the same site on your mobile phone and note the difference in layout yet all the same content is still accessible.