The concept of a dental office website is constantly changing, and it’s important for you to keep up with these changes if you are going to A) remain competitive and B) cater to new patients who may be searching online for the quality dentistry services you offer. When the internet first became popular, all you needed was an online brochure. This was a simple page that showcased your office address, phone number and a brief outline of your services. Then websites evolved to be more interactive as they focused on ‘user engagement’. These days you need to take things a step further and make your site ‘mobile responsive’. Here’s what that means.

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Maybe you’ve noticed the change lately in how many people walk into your office staring into the tiny screens of mobile devices. You might run one of those ‘progressive’ offices that use iPads or similar tablets in your office to keep patients occupied while you work on their teeth. It turns out, more people are now using mobile devices in all aspects of life, not just while sitting in the waiting room or resting the dentist’s chair. This means that your website needs to cater to those individuals if you hope to get found and noticed online.

Fact: Mobile Device Use Has Finally Overtaken Fixed Internet Access

Back in 2008, headlines permeated the major news outlets that claimed that mobile would overtake fixed internet access (desktops and laptops) by 2014. Not only did that prophecy come true, the trend shows no signs of slowing anytime soon. As you can see from the ComScore table above, millions more people are using mobile devices. They’re using them for work, for play and they’re definitely using them to seek out dentistry services. That brings us back to your ‘mobile responsive’ website.

What Does It Mean For A Website To Be Mobile Responsive?

Imagine you’re using a desktop computer and you land on a website. You can view all the text, the images, the header and footer, and all other aspects of the site exactly as intended. In fact, most websites were and are designed for large screens, such as those used on fixed internet devices.

Now let’s imagine that you’re viewing that same website on a mobile device, say a Samsung Galaxy S5. With a smaller and narrower screen, the text on the screen may become jumbled together or some may become obscured altogether. Images may also overtake the screen, preventing you from viewing any text at all. This is what is known as a non-mobile responsive website. This is bad.

The ideal situation is to create a website that is mobile responsive; one that will adapt to the screen, no matter which sized device you happen to be using.

A mobile responsive website will show all the words, images and other web elements in perfect form, whether using a small screened device like an iPhone or Galaxy, or a larger device like an iPad. In this instance, your experience viewing the website becomes smoother and far more memorable. You’re able to find the information you need quickly without too much searching around (or scrolling) and you’re more likely to choose the service in question.

For the non-responsive website, you may choose to bounce from that website altogether in search of a website that will cater to your smaller screened device.

Now that you know what a mobile responsive website is and why it’s so important, let’s get back to your dental website. Is it mobile responsive? Here’s how to find out.

A Simple Test to Determine Mobile Responsiveness

This test will tell you in a matter of seconds whether or not your dental website is mobile responsive. You don’t need any special tools or techniques. You only need a simple web browser and a few moments of your time.

Step 1: Open Your Website Using Your Favorite Browser
Using a desktop computer (or a laptop), open your website with a browser like Chrome.

Step 2: Grab the Right Bottom Corner of Your Screen and Drag It Upwards and Diagonally to the Left, Making the Screen Smaller and Thinner
By dragging the corner of the screen upwards, you are in effect replicating the smaller screen of a mobile device. You can make it wider and longer to mimic an iPad screen, or you can take it to the extreme and drag it all the way until you’ve copied the dimensions of a mobile phone.

Step 3: Try to Find the Information You Need
Once your screen is made narrower and thinner, try to find the address and phone number of your dental office. Attempt, if you can, to find information related to dental implants or root canals. If your website is mobile responsive, this will be easy because your site will automatically adapt and contour to the browser dimensions you’ve established. The words and images will conform and your links will be easy to click. Menu items will be simple to drop down and select, and you’ll find that you have a seamless experience even with a smaller-than-normal screen.

If your site is non-mobile responsive, you’re going to know it right away. Your site will become much harder to navigate and you’re going to have an awful experience. You’re going to find yourself frustrated and impatient, and that’s precisely when you’re going to consider leaving your website to seek out a competitor’s site; one that may be more ‘responsive’ to the device you’re using.

Do you now see why it’s so important that your website conform to the dimensions of any sized screen? This is why your website needs to be mobile responsive if you are going to compete in 2015 and beyond.

What If Your Website Isn’t Mobile Responsive?

Not to worry. There is a simple solution. All you need to do is contact Firegang Dental Marketing for a free website assessment. Our digital professionals will examine your site to determine what needs to be fixed, and we’ll give you a fully-detailed plan that will make your site compliant and user-friendly.

Because the simple fact is, people may be searching for your website right now, and most of the users who land on your site will be using mobile devices. What kind of experience have you laid out for those users? If your site isn’t mobile responsive, those users will bounce and look for a competitor who will give them a good web experience. Make the right move, adapt with the times and take the proper steps to give everyone who lands on your site the best experience possible.