Responsive websites, simply put, are the future. In the first month of 2015 alone, we’ve found that mobile web traffic accounts for anywhere from 15-50% of traffic to our clients’ websites. Even if you’re on the lower end of that stat, it’s still significant.

Imagine not having access to, or even losing, 15% of your business.

If your site isn’t mobile-friendly, this is exactly what’s happening.

The most cost-effective solution to transitioning your site to a mobile-friendly one is Responsive Design. This means there is one version of your website that displays well on all platforms – desktop, tablet, mobile, and anything else Apple can conjure.

That being said, here are the top five reasons your website should be responsive and mobile-friendly.

1. People Are Accessing Your Site Via Mobile Already

Even in industries you’d least expect large amounts of mobile traffic, visitors from mobile devices and tablets make up a plurality of total site traffic. One of our clients is a retirement community, whose target audiences are seniors 65+ and their adult children. You’d think that would mean mobile traffic isn’t a huge factor, right?

You’d be wrong.

Nearly 40% of their traffic is from a tablet or mobile device.

If you haven’t already, it’s time to face the reality that people are already accessing your site via mobile devices. Don’t believe me? Check your analytics. I can wait . . .

2. Your Industry Doesn’t Matter – You’re Being Viewed on Mobile Devices

Are you in the industrial sector and think this doesn’t apply to you? Think again. Among our numerous industrial and manufacturing clients, the range of mobile traffic varies between 15 – 40% of total traffic.

Dentist offices – 25% of traffic is from mobile devices.

Plastic surgeons – 53%

Summer camps – 50%

Sales software – 15%

Professional associations – 18%

Apartment complexes – 38%

If you’re using your industry as an excuse to not update your site, it no longer flies.

3. Enhances the User Experience

A consistent user experience across multiple devices is one of the most underrated features of responsive design. Users will often access a site initially on a mobile device, then come back to make a purchase when they’re on a desktop. Ensuring they’re experience is the same across multiple devices is crucial to capitalizing on this behavior. Eliminating pinching and zooming on mobile devices will ensure they even come back to your site in the first place. This also results in decreased bounce rates and gives people a more favorable impression of your company.

4. Impacts Business Growth

That being said, if users have a negative experience with your site on their mobile device, the chance of them becoming a customer – or even visiting your site later on a desktop! – decreases significantly. An easy-to-use website is a necessity to ensure both short-term gains and long-term growth. Remember: You’re missing out on at least 15% of your business without a mobile-friendly site.

5. Covers Your Bases for the Future

Because responsive design adapts to the width of the screen, your website will look beautiful no matter what new devices with browsing capabilities emerge onto the market.

While the technology continually changes, the importance of a positive user experience does not. Responsive design is a great way to ensure a positive user experience in the future, come what may.