Probably you know the ancient saying about judging a book by its cover. But you already know the importance of making a positive first impression. This is a paradox we all live in, and one travel agencies or companies must reckon with when it comes to their online presence and the responsiveness of their travel websites.
The last thing a traveler wants is to log on a company’s travel website to check top travel destinations, and the platform takes forever to load. No one wants to view images that don’t display properly, read an unclear text, and interact with navigation tabs and drop-down bars that don’t function and impede one’s ability to check different pages within the website.
Responsive website refers to a site design that automatically recognizes a user device, instantly changes the site page configurations for excellent viewing and can display everything published with optimal functionality across all types of devices – laptops, smartphones, desktops, tablets, and more.
In this digital age where travel agencies are focused on leveraging the top operational technology, it’s easy to understand the reason some companies might dismiss the importance of a responsive site as a low-order concern. Besides, with countless companies operating on sites that were designed more than five years ago, it’s easy that they overlooked the responsive aspect of the website and ever since they have been struggling to play catchup.
However, if you dig into the numbers, the naysayers will realize how important a responsive site is driving business growth and increasing profitability in today’s complicated travel industry. For instance, in 2014, over 26 million United States customers booked their travel services via tablets and smartphones. That’s more than three years ago, not taking into account the increased use of mobile devices, the internet access in Asia, Africa, Europe, and more.
Besides, it’s well-documented that the most sought-after market segment in the travel industry is millennials. This generation spends more time online using mobile devices. These individuals use mobile devices to conduct travel-based research and answer travel-related queries. Other benefits of a responsive website include;
Dynamic visuals
Virtual tour guides, videos, slideshows, photographs, and other types of visual media are some of the top methods of showcasing amenities and travel destinations. A highly responsive and perfectly designed website is a core requirement in leveraging these visual presentations across a variety of platforms and devices.
Better performance
Regardless of how a company’s site is accessed, a responsive design scheme facilitates better performance and functionality. This in turns offers a superior level of client service and experience. An excellently performing website offers the site users peace of mind and can also go a long way in increasing the sales volume and overall company growth.
Better technological alignment
As witnessed in the last couple of years, the emergence and development of smart technology have made it easier for people to incorporate advancements in tablets and smartphones in their lives. The advent of Google Glass, Apple TV, and other highly personalized technologies are proof of how fast the tech environment can change. A professionally designed website is a fertile ground for any travel company to grow and align its web presence as technology continues to evolve.
