Making sure your website looks good on all devices
Responsive web design is the standard today. Non-responsive designs are still out there, but they’re harder to come by. Most modern platforms adjust formatting to fit everything from large desktop screens to handheld smartphones.
But here’s the catch: just because your website is technically “responsive” doesn’t mean it actually looks good—or even usable—on every device. There’s more to formatting than screen size, which is why taking time to review your website on multiple devices is an investment worth making.
Find at least two other devices to review your website on
This could be a laptop, smartphone, tablet, Kindle, or iPad—just make sure it’s something different than what you normally work with. Most web design platforms have built-in preview tools for different devices, and those are helpful during design. But they aren’t always accurate. I’ve seen designs look amazing in preview tools and then fall apart on an actual phone or tablet.
Make sure your text is legible
Oversized fonts can create impact, but they don’t always resize well—especially specialty fonts that don’t play nice on all browsers. Words can get cut off, making your content confusing or hard to read. That pulls attention away from your message and makes your site feel unprofessional.
Another common problem? Backgrounds. Text that looks great over an image or colored background on your computer may be impossible to read on a phone. White text on a photo, for example, might vanish completely on smaller screens. Take time to scroll through every page and make sure your words are always easy to read, no matter the device.
Review your backgrounds and images
Images can distort, stretch, or pixelate when they resize for different screens. If an image looks crisp and beautiful on your computer but blurry on your phone, it can cheapen the overall impression of your site. A good rule of thumb is to keep images sized between 1500–2500 pixels—large enough for desktops, small enough not to slow your site down.
Your Website Responsive Review Checklist
With just a little time and effort, you can catch issues before your customers do and make quick fixes that improve their experience. Here’s a quick reminder list:
- Test your site on at least two other devices.
- Double-check that all text is easy to read against its background.
- Make sure oversized fonts and specialty fonts resize properly.
- Review images to ensure they look clean and professional on every screen size.
- Keep image sizes in the sweet spot: not too small, not too large.
Taking the time to do a responsive review is one of the simplest ways to protect your online presence and ensure visitors get the best experience possible.
