Little Known Facts About Your Screen Resolution

We all know that your web layout, overall graphic design, search engine optimization strategies, and marketing campaigns are a tremendous part of having an outstanding web presence.  However, did you also know that your website users have an IMPACT on how your site is viewed?  As much as you don't want to admit it, their screen resolution plays a significant role in their perspective of your site!

Pixels, Pixels Everywhere

While you concentrate on search engine optimization to get more exposure from organic traffic, there is something else lingering out in the web world to consider -- pixel count.  Overall, the term "screen resolution" describes how many pixels are within your computer monitor.  Pixels are little dots of light that is colored, and there are a slew of them within your computer's monitor.  With regard to standards, it used to be the norm to have a pixel dimension of 640 x 480.  However, since times have (obviously) changed and technology has gotten more advanced the standard screen resolution has transitioned to 1024 x 768 (out of the box resolution).  Let's take a quick second to look at these pixel dimensions and the percentage of users who utilize each:

• Higher Than 1024 x 768 -- 76%

• 1024 x 768 -- 20%

• Less Than 1024 x 768 -- 4%

What Does All Resolution Stuff Mean

While we refer to the numbers (i.e. 1024 x 768) as "resolution", it is truly the dimensions of the pixels that is defined, or the total number of pixels within your monitor.  Resolution, on the other hand refers to the number of pixels within a set area (pixels per inch).  So, if you have a 15 inch screen and your pixel dimensions are 1024 x 768, your screen resolution will be better than a computer that has 1024 x 768 and is a 13 inch screen.  Get it?  Got it? Good!

Why Is Screen Resolution Important

The bottom line here is that you, as the site owner, want your site to be viewed in the highest quality across all site users.  You want your site to look good no matter the resolution or screen size, right?  Well, as your web designer is laying out your site and constructing the graphics, they should consider the numbers listed above as well as completely understand your target audience.  In other words, most business computers have a pixel dimension of 1024 x 768 while most home computers utilize a higher pixel dimension.  If you are targeting a business, design the site and graphics to be viewed in its fullest potential for a lower pixel dimension.  However, if your business targets consumer clientele your site needs to appeal to a higher pixel dimension.

The conclusion -- if you want your site to look the way it should, talk with your web design company about the users you are targeting and any feedback you receive about your site layout and graphics.  It's important for you to relay all feedback to the company so that they can make the necessary alterations.  However, if you use IMPACT (a small plug for us), we will do everything we can to research and understand your target audience as well as your company goals prior to designing your site.

Need Help?

If website design is something that you are interested in but don't know how to get started, contact us today to schedule your free marketing analysis.

Sources:

“The Essential Step-by-Step Guide to Internet Marketing”-E-Book

SlideShare.net

Image Source: HubSpot, “The 2011 State of Inbound Marketing”, E-Marketer.com