(Entry was posted by Mark Presto on this post in the Dumb SEO Questions community on Facebook, 10/08/2013).

Responive design for all devices or a redirect for mobile?

Hi, Our Car dealership is finally re working our sites and bringing things up to date and making things mobile - tab friendly
I am having a battle of wills with some colleagues about the best option, responsive or redirect to mobile site.

With SEO in mind I am of the opinion that the only way to go is one responsive site for all devices but I`m hitting a brick wall with those wanting to redirect to a mobile version of the site. I need some back up here. Should we even be considering the redirect option? Just how far out of the equation should the redirect option be? and why.

Thanks

Mark UK

This question begins at 00:37:34 into the clip. Did this video clip play correctly? Watch this question on YouTube commencing at 00:37:34

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YOUR ANSWERS

Selected answers from the Dumb SEO Questions Facebook & G+ community.

Matthew Stuart: Answering this as a web designer, and not so much of an SEO answer, but have you pointed out to your colleagues that you'll be paying for two websites instead of one?
Mark Preston: No I haven't but that's going on my list Thanks
Dave Elliott: is there anything that won't run on a mobile on your proposed site? Something that requires flash(bin it) or a complicated form for booking a test drive that won't work on a mobile?

Basically, WHY do they want a mobile site? What information will be taken out of the site main site for mobile users? ;

There are a few good arguments ;here. ;http://searchenginewatch.com/article/2253965/3-Reasons-Why-Responsive-Web-Design-is-the-Best-Option-For-Your-Mobile-SEO-Strategy
Collin Davis: Hi Mark,

User experience and investment of resources as +Matthew Stuart ;rightly pointed out must be the key pointers that you should take into account before deciding between responsive, dynamic or separate mobile websites.

If you are going for an m. subdomain, you will have two different websites to design and SEO for. Do you have the resources for this and even if you do have the resources, would this investment yield a better ROI?

My suggestion is that if the target audience for desktop and mobile website is pretty much the same, then it makes much more sense to go for a responsive design. ;

I would suggest that you go through this excellent post (and I mean it) by Aleyda Solis on the subject - http://www.slideshare.net/aleydasolis/mobile-seomozinaraleydasolis-v2

Once you have read this, I am sure you will not only be clearer but also be able to assert points to your point on which you feel would be best for your website.

;
Justin Y: +Mark Preston you and I are in the same battle. I think responsive is the way to go if the same functionality is there. User experience and different calls to action can be applied via redirect to a mobile only version but that doesn't do it for me in this situation.

There are a lot of pros and cons but in my opinion I think responsive design wins. With responsive design you can serve up custom landing pages where as in a mobile app you have to do double the work and the app version landing pages are uglier most of the time. The great thing about responsive is the transparency from SERPs and having one url to funnel traffic. I hate it when you do a search and then you're a hit with push notification saying that there's no mobile version of the page, would you like to view the desktop version? To me this is a poor user experience. I could go on and on defending responsive. I hope that helps.
W.E. Jonk: From the expert panel in this weeks SEO Questions hangout on air on 00:37:34 into the YouTube video: https://dumbseoquestions.com/q/responive_design_for_all_devices_or_a_redirect_for_mobile