Your website should be for everyone, regardless of their abilities.
Designing for accessibility isn’t just about meeting guidelines, it’s about ensuring that every visitor can easily navigate, interact with, and enjoy your site. And when your site is more inclusive, you’re not just doing the right thing - you’re growing your potential audience too.
Why Accessibility Should Be a Priority
Did you know that around 1 in 5 people worldwide live with a disability?
If your website isn’t accessible, you’re potentially shutting out a large portion of your audience. Making your site accessible not only improves the experience for all visitors but also boosts SEO, enhances usability, and shows that your brand genuinely values inclusivity.
What does that mean for you? It’s a win-win: you create a better experience for all visitors while expanding your reach.
Key Elements for a More Accessible Website:
Keyboard-friendly navigation. Not everyone uses a mouse to browse a website. Some users rely on a keyboard alone. Make sure your site is accessible by allowing users to easily move through it using just their keyboard.
Descriptive Alt Text for images. Alt text allows screen readers to describe images to visually impaired users.
Instead of something generic like “woman smiling,” use a description like “A happy customer enjoying a coffee at our café” - this not only describes the image but also adds context that’s relevant to your brand story.
High contrast for better readability. Proper contrast ensures text is easy to read, especially for those with visual impairments. Following a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 (you can use tools like WebAIM's Contrast Checker to verify this) will make sure your content is accessible and comfortable to consume.
Transcripts and captions for video content. Video content is a great way to engage visitors, but without captions or transcripts, you’re excluding many users. Adding these elements ensures users who are deaf or hard of hearing can fully enjoy your content.
Responsive, device-friendly design. Accessibility also means that your website works seamlessly across all devices, from large desktops to mobile phones. Responsive design keeps your site user-friendly no matter what device visitors are using.
User-friendly forms. Struggling with forms can turn users away. Make sure forms are simple, with clear labels, easy instructions, and friendly error messages. Each interaction should be smooth and intuitive, helping users complete tasks without frustration.
Building an accessible website isn’t just about ticking boxes - it’s about creating a welcoming, user-friendly experience for everyone who visits.
Not only does accessibility broaden your reach, but it also strengthens your brand’s reputation as inclusive, thoughtful, and user-focused.
Want to ensure your website is open to all? We’re here to help. Let’s create a site that everyone can enjoy, without barriers.
