Web accessibility: 5 Essential Tips For An Inclusive Website

What's the ROI of website accessibility?

Investing in web accessibility enhances everyone's experience. Yet, many businesses need more than that to motivate themselves. So, consider this:

Web accessibility isn't just about compliance. It's a smart business move. An accessible website can expand your reach, enhance your reputation, and improve your SEO. Recent studies show the real benefits of web accessibility:

1. Accenture's 2019 report found companies prioritising accessibility are 1.8 times more likely to see revenue growth.
2. The Click-Away Pound Survey 2019 found that 69% of disabled users abandon sites with barriers. This costs UK businesses £17.1 billion.
3. Legal & General Group's study showed better web accessibility doubled site traffic.
4. Web AIM's analysis shows that fewer accessibility errors can boost Google search rankings. This suggests SEO benefits.

These findings show that adding accessibility features can:

• Increase conversion rates.
• Reduce maintenance costs.
• Improve brand reputation.

Investing in web accessibility offers high returns. It boosts profits and expands your audience. Here are five ways to improve your website's accessibility:

1. Provide image alt text

Alt text is vital for web accessibility and SEO. It describes images for users who cannot see them.

Why Alt Text Matters:

• Accessibility: Screen readers use alt text to describe images.
• SEO: Search engines rely on it to index images.
• User Experience: Alt text shows when images don't load.

How to Write Effective Alt Text:

1. Be specific and concise (under 125 characters).
2. Describe the image's purpose or content in context.
3. Avoid starting with "Image of..." or "Picture of..."
4. Include keywords naturally, but don't overdo it.

Tips for Implementation:

• Use empty alt text (alt="") for decorative images.
• For complex images, provide a detailed description nearby and a brief alt text.
• Regularly audit images to ensure all have appropriate alt text.

Meaningful alt text makes your website more accessible and boosts SEO, benefiting all users.

2. Ensure enough colour contrast

Colour contrast is crucial for accessibility and user experience. Enough contrast ensures readability for all users, especially those with visual impairments.

Why Colour Contrast Matters:

• Accessibility: Proper contrast aids users with low vision or colour blindness.
• Usability: High contrast improves readability, especially in poor lighting.
• Legal Compliance: Many guidelines need minimum contrast ratios.

Understanding Contrast Ratios:

• WCAG 2.1 Level AA requires 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text.
• Level AAA requires 7:1 for normal text and 4.5:1 for large text.
• We define large text as 18 point (24px) or 14 point (18.66px) bold and larger.

Tools for Checking Contrast:

1. WebAIM Contrast Checker
2. Chrome DevTools' Accessibility Audit
3. Color Contrast Analyzer (CCA)

Tips for Implementation:

1. Start with a high-contrast colour palette.
2. Use contrast-checking tools in the design phase.
3. Don't rely only on colour to convey information; add visual cues.
4. Test your site in grayscale to ensure usability without colour.

Good colour contrast makes your website accessible. It improves everyone's experience.

3. Use descriptive link text

Descriptive link text is vital for accessibility and user-friendliness. It means using clear text for hyperlinks instead of vague phrases like "click here."

Why descriptive link text matters:

• Accessibility: Screen reader users navigate by links. Descriptive text helps them understand where each link goes.
• Usability: Clear link text helps users scan and understand the purpose of links with ease.
• SEO: It can improve search engine rankings by providing context about linked content.

How to Write Effective Link Text:

1. Be specific about the link's destination.
2. Keep it concise but descriptive.
3. Avoid using the same text for different URLs.
4. Ensure the link makes sense out of context.

Tips for Implementation:

1. Audit existing content and update vague links.
2. Train content creators on the importance of descriptive link text.
3. If using icons as links, ensure they have appropriate aria-labels.
4. For longer link texts, consider using aria-label for a concise description.

By using descriptive link text, you enhance site navigation, improve accessibility, and may boost your SEO.