Tim Berners Lee launched the first website in the early 1990s. Since then, it’s been understood that a website is, first and foremost, a source of core information about a business/ organisation or service offered. Today, it is a storefront that tends to be the first thing a potential customer looks at to gauge the validity and value of a brand. This means that just like a traditional brick-and-mortar storefront, it must be accessible to everyone, inviting customers from diverse backgrounds, including people with disabilities.
What Is Web Accessibility?
In the digital realm, ‘web accessibility’ translates to ensuring that everyone, regardless of ability, can easily navigate and interact with a website. It involves designing websites that people with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive impairments can use effortlessly. Globally, over 1 billion people live with disabilities, a number rising with ageing populations (World Health Organisation, 2024). This further emphasises the need for an inclusive internet that is seamlessly functional for all.
Web design companies embrace accessible website design strategies to enhance a brand’s growth and reputation, while also meeting every legal standard. To achieve an inclusive web design that is critical for a business, a few things to consider include:
- Alt text for images to support visually impaired users.
- Keyboard navigation for those with motor challenges.
- High-contrast colours for improved readability.
- Captions for videos to aid hearing-impaired users.
A web design company that incorporates these elements creates sites that are more than just welcoming, functional and aesthetically pleasing; they help foster inclusivity and build enhanced customer loyalty.
The Legal and Ethical Imperative
Globally, accessibility laws are becoming tighter; for instance, the European Accessibility Act mandates accessible digital services for businesses operating in the EU, and non-compliance can lead to legal consequences. In the U.S., over 1,100 digital accessibility lawsuits were filed in just the first quarter of 2024, targeting companies for failing to meet WCAG standards. Today, web design companies follow WCAG principles to ensure websites are perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. Thus, they can achieve the most accessible website design for a business while remaining legally and ethically compliant.
In terms of ethics, accessibility simply means making a commitment to being equal in all perceivable ways. Businesses embracing inclusive web design will most certainly resonate with today’s socially conscious consumers.
Business Benefits of Accessibility
Investing in accessible website design offers tangible advantages that include:
- Expanded reach: Inclusive web design ensures that users with disabilities are fully able to navigate all sections of the site and access all information comfortably. Thus, encouraging them to stay longer and engage more, which translates to boosting overall audience reach and customer loyalty.
- Improved SEO: From a technical standpoint, features like alt text and structured headings, which make websites more accessible, also make it easier for search engines to understand them. This leads to improved ranking, meaning it can attract more organic traffic.
- Enhanced User Experience: Clear navigation and fast-loading pages create a seamless experience for all users, especially those accessing sites on mobile devices. Since mobiles dominate global internet access, thanks to major accessibility options from apps to built-in settings, making them extremely user-friendly for everyone, enhanced UX also significantly contributes to business growth
A business can retain a reputable web design company to achieve these benefits through accessible design strategies, which deliver measurable results. This will significantly boost online visibility on a global scale.
Tackling Common Accessibility Issues
Even the most polished websites can fall short if they neglect basic accessibility functions. These gaps can make engagement difficult for some users and negatively affect the site’s usability. Web design companies can help prevent such issues through simple, effective fixes that result in truly accessible website designs.
Common accessibility problems include:
- Broken or inaccessible links
Non-functional or unlabeled links hamper navigation, especially for screen readers.
Fix: Use descriptive link text, conduct frequent audits with tools like Google Search Console, and implement 301 redirects.
- Missing Alt Text on images
Without alt text, visually impaired users will not get the context of the content.
Fix: Add clear, concise alt tags to all informative images.
- Low colour contrast
Poor or low contrast content (text and images) can make the information displayed hard to read for some users and on some devices.
Fix: Choose high-contrast combinations to ensure the best possible readability by everyone and on every device.
- Unlabelled forms
Forms without proper labels or error cues can be unusable.
Fix: Ensure all fields are properly labelled and are also keyboard-friendly.
These simple steps help deliver inclusive web design from the get-go, saving time, reducing costs, and creating a better experience for everyone.
The Future of Digital Inclusion
The digital landscape has and will continue to evolve over time; hence, maintaining and updating accessibility is pivotal. A website that doesn’t embrace accessibility, or one that hasn’t kept up with newer standards, not only risks the loss of potential customers but can deter current users as well. Emerging technologies, such as voice assistants, demand accessible website design to ensure inclusivity. By acting now, businesses can stay ahead of the curve.
Embracing inclusive web design is extremely vital to unlocking new audiences, boosting SEO, and aligning with regularly updated legal and ethical standards.retention.