Have you ever tried to access a website, and found yourself feeling frustrated because you couldn’t navigate the site properly or access the content you were looking for? That’s the feeling that good website accessibility aims to avoid.

Website accessibility is all about making sure that everyone, regardless of ability or disability, has equal access to your website’s content and functionality. That includes the visually impaired, hearing impaired, and even those with cognitive disabilities.

Making your website accessible doesn’t just benefit those with disabilities. It can also improve the overall user experience, increase engagement, and even improve your search engine rankings. So, let’s dive in and learn how to make your website accessible for everyone.

• Write for everyone: Write content that is clear, concise, and easy to understand. Avoid using jargon, and make sure your content is well structured with headings, subheadings, and lists. It’s like writing a letter to your grandma – make sure she can understand what you’re saying!
• Add alt text: Alt text is a description of an image that can be read by screen readers. Adding alt text to your images not only makes your website more accessible, but also improves the overall user experience. Think of alt text as a verbal description of a picture.
• Make it easy to navigate: Make sure your website’s navigation is clear and easy to use. Use descriptive links, and avoid using just “click here”. Make sure your site has a clear structure with headings, subheadings, and a consistent layout. It’s like finding your way through a city; make sure the street signs are clear and easy to read.
• Add captions: Captions make your website’s videos accessible to the hearing impaired. Make sure your captions are properly synced, and accurately reflect the audio in your videos. Captions are like subtitles, which help people understand what’s being said.
• Test, test, test: Regularly test your website’s accessibility using tools such as WAVE, Color Contrast Analyser, and VoiceOver. This will help you identify any accessibility issues, so you can quickly resolve them. Testing is like taking your car for a spin to make sure everything is in working order.
• Make it easy to read: Make sure your website has a high contrast between text and background colours, and a font that is easy to read. Avoid using very small text, and make sure your text is resizable. Easy to read text is like a good book; you want to be able to enjoy it comfortably.
• Get feedback: Ask people with disabilities to test your website and provide feedback. This can help you identify and resolve any accessibility issues, and improve the overall user experience. Feedback is like a second opinion – it’s always good to get one!
• Stay up to date: Keep up to date with the latest accessibility guidelines and best practices. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are a good place to start. Staying up to date is a great way to keep your skills fresh, and continue to learn and grow.

In conclusion, website accessibility is all about making sure that everyone can access your website’s content and functionality. By following these tips, you can help make the digital world a more accessible place for everyone!

Improving the accessibility of your website is just one of the things we can assist with at Tomedia. Get in touch with us today to find out more about how we can help your website to achieve SEO success and beyond.