Making Your Website Accessible: Good for Customers, Great for Business

Website accessibility isn't just about compliance—it's about reaching more customers and creating a better experience for everyone. Here's why making your website accessible is one of the smartest business decisions you can make.

The Hidden Market You're Missing

Over 61 million adults in the United States live with a disability. That's a massive potential customer base that many businesses inadvertently exclude with poorly designed websites.

**Types of Disabilities That Affect Website Use:**

When your website works for people with disabilities, you're opening your business to millions of potential customers.

Accessibility Benefits Everyone

Here's the surprising truth: features that help people with disabilities often improve the experience for all users:

**Captions on Videos** help people in noisy environments or those who prefer to watch with sound off.

**Clear Navigation** benefits everyone, especially people using mobile devices or unfamiliar with your industry.

**Readable Text** helps older adults, people with dyslexia, and anyone trying to read on a small screen.

**Keyboard Navigation** helps people with temporary injuries, like a broken mouse hand.

Legal Protection for Your Business

Website accessibility lawsuits are increasing rapidly. In 2023, over 4,000 accessibility lawsuits were filed in federal court alone. These lawsuits can be expensive and damage your reputation.

**Who's at Risk:**

**The Good News:** Proactively making your website accessible provides strong legal protection and demonstrates good faith effort to serve all customers.

SEO Benefits of Accessible Design

Many accessibility features actually improve your search engine rankings:

**Alt Text for Images** helps search engines understand your content while helping screen reader users.

**Clear Headings** make content easier to scan for both users and search engines.

**Descriptive Link Text** provides context for users and search engines about where links lead.

**Video Transcripts** give search engines more text to index while helping deaf users.

**Fast Loading Times** benefit users with slow connections and improve Google rankings.

Simple Accessibility Improvements

You don't need to rebuild your website to make it more accessible. Here are practical improvements that make a big difference:

**Use Descriptive Link Text**: Instead of "click here," use "download our pricing guide" or "contact our support team."

**Add Alt Text to Images**: Describe what's in your images, especially if they contain important information.

**Ensure Good Color Contrast**: Make sure text is easy to read against background colors. This helps everyone, especially in bright sunlight.

**Make Forms Clear**: Label all form fields clearly and provide helpful error messages.

**Use Headings Properly**: Structure your content with clear headings that outline the page hierarchy.

Testing Your Website's Accessibility

**Keyboard Testing**: Try navigating your entire website using only the keyboard (Tab, Enter, and arrow keys). Can you reach all content and features?

**Screen Reader Testing**: Use your computer's built-in screen reader (VoiceOver on Mac, Narrator on Windows) to experience your site as a blind user would.

**Color Contrast Checking**: Use tools like WebAIM's Color Contrast Checker to ensure text is readable.

**Mobile Accessibility**: Test your site on mobile devices—many accessibility features are especially important on small screens.

Business Benefits Beyond Compliance

**Expanded Customer Base**: Accessible websites serve more people, including the disability community and older adults.

**Improved User Experience**: Features that help people with disabilities often make your site easier for everyone to use.

**Better SEO Performance**: Many accessibility practices overlap with SEO best practices.

**Enhanced Brand Reputation**: Companies known for inclusivity attract customers who value social responsibility.

**Reduced Support Costs**: Clearer navigation and better forms reduce customer service inquiries.

Common Accessibility Mistakes

Avoid these common problems that exclude potential customers:

**Images Without Alt Text**: Screen readers can't describe unlabeled images to blind users.

**Videos Without Captions**: Deaf users can't access audio content without text alternatives.

**Poor Color Contrast**: Light gray text on white backgrounds is difficult for many people to read.

**Keyboard Traps**: Users who can't use a mouse get stuck in parts of your website.

**Confusing Navigation**: Complex menus and unclear labels frustrate users with cognitive disabilities.

Accessibility for Different Industries

**Restaurants**: Menu items need clear descriptions, and online ordering must work with screen readers.

**Healthcare**: Patient portals and appointment booking need to be fully accessible for HIPAA compliance.

**Retail**: Product images need descriptions, and checkout processes must work without a mouse.

**Professional Services**: Contact forms and document downloads need to be accessible to all potential clients.

Getting Professional Help

While you can make many improvements yourself, professional accessibility auditing ensures comprehensive compliance:

**Accessibility Audits**: Professional evaluation of your current website against accessibility standards.

**Remediation Services**: Fixing identified accessibility issues properly.

**Training**: Learning how to maintain accessibility as you update your website.

**Ongoing Monitoring**: Regular testing to ensure your site remains accessible as it grows.

The Return on Investment

Accessibility improvements typically pay for themselves through:

Conclusion

Making your website accessible isn't just the right thing to do—it's smart business. By creating an inclusive online experience, you'll reach more customers, improve your search rankings, and protect your business from legal issues.

The best part? Many accessibility improvements are simple and affordable, especially when implemented during regular website updates or redesigns.

**Want to make your website accessible to everyone? Get a free accessibility assessment to identify opportunities to expand your customer base and protect your business. We'll show you practical improvements that benefit all your users.**