Making your content accessible for people with disabilities is not only the right thing to do; it’s also good business practice. According to a study by The webaim project, “Accessibility has a significant positive impact on usability and can increase audience size, revenue, and user engagement.” Tools like accessiBe WordPress were built specifically for this purpose.
So how can you make sure your content is accessible? Here are some tips:
1. Check Your Code
Your code is the first thing search engines like Google and Bing use to determine the content of your page. The first step is to make sure your code validates. Valid HTML5 code contains no mistakes, which will allow browsers to recognize it correctly. Invalid code may contain technological limitations that cannot be displayed properly in certain browsers.
If your page fails validation tests, try Googling “validate my site” and include the name of your website. There are many free validation tools available online.
2. Add Alt Tags To Your Images
One of the most common reasons people skip past your content is that they can’t see anything. A screen reader reads aloud what is written in an alt tag, allowing every user to understand the picture even if it cannot be seen. Therefore, make sure your images have descriptive alt tags that accurately describe their content.
3. Use Headings
H1, H2, and H3 headings are used to structure content on your page. They tell search engines that your text is relevant, helping them determine what the page contains. This can help ensure your site ranks high in search results, so it’s easier for people to access the information they need.
4. Add Content That Everyone Easily understands
When writing content, it’s important to consider that your readers may have different backgrounds or learning abilities. Therefore, write crisply and clearly that everyone can easily understand. Your sentences should be short and simple, with as few words as possible to make the text easier to read.
5. Make Sure Links Are Clickable
A link is a word or phrase on a web page that, when clicked, takes you to a different web page. A common mistake on websites with poor accessibility is the lack of clickability of links, making it impossible for users to go from one page to another using the links. Make sure your links are well displayed and easy to click on.
6. Be Mindful Of Colors
Color blindness is a common problem for many people. Make sure your website uses colors that are easy on the eyes and provide sufficient contrast so users can read them without difficulty. For example, bright text against a dark background, or vice versa, makes it difficult to discern the difference between one color and another. This can prevent some people from accessing your content.
7. Don’t Use Flash Or Other Animations
Most screen readers cannot read content in a Flash animation, making it impossible for people with disabilities to access the information present in these kinds of files. To be safe, avoid using animations altogether when adding new content to your site.