You probably know about or have heard of SEO. If you don’t, SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, and understanding it is the key to making sure your website gets seen by readers. There are many SEO experts out there who can give you comprehensive lists of how to optimize your website.
But one optimization tool that is often forgotten is accessibility. Individuals with disabilities often use assistive technologies, like screen readers, to help them navigate websites. However, not all websites are optimized for screen readers and the like. The good news is that we have a set of guidelines to help us make our websites accessible – these are the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, or the WCAG.
By following the WCAG’s guidelines on accessibility, your website becomes more usable and accessible for many groups of people, including those with disabilities. Not only do following these guidelines help you potentially avoid lawsuits, but it can also expand your audience size.
In addition to those great benefits, website accessibility can help promote your SEO. This is because an accessible website helps the search engine’s algorithm to understand your content more easily, which improves searchability. Plus, because of the improved user experience, an accessible website is more likely to appear higher in search engine rankings.
You may be wondering, “How exactly do I go about making my website accessible?” There are many avenues to take to accomplish this goal, but here are three specific actions. First, provide alternative text, also known as alt text, for all images. This ensures that people who are hard of sight can understand the content that’s conveyed with images. When writing alt text, take care to be as descriptive and as concise as possible.
Another way to make sure your content is accessible is to make sure your content is navigable by using just a keyboard. People who can’t use a mouse should be able to navigate through your website by only using keyboard shortcuts. The third way we’ll discuss today is color. You might be tempted to think that the colors you use on your website only impact the design and aesthetic. But the colors you choose to use are also an accessibility choice. Make sure there is enough contrast between your text and your background colors to accommodate users with visual impairments.
There are many more ways to make your websites accessible and optimized for SEO. Prioritizing accessibility isn’t just about meeting standards – it’s also a strategic move to elevate your website’s SEO, providing a win-win for website users and creators. At Splash Box Marketing, we understand the importance of accessibility, and offer website review services. Elevate your website’s impact, prioritize accessibility, and ensure that your message resonates with every visitor.
Visit splashbox.com/accessibility for more information or to book our services.