Making your website "accessible" is a legal requirement these days. But as well as keeping your business on the right side of disability discrimination law, there are sound business benefits to gained.
However, in practice, it also encompasses older people, people with literacy problems, visitors using the Web via smartphones or TVs, or those using older technology or without fast Internet broadband connections.
Accessible websites can expand your customer base and allow you to tap into significant new markets and valuable spending power. Older users and those with disabilities are particularly likely to be loyal to websites that work well for them.
You might also save production and distribution costs by switching from a printed catalogue or company brochure to a single format on-line version, without the need for CDs or Braille/language translation options.
As well as its primary Web search service, Google has an Accessible Search tool which reorders search results to find the most accessible pages.
Sites which are simple to navigate using a keyboard and with less visual imagery are more likely to be included in the accessible search results.
For further advice on website accessibility, contact Jill Davies at Granite 5 on 01223 208008
What is accessibility?
Accessibility is making your website open and usable to all. Often the focus is on aiding users with disabilities, who may use screen reading technology or other assistive technology to access websites.However, in practice, it also encompasses older people, people with literacy problems, visitors using the Web via smartphones or TVs, or those using older technology or without fast Internet broadband connections.
Reach more users – more sales
Making your site easy to use by more people means your site is going to be seen and used by more visitors. Additional visitors bring an increase in traffic which can translate into a direct commercial boost, perhaps through extra sales.Accessible websites can expand your customer base and allow you to tap into significant new markets and valuable spending power. Older users and those with disabilities are particularly likely to be loyal to websites that work well for them.
Cut your business costs
An accessible website can often bring cost savings as users conduct transactions/complete bookings or fill out forms online. E-commerce sites may require fewer sales or customer support staff as well as less paper work.You might also save production and distribution costs by switching from a printed catalogue or company brochure to a single format on-line version, without the need for CDs or Braille/language translation options.
Improve your search engine ranking
Accessible websites are easier for search engines such as Google to index. As a result, your pages are likely to get higher page rankings, improving your site’s visibility and clickability.Users can download your site faster
Users are always in a hurry to locate the information they need, and lose patience with slow-loading websites. Accessible websites load faster, so potential customers won’t be so tempted to stray to rival sites.Get your business promoted!
Accessible websites are often promoted in specialist directories for people with visual impairments or other disabilities.As well as its primary Web search service, Google has an Accessible Search tool which reorders search results to find the most accessible pages.
Sites which are simple to navigate using a keyboard and with less visual imagery are more likely to be included in the accessible search results.
For further advice on website accessibility, contact Jill Davies at Granite 5 on 01223 208008
