Who are you excluding? Make your website work for everyone!

Accessibility isn’t just a box to tick, it’s a responsibility and opportunity to make your digital space more welcoming, and effective for all. 

All the websites we develop are accessible as standard and we’ve now partnered with Recite Me to take this even further using their customisable toolbar.

By designing with accessibility in mind, you’re opening your website to thousands of potential users that may have otherwise been excluded. 

An accessible website can reach more people,  including those with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive impairments. It can also support older users or anyone relying on other technologies, like screen readers or voice commands.

It’s not just better ethically, it’s simply better business. 

In the UK, legislation like the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018 make web accessibility a legal requirement in many cases. Being proactive and taking these measures first shows your taking digital inclusivity seriously.

Accessible websites normally appear more organised, cleaner and easier to use, for all visitors.  Features like logical navigation, well-labelled buttons, alt text for images, and readable fonts improve the overall experience for everyone, not just users with disabilities.

An easier site means fewer frustrations, making a smoother path from initial interest to potential action. 

Accessibility and SEO also have a lot in common. Adding alt text to images, using proper heading structures or creating clean, simple navigation on your site, doesn’t just help users with disabilities, it also makes it easier for search engines to understand. 

This can result in better search ranking and increase  traffic to your site.

Prioritising accessibility also reflects your company’s values. By making your site more inclusive you’re actively working to remove any digital barriers users might face, it really does show that you care about every user’s experience. 

It’s simple. If your website isn’t accessible you’re only shutting people out. 

So, how can we help? Below we’ve put together some simple accessibility tips that can point you in the right direction.

Small Steps,
Big Impact

Simple steps to help with your websites accessibility

Providing alt text on images

Alt text is descriptive text about a photo on your site, it explains the photo and acts as a screen reader for the image. This can help people with visual impairments understand the context of the image.

Include keyboard navigation

Users with certain disabilities may not be able to use a mouse, so it’s important to make sure that your website navigation can also be done through keyboard shortcuts. 

Colour Contrast

Make sure that text clearly stands out from its background as poor colour contrast can be harder to read for users with visual impairments or colour blindness. 

Provide captions and subtitles

Adding captions or subtitles to videos on your site can make them more accessible to users who are hard of hearing or deaf. 

 

Removing empty buttons

Empty buttons happen when buttons on your site don’t have visual or accessible descriptions. These buttons can make it harder for those using assistive technologies like screen readers.

Using proper headings

Structuring your site with proper headings that break up your content can help guide users, especially those using screen readers. 

Testing your site

Sound too simple? Regularly testing your website’s accessibility features on a range of devices and platforms helps detect any issues that might be really detrimental to your users.

Some of these tips may seem small but together they can have a big impact!

If you're unsure on any of these tips, or just want to learn more about making your website accessible, explore the services we offer, or get in touch with us at hello@phoneticdigital.co.uk