Making a website accessible to everyone is more than just a legal requirement – it’s the right thing to do. Using tools like accessible that ensure your website can be used by everyone, you open your business up to a whole new audience of potential customers. Here are five keys to making your website more accessible for all users.
Use clear but simple language.
The average reading level in the United States is at a 7th or 8th-grade level, so your website content should be written accordingly. This doesn’t mean dumbing down your content but rather using clear and easy-to-understand language that most users can understand. This ensures that everyone can access your content, regardless of their reading level.
Optimize your site for different browsers and devices
Not everyone uses the same browser or device to access the internet, so it’s important to optimize your website for all types of users. This includes ensuring that your site can be viewed on different browsers (such as Safari, Chrome, and Firefox) and different devices (such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops). By doing this, you’ll make sure that everyone can view your website no matter how they access the internet.
Use alt text to explain your images.
If you have any images on your website, it’s important to use alt text to explain what they are. This is especially important for visually impaired users, as they may not be able to see the images on your site. By adding alt text, you can ensure that everyone can understand what your images are and how they relate to your content.
Use headings and subheadings to organize your content.
Organizing your content using headings and subheadings is a great way to make it more accessible for all users. This is because it helps break up the text and makes it easier to scan and find the information you’re looking for. Headings and subheadings also help improve the accessibility of your website for visually impaired users, as they can use screen readers to navigate your site more easily.
Include a search function on your website
If your website has a lot of content, it’s good to include a search function. This allows users to quickly and easily find the information they’re looking for without scrolling through all of your content. Including a search function is also helpful for visually impaired users, as they can use screen readers to search for specific terms on your website.
Use captions and transcripts for videos.
If you have any videos on your website, it’s important to include captions and transcripts. This ensures that everyone can access your content, regardless of whether they can hear the audio in the video. Captions and transcripts are also helpful for visually impaired users, as they can use screen readers to read the captions and transcripts of your videos.
Closing thoughts
By following these five keys, you can make your website more accessible for all users. This opens up your business to a new audience and helps to ensure that everyone can access your content.