When you are opening a business online, you will undoubtedly need to spend a bit of money on a website. In 2023, there is more to designing a website than simply having a pretty layout and some nice pictures! If it is linked to a business, there are strict rules about what can be put onto the website, as well as restrictions about its accessibility.
Website accessibility tools are software applications designed to help website owners ensure that their website is accessible to everyone who uses it, including those with disabilities. Accessibility tools can benefit online businesses in numerous ways, such as increasing website traffic, improving user experience, and enhancing search engine optimization.
So, in this article, five ways that website accessibility tools can benefit an online business will be discussed, so you can see what a great idea it is for any website to be fully accessible.
Table of Contents
Reach a Wider Audience
By using website accessibility tools, online businesses can make their website more accessible to people with disabilities, such as visual, hearing, and motor impairments. This can help them reach a wider audience and increase their customer base. For example, adding alt text to images can help users with visual impairments understand the content of the picture. Adding captions to videos, which is listed as one of the Top 5 Accessibility tools to have on a website, can help users with hearing impairments access the audio content of the video. Making sure that the website is keyboard navigable can help users with motor impairments access the website without using a mouse.
Improve User Experience
No one wants a bad experience or glitches when using a website! Website accessibility tools can also improve the user experience for all users, not just those with disabilities. For example, adding descriptive link text can help all users understand where a link will take them before clicking on it. Making sure that the website is easy to navigate can help users find the content they are looking for quickly and easily. Improving website load times can help users access the website faster, which can enhance their overall experience.
Increase Website Traffic
Website accessibility can also help increase website traffic, as it also helps with search engine optimization or SEO. This is because search engines, such as Google, rank websites that are accessible higher than those that are not. This means that by improving website accessibility, online businesses can increase their visibility in search engine results, which can lead to more website traffic.
Meet Legal Requirements
Website accessibility is also required by law in many countries. For example, in the United States, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that all websites be accessible to people with disabilities. By using website accessibility tools, online businesses can ensure that their website is compliant with these legal requirements. You can even use an ADA compliance tester to examine your website’s level of conformance to relevant web accessibility standards.
Enhance Brand Reputation
Finally, website accessibility can enhance a business’s brand reputation. By demonstrating a commitment to accessibility, online companies can show that they value all their customers, including those with disabilities. This can improve customer loyalty and help attract new customers who are looking for businesses that are inclusive and accessible.
