Web Design Accessibility_ Making Your Small Business Website Inclusive-Featured.jpg

Web Design Accessibility: Making Your Small Business Website Inclusive

As a small business owner, you understand the importance of making your products and services available to as many people as possible.

One of the most effective ways to do this is by ensuring your website is accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities. This means creating a site that's user-friendly, functional and inclusive for individuals with disabilities.

In this article, we'll explore the concept of web accessibility, discuss its benefits and provide actionable tips for building an inclusive small business website using a small business website builder like Websites 360®.

Why accessibility matters for small businesses

Imagine you're a local coffee shop owner who's just launched a new website. You're excited about the potential to reach more customers and grow your business.

One day, a loyal customer named Sarah comes in and mentions she's visually impaired. She tells you she's had difficulty navigating your website and placing an order online. This interaction makes you realize that your website may not be as inclusive as you'd hoped.

Web accessibility is essential because it ensures that all users, regardless of their abilities or disabilities, can access and interact with your website. By making your small business website more inclusive, you can:

  1. Reach a broader audience: According to the World Health Organization, over 1 billion people worldwide have some form of disability. By creating an accessible website, you're making your products and services available to this significant market segment.

  2. Improve SEO: Search engines like Google prioritize accessible websites, as they provide a better user experience. A more accessible site means better visibility in search results, driving more traffic to your site.

  3. Foster a positive brand image: An inclusive website demonstrates that your business values diversity and inclusivity, which can help you build trust with customers and set you apart from competitors.

  4. Ensure legal compliance: Many countries, including the United States, have legislation requiring businesses to make their websites accessible. By proactively creating an accessible site, you can avoid potential legal issues.

Now that you understand the importance of web accessibility, let's dive into actionable tips for making your small business website more inclusive using a small business website builder like Websites 360.

How to make your small business website more accessible

#1. Choose an accessible website builder

The first step to creating an accessible website is selecting a small business website builder with built-in accessibility features.

Websites 360 is an excellent option, as it offers a variety of templates designed with accessibility in mind, as well as tools and resources to help you create an inclusive site.

#2. Use descriptive alt text for images

When adding images to your site, make sure to include descriptive alternative (alt) text.

Alt text is a brief description of an image that screen readers can read aloud for visually impaired users.

For example, instead of using "coffee1.jpg" as the alt text, use "A steaming cup of freshly brewed coffee."

#3. Ensure proper color contrast

Users with low vision or color blindness may struggle to read text with insufficient color contrast.

Use a color contrast tool to check the contrast ratio between your text and background colors. Aim for a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text.

#4. Organize content with headings and lists

Use headings and lists to break up and organize your content, making it easier for all users to digest.

This structure also helps screen readers understand the layout of your site, allowing users to navigate more efficiently.

#5. Make links descriptive and easy to identify

When adding links to your site, use descriptive text that indicates the purpose of the link, rather than generic phrases like "click here."

This approach helps screen reader users understand the context of the link without needing to read surrounding text.

Additionally, ensure that links are visually distinguishable from regular text, either through color, underlining or both.

#6. Enable keyboard navigation

Some users navigate websites using a keyboard instead of a mouse.

Ensure that your website is fully navigable using the Tab, Enter and arrow keys. This includes providing visible focus indicators for interactive elements. like buttons, links, and form fields.

#7. Include transcripts and captions for multimedia content

When incorporating audio or video content on your site, provide transcripts for audio files and captions for videos.

This ensures that deaf or hard-of-hearing users can access the information in the multimedia content.

#8. Test and maintain accessibility

Regularly test your website for accessibility using tools like WebAIM's WAVE or Google's Lighthouse. These tools can identify potential issues and provide recommendations for improvements.

Keep in mind that web accessibility is an ongoing process, and it's essential to maintain and update your site as necessary.

Start building a more inclusive small business website with Websites 360

By incorporating these accessibility tips, you'll create a more inclusive small business website that caters to users of all abilities.

Not only does this make good business sense, but it also demonstrates your commitment to inclusivity and social responsibility.

Ready to get started? Check out Websites 360's accessible templates and begin building your inclusive small business website today.