A site accessible to everyone: good for people, good for business

Accessibility sounds like an expert word, but the idea is simple: make a site everyone can use, including people who see poorly, don’t use a mouse, or browse with a screen reader. It’s not just a good deed, it’s also good for business and for your SEO. And most of the time, it just takes a little attention.

It’s not a niche

A significant share of the population lives with some form of disability: low vision, colour blindness, limited mobility, and it touches even more people with age. Add everyone browsing your site in bright sun, one-handed on the bus, or with the sound off. An accessible site isn’t for “a few people,” it’s for almost everyone, in one context or another.

Contrast, the first reflex

The most common mistake is pale grey text on white, or light text over a photo. Pretty on your new screen, unreadable on an old phone in the sun. Make sure your text stands out clearly from its background. If you squint to read, so do your visitors, and many will simply give up.

• Strong contrast between text and background.
• Alt text on every meaningful image.
• Links and buttons clearly described, not just “click here.”
• Tap targets big enough for a thumb.

Alt text: two birds, one stone

Alt text is a short description you attach to an image. It’s read aloud for people who are blind… and read by Google, which can’t otherwise “see” your photos. Describing “renovated bathroom with a slate shower” instead of “image1.jpg” helps a person AND helps your SEO in one move. Free, and too often forgotten.

Making your site accessible isn’t doing less for some, it’s doing better for everyone.

The good news

You don’t need to become an expert. The good basics (contrast, alt text, clear structure, legible buttons) already cover the essentials. CJFG Studio even includes a check that flags images without a description, contrasts that are too low, and empty links before you publish. One less thing to watch.

If you want us to comb through your site on accessibility (and help your SEO along the way), write me. It’s often a series of small adjustments that make your site better for all your visitors.