Web accessibility and inclusive design may not be the most glamorous topics, but they’re becoming increasingly important for businesses of all sizes. Not only is it the right thing to do, but it can also give you a competitive edge and help you reach a wider audience. In this article, we’ll explore why web accessibility and inclusive design is good for business, and give you some tips on how to get started.
What is Web Accessibility and Inclusive Design?
Web accessibility and inclusive design are all about making sure that everyone can use and access a website, regardless of their abilities or disabilities. This includes things like ensuring that text is large enough to read, providing alternative text for images, and making sure that people can navigate a website using just a keyboard. It also means designing for a variety of different devices, screen sizes, and internet speeds.
Inclusive design, on the other hand, goes a step further and considers a wide range of diversity in the design process. It takes into account a diversity of abilities, languages, cultures, genders, ages, and more. It’s not just about accommodating the website to the lowest common denominator, but it’s about creating a website that can be accessible and usable for as many people as possible.
Why is it Good for Business?
There are a number of reasons why web accessibility and inclusive design is good for business. For starters, it helps you reach a wider audience. According to the World Health Organization, around 15% of the world’s population has some form of disability. That’s over one billion people! By making your website accessible, you can tap into this huge market.
It also helps with SEO, as search engines like Google give preference to websites that are accessible to all. So, your website will be more likely to appear in search results, making it easier for potential customers to find you.
Additionally, by creating an inclusive and accessible website, you’re also creating a better user experience for everyone. This can lead to increased engagement, higher conversion rates, and more satisfied customers.
How to Get Started
So, now that you know why web accessibility and inclusive design is good for business, you might be wondering how to get started. The good news is that there are a number of simple steps you can take to make your website more accessible and inclusive.
First, conduct an accessibility audit of your website. This will help you identify any areas that need improvement, such as low-contrast text or missing alternative text for images.
Next, start implementing accessibility best practices. This includes things like using semantic HTML, providing alternative text for images, and designing for keyboard navigation.
You can also use automated accessibility testing tools that can help you identify and fix accessibility issues.
Lastly, make sure to consider diversity in the design process. This means testing your website with different devices and browsers, and considering the needs of different cultures, languages, and abilities.
At Billionwebs Web Design Agency, we take care of all of this for you. We conduct an accessibility audit of your website, implement accessibility best practices, and use automated accessibility testing tools to ensure that your website is accessible to all. We also consider diversity in the design process, making sure that your website is accessible and usable for as many people as possible.
