How to Make a Website Accessible: Simple Steps for Small Business Owners

Oct 30, 2024 | Effective websites

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Try navigating a website with your eyes closed or using only your keyboard. Not easy, right? Learning how to make a website accessible starts with understanding these everyday challenges. People rely on screen readers and keyboard navigation to browse the web, but many websites create unnecessary barriers. Blurry text, poor color contrast, and missing keyboard shortcuts can make sites practically unusable. These aren’t edge cases – they’re real people trying to access your services right now. Making your website accessible isn’t just about legal compliance. It’s about creating a welcoming digital space where every visitor can easily find information and use your services. Think of it as adding both a ramp and stairs to your digital front door – you’re making sure everyone can enter, regardless of how they arrive. That’s what we’re going to talk about today: how to make your website accessible for everyone.

Who Are We Making Our Websites Accessible For?

When we talk about website accessibility, we’re thinking about real people with diverse needs. Your website visitors might include a young tech professional who’s temporarily unable to use a mouse due to a wrist injury, a senior with declining eyesight who needs larger text to read comfortably, or a potential client who relies on voice commands to navigate the web due to limited mobility.

Some visitors might be:

  • Color blind, making it difficult to understand information conveyed solely through colors
  • Unable to hear video content without captions
  • Using voice commands or keyboard-only navigation
  • Dealing with temporary disabilities like a broken arm or forgotten reading glasses

Each of these scenarios represents real people who might be trying to learn about your services, contact your business, or become your next loyal client.

The image shows a person using a refreshable Braille display, a device designed for visually impaired individuals to read digital content. The
A person is using a refreshable Braille display positioned above a computer keyboard, reading digital content through tactile Braille characters.

Why Does This Matter for Your Business?

Lost Opportunities Cost Real Money

When people can’t use your website effectively, they’ll likely move on to a competitor whose site they can navigate. It’s as simple as that.

Lawsuits & ADA Compliance

In recent years, we’ve seen a surge in ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance lawsuits targeting business websites. While major retailers and e-commerce sites were the initial targets, we’re now seeing smaller service-based businesses facing similar challenges. A local consulting firm recently faced a lawsuit because their website wasn’t accessible to visually impaired visitors. The cost of fixing their website after the fact? Nearly ten times what it would have been to build it accessibly from the start.

Better for Everyone, Not Just Some

Here’s the silver lining: when you make your website more accessible, you’re improving the experience for everyone. Clear, high-contrast text makes your content easier to read for all visitors. Well-organized navigation makes your site more intuitive for everyone.

A Natural SEO Boost

Google loves accessible websites. The same features that make your site more accessible to people (clear headings, well-organized content, descriptive link text, and proper image descriptions) also make it more appealing to search engines. While many businesses invest thousands in SEO, they might be overlooking one of the most natural ways to improve their search rankings: making their website accessible to everyone.

How To Make a Website Accessible — Simple Steps You Can Take Right Now

  1. Make your text easy to read High contrast between your text and background is essential. Dark text on a light background (or vice versa) is your best bet. Trendy light gray texts might look elegant, but they’re often a barrier for your visitors.
  2. Structure your content thoughtfully Think of your website’s headings like a book’s table of contents. Just as you wouldn’t jump from chapter 1 straight to chapter 4, your headings should follow a logical order. This helps everyone navigate your content more easily, especially people using screen readers or skimming for specific information.
  3. Write meaningful link text Instead of saying “click here” or “read more,” use descriptive text that tells people where the link will take them. “Learn about our consulting services” is much more helpful than “click here to learn more.”
  4. Describe your images Adding alternative text (alt text) to images isn’t just for SEO – it’s crucial for visitors who can’t see the images. Describe what’s important about the image rather than just listing what’s in it. For instance, instead of “team photo,” try “Our consulting team collaborating during a client workshop.”

Pro tip: Try using WAVE (wave.webaim.org) – a free tool that can help you spot potential accessibility issues on your website. While it’s a great starting point, remember that automated tools can miss things or give false positives, so combine it with good old common sense and user testing.

Screen Readers and Keyboard Navigation

Many businesses rely on third-party accessibility widgets or overlays to make their websites “accessible.” While well-intentioned, these add-ons often create more problems than they solve. People with disabilities typically use their own tools – screen readers like NVDA or JAWS, or specialized keyboard navigation software. These third-party widgets can actually interfere with these tools, making your site less accessible.

Screen readers convert text to speech, allowing visually impaired users to hear your content. For this to work, your website needs proper heading structure, image descriptions, and clear labels for interactive elements. Similarly, keyboard navigation is crucial for users who can’t use a mouse. They need to be able to navigate through your site using tab keys, enter, space bar, and arrow keys.

Instead of adding overlay tools, focus on building accessibility into your website’s foundation. Use semantic HTML elements, ensure proper heading structure, and create logical keyboard navigation paths. The most reliable approach is building accessibility into your site’s core structure, not adding it as an afterthought through third-party tools.

Conclusion

Your website is your digital storefront, and it should welcome everyone who visits. While small changes can make a big difference in accessibility, it’s important to approach improvements systematically. Start with the basics: clear text, good contrast, and proper headings, then move on to testing your site with a keyboard and adding meaningful alt text to images. These improvements not only help users with disabilities but enhance the experience for everyone who visits your site.

As an added benefit, they boost your SEO rankings and provide legal protection against accessibility complaints. In today’s digital world, accessibility isn’t optional – it’s an essential part of an effective website. Remember: it’s not just about compliance, it’s about creating a better experience for your entire audience. Make accessibility a priority today, and your customers will thank you for it.