Brittany
Do you want to know the number one website mistake businesses make?
They create beautiful sites that millions of people are unable to use. And here’s the real kicker…
Website accessibility isn’t a design problem. It’s a business problem that’s costing companies money and customers, every single day.
Web accessibility is one of the most overlooked components of building a successful online presence. When done right, website accessibility opens your business up to a whole new, massive audience you may be leaving on the table. In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about website accessibility, why it matters, and how to get it right.
Let’s dive in!
Here’s what we will be covering:
- Why Website Accessibility Matters For Your Business
- The Real Cost of Ignoring Accessibility
- Key Accessibility Features Every Site Needs
- Making Accessibility Part of Your Strategy
Why Website Accessibility Matters For Your Business
Website accessibility refers to the design and creation of sites that can be used by everyone.
This includes people with disabilities. Blind, deaf, users with motor impairments, cognitive disabilities and more.
Here’s a fact you need to know:
Approximately 1.3 billion people worldwide have a disability. That’s a massive potential market right there. If your website is inaccessible, you are directly excluding a huge chunk of those users.
Investing in professional web design services should mean that accessibility is a core part of your strategy from the very beginning. Quality web design is not just about having a beautiful looking website, it’s also about making a website that works for everyone.
Let’s put it another way…
If a user is unable to navigate your site, read your content, or complete a purchase due to accessibility issues, they will simply find those services somewhere else. Guaranteed.
The Real Cost of Ignoring Accessibility
Let me show you a few stats that may open your eyes.
94.8% of websites have detectable accessibility issues
Wait, what? Yep, that means a vast majority of sites on the internet right now are excluding huge chunks of potential users.
And it gets worse…
The average website has 51 accessibility errors on a given page
51 errors. Not mistakes. Errors. This includes serious issues that create real barriers to using the site.
Here’s the thing that really matters to business owners, though.
Businesses face serious legal ramifications from inaccessible sites. There were over 4,000 accessibility lawsuits filed in 2024 alone. A single lawsuit can cost a company six figures to defend.
But it’s not just legal risk and bad press.
Studies show websites with higher accessibility scores report higher revenue levels. When you make a site accessible, you open the door to new revenue streams.
Key Accessibility Features Every Site Needs
OK, so what does a truly accessible website look like?
I’ll walk you through the features you need to focus on and what each means for your site:
Provide Proper Text Alternatives
Alt text is the king of accessibility.
Every image needs a descriptive alt text that screen readers can read aloud to blind users. It’s how these users “see” the images on your page. So make sure you add it to product images, infographics, logos and more.
Writing alt text is easy. Clear, concise descriptions of what’s in the image, in one or two sentences.
Keyboard Navigation
Not everyone uses a mouse to navigate your website.
Some users can only use keyboards or other assistive devices to move around a website. For these users, your website must work completely with keyboard controls. That means all links, buttons and form fields must be reachable using the tab key.
Test your website with keyboard controls only. Can you reach and activate every function using tab and enter? If not, you have a problem.
Color Contrast
Let me let you in on a little secret that most designers miss…
Low contrast text is incredibly hard for users to read, or even completely impossible. Users with vision impairments are not the only ones impacted by color choice. Low contrast text also impacts older users, users viewing sites on their phones in bright sunlight and more.
Tools exist to check your color contrast choices. Use them.
Clear Form Labels
Forms are an essential part of most business websites.
Contact forms, newsletter signups, checkout, surveys and more. All of these require accessible forms. That means a clear descriptive label for each form field. Placeholder text alone is not enough.
Users need to know exactly what information they need to enter into each field.
Logical Heading Structure
Headings help to structure the information on your web page.
They are more than just a styling choice. Headings are used by screen readers to navigate pages, and by users to scan for information quickly. Use heading tags in proper hierarchical order. Don’t skip heading levels just because it looks better to you.
Logical heading structure helps all users understand and scan your content.
Captions and Transcripts for Video
Captions for deaf and hard of hearing users.
Videos on your site need captions. Not only will this help users with hearing impairments, but it also helps everyone who may want to watch your videos without sound, non-native language speakers, and even users who prefer reading text to listening.
Transcripts are a nice to have, but don’t get left behind.
Accessibility Goes Beyond Features: Building Inclusive Experiences
Design and functionality are only half the accessibility battle.
Language, tone, imagery and overall website presentation also play a huge role in making your site inclusive. Remember that when designing any new features, content, or calls to action.
Making Accessibility Part of Your Strategy
The number one mistake businesses make with website accessibility?
Treating it as an afterthought.
Include accessibility requirements from day one in your website planning process. When planning new features, updating page layouts, adding calls to action or anything else, think about accessibility up front.
Train your team on accessibility basics.
Accessibility is not just the developer or designer’s problem. Content writers, project managers, executives and others also have a role to play in making your site accessible.
Conduct regular testing with real users who have disabilities.
While automated testing tools are a good start, they are no substitute for actual human testing. Find people who are willing to provide feedback on your website’s accessibility.
This should not be a one-and-done process, either. As you add new content, features, pages and functionality, you need to maintain those accessibility standards.
Remember that accessibility is an ongoing commitment.
Bottom Line
At Boomcycle, we believe accessibility should be a core part of any successful website.
Boomcycle clients benefit from the expertise of our web developers who have been creating accessible sites for over 17 years.
Web Accessibility Checklist
- Alt text for images
- Keyboard accessible navigation
- Color contrast
- Clear form labels
- Logical heading structure
- Video captions and transcripts
- Site-wide language and tone inclusive of all potential users
