6 Reasons Why Web Accessibility Is Good for Business

90% of websites are inaccessible to people with disabilities who rely on assistive technology (AbilityNet). By creating an accessible solution, you also increase the number of people who can actually use your solution, thus potentially increasing your market share.

Apart from providing a much better user experience, web accessibility is also closely related to better Search Engine Optimization (SEO). 

Google tends to reward you and your business if you ensure a certain level of accessibility initiatives, such as providing alternative texts for images and descriptive links which can be read by a screen reader and a Google crawler.

With an accessible website, you'll be able to offer your users more navigation options, sharper color contrasts (check out the Siteimprove Accessibility Explorer for more), clear decoding of icons and button links. All elements that all people will benefit from - even those who don't have a permanent disability.

When we talk about web accessibility, we are not only talking about helping those with disabilities. We also want to accomodate temporary influences on our ability to access a digital solution. For example:

Captioning in videos is essential for people with hearing disabilities, but also important for people in loud environments, or even individuals who are not comfortable speaking a specific language. 

Large and easy-to-press buttons are essential for people with deteriorating motor skills, but also crucial for people in motion, whether on a walk or even on a shaky bus.

The math is actually simple: Increased traffic (due to better placement in search results) + lower bounce rate (due to improved user-friendliness) = increased conversion (and potential profit).

As a rule, traffic to your site is good, and more traffic is even better. However, if your site is not user-friendly, visitors will likely leave it without getting what they’re after. You don’t want that and we don’t want that. Working with web accessibility offers both improved SEO and increased user-friendliness, which will ensure more traffic, a lower bounce rate, and, best of all, better conversions.

Semantic correct code is a way to categorize the page's content, making it easier for both people and computers to understand it. For example, semantic code can help the browser understand what and where the headline and body text is. This, in turn, helps search engines present the most relevant content at the top of the results.

With semantically correct code, you will also ensure that your digital solution is future-proof, as most new technologies, browsers, and browser updates focus increasingly on pages that can be read and understood by machine intelligence.

There is a good chance that user-friendly websites can increase customer satisfaction. This means that you have a good foundation for building a base of loyal customers who want to return to your website. Especially with third-party cookies going away, creating a loyal customer base is more important than ever.

Accessibility testing is easier than ever! Explore the axe Developer Hub for more.

This year, consider adding a focus on web accessibility to your CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) strategy. Read more about web accessibility in WCAG's guidelines or contact us for a talk about the potential for higher profitability for better web accessibility on your website.