An Accessible Website Will Reach More Users and Improve Your SEO

Autumn Consulting knows that website accessibility features are a hidden factor in the success of your search engine optimization (SEO) strategy. While these two elements might seem distinct, one focusing on inclusivity and the other on driving users to your website, both accessibility and SEO aim to provide a better user experience. Improving one can significantly benefit the other.

That's right, making your website accessible to everyone can have a positive impact on SEO. Here's why:

Why is Website Accessibility Important?
Improve your website accessibilityPeople with disabilities represent a significant portion of the internet population. By making your site accessible, you're ensuring everyone has an equal chance to find your content. This translates to a larger potential user base and a wider net for SEO, increasing your website’s potential for generating net new leads.

Accessibility and User Experience Go Hand-in-Hand
Think of SEO as a way to attract users to your website. But if those users can't navigate your site or understand your content, they're likely to bounce (leave quickly) and never return. Accessible websites are user-friendly, with clear navigation, proper use of alt text for images,and responsive design that works on all devices. This creates a positive user experience, which is a ranking factor for search engines like Google.

Three Accessibility Action Items for Your Website

    1. The Power of Proper Headings

Headings are like signposts on your webpage, guiding users through the content and helping them find the information they need. Proper heading structure is not only essential for user experience but also for SEO.

• Clear and Concise: Headings should be clear and concise, accurately reflecting the content of the section below.

• Logical Hierarchy: Headings should follow a logical hierarchy, using H1 for the main title, H2 for subheadings, and H3 for sub-subheadings, and so on.

• SEO Benefits: Search engines use headings to understand the structure and content of your webpage. Proper heading structure can help search engines index your content more effectively.

2. Make Images Accessible with Alt Text

Images can be a valuable asset to your website, but they can also be a barrier for users who are visually impaired or use screen readers. Alternative text, or alt text, provides a written description of an image, allowing users who cannot see the image to understand its content.

• Descriptive Text: Alt text should be descriptive, conveying the meaning and function of the image.

• Focus on Content: Avoid using alt text filled with keywords; focus on providing a clear description of the image content.

• SEO Benefits: Search engines can also use alt text to understand the content of your images, potentially improving your image search ranking.

3. Color Contrast: Essential for Readability

Proper color contrast ensures that text and other important elements are readable against their backgrounds. This is especially crucial for users with visual impairments, such as those with low vision or color blindness. For instance, high contrast between text and background colors helps users with poor eyesight read content more easily.

• WCAG Guidelines: The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) set forth specific color contrast ratios to ensure readability.

• Contrast Checkers: There are many free online tools available to check your website's color contrast ratio.

• SEO Benefits: While color contrast itself isn’t a direct ranking factor for search engines, accessibility improvements can indirectly boost your SEO. High color contrast can improve the usability of interactive elements like buttons and links, making them more distinguishable and easier to use.

Autumn Consulting has maintained a strategic partnership with Scalesology to provide it’s clients with a thorough Website Accessibility Audit. Contact Autumn Consulting today to discuss how we can use our 20 years of experience in digital marketing to ensure your website in in compliance with the latest accessibility standards and maximize the ROI for your business.

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