Five best practices for website accessibility

Luke Meredith

Making a website accessible means ensuring as many people as possible can use it, regardless of their abilities or the technology they rely on.

An accessible website is easier to navigate and understand, and often provides a better experience for every visitor – not just those with disabilities.

Here are five simple accessibility best practices every website should follow.

Use clear headings and page structure

A well-structured page helps both visitors and assistive technologies understand your content.

Headings should follow a logical order and clearly describe the sections that follow. This makes it much easier for people using screen readers to move around a page without having to read every word.

A good structure also improves readability for everyone visiting your website.

Make sure colour isn’t the only way information is shown

Some visitors have colour vision deficiencies, while others may struggle to see low-contrast text.

Important information shouldn’t rely solely on colour. Error messages, status updates and calls to action should include text or icons as well as colour so that everyone can understand them.

Choosing colours with good contrast also makes your content easier to read on different screens and in different lighting conditions.

Write meaningful link text

Links such as “Click here” or “Read more” don’t provide much context, especially for people using screen readers.

Instead, make the link describe where it goes or what the visitor can expect. For example, “Download our brochure” or “View our web design services” gives much more useful information.

Clear link text also makes pages easier to scan.

Ensure your website works with a keyboard

Not everyone uses a mouse to browse the internet.

Visitors should be able to move through your website using only a keyboard, including menus, forms and buttons. The currently selected item should also be clearly visible so users always know where they are on the page.

Testing keyboard navigation can quickly reveal areas that need improving.

Add alternative text to images

Alternative text, often called alt text, describes an image for people who can’t see it.

It allows screen readers to explain what an image shows and can also help if an image fails to load. Decorative images don’t always need alternative text, but images that provide information should always include a clear description.

Writing accurate alt text is a small change that can make a significant difference.

Build a website that works for everyone

Website accessibility isn’t about ticking boxes. It’s about creating a website that is easier for everyone to use.

Many accessibility improvements are straightforward to implement and can improve usability, customer experience and even support your SEO (search engine optimisation) efforts.

If you’d like help making your website more accessible, speak to Engage Web. Our team can identify practical improvements and help you create a website that’s welcoming to every visitor.

About
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Luke Meredith

Content Editor at Engage Web

At home in both the digital sector and the world of communications, Luke thrives on deadlines and has held roles in healthcare, retail and digital marketing, gaining a sound knowledge of a wide range of sectors. He’s a massive swot as well, holding a first-class degree in BA Communication and Media, and now uses his writing skills and keen editorial eye in his role as Content Editor here. Luke helps to oversee our clients’ content requirements, while also looking after a pool of freelance writers across three continents.