Many of us are unaware of the barriers people with disabilities face when navigating the online world. From a lack of clear heading structures to incompatibility with screen readers, around 97% of the web is thought to suffer from accessibility problems.
It’s perhaps no surprise, therefore, that disabled people are over 50% more likely to struggle to access digital and online services compared to those without a disability. In other words, there are far too many sites out there that cannot be used by everyone.
Beyond the social responsibility businesses have to provide accessible content, it’s in their best interests to deliver seamless user experiences. According to recent stats, companies lose a total of $6.9 billion every year as frustrated disabled customers navigate away from their inaccessible websites.
If you’re still wondering why accessibility is so vital to your revenue, reputation, and legal standing, we’ve put together some key reasons to add it to your list of key priorities.
Accessibility benefits everyone
Even people without disabilities can benefit from accessibility features such as captions, transcripts, readable fonts, and responsive design. Did you know, for example, that 63% of Millennials and Generation Z prefer watching videos with subtitles, even if they don’t have a hearing impairment? Or that most visitors will only read about 20% of a webpage, making clear subheadings a crucial tool in conveying important information? In our world of constant distractions, accessibility features can help people navigate digital spaces more easily.
Legal and financial risks
Failing to live up to your responsibilities surrounding web accessibility can lead to legal and financial problems. Businesses in the US must abide by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a civil rights law requiring companies to abide by certain rules that make their websites as easy to navigate as possible. Failure to abide by the ADA could result in legal action being brought against your organization. Remember – on top of costly settlements, poor accessibility will impact your revenues through lost prospects and opportunities.
Brand reputation
Businesses that care about their customers’ needs are more likely to build a positive brand reputation than those that neglect the user experience. By prioritizing accessibility, you can demonstrate your inclusive values and encourage socially minded customers and those with disabilities to use your services. It’s also worth noting that accessible websites tend to perform better on search engines such as Google, ensuring they generate maximum brand exposure.
How can you ensure accessibility?
There’s a lot to think about when building an accessible website. From ensuring colors are suitable for color blind individuals to adding ALT text in relevant places, you should leave no stone unturned to guarantee compliance and maximum usability. Plus, you’ll need to perform regular audits and updates to reflect the latest accessibility best practices. While this can represent a significant workload, working with a professional web design company will make the process as smooth and easy as possible, while avoiding the possibility of breaching Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
The bottom line – It’s time to invest in accessibility
As you can see, the cost of inaccessibility extends far beyond legal repercussions. Poor accessibility can also impact on customer loyalty, revenue, and your brand’s reputation. As the web becomes ever more crowded and competitive, there’s never been a better time to invest in web development services that can enhance user satisfaction and mitigate legal risks.