Why website accessibility should matter to you and your business.
Inaccessible websites are more than just a poor user experience—they can become a barrier to finding a job, finding contractors, education, and basic participation in modern life.
Accessibility isn’t a “nice-to-have”; it’s a “must-have.”
So, why do companies still treat web accessibility like an optional feature? Perhaps because they don’t understand how critical it is for business success.
Over 1 billion people worldwide live with some form of disability. In the U.S., the spending power of this group alone is nearly $490 billion. That’s a pretty big audience to ignore.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other regulations make website accessibility a legal requirement. Lawsuits against businesses with inaccessible websites are increasing. Being proactive about how you rebuild or retrofit your website now will prevent surprise legal expenses later and/or an expensive and rushed process to make necessary adjustments.
Showcasing your brand values through strategic and accessible website design is a powerful way to connect with your audience. Creating a user-friendly experience for all, including the 1 billion people with disabilities, demonstrates a commitment to inclusivity that resonates with partners, staff, and potential customers.
What does accessibility look and feel like?
Accessibility is a collection of right-fit strategies for ensuring that people with visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive disabilities can navigate and interact with your website just as effectively as anyone else. That could mean:
+ Screen reader compatibility: Ensuring your website can be parsed by screen readers, software (like JAWS or NVDA) designed to help people who are blind or low-vision use computers, tablets, and smartphones.
+ Alternative keyboard navigation: Making sure users can get around without the use of a mouse.
+ Design with sufficient color contrast: Because nobody should need superhuman vision to read your content.
+ Captions and transcripts: Because not everyone can hear your video.
+ Alternative text for images: Detailed, specific descriptions enhance your website experience for visually impaired users.
In the physical world, curb cuts (ramps to access sidewalk blocks) are one of the best examples of how thoughtful accessibility benefits everyone. Originally designed to help wheelchair users navigate sidewalks, they also make life easier for parents with strollers, travelers with rolling luggage, and people and animals with limited mobility. When we prioritize inclusive design, we create solutions that improve everyday experiences for all.
How analytics tools can inform accessibility strategies on your website
Let’s talk about data. If you’re not tracking how people use your website, how do you even know if your accessibility efforts, or any other user experience strategies, are working?
Web analytics can reveal whether users are bouncing from your site faster than you from an awkward networking event. They can show where people get stuck, what content they engage with, and whether your accessibility updates are actually making a difference.
By combining accessibility best practices with solid analytics, you’re creating a better experience for everyone, but especially your clients and talent candidates. Better experiences mean more engagement, happier users, and, ultimately, better business results.
Want to find out if your website is actually working for your users?
We’re hosting a free 1-hour virtual event on Wednesday, March 12th at 11 a.m. PST / 2 p.m. EST with our website development partner, Joe Oppegaard from Montana Banana, called “Analytics & Accessibility: Creating websites for everyone.” You’ll learn practical steps to improve your website’s usability and measure impact.
Learn more and register via Eventbrite here.
