Creating an accessible website is about more than just compliance—it’s about offering an inclusive experience that reflects your commitment to serving all your customers. For small businesses, this can be a game-changer, allowing you to engage with a wider audience and build stronger relationships with your community.
Imagine walking into your favorite local shop only to find that one door is locked, the lights are too dim to see, and the signs are impossible to read—this is the experience millions of users face daily when they encounter inaccessible websites. Regardless of their abilities, every user deserves an experience that allows them to navigate, interact with, and enjoy your site without barriers. For small businesses, this means more than just ticking a legal compliance box—it's about broadening your reach and ensuring that all customers, regardless of limitations, can engage with your brand.
Let’s break down how to make sure your online presence is inclusive and accessible to all users.
When your website is accessible, you’re making it easier for everyone—including people with disabilities—to use. This can mean the difference between a potential customer staying on your site or leaving out of frustration. Accessibility can cover various needs, from visual impairments and mobility issues to cognitive disabilities. By enhancing your site, you're providing a better experience for users and increasing your market potential.
Alt text (alternative text) describes the content of an image for screen readers used by people with visual impairments. For example, if you own a small bakery, you might use alt text like, "Chocolate cupcake with sprinkles, freshly baked at Sunny's Bakery." This simple step ensures that all users can understand what’s visually displayed on your site.
Some users rely on a keyboard, rather than a mouse, to navigate a website. Your site should allow them to easily tab through different sections, buttons, and links. This is particularly important for e-commerce sites. Imagine a customer with limited mobility wanting to book your services but finding themselves unable to complete the booking because the button isn't keyboard-accessible. Avoid these pitfalls by ensuring your site’s design is compatible with keyboard-only navigation.
Choosing the right font size and contrast is key. Small businesses often pack their sites with content, but if the text is too small or blends into the background, users will struggle to read it. Use a legible font size (we recommend at least 16px) and make sure there’s enough contrast between text and background colors. For instance, a bright yellow text on a white background may be hard for users to see. Tools like contrast checkers can help you evaluate if your color scheme is accessible.
Videos are an excellent way to engage users, but what about people with hearing impairments? Providing captions and transcripts ensures everyone can enjoy your content. If you're running a fitness studio and posting workout tutorials online, captions can make a huge difference for someone who can't hear the instructions clearly. It's a simple addition that broadens your audience reach.
An intuitive layout benefits everyone, but it’s especially helpful for users with cognitive disabilities or those who might find complicated menus overwhelming. Stick to a clean design and clear navigation paths. If you run a small retail store, for example, ensure that your categories and product pages are straightforward to find and easy to access, so no customer is left confused about how to shop on your site.
There are several free tools you can use to test your site’s accessibility, like WAVE or Google's Lighthouse tool. These tools will highlight areas where your site might be falling short and offer actionable suggestions for improvement.
Creating an accessible website is about more than just compliance—it’s about offering an inclusive experience that reflects your commitment to serving all your customers. For small businesses, this can be a game-changer, allowing you to engage with a wider audience and build stronger relationships with your community.
At Open Design, we're passionate about helping businesses build websites that are not only beautiful but also accessible. Ready to make sure your site is welcoming to everyone? Let’s connect and start building a more inclusive web today.
