In today’s digital world, ensuring your website is accessible to all users isn’t just a courtesy—it’s a necessity. Accessibility not only helps in building an inclusive environment for all users, including those with disabilities but also provides legal protection and SEO benefits. To keep you on the right track, here are the 5 best practices for website accessibility that will set your business up for success, particularly when navigating the needs of diverse users.

These guidelines are designed to provide a better experience for users with disabilities, ensuring your site remains compliant with laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

Let’s dive into these practices and see how BigX Media can support you in this crucial endeavor.

The 5 Best Practices for Website Accessibility: Creating an Inclusive Digital Experience

1. Ensure Keyboard Accessibility for All Interactive Elements

One of the fundamental aspects of website accessibility is making sure that all interactive elements, such as buttons, forms, and links, can be accessed and operated using only a keyboard.

Users who rely on screen readers or those with mobility issues often use a keyboard for navigation instead of a mouse. Without proper keyboard accessibility, these users could be left out of the online experience entirely.

Here’s what you should be paying attention to:

• Tab Order: The navigation should follow a logical sequence, ensuring that users can tab through the content intuitively.
• Focus Indicators: When a user tabs on an interactive element, there should be a visible focus indicator (such as a border or shadow) to show where they are on the page.
• Skip Links: These links allow users to bypass repetitive content, like navigation menus, and jump straight to the main content.

BigX Media can audit your site to ensure that all critical interactive elements are accessible through keyboard commands. Our experts will help you fine-tune the tab order and add focus indicators, creating a seamless experience for all users.

2. Provide Descriptive Alt Text for All Images

Images add value to your website, but for users who are visually impaired, they can be a roadblock without proper descriptions. Screen readers rely on alt text to convey the purpose and content of an image to users.

One of the most important 5 best practices for website accessibility is making sure that every image on your site includes relevant and descriptive alt text.

Here are a few tips for writing effective alt text:

• Be Specific and Concise: Your alt text should describe the image succinctly, focusing on its content and function. For example, instead of “image of a person,” a more detailed description like “woman working on a laptop in a coffee shop” would provide better context.
• Include Keywords Thoughtfully: While alt text can help with SEO, don’t overload it with keywords. Make sure your description feels natural and informative.
• Decorative Images: If an image is purely decorative and does not add value to the content, the alt attribute should be left empty (alt=””), so screen readers will skip it.

At BigX Media, we can help you review and optimize your image alt texts, ensuring that they meet WCAG standards and improve accessibility without compromising SEO.

3. Use Semantic HTML for Proper Structure and Clarity

Websites need a clear, logical structure for both human users and assistive technologies like screen readers. By utilizing semantic HTML, you can enhance the user experience for all visitors.

This is one of the 5 best practices for website accessibility that significantly improves usability for disabled individuals by ensuring that content is well-organized and understandable.

Semantic HTML refers to the use of tags like <header>, <nav>, <article>, <section>, and <footer> to define the structure of your website. These elements help screen readers and other assistive technologies interpret the content correctly, offering better navigation for users with disabilities.

Best practices include:

• Headings: Use heading levels (<h1> to <h6>) properly to organize content hierarchically.
• Landmarks: Employ semantic tags like <main>, <aside>, and <nav> to help users quickly identify key sections of your site.
• Lists: Use ordered (<ol>) and unordered (<ul>) lists to break up content and make it easier to navigate.

By utilizing BigX Media’s expert development team, you can ensure that your website is built or revamped with semantic HTML, guaranteeing an accessible structure for all users.

The 5 Best Practices for Website Accessibility: Compliance and User Experience

4. Color Contrast and Text Readability

Poor color contrast is one of the most common accessibility issues on the web. For users with visual impairments, including color blindness or low vision, text with insufficient contrast can be difficult or impossible to read.

One of the 5 best practices for website accessibility is to maintain high contrast between text and background colors to improve readability for everyone.

To ensure that your website’s color contrast meets WCAG standards:

• Use Online Tools: There are various tools, such as WebAIM’s Contrast Checker, that can help you measure the contrast ratio between text and its background. The minimum acceptable contrast ratio is 4.5:1 for regular text and 3:1 for large text.
• Avoid Relying on Color Alone: Some users are unable to differentiate between certain colors, so avoid using color as the only means of conveying important information. Use text labels, patterns, or other visual cues in addition to color.
• Consistent Font Choices: Make sure your fonts are legible and large enough to be easily read, ideally no smaller than 16px for body text.

BigX Media specializes in evaluating your site’s color contrast and text readability. We can redesign or adjust your site’s color palette to ensure maximum accessibility while preserving your brand identity.

5. Provide Accessible Forms

Forms are essential for gathering user information, but poorly designed forms can be a significant barrier for users with disabilities.

Accessible forms are another one of the critical 5 best practices for website accessibility. They ensure users with screen readers, mobility impairments, or cognitive disabilities can successfully interact with your site.

Here’s how you can improve the accessibility of your forms:

• Label Your Fields: Each form field must have a clear and descriptive label. Labels should be explicitly associated with their corresponding fields using the <label> tag or aria-label attributes.
• Error Identification: Make sure that form errors are clearly identified and described. For example, if a required field is left blank, notify the user with an error message that includes directions on how to correct the mistake.
• Fieldset and Legend: Group related form fields together using the <fieldset> and <legend> elements. This helps users understand the relationship between fields, especially on more complex forms.

At BigX Media, we help businesses audit and enhance the accessibility of their forms. Our team can ensure your forms meet all accessibility requirements while still being easy to use for all users.

How BigX Media Can Help You with the 5 Best Practices for Website Accessibility

Building an accessible website is not a one-time task; it’s an ongoing process that requires regular updates, audits, and improvements.

While these 5 best practices for website accessibility will set you on the right track, there’s always more to do to keep up with changing guidelines, user needs, and technological advancements.

At BigX Media, we offer a comprehensive range of services designed to improve and maintain your website’s accessibility. Here’s how we can help:

1. Accessibility Audits and Assessments

Our team conducts thorough website accessibility audits to identify any potential issues. We look at how your website performs across the 5 best practices for website accessibility, including keyboard navigation, image alt text, semantic HTML, color contrast, and forms.

2. Customized Web Development Solutions

We provide tailored solutions to enhance your website’s accessibility, ensuring compliance with WCAG and ADA standards. From designing accessible forms to optimizing color contrast and implementing semantic HTML, we handle all aspects of accessibility.

3. Ongoing Monitoring and Updates

Accessibility isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it task. As new content is added to your site or guidelines evolve, your site’s accessibility needs will change too. BigX Media offers ongoing support, including periodic audits and updates to keep your site compliant and user-friendly.

4. User Testing and Feedback

We can set up user testing with individuals who have disabilities to gather real-world feedback on your site’s usability. This invaluable insight allows us to make data-driven improvements based on actual user experiences.

5. Training and Resources

We empower your team with the knowledge and tools they need to maintain an accessible website. Whether through in-house training or providing resource guides, BigX Media ensures that accessibility is an integrated part of your web development process.

Conclusion: Make Accessibility a Priority with BigX Media

Implementing the 5 best practices for website accessibility is not just about legal compliance—it’s about creating an inclusive experience that works for everyone.

Whether your users have visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive disabilities, accessible websites help them engage with your content, enhancing your overall customer reach.

Accessibility is also beneficial for your business. Not only does it improve your search engine rankings, but it also enhances your brand reputation and opens your doors to a wider audience. When done correctly, these 5 best practices for website accessibility provide a solid foundation for future-proofing your digital presence.

Let BigX Media guide you through the complexities of website accessibility. With our expert team and commitment to helping businesses thrive, we will ensure that your website is not only compliant but also user-friendly for everyone. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you implement these 5 best practices for website accessibility and beyond!