Understanding Web Accessibility and Its Impact on Your Site

First off, many may not be aware of what exactly web accessibility is. Essentially as buildings must be in ADA compliance, web accessibility goes along with this same idea: a website should be designed so that those with disabilities can easily use it. For instance, many people require a screen reader to be able to access the internet. Is your site compatible?

According to the US Census Bureau, one in five Americans has a disability; such may include vision impairment, cognitive disabilities, hearing and motor impairment, among others. These types of disabilities can certainly make it more difficult for a person to access the internet. If there are videos for example without closed captioning, this would then, of course, present a problem for some people.

So what exactly does this mean for your business site…If a person who does happen to have a disability comes across your site with the intent of making a purchase, but the accessibility of that site renders this too difficult, then obviously that person will most likely buy from your competitor who is actually conscientious about web accessibility.

What’s more, some people are actually taking more of a proactive stand in the quest to make websites more accessible. Lawsuits have been filed against celebrities and big brands whose sites don’t provide equal access for those with disabilities. Domino’s Pizza for instance lost in court when sued by a blind customer who had trouble ordering from their site as it wasn’t compatible with screen reading software.

So what types of things can you do to help make your site more accessible? For one, as far as accommodating those with visual impairments, make sure that it works with standard screen readers. In terms of design, using more contrast as far as colors go helps those who have color blindness and other such vision issues.

Now certainly, making your site more accessible can cost quite a bit of money; however, in the long run, it could also save you quite a bit. Domino’s easily spent tens of thousands in court. As you set out to design your company website, you may want to seriously consider what types of things you can do to make it more accessible for everyone.

These days, having a company website is a must for brand awareness. Building a website and having a person to keep it updated at all times is one of the key elements to a successful business.

At First Union Lending, we aim to help you succeed in every aspect of your business, thus, we offer a variety of business financial solutions for your needs. If you need a business loan to hire a website developer or a website design person, First Union Lending can help you achieve your goal. Talk to our financing specialist today, call 863-825-5626 or click here for more information about your ideal business loan that fits your needs.