People of all ages, abilities and walks of life use the internet for conducting business, tracking finances and shopping. Adding a few small changes can make your site friendlier to users and help you comply with legal standards set by the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and other regulations. Here are some simple changes even the smallest businesses can make today.
1. Dark Mode Toggle
The Nielsen Norman Group looked at dark mode, mobile usability and user preferences. Around one-third of respondents said they use dark mode and one-third use light and dark at various times.
Dark mode offers better clarity for people with visual impairments such as cataracts and can also reduce eye strain for those on screens much of the day. However, it can make things harder to read for others, such as those with certain types of color blindness. Giving users the choice of light or dark mode via a toggle is a great way to improve accessibility for people with all kinds of visual preferences.
2. Alt Text
Adding alternative text is an excellent habit website owners should get into. Those using screen readers won’t know what an image is if you don’t add alt tags, which should clearly describe what is in the photo.
Put yourself in the shoes of someone who is legally blind. What do they need to know about the photo to get the most out of the experience?
3. Language Availability
The global aspects of online shopping mean you may need to offer your site in more than one language to meet the needs of all your users. Failure to do so could mean missing out on a significant portion of your customer base, as 76% of customers are more likely to purchase a product if they can view information in their native language.
Offering an easy way for users to click a tab to read the text in another language can be a great way to break language barriers and make your content more accessible for all.
4. Keyboard Operation
Those with mobility issues may need to use a keyboard rather than a mobile device to access your website. In a time when mobile-first design is popular, remember to test the desktop version with a keyboard hooked up.
Users should be able to use the space bar and arrows to move from one spot on the page to the next. The enter key can help them select an interactive element.
5. Contrast
Around 90% of a user’s first impression comes from color choices. Having the right balance of contrast helps those with visual impairments view your page without strain. Someone with color blindness may have trouble deciphering between two blue shades but can see things clearly when you use blue and white with strong shade differences.
Contrast makes text more readable for everyone and can make a call to action (CTA) button pop. Grab user attention by surrounding the CTA with white space to make it stand out even more.
6. ARIA Landmarks
Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA) are HTML codes that set a page structure. Screen readers can use the details to better navigate the order of elements on a page and tell users what section they are in.
7. Direct Language
In the early days of web development, some designers thought it would be cute to have themed pages and navigation. For example, a site about pirates might have an area called “booty” to indicate shopping. Unfortunately, indirect language makes it difficult for those with cognitive problems or secondary languages to understand what they’ll find when they click on the link.
It’s much better to use simple, clear directions so users know what they are navigating to. Stick with first- and second-person commands using active verbs, such as “Get Info on Garages,” or “Shop Now.” By doing so, you’ll avoid situations where people grow confused and bounce away to a competitor’s site.
Little Changes Make a Big Impact
Small fixes can make your site more accessible to those falling under ADA rules. It also shows your customers you care about their experience and are willing to add elements that help them navigate your site easily.
Test everything to ensure it works on various devices and with software that reads for them. A little extra function goes a long way toward an excellent user experience.
