Creating an Accessible Website: A Simple Checklist for Small Business Owners

As a small business owner, I understand the importance of having a website that is accessible to all users. My name is Ahmet Tasdemir, and I run a one-person web studio based in Georgia, serving small businesses across the United States. I've worked with numerous clients to create websites that not only look great but also provide an excellent user experience for everyone, including those with disabilities. In my experience, creating an accessible website is not only a moral obligation, but it also makes business sense, as it can increase your customer base by up to 20% and improve your search engine rankings.

What is website accessibility?

Website accessibility refers to the practice of making your website usable by people of all abilities, including those with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive disabilities. This includes ensuring that your website can be navigated using a keyboard, that images have alternative text, and that videos have closed captions. By making your website accessible, you can ensure that all users can access and use your website, regardless of their abilities. For example, I once worked with a client who had a website that was not accessible to users with visual impairments. By adding alternative text to images and improving the website's color contrast, we were able to increase the website's accessibility and improve the overall user experience.

Why is website accessibility important?

Website accessibility is important for several reasons. Firstly, it's a legal requirement under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which requires that all businesses provide equal access to goods and services for people with disabilities. Secondly, it's a moral obligation to ensure that all users can access and use your website, regardless of their abilities. Finally, it makes business sense, as it can increase your customer base and improve your search engine rankings. According to a study by the National Organization on Disability, 60% of people with disabilities prefer to shop online, and 71% of people with disabilities will leave a website that is not accessible. By making your website accessible, you can tap into this large and growing market.

A simple checklist for website accessibility

So, how can you ensure that your website is accessible? Here's a simple checklist to get you started: ensure that your website can be navigated using a keyboard, add alternative text to images, provide closed captions for videos, use clear and consistent navigation, and ensure that your website is compatible with assistive technologies such as screen readers. You can also use online tools such as WAVE and Lighthouse to test your website's accessibility and identify areas for improvement. I offer a free website audit on my website, which includes a review of your website's accessibility and provides recommendations for improvement.

Common accessibility mistakes to avoid

There are several common accessibility mistakes that small business owners make when creating their website. These include not providing alternative text for images, not providing closed captions for videos, and not ensuring that the website can be navigated using a keyboard. Another common mistake is not testing the website for accessibility, which can lead to a website that is not usable by people with disabilities. To avoid these mistakes, it's essential to test your website regularly and make accessibility a priority when designing and building your website. You can also use my website cost calculator to estimate the cost of creating an accessible website.

How to test your website for accessibility

Testing your website for accessibility is an essential step in ensuring that it is usable by people of all abilities. There are several online tools available that can help you test your website's accessibility, including WAVE and Lighthouse. These tools can identify areas for improvement and provide recommendations for fixing accessibility issues. You can also hire a professional, like me, to test your website and provide a detailed report on its accessibility. I offer a range of services, including website design and development, that can help you create an accessible website.

Conclusion and next steps

In conclusion, website accessibility is an essential aspect of creating a website that is usable by people of all abilities. By following the simple checklist outlined above and testing your website regularly, you can ensure that your website is accessible and usable by everyone. If you're unsure about how to make your website accessible or need help testing your website, I'm here to help. You can contact me through my website to learn more about my services and how I can help you create an accessible website. I also offer a range of resources on my website, including a website cost calculator and a free website audit, that can help you get started.

Additional resources

If you're looking for more information on website accessibility, there are several resources available. The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) provides a range of guidelines and resources on web accessibility, including the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1). You can also find information on website accessibility on my website, including a range of blog posts and resources. I'm committed to helping small business owners create accessible websites that are usable by people of all abilities, and I'm here to help you every step of the way.