In an increasingly competitive digital landscape, businesses are constantly searching for ways to enhance their online presence and user experience.
Prioritising accessibility in website and digital product design offers not only legal compliance but also numerous business benefits that can drive growth, increase customer satisfaction, and strengthen brand credibility.
This blog post will explore seven key advantages of embracing accessibility in your business, illustrating how accessible design can unlock new opportunities, expand your market reach, and lead to long-term success.
Making your digital products accessible allows you to reach a wider audience, including the estimated 15% of the world’s population with disabilities, according to the World Health Organization. By catering to this significant demographic, businesses can increase their potential customer base and market share. For example, adding subtitles to video content can make it accessible to the 11 million people in the UK with hearing impairment, according to Action on Hearing Loss.
Accessible websites and digital products are typically easier to use and navigate for everyone, not just those with disabilities. This can lead to a better user experience, increased customer satisfaction, and higher retention rates. Consistent and clear navigation menus, for example, benefit both users with visual impairments and those using screen readers, making it easier for all visitors to find the information they need. Need more detail? Take a deeper look at Andy Park’s accessibility and anxiety best design practices.
Many accessibility best practices, such as using descriptive tags and structuring content properly, align with search engine optimisation (SEO) guidelines. Accessible websites are often more discoverable, increasing organic search traffic and visibility. For instance, using descriptive alt tags for images not only helps visually impaired users but also boosts image search rankings, making your website more visible to a broader audience. Find out how SEO works here.
Committing to accessibility proves that a business invests in inclusivity and incorporates ethical business practices to be socially responsible. Things like that don’t fall unnoticed by consumers, who are willing to stay loyal to brands that offer a competitive edge. The BBC, for example, has earned recognition for its commitment to accessibility and inclusive design, which has strengthened the organisation’s brand image.
Although not the primary motivation, making digital products accessible can help businesses avoid potential lawsuits and financial penalties associated with non-compliance with accessibility legislation, such as the UK Equality Act 2010. In 2017, a visually impaired customer sued Lloyds Banking Group for failing to make its website and mobile app accessible, leading to costly litigation and negative publicity. Ensuring that your digital products are accessible can reduce these legal risks.
Designing for accessibility can lead to innovative solutions that benefit everyone. Accessible design is often more flexible, making it easier to adapt to new technologies and user needs in the future. For example, responsive design, initially driven by accessibility needs, now benefits all users by enabling seamless browsing across different devices. This forward-thinking approach can help future-proof your digital products.
Accessible websites and digital products can encourage more interaction from users, leading to higher engagement rates, conversions, and, ultimately, increased revenue. For instance, e-commerce websites that offer accessible product descriptions, images, and checkout processes can significantly increase sales by catering to users with disabilities. This increased engagement can contribute to your business’s overall growth and success.
Embracing accessibility in website and digital product design goes beyond simply adhering to legal requirements. By prioritising accessibility, businesses can unlock a wealth of opportunities and benefits, including an expanded audience, improved usability, enhanced SEO performance, a strengthened brand reputation, reduced legal risks, innovative future-proof design, and increased customer engagement and revenue.
Investing in accessibility is a strategic decision that not only strengthens your brand credibility and inclusivity but also fosters growth and long-term success in today’s competitive digital marketplace. Don’t just meet compliance standards; seize the opportunity to set your business apart and pave the way for a more accessible and inclusive future.