It is important you understand about WCAG2 Guidelines if operating a business with an online presence in 2023. WCAG2 have been created to help make the internet more accessible to everyone. Have you ever visited a website to find it overwhelming and illegible? High bounce rates and confused why visitors are not sticking around longer to learn about your services? Now is the time to understand what these essential guidelines are. You can be sure of offering a better online business experience when you apply the WCAG2 Guidelines. In this blog post you will learn of the four (4) areas of concern when understanding the accessibility of your website.
Start by considering your own experiences online. Stuck looking for a solution online? You would hope to find a website that easily conveys the answer you are seeking. This is what the WCAG2 Guidelines address: that a website is created in such a way that everyone has the chance to interpret what is being conveyed. These areas of concern ensure everyone gets a fair go when browsing the web – and if it’s one thing Aussies loves it’s a fair go.
Perceivable
Perceivability refers to how a person might perceive or notice content on a webpage. It is how you visibly detect and denote design elements like font size, colour contrast and text alternatives for non-text content. Considering perceivability is key to ensuring a positive user experience. By way of example, web visitors may not interpret an image on your website as intended. You may need to incorporate text to help your web visitor decipher the image. Perceptibility is also influenced by any sound or visual elements such as video, animations or flashing calls to action. Colours and contrast also affect how your client can read and access your message on your webpage. Knowing who your clients are is a must when determining factors in how easy it is for them to find what they are looking for or purchase something within your site.
Operability
Operability looks at how easy and efficient it is for a web visitor to navigate your website. You need to consider how easily your client can move through your website, through buttons, tags, and their keyboard. Navigation consideration should include options for movement around your website such as forward and back buttons. Does the content on your website flow with ease for the user to go back and forth between pages, but also easily follow through your call to action (CTA). Review plugins to ensure they are functional and include options for busy ideas to be paused. The goal here is to limit overwhelm so the user can flow with ease throughout your website to get what they need, and/or make contact with you.
Understandable
The Understandable area of concern refers to the type of language you use on your website. Have you considered the reading level of your website? WCAG2 Guidelines state text should not require reading ability “more advanced than the lower secondary education level after removal of proper names and titles, supplemental content”. Keep your vocabulary easy to read, and make sure it’s able to be scanned quickly and understood well. Making your website easy to navigate can be achieved through consistency so that on each page they know where go because it’s always in the same place. Anticipate the needs of your web visitor, so they don’t have to think too hard what to do.
Robust
Robust talks about the behind-the-scenes that affects the front end of your site. Engage a good website strategist who understands how your site needs to work. The aim of the game here is to reduce the likelihood of errors and 404 pages. You don’t want your clients to get lost because something isn’t pointing to the right place. You want your clients to have a seamless experience so they can easily get to where you want them to go. Make sure your CTAs go to the right place the first time to show your client you are easy to work with.
These guidelines boil down to knowing your client and making sure they find your website easy to use. Never underestimate the benefits of having a website that is easy to understand and navigate. Remember navigation also includes including graphic design. Keep your message consistent and your business will grow.
How could you improve your website copy to better understood by your prospects?
Anna Mackenzie is Maestro Media’s Creative Director. You can connect with her on LinkedIn
