Our campaigns achieved a remarkable 24X ROAS for a client in 2023
Our campaigns achieved a remarkable 24X ROAS for a client in 2023
May 2024
5 Mins
Web accessibility. It’s the practice of creating websites that are usable—and accessible—for all visitors, regardless of a disability or impairment. It provides all users access to the same information and services that are available to everyone—be it news articles and information, online shopping and services, government information, and more. By making websites accessible, we promote digital inclusion—ensuring that everyone has equal access to online content.
In this post, we take a closer look at the importance of web accessibility and digital inclusion and how 45/RPM partners with accessiBe to help ensure websites of all shapes and sizes are more accessible and compliant.
While web accessibility should be a priority for all of us, many sites don’t comply with accessible web design best practices and guidelines. In fact, it is estimated that fewer than 3 percent of the hundreds of millions of active websites have been designed and created without accessibility in mind. And it’s not like it’s done on purpose—web accessibility tends to be overlooked and taken for granted.
The majority of websites are built to be used and engaged with by the click of a mouse or interacting with a touch screen, versus assistive technologies like screen readers and keyboards, which many people with disabilities rely on to access the internet and operate their computers.
One of the main reasons that web accessibility is so important is the growing number of people in our world who have some sort of disability. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) over 16% of the world’s population have a disability. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that 26% of the U.S. population—1 in 4 people—have a disability. This can include physical, sensory, cognitive and intellectual disabilities.
This all adds up to over 1 billion people worldwide and around 86 million people in the U.S. who may be unable to access the information and services they need. In a world where we live, work, and connect online, it is essential that websites are designed to be inclusive and accessible to all.
Digital inclusion benefits everyone. Ensuring digital inclusion improves the user experience for all users, not just those with disabilities. Key characteristics of accessible web design— clear and concise content, easy-to-use navigation, and high contrast design,—make your website easier to use and understand. This results in a more positive user experience, which can lead to increased engagement and a higher conversion rate.
It's better business. Website accessibility makes it possible to reach and serve a broader audience. It’s estimated that in 2021, ecommerce retailers lost $828 million over the holiday season because their websites were not accessible. Being accessible can also boost a brand’s reputation and image, as well as potentially impact your SEO ranking.
It keeps you compliant. Web accessibility is not only the right thing to do, in some cases, it’s also the law. In many countries, including the U.S., websites are required to be accessible under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). While web compliance is a whole separate conversation in itself, these laws prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities and require that businesses and organizations make reasonable efforts to accommodate their needs.
To ensure that a website is accessible, it’s important to incorporate web accessibility features such as alternative text for images, captioning for videos and keyboard-only navigation. There are also tests and evaluations you can run to help identify and address any accessibility barriers.
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) has developed the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). These guidelines provide a set of standards for web developers and designers to follow when creating websites to incorporate accessible web design.
You can also call on 45/RPM—along with accessiBe, our web accessibility partner of choice, to help get your website—and any other digital property—on the right track.
accessiBe’s vision is to make the internet accessible so that everyone, with and without disabilities, With the help of AI, they are developing technological solutions that help businesses, regardless of their size, resources, developers, and budget, to do the absolute best they can to take on web accessibility. accessWidget, their automated web accessibility solution is a true game-changer in the industry.
accessWidget is a subscription-based, AI-powered web accessibility solution that makes websites accessible to people with disabilities and helps keep businesses compliant with accessibility legislation. A combination of two applications working together, accessWidget automates the process of ADA compliance for websites of all sizes.
The accessibility interface is session-based tool that enables your users to customize and tailor your website according to their individual needs. They can select an accessibility profile, make visual and content adjustments, navigation enhancements, and more.
The AI-powered process works on the backend and seamlessly handles more complex requirements, such as optimization for screen readers and keyboard navigation.
We’ve embedded the accessWidget on a number of website projects, including Tulip Cremation—and even our own! To view accessWidget in action, simply visit our website and click on the red “person” icon in the lower right corner to activate the accessibility interface.
Another solution we love and use in house is accessFlow, an all-in-one platform that tests, monitors, and remediates the accessibility of websites and web applications. Less of a “plug-and-play” solution, it’s a powerful design tool that helps web designers and developers achieve and maintain native accessibility right from the start.
Want to learn more about web accessibility and how 45/RPM and accessiBe can help you be a champion of digital inclusion? Let’s talk.
