Picture this: You’ve just launched your beautifully designed website, complete with stunning visuals and cutting-edge features. But here’s the thing—20% of your potential audience can’t use it properly.

That’s not a hypothetical nightmare. That’s the reality when websites ignore accessibility. Whether it’s someone navigating with a screen reader, dealing with motor disabilities, or simply trying to browse on an older device, accessibility isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s essential. And guess what? Search engines think so too.

Ready to make your website work for everyone while boosting your SEO? Let’s dive into the practical steps you need to take today.

Why Should You Care About Web Accessibility?

Before we get into the how, let’s talk about the why. Web accessibility means designing your website so that people with disabilities can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with it effectively.

Here’s what’s in it for you:

Legal protection: Laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) aren’t suggestions—they’re requirements. Non-compliance can lead to costly lawsuits.

Bigger audience: You’re literally expanding your market by millions of potential customers. Why would you want to exclude them?

Better SEO: Google loves accessible websites. Many accessibility practices—like proper heading structures and alt text—directly improve your search rankings.

Enhanced user experience: When you design for accessibility, everyone benefits. Clear navigation, readable fonts, and logical structure make browsing easier for all users.

Still think accessibility is optional? Let’s get you up to speed.

Start With Semantic HTML: Your Foundation for Success

Think of semantic HTML as the backbone of your accessible website. Instead of throwing random <div> tags everywhere, you need to use HTML elements that actually describe their content.

What does this look like in practice? Use <header> for your site header, <nav> for navigation menus, <main> for primary content, and <footer> for footer information. Screen readers rely on these semantic landmarks to help users navigate your site efficiently.

Here’s a quick comparison:

Your headings should follow a logical order—don’t skip from H1 to H3 just because you like how it looks. Screen reader users jump between headings to navigate, and a messy structure confuses everyone.

Make Your Images and Media Accessible

Have you ever thought about how someone who can’t see navigates your image-heavy website? This is where alt text becomes your best friend.

Writing Effective Alt Text

Every image needs descriptive alt text—but here’s the trick: context matters. You’re not just describing what’s in the image; you’re explaining why it’s there.

For a product image, don’t write “woman holding coffee mug.” Instead, try “White ceramic coffee mug with ergonomic handle, 12oz capacity.” See the difference? You’re conveying the information someone needs to make a purchasing decision.

For decorative images that don’t add meaning, use empty alt text (alt="") so screen readers skip them. Not every visual element needs narration.

Don’t Forget Video and Audio Content

Videos need captions—period. Not just for deaf users, but for people watching in sound-sensitive environments. Transcripts take this a step further by making your content searchable and indexable by search engines. That’s an SEO win!

Ensure Keyboard Navigation Works Perfectly

Can you navigate your entire website using only your keyboard? Try it right now—seriously, put down your mouse and use only Tab, Enter, and arrow keys.

Many users with motor disabilities rely exclusively on keyboard navigation. If they can’t access your menu, fill out your form, or close that popup, you’ve lost them.

Quick keyboard accessibility checklist:

Make sure all interactive elements (buttons, links, form fields) are reachable with the Tab key. The focus indicator should be clearly visible—don’t remove that outline without replacing it with something equally obvious. Users need to know where they are on your page.

Skip navigation links are incredibly helpful. These hidden links let keyboard users jump straight to main content instead of tabbing through your entire navigation menu every single page. Your regular visitors might never notice them, but they’re lifesavers for keyboard users.

Design With Color Contrast and Visual Clarity

Ever tried reading light gray text on a white background? Frustrating, isn’t it? Now imagine dealing with that while having low vision or color blindness.

Understanding Color Contrast Ratios

WCAG requires a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text. Don’t worry—you don’t need to calculate this manually. Tools like WebAIM’s Contrast Checker do the heavy lifting for you.

But contrast isn’t just about accessibility—it’s about usability. Everyone struggles to read low-contrast text, especially on mobile devices in bright sunlight.

Never rely on color alone to convey information. If your error messages are only red text without an icon or label saying “Error,” colorblind users won’t recognize the problem. Add text labels, icons, or patterns to ensure everyone gets the message.

Test, Test, and Test Again

You wouldn’t launch a website without testing it on different browsers, right? The same principle applies to accessibility. You need to actively test your site with the tools your users actually use.

Download a screen reader like NVDA (free for Windows) or use VoiceOver (built into Mac). Navigate your site without looking at the screen. Is it making sense? Can you complete key tasks like making a purchase or filling out a contact form?

Browser extensions like WAVE or Axe DevTools scan your pages for accessibility violations and explain how to fix them. Run these tests regularly, especially after updates.

And here’s the gold standard: get feedback from actual users with disabilities. They’ll catch issues automated tools miss and provide insights you never considered.

Your Action Plan: What to Do Today

Web accessibility isn’t a one-time project—it’s an ongoing commitment. But you don’t need to fix everything overnight. Start small, build momentum, and keep improving.

Begin by auditing your most important pages. Fix critical issues like missing alt text and keyboard traps first. Then work your way through contrast problems, heading structures, and form labels.

Remember, every improvement you make opens your website to more people while strengthening your SEO. That’s what we call a win-win. So what are you waiting for? Let’s make the web work for everyone.