As website owners, it’s important to ensure that our website is accessible to everyone. Not only is it the right thing to do, but it’s also important for SEO. In this article, we’ll explore 10 tips for improving website accessibility for SEO.
Use descriptive heading tags
Heading tags are used to structure the content of a web page. It’s important to use descriptive heading tags to make it easier for people with disabilities to understand the content. It also helps search engines understand the structure of the content on your website.
Use alternative text for images
Alternative text (alt text) is a description of an image that appears when the image fails to load. Alt text is also used by screen readers to describe the image to people with visual impairments. By including alt text, you can improve the accessibility of your website and help search engines understand the context of your images.
Ensure keyboard accessibility
Some people with disabilities may not be able to use a mouse, so it’s important to ensure that your website is fully accessible via keyboard. This means that users should be able to navigate your website and access all of its content using only the keyboard.
Use color carefully
Color can be used to convey information on a website, but it’s important to ensure that the information is also conveyed in a non-color way. For example, if you’re using color to indicate a required field in a form, you should also use text to indicate that the field is required.
Provide captions and transcripts for video and audio content
Video and audio content should be accompanied by captions and transcripts. This makes the content accessible to people with hearing impairments, and it also makes it easier for search engines to understand the content of the video or audio.
Make sure links are descriptive
Links should be descriptive and should clearly indicate where they lead. This is important for people using screen readers, as well as for search engines. Instead of using phrases like “click here,” use descriptive phrases like “read the full article.”
Ensure proper form labeling
Forms should be properly labeled to make them accessible to people with disabilities. Labeling each form field helps users understand what information is required, and it also helps search engines understand the purpose of each field.
Provide skip navigation links
Skip navigation links allow users to skip over repetitive content and go straight to the main content on a web page. This is important for people using screen readers, as well as for people using the keyboard to navigate your website.
Use a clear and easy-to-read font
The font you use on your website should be clear and easy to read. This is important for people with visual impairments, as well as for people who are reading your website on a small screen. A clear font also makes it easier for search engines to crawl your website.
Test your website for accessibility
Finally, it’s important to test your website for accessibility. There are a number of tools available that can help you identify accessibility issues on your website. By testing your website for accessibility, you can ensure that it’s accessible to everyone and that it’s optimized for SEO.
In conclusion, improving website accessibility is important for both ethical and SEO reasons. By following these 10 tips, you can improve the accessibility of your website and ensure that it’s optimized for search engines. Remember, accessibility isn’t just about making your website accessible to people with disabilities – it’s about making your website accessible to everyone.