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Website Accessibility Best Practices: A Practical 10-Point Checklist

Explore website accessibility best practices with a practical 10-point checklist covering design, development, and testing.

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Website Accessibility Best Practices: A Practical 10-Point Checklist
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In an increasingly online environment, creating a website that everyone can use is no longer optional; it's essential. Website accessibility ensures that people with disabilities, including visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive impairments, can navigate, understand, and interact with your content effectively. But the benefits extend far beyond compliance. Implementing website accessibility best practices improves the user experience for all visitors, boosts your SEO, and strengthens your brand's reputation by demonstrating a genuine commitment to inclusivity. An inclusive web experience also removes friction points for users, which can positively impact key business metrics and help you improve conversion rate.
For content creators and small teams, especially those using streamlined platforms like Feather to turn Notion pages into blogs, building an accessible site from the ground up can seem daunting. This guide is designed to demystify the process by breaking it down into a prioritized, actionable checklist. We'll move beyond abstract principles to provide concrete examples, code snippets, and practical tips aligned with the internationally recognized Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
You'll learn how to master everything from foundational elements like semantic HTML and logical heading structure to crucial details like color contrast, keyboard navigation, and accessible forms. By following this comprehensive list, you will gain the knowledge and confidence needed to build a website that not only meets standards but also welcomes every single reader, creating a more engaging and effective online presence for your brand.

1. Master Semantic HTML for a Solid Foundation

Before diving into complex accessibility audits, start with the most fundamental of all website accessibility best practices: mastering semantic HTML. This means using HTML elements according to their intended purpose. Instead of relying on generic <div> and <span> tags for everything, use specific elements that describe the content they contain.
Using proper semantic HTML creates a meaningful document outline that assistive technologies, like screen readers, can interpret. A screen reader can announce "main content" or "navigation," allowing users to quickly jump to the section they need. This foundational practice provides a clear, logical structure that benefits everyone, from users with disabilities to search engine crawlers.
For content creators using platforms like Feather, this is particularly crucial. A well-structured blog post using semantic HTML is inherently more accessible and often performs better in search results because search engines can better understand the content's hierarchy and purpose.

Why It's a Foundational Practice

Semantic HTML is the skeleton of your webpage. A non-semantic structure, built entirely from <div>s, is like a building with no signs or labeled floors. While a sighted user might figure it out visually, a user relying on a directory (or a screen reader) would be completely lost. Semantic tags like <nav>, <main>, and <article> act as clear signposts.
Major publishers like The Guardian and BBC News excel at this. Their article pages are wrapped in <article> tags, main content is enclosed in <main>, and site-wide navigation is defined with <nav>. This clean structure provides a predictable and efficient user experience for assistive technology users.

Actionable Implementation Tips

  • Wrap Your Main Content: Enclose the primary content of every page, like your blog post or product listings, within a single <main> tag. This tells screen readers where the core information begins.
  • Use <article> for Self-Contained Content: Each blog post, product review, or news story should be wrapped in an <article> tag. This isolates it as a complete, distributable piece of content.
  • Define Navigation Areas: Replace <div>-based navigation menus with the <nav> element. This is a critical landmark for users who want to find their way around your site.
  • Structure with Headings Logically: Always start a page's main content with an <h1>. Follow it with <h2> for major sections, <h3> for subsections, and so on. Never skip heading levels (e.g., jumping from an <h2> to an <h4>), as this breaks the logical flow for screen reader users.

2. Alternative Text for Images (Alt Text)

If semantic HTML is the skeleton, then alternative (alt) text is the sensory detail that brings visual content to life for everyone. Alt text provides a textual description of an image, allowing users who rely on screen readers or have images disabled to understand the content and context. This core component of website accessibility best practices ensures no one misses out on crucial information conveyed visually.
For content creators, especially those using platforms like Feather, effective alt text is a dual-purpose tool. It makes your blog posts and articles accessible to a wider audience while simultaneously boosting your SEO. Search engines use this text to understand what an image contains, which can improve your content's discoverability in image search results.

Why It's a Foundational Practice

Without alt text, an image is a black hole for assistive technology. A screen reader might announce "image" or a long, unhelpful filename, leaving the user confused and missing context. Meaningful alt text bridges this gap, providing an equitable experience by describing the image's purpose and content. It ensures that charts, photos, and illustrations contribute to the story for all users, not just sighted ones.
Platforms like Wikipedia enforce strict standards for alt text, recognizing its importance for creating a universally accessible knowledge base. Similarly, stock photo sites like Unsplash and Adobe Stock now prompt or provide suggestions for alt text, highlighting the industry's shift toward an accessibility-first mindset. This practice turns decorative elements into informative ones.

Actionable Implementation Tips

  • Be Descriptive and Concise: Describe what is happening in the image. For a photo of a person working, write "A designer sketching wireframes in a notebook at a sunlit desk," not just "person working."
  • Avoid Redundancy: Never start with "Image of..." or "Picture of..." Screen readers already announce that it's an image, so this is unnecessary.
  • Use an Empty Alt Attribute for Decoration: If an image is purely decorative and adds no informational value (like a stylistic border), use an empty alt attribute: alt="". This tells screen readers to ignore it.
  • Include Important Text: If an image contains text that is central to its meaning, such as statistics on a chart, make sure to include that information in the alt text.

3. Keyboard Navigation and Focus Management

Many users cannot operate a mouse due to motor disabilities, temporary injuries, or simply preference. Ensuring your website is fully navigable using only a keyboard is one of the most critical website accessibility best practices. This means every interactive element, from links to form fields, must be reachable and operable using keys like Tab, Shift+Tab, Enter, and the spacebar.
notion image
Proper keyboard accessibility also requires clear focus management. A visible focus indicator, like a highlighted border, shows users exactly which element they are currently interacting with. For content creators using platforms like Feather, this is vital for ensuring visitors can navigate blog post archives, use comment forms, and subscribe to newsletters without needing a mouse.

Why It's a Foundational Practice

Navigating a website without a keyboard is like trying to use a remote control where the buttons aren't highlighted as you press them. You have no idea what action you're about to take. A missing or invisible focus state leaves keyboard users completely disoriented, rendering the site unusable.
Leading platforms like GitHub and Mailchimp master this. On GitHub, developers can navigate complex repositories, pull requests, and code editors entirely with a keyboard, guided by a prominent blue focus outline. Mailchimp's campaign editor is similarly keyboard-friendly, allowing users to build entire newsletters without touching a mouse. This commitment to keyboard accessibility empowers all users to interact efficiently.

Actionable Implementation Tips

  • Test Your Site Manually: Unplug your mouse and try to navigate your entire website using only the Tab key to move forward, Shift+Tab to move backward, and Enter or Spacebar to activate links and buttons.
  • Never Remove Focus Outlines: Avoid using CSS like outline: none; without providing a highly visible alternative. A custom, high-contrast border or background change is a great way to style focus states while maintaining accessibility.
  • Implement "Skip to Content" Links: Add a link at the very top of your page that is only visible when it receives keyboard focus. This link should jump the user directly to the <main> content area, allowing them to bypass repetitive navigation menus.
  • Ensure a Logical Tabbing Order: The order in which elements are focused should follow the visual layout of the page. This is usually handled automatically when using proper semantic HTML, but it's important to test.

4. Prioritize Color Contrast and Visual Design

Ensuring adequate color contrast is one of the most impactful website accessibility best practices because it directly affects readability. This means the color of your text must stand out clearly from its background color. Low contrast can make content difficult or impossible to read for users with low vision, color blindness, or even for those viewing a screen in bright sunlight.
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provide clear targets to aim for. They specify a minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for normal-sized text and 3:1 for large text (18pt or 14pt bold). For content creators on platforms like Feather, selecting an accessible theme or customizing colors with these ratios in mind ensures your blog posts and pages are legible for the widest possible audience.
notion image

Why It's a Foundational Practice

Visual design isn't just about aesthetics; it's about clear communication. If your readers can't distinguish text from its background, your message is lost. Think of it like trying to read light grey text on a white background. For many, it's a frustrating, eye-straining experience. Implementing high-contrast design is a fundamental act of consideration for your audience's diverse visual abilities.
Tech leaders like Apple and Stripe exemplify this principle. Apple’s website uses a simple, high-contrast palette of black, white, and blue to ensure text and interactive elements are always crisp and clear. Stripe’s documentation is another excellent example, where carefully chosen colors meet and exceed WCAG standards, making complex information easy to consume.

Actionable Implementation Tips

  • Use a Contrast Checker: Before finalizing your color palette, use a free tool like the WebAIM Contrast Checker or the Colour Contrast Analyser to test your foreground and background color combinations.
  • Don't Rely on Color Alone: Never use color as the only way to convey important information. For example, if you highlight an error field in red, also add an icon and a text label explaining the error.
  • Check Interactive States: Ensure that links and buttons have sufficient contrast in all their states, including hover, focus, and visited. Focus indicators themselves must also have strong contrast against the background.
  • Test with Simulators: Use a color blindness simulator tool like Color Oracle or built-in browser developer tools to see how your design appears to users with different types of color vision deficiencies.

5. Responsive and Mobile-Friendly Design

Beyond static desktop views, one of the most impactful website accessibility best practices is embracing responsive design. This practice ensures your website content reflows and remains fully functional across all device sizes, from large monitors to small smartphone screens. It directly addresses the needs of users who magnify their screens, as well as the ever-growing majority who access content on mobile devices.
A responsive layout prevents users from having to scroll horizontally to read a line of text, a major barrier for people with low vision who use screen magnification. For content creators using a platform like Feather, a mobile-first approach is non-negotiable, as it guarantees that your articles are as readable and engaging on a phone as they are on a laptop.

Why It's a Foundational Practice

A non-responsive site on a mobile device forces users to constantly pinch, zoom, and scroll in two dimensions, creating a frustrating and often impossible user experience. This is especially true for users with motor impairments who may struggle with precise gestures. A responsive design adapts content to the user's viewport, creating a single, seamless column of information that is easy to navigate.
Platforms like Medium and Dev.to are prime examples of this principle in action. Their content layouts fluidly adjust to any screen size, ensuring that text is always legible and interactive elements like buttons and links are easy to tap without accidental clicks. This adaptability is the hallmark of a modern, accessible website.

Actionable Implementation Tips

  • Test on Real Devices: While browser emulation is useful, always test your site on actual iOS and Android devices to catch platform-specific issues.
  • Ensure Adequate Touch Target Size: Make buttons, links, and form inputs at least 44x44 pixels. This prevents frustration for users with motor difficulties or those simply using a small screen.
  • Avoid Horizontal Scrolling: Your content should reflow to fit the width of any screen without requiring a horizontal scrollbar. This is a core requirement of WCAG's reflow criterion.
  • Use a Mobile-First CSS Approach: Design for the smallest screen size first, then use media queries to add complexity for larger screens. This often leads to cleaner, more efficient code. If you want a deeper dive, learn more about creating a mobile-first website.

6. Accessible Forms and Input Fields

Forms are the primary way users interact with your site, whether they are signing up for a newsletter, leaving a comment, or making a purchase. One of the most critical website accessibility best practices is ensuring these forms are usable by everyone. This means providing clear labels, helpful instructions, and understandable error messages so users with screen readers, motor impairments, or cognitive disabilities can complete them successfully.
For content creators on platforms like Feather, accessible forms directly impact engagement and conversion. An inaccessible newsletter signup form is a lost subscriber, and a confusing contact form is a missed opportunity. Making forms accessible removes barriers and ensures every visitor has an equal chance to connect with your brand.

Why It's a Foundational Practice

Forms are a direct conversation with your user, and inaccessible forms create a one-sided, frustrating dialogue. A form without proper labels is like a questionnaire with blank lines instead of questions. While a sighted user might guess the purpose of a field from its visual placement, a screen reader user hears only "edit text, blank," leaving them with no context.
Leaders in user experience like Mailchimp and Stripe master this. Their signup and payment forms use explicitly linked <label> elements for every input, provide clear instructions, and deliver specific error messages when something goes wrong. This thoughtful design ensures a smooth, independent experience for all users, building trust and reducing abandonment rates.

Actionable Implementation Tips

  • Use <label> for Every Input: Always pair an <input> field with a <label> element. Use the for attribute on the label and match it to the id of the input (e.g., <label for="email">Email</label> <input type="email" id="email">). Never rely on placeholder text as a label, as it disappears on input and is often ignored by assistive tech.
  • Mark Required Fields Clearly: Indicate required fields both visually (like with an asterisk) and programmatically. Add the required attribute to the input tag and, for screen readers, you can also use aria-required="true".
  • Provide Specific Error Messages: When a user makes a mistake, don't just say "Invalid input." Tell them exactly what is wrong, like "Please enter a valid email address." Use aria-describedby to programmatically link the error message to the corresponding input field so screen readers announce it.
  • Give Clear Instructions: For complex fields or formats, provide instructions outside the input field itself. For example, for a date field, add a note nearby that says "Format: MM/DD/YYYY" so users know what to enter without guessing.

7. Captions and Transcripts for Video and Audio Content

As video and audio become central to digital content, ensuring their accessibility is non-negotiable. One of the most impactful website accessibility best practices is providing captions for video and transcripts for all multimedia. This practice makes your content available to users who are deaf or hard-of-hearing and benefits countless others.
Captions and transcripts transform auditory information into a text-based format, unlocking your content for a wider audience. This includes users in sound-sensitive environments (like an office or public transit), non-native speakers who benefit from reading along, and even search engine bots, which can index the text to improve your content's discoverability.
For creators using platforms like Feather to embed podcast episodes or video tutorials, this practice is a powerful way to maximize reach and engagement. By making multimedia accessible, you cater to diverse user needs while simultaneously boosting your SEO performance.

Why It's a Foundational Practice

Multimedia without captions or a transcript is like a book with blank pages for a significant portion of your potential audience. It creates an immediate and impassable barrier. Captions provide a time-synchronized text equivalent of the audio, while transcripts offer a complete text version that can be read separately.
TED.com is a prime example of excellence in this area. Every TED Talk includes meticulously synchronized captions in dozens of languages, along with interactive transcripts that highlight words as they are spoken. This multi-layered approach ensures that the valuable information in their videos is accessible to a global audience, regardless of hearing ability or language.

Actionable Implementation Tips

  • Prioritize Accuracy: While YouTube's auto-captioning is a useful start, it is often inaccurate. Always manually review and edit auto-generated captions for errors in punctuation, spelling, and grammar. For critical content, consider professional services like Rev or 3Play Media.
  • Include Non-Speech Sounds: Effective captions describe important auditory cues, not just dialogue. Use bracketed text to indicate sounds like [applause], [upbeat music], or [door slams] to provide full context.
  • Place Transcripts Strategically: Position the full transcript directly below or next to the video or audio player. Hiding it on a separate page adds unnecessary friction for users who need it.
  • Format Captions for Readability: Ensure captions are synchronized with the speaker's timing. A good rule of thumb is to keep each caption block to one or two lines and under 90 characters to avoid overwhelming the viewer.

8. Heading Structure and Content Organization

A logical heading structure is one of the most powerful and simple website accessibility best practices you can implement. Properly nested headings (H1, H2, H3, etc.) create a clear, scannable outline of your page content. This is not just about visual styling; it provides a crucial navigational framework for users of assistive technologies.
Screen reader users can pull up a list of all headings on a page and use it like a table of contents to jump directly to the information they need. A page without a logical heading hierarchy is like a book with no chapter titles, forcing users to read through everything sequentially to find what they're looking for.
For content creators using platforms like Feather, this practice is doubly beneficial. A well-organized heading structure enhances readability for all users and significantly improves SEO by helping search engines understand the document's structure and key topics.

Why It's a Foundational Practice

If semantic HTML is the skeleton of your webpage, headings are the labels on the bones. They provide the hierarchical context that gives your content meaning and flow. Without them, an article is just a wall of text. A well-defined heading structure makes content digestible and easily navigable, which is the cornerstone of a positive user experience.
Major content platforms like Medium.com and information hubs like Wikipedia demonstrate this perfectly. Their articles use a strict heading hierarchy, allowing readers to quickly grasp the structure of complex topics and navigate to specific sections with ease. This organized approach is essential for both accessibility and overall readability.

Actionable Implementation Tips

  • Start with a Single <h1>: Every page should have exactly one <h1>, which serves as the main title for the page or article.
  • Nest Headings Logically: Use <h2> for main sections and <h3> for subsections within those sections. Never skip levels, such as jumping from an <h2> directly to an <h4>.
  • Use Headings for Structure, Not Style: Don't use heading tags simply to make text larger or bold. Use them to outline your content's hierarchy. Use CSS for styling.
  • Write Descriptive Headings: Ensure each heading accurately describes the content that follows. This helps screen reader users understand the section's purpose without needing to read the full text. Learn more about how to structure a blog post for maximum clarity.
  • Test Your Outline: Use browser extensions or accessibility tools to view your page's heading outline. This will quickly reveal any skipped levels or illogical structures.

9. Prioritize Clear Language and Readability

Beyond technical code and design, one of the most impactful website accessibility best practices is focusing on clear language and readability. This means writing content that is easy to understand for the widest possible audience, including people with cognitive disabilities, dyslexia, or those who are non-native speakers. Using simple vocabulary, short sentences, and logical structures makes your message more effective for everyone.
Accessible language isn’t about "dumbing down" your content; it's about communicating with clarity. When you make information easier to process, you reduce cognitive load, which benefits all users. For content creators on platforms like Feather, this directly improves engagement, as readers can grasp key points quickly without getting lost in complex jargon or dense paragraphs.

Why It's a Foundational Practice

Confusing language is a significant accessibility barrier. Just as a missing alt tag can exclude a visually impaired user, convoluted sentences and technical jargon can exclude someone with a cognitive disability. Your content's primary goal is to communicate, and if the language itself is an obstacle, the entire experience fails. Clear writing is inclusive writing.
Organizations like GOV.UK and the BBC are masters of this. They adhere to strict style guides that mandate plain language and target a reading age appropriate for the general public (typically around 9th grade). This ensures their critical information is accessible to nearly everyone, establishing trust and ensuring their message is understood without ambiguity.

Actionable Implementation Tips

  • Aim for an 8th-Grade Reading Level: For most general audience content, target a reading level of 8th to 9th grade. Use tools like the Hemingway Editor or Grammarly to check your content's readability score.
  • Write in the Active Voice: Active voice is more direct and easier to understand. Instead of "Our new features were designed by the team," write "Our team designed the new features."
  • Keep Sentences and Paragraphs Short: Break down complex ideas into shorter sentences. Aim for paragraphs that are just two to four sentences long to avoid overwhelming readers with walls of text.
  • Use Lists and Bullet Points: Organize information, steps, or features into bulleted or numbered lists. This format is scannable and makes complex information much easier to digest.
  • Define Jargon Immediately: If you must use a technical term or an acronym, explain it clearly the first time it appears. For example, "WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines)..."

10. Implement a Continuous Testing and Improvement Cycle

Website accessibility isn't a one-time project; it's an ongoing commitment. Implementing a cycle of continuous testing and improvement is one of the most critical website accessibility best practices to ensure your site remains compliant and usable as it evolves. This means regularly checking your site with both automated tools and manual methods to catch new issues before they impact users.
This process ensures that as new content is published, features are added, or designs are updated, accessibility standards are maintained. For content creators on platforms like Feather, this is vital. While the platform provides an accessible foundation, the content you add, from images to embedded media, requires ongoing vigilance to keep the entire experience inclusive for all visitors.

Why It's a Foundational Practice

A website is a living entity. A single new blog post, a theme update, or a new third-party plugin can introduce accessibility barriers that didn't exist before. Without a continuous testing process, your site’s accessibility will inevitably degrade over time, leading to user frustration and potential legal risks. A proactive approach turns accessibility from a reactive fix into a core part of your workflow.
Organizations like Google and the BBC embed this principle into their development lifecycle. They have dedicated teams and processes for regular audits and user testing with people with disabilities. This commitment ensures their digital products not only launch accessibly but stay that way, reflecting a deep understanding that accessibility is a journey, not a destination.

Actionable Implementation Tips

  • Combine Automated and Manual Testing: Start with free automated tools like axe DevTools or WAVE to catch common issues quickly. Complement this with manual testing, especially keyboard-only navigation and screen reader checks (NVDA or VoiceOver).
  • Create a Content Creator Checklist: Develop a simple checklist for every new piece of content. Include items like "Added alt text to all images," "Used a logical heading structure," and "Checked for sufficient color contrast."
  • Schedule Regular Mini-Audits: Dedicate time each month or quarter to review key user flows on your site, such as navigating to the blog, reading an article, or signing up for a newsletter.
  • Incorporate User Feedback: Provide a clear way for users to report accessibility issues. Treat this feedback as invaluable data for prioritizing fixes and improvements.

10-Point Website Accessibility Comparison

Feature
🔄 Implementation Complexity
⚡ Resource Requirements
⭐ Expected Outcomes
📊 Ideal Use Cases
💡 Key Advantages
Semantic HTML Structure
Moderate — requires mindful markup and some refactoring
Low–Moderate — developer time for correct tags and conversion tooling
⭐⭐⭐⭐ — better SEO and screen-reader navigation
Content conversion, long-form blogs, SEO-focused sites
Improves indexing, screen-reader flow, maintainable structure
Alternative Text for Images (Alt Text)
Low — author-level effort and guidelines
Low — time per image; prompts/tools help
⭐⭐⭐⭐ — essential for image accessibility and SEO
Image-rich posts, galleries, SEO/image discovery
Ensures image understanding, fallback when images blocked
Keyboard Navigation & Focus Management
High — custom JS/CSS and focus handling
Moderate–High — dev work and cross-browser testing
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — critical for keyboard-only users and usability
Interactive components, forms, editors, modals
Enables full keyboard use, improves accessibility and power-user UX
Color Contrast & Visual Design
Moderate — design adjustments and testing
Moderate — design time and contrast testing tools
⭐⭐⭐⭐ — improves readability and WCAG compliance
Theming, branding, text-heavy articles
Reduces eye strain, supports low-vision users, enforces WCAG ratios
Responsive & Mobile-Friendly Design
Moderate–High — layout adaptation and touch UX
Moderate — responsive CSS, testing, performance work
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — broader reach and improved mobile SEO
Mobile-first audiences, multi-device readership
Ensures usability across devices, boosts SEO and engagement
Accessible Forms & Input Fields
High — labels, validation, ARIA, error handling
Moderate–High — dev, UX, and QA resources
⭐⭐⭐⭐ — higher form completion and inclusive UX
Newsletter signups, comments, payment forms
Increases conversions, reduces errors, supports assistive tech
Captions & Transcripts for Video/Audio
Moderate–High — transcription and syncing
High — manual transcription or paid services
⭐⭐⭐⭐ — expands audience and improves discoverability
Embedded media, podcasts, instructional videos
Enables deaf/hard-of-hearing access; makes media searchable
Heading Structure & Content Organization
Low — authoring discipline and tooling
Low — editor guidelines or auto-formatting
⭐⭐⭐⭐ — better scanability and assistive navigation
Long-form articles, documentation, blogs
Improves navigation, SEO, and content clarity
Language & Readability
Low–Moderate — editing and style enforcement
Low — editing tools and reviewer time
⭐⭐⭐⭐ — increases comprehension and engagement
General audience content, non-native readers
Enhances clarity, reduces bounce, aids cognitive accessibility
Testing & Continuous Accessibility Improvement
High — ongoing audits, user tests, tooling
High — automated tools, manual testing, user recruitment
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — maintains accessibility over time, reduces risk
Platform-level accessibility, feature releases, QA cycles
Detects regressions, ensures compliance, provides continuous improvements

Making Accessibility a Core Part of Your Content Strategy

We've explored a comprehensive checklist of website accessibility best practices, from the foundational importance of semantic HTML to the nuances of creating accessible multimedia content. Each practice, whether it's providing descriptive alt text or ensuring proper keyboard focus, serves a single, powerful purpose: to create a digital experience that is open and available to everyone, regardless of their abilities.
Integrating these principles is not a one-time task or a final step before hitting "publish." It's a fundamental shift in mindset. Think of accessibility as a core pillar of quality, just as crucial as compelling writing or a beautiful design. By embedding these practices into your daily workflow, you move beyond mere compliance and begin to innovate, creating a more resilient, user-friendly, and ultimately more successful online presence.

From Checklist to Habit: Your Action Plan

The journey toward a fully accessible website can seem daunting, but it starts with small, consistent steps. The goal is to transform this knowledge from a checklist into a natural part of your content creation process.
Here’s how you can start today:
  1. Start Small, Win Big: Don't try to fix everything at once. Pick one or two practices from this list to master first. This week, you might focus solely on writing excellent alt text for every new image you upload. Next week, your focus could be on auditing your heading structure. These small wins build momentum and make the overall goal feel much more achievable.
  1. Audit Your Existing Content: Set aside a small block of time each month to review your most popular posts or pages. Use an automated tool to catch low-hanging fruit, then perform a quick manual check. Can you navigate with just a keyboard? Are the links descriptive? This iterative process of improvement ensures your entire site gradually becomes more accessible.
  1. Create Your Own "Pre-Publish" Checklist: Before any new article or page goes live, run it through a simple, personalized accessibility checklist. This could be as straightforward as asking three questions: "Does every image have alt text?", "Is my heading structure logical?", and "Are all links clear and descriptive?". This final check helps build the habit of thinking inclusively.

The True ROI of Inclusive Content

Adopting these website accessibility best practices delivers tangible benefits that extend far beyond ethical considerations. An accessible website is often a more SEO-friendly website. Search engine crawlers, much like screen readers, rely on clear structure, descriptive text, and semantic HTML to understand and rank your content.
Furthermore, an inclusive approach directly impacts your bottom line. By ensuring your site is usable for the millions of people with disabilities, you are expanding your potential audience and customer base. A positive, barrier-free user experience fosters loyalty and enhances brand reputation, positioning you as a thoughtful and forward-thinking creator in a crowded digital landscape.
Ultimately, the commitment to accessibility is a commitment to your audience. It’s a declaration that every visitor is valued and that their experience matters. As you continue to build and grow your online platform, let this principle guide your decisions. Create with intention, build with empathy, and watch as your content resonates more deeply with a broader, more engaged audience. The effort you invest in accessibility is an investment in a better web for everyone.
Ready to build a beautiful, fast, and accessible blog without wrestling with complex code? Feather is designed with website accessibility best practices built-in, from semantic HTML to keyboard navigation, so you can focus on creating incredible content. Start your inclusive publishing journey today with Feather.

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Written by

Tibo