Web Accessibility: Importance & Best Practices

Learn why web accessibility matters and how to create an inclusive website. Improve user experience, boost SEO, and comply with WCAG standards today.

While the internet has something for everyone, millions of people are unable to surf most websites that do not take their visual, auditory, cognitive, or physical disabilities into account. Accessibility is not about the exclusive use of a website for any single group of people. Instead, making a website accessible benefits everyone: It improves their user experience, increases the website's potential for SEO, and helps with compliance with the law.

There are over 1 billion people with disabilities globally, and it is not an option to exclude them from a digital experience; it is instead an obligation. Companies that focus on accessibility can connect with overlooked customers, attract a more engaged audience, and create a website that welcomes everyone.

So what is accessibility in the first place? And how do you actually do it? Let's Markloops break it down.

What Is Web Accessibility All About?

Web accessibility means making sure that everyone, including people with disabilities, can easily use and understand websites. This means designing sites in a way that allows users to read, navigate, and interact with content on their own. It involves using tools and techniques that work for all users, not just some.

Web Accessibility does benefit everyone, not just people with disabilities. Navigation flow, structure of layouts, and text for reading purposes make browsing easier for mobile users, those on slow connections, and people using voice commands.

People who spend on accessibility benefit from higher engagement or audience retention, reduced bounce rates, higher conversion ratios, and less cart abandonment. It even pays in terms of search engines that benefit from well-organized and easy-to-use websites whose organic crawlers place accessible sites ahead.

The Core Principles of Accessibility (WCAG)

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), set the global standard for web accessibility. These guidelines are based on four main principles:

Following WCAG guidelines makes sure your website is accessible to the broadest audience possible.

• Perceivable: Content must be presented in formats that all users can process. Ex: Add an alt-text associated with a picture so that screen readers can read the same. 
• Operable: Navigation has to be usable even for people who do not have a mouse. Ex: Allow the user to engage entirely with the site using a keyboard. 
• Understandable Content: This must be understandable and foreseeable by an intelligent user so that the whole procedure can be read. Ex: Avoid complicated terms and use appropriate error messages in the the form Completion. At Markloops, we have a content marketing team that creates catchy and engaging content that fits the criteria. 
• Powerfully Built: Must work with other assistive technologies, such as screen readers. Based on the principles of WCAG, the accessibility of your website would reach many visitors.

Basic Principles of an Accessible Website

The essence of accessibility in the design of a website is a combination of technical improvements and thoughtfulness in design decisions. The following are essential:

• Proper HTML Structure, Easier Reading

A well-organized site isn’t just more straightforward to use—it’s also easier for search engines to understand. Use semantic HTML (like <header>, <nav>, <article>, and <footer>) to help navigate both users and assistive technologies.

• Alternative Text of Images

Each image should be provided with a well-descriptive alt tag captioning its content. For example, instead of writing "Image of a shirt", use "Blue cotton t-shirt featuring a round neckline and short sleeves" as a descriptive tag. 

 This simple step helps users of screen readers to understand the visual aspects of the content on the page.

• High-Contrast Colors for Better Visibility

Low contrast makes it hard for people with color blindness or even for those with low vision to read text. The contrast ratio should be at least 4.5:1 to assure readability. Web tools such as the WebAIM Contrast Checker can help you test colors.

• Keyboard-Friendly Navigation

Some users rely entirely on keyboards for browsing. Websites should allow navigation through the Tab key where all interactive items have to be accessed without mouse intervention.

• Clear and Consistent Menus

No one likes to have a confusing menu bar, and that includes those who have cognitive disabilities. In addition to reducing confusion with clear categories and logical placement, predictable navigation also improves user experience. 

• Transcripts and Captions for Videos

Videos should always be closed captioned for deaf users and transcribed for those unable to hear audio. It is also an excellent SEO boost since search engines will crawl and index transcript text for search purposes.

• Accessible Use of Forms with Clear Labels

Forms should include:

• Have visible field labels instead of placeholders.
• Provide clear error messages (e.g., “Enter a valid email” instead of just “Error”).
• Support autofill and voice input to make completion easier.
• Do Not Rely on Color Alone

Because some users cannot perceive color differences, important information should not be color-dependent. Always use text labels, patterns, or icons to support color-coded elements.

• ARIA Attributes for Improved Support by Assistive Technologies

Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA) attributes improve accessibility for dynamic content. 

Example:

<button aria-label="Submit Form">Submit</button> makes sure screen readers understand a button’s purpose.

Constructing a Website That Is Accessible and Works for All

An inclusive and accessible website is not just a requirement but also an easy-going enjoyment for any visitor to a site. A website that is inclusive and accessible isn’t just necessary; it makes browsing more manageable and more enjoyable for everyone. At Markloops, we put accessibility first in every project, whether it’s creating a custom Shopify store, redesigning a website, or improving UI/UX.

Shopify has some accessibility challenges due to theme restrictions and third-party apps. At Markloops, we address these issues by providing:

• Straightforward navigation and structured page layouts
• Accessible buttons, forms, and menus
• Site speed and performance optimisation 
• Optimised images with meaningful alt text
• Keyboard and screen reader-friendly interfaces

Whether you want them to modify your theme or develop entirely new directions, the team will make sure your store is perfect for every user. It is beyond just ticking a box on the checklist. It is about a web experience that is promising to suit every individual.

Why Accessibility Is an Intelligent Business Decision

Not only do accessible websites help people with disabilities, but everybody benefits from the following improvements:

• User experience: The visitors stay more and interact more.
• Google prefers to index sites that are easily read and well-structured.
• Avoid potential lawsuits under ADA and WCAG regulations.
• Building a Brand-Spend on inclusivity and customer-first design.

Web accessibility is not some plus point; it is inevitable. Every person could take advantage of the web, and the companies that can see this will stand out and rank higher in terms of the trust of customers. If you don't have accessibility on your website yet, the time to act is now. It all starts with you to create a more inclusive web. In need of an accessible website? Contact us now to get a highly accesible website.