How accessibility drives growth and business value
Digital accessibility is often associated solely with disabilities, but its value extends far beyond that. Good accessibility drives both growth and loyalty. It's crucial if you want to maximize business value!
As laws and directives are introduced, higher and higher demands are placed on accessibility, requirements that are here to stay. This applies to both the technical development and the graphic design of digital services.
Accessibility is no longer a matter of choice, it is a fundamental aspect – a hygiene factor – for any professional web developer or designer. Simply put, it is something all companies should prioritize.
There are a number of good reasons. Let's focus on the business ones:
Increased market access
A fully accessible website maximizes reach and ultimately gives you access to a larger and more diverse audience. The more people who can interact with what you're offering, the greater your chances of building a broader customer base that engages with your content or buys your products.
Good accessibility, therefore, boosts potential revenue streams, membership registrations, event sign-ups, and all other types of conversions you've targeted for your digital solution.
Loyal visitors
Inclusive and accessible design fosters loyal customers. If you enjoy a service, you're more likely to return as well as recommend it.
Have you ever shopped at different sites with varying user experiences? The provider that offers the simplest, most intuitive, and accessible service is simply more likely to retain customers.
Strengthened brand
Providing an accessible website or e-commerce platform demonstrates social responsibility and care, which, although hard to measure, strengthens your company's brand in the eyes of consumers.
Accessibility affects us all, whether we currently have a disability or not. Life is unpredictable, and temporary or permanent changes in our abilities can impact how we interact with digital services. A strong commitment to accessibility is, in my view, an expression of empathy and understanding of human needs.
Greater return on SEO investments
An accessible website comes with the bonus of search engine optimization. Search engines such as Google favor websites that have no technical barriers to indexing content effectively. This results in better organic visibility, something you can read more about in my colleague Ahmet's blog post here.
Higher rankings in search engines can thus translate to more visitors and, potentially, increased conversion.
Carbon footprint
Accessible websites tend to be more efficient and require less data transfer. Not only does it improve charging times, but it also reduces energy consumption associated with operation and maintenance. By optimizing your solution, you contribute to a reduced climate footprint, increasingly important in a world focused on sustainability, environmental awareness, and data shame.
Read more: Creating sustainable websites at Epinova goes without saying
So don't view accessibility requirements as a limitation but as a strategic advantage and an opportunity to expand your reach and improve the user experience. Accessibility becomes your catalyst for reaching a wider audience.
Only then will you truly achieve real business value!
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