Comments on: Accessible design: the extra edge for conversions

By: Yuri

Yuri — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 08:39:41 +0000

Yes, I have noticed it too. What WCAG say is just a tip of the iceberg. Accessibility is more like a principle, not a how to guide. Just as any other aspect, I guess.

I have read that people, who use screen readers, prefer content second, because they need navigation first. And they like the “Skip to content” links, too, when they visit more pages on the same site (and are familiar with the navigation).

By: Steven Bradley

Steven Bradley — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 07:43:54 +0000

I like the new term and I agree accesibility is far more than about text. The more I look into accessibilty the more questions it raises for me like is it easier to access a site that present the navigation fist or would someone who can’t see prefer to have the content first. Which images really need descriptive alt text and which images should just have blank alt text.

My guess is that different people will have different preferences just as in any other aspect of design.

By: Yuri

Yuri — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 02:15:48 +0000

Well, simply benefiting from extra traffic (by using clear text labels instead of images or Javascript, for instance) will increase sales.

As for conversions, accessibility isn’t just about text. It is also about presenting information in an easily digestable way (one of the older WCA Guidelines was to use simple language). Simple language can increase conversions, if you speak the language of your visitors and (also) about them – how they will be better if they use your product.

Though the last part is more related to marketing than accessibility, this may be deemed as ‘accessible marketing’. How about that for a new marketing/accessibility term

By: Steven Bradley

Steven Bradley — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 01:51:40 +0000

Creating accessible sites makes a lot of sense. I know there’s often discussion about how it affects SEO, but I don’t see it discussed in terms of conversions often. It’s important to create accessible sites if only to make it easier for some to browse your site, but anything that helps improve conversions works for me.

Regardless of how it helps your business it’s an important issue since making your site more accessible benefits everyone who views it, and especially helps those who might be unable to view your site otherwise.

I would like to see search engine take a stand and add accessiblity issues into the algorithm If they did I’m sure more webmasters would pay attention and we’d see a lot more accessible sites. Google’s accessible search is a good first step, but more can still be done.