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According to the CDC, 1 in 4 adults (26%) in the U.S. have a disability. In 2020, the World Bank reported roughly one billion people (15%) living with disabilities world-wide. These are huge numbers! Types of disabilities are complex and wide-ranging, but with the Internet we have the ability to cater to everyone. This is where website accessibility comes in. An accessible internet gives everyone (with or without disabilities) access to this necessary tool.

Considering a Range of Disabilities

There is not a one-size-fits-all for disabilities. They can be permanent, temporary/situational, and exist on a spectrum. Whether a person is blind, deaf, aging, has a cognitive impairment, a broken arm, or simply a slow internet connection, we should consider it all.

If you don’t have a disability, you are probably used to using the Internet in a particular way without thinking of the alternatives. But if you do have a disability, you’ve most likely adapted to using the Internet in a way that works best for you. Tools like screen readers dictate web pages to those who are visually impaired. The screen readers use alt text to describe images on your website so people with visual impairment don’t miss out on important content. Keyboard shortcuts allow folks with limited motor functions to navigate websites more easily. And the list goes on. However, these tools aren’t useful if a website isn’t set up for them. It is up to individual websites to make themselves accessible for everyone. Fortunately, the benefits are worth it.

A Wide Range of Benefits

Creating an accessible Internet so everyone has equal access to information should be reason enough to make necessary changes to your site. Beyond that, accessibility offers other advantages. Making the internet accessible improves overall usability and Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

In its simplest terms: making a website easier to use for people with barriers, will make that website easier to use for everyone. Consider the case of a slow internet connection. If you design your website with images that are appropriately sized to account for various internet speeds, and include alt tags (image descriptions), then your website will load at an appropriate speed, and be legible even if you only load the html version of the site. In this example, designing a website for someone with a slow internet also benefits: people who use screen readers, everyone looking for a fast user experience (UX), and the website owner who now has improved SEO based on speed and alt tags.

When doing research on the subject, you’ll find that alt-tags are a hot talking point. While they are a relatively easy fix, they aren’t the end-all-be-all of accessibility. Website accessibility is affected by everything from website structure on the front-end and back-end, ordering content meaningfully, color use, text resizing ability, easy and consistent navigation tools, captioned audio, and so much more. These are also the components of a website that contribute to a better experience for everyone.

Making Sure Your Website is Accessible

Accessibility can no longer be an afterthought, or a nice-to-have, because…

The U.S. Supreme Court has cleared the way for people with disabilities to sue retailers if their websites are not accessible. Not only must a business’ physical locations be ADA compliant, but their websites and mobile apps must be accessible as well.

With a better understanding of the benefits of accessibility, and hazards of an inaccessible site, you may be wondering how yours holds up. There are many free online resources that test if your website meets proper accessibility standards. It is important to note that these tests are good to get a gauge of how you’re doing, but a more thorough audit will ensure that your site is up to snuff.

Knowing what to do with this information can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Contact your website developer for help in assessing and addressing accessibility on your site. While it is ideal to consider accessibility at the creation of your site, it isn’t impossible to make a website accessible after-the-fact. Even if your web developer isn’t an accessibility expert, they can still point you in the right direction.

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With 2021 around the corner we have decided to extend our New Year’s resolutions to our business. We urge you to also consider these suggestions as easy ways to refocus, regroup, and make the most of your time so you can make the most for your business.

1. Assess, Reevaluate, and Set Realistic Goals

The first step in any sort of improvement is looking inward and taking stock of what you’re doing. Assess your business’s current status and be realistic about what are feasible and reasonable goals for your business. We still believe in dreaming big but if you spread yourself too thin with an unattainable monthly goal, then you are less likely to be productive in a way that helps your business grow.

Now say it with me: Delegate!

This can be one of the hardest things to do that will ultimately make your life infinitely easier! Goals are always easier to achieve when working with the support of others. If you have employees, communicate with them about the what’s and why’s of the goals you’ve set and ask for their help in completing relevant tasks. Then let them complete the tasks without micromanaging (you’ve hired them for a reason! Let them help you!) If you don’t have employees you might consider hiring outside help on an as-needed basis. Maybe this looks like investing in a company that does blog writing, or a part time social media manager…

Make this process of assessing, reevaluating, and setting goals a weekly or monthly task.

2. If it Isn’t Working, Let it Go

Once you’ve reevaluated your goals, don’t be afraid to EDIT. One of the hardest things for people to do when editing is cutting out what isn’t working. When you’ve invested time and money into a certain sales technique or marketing strategy, it can feel difficult letting go. But if the strategy or technique isn’t working the way you had hoped: it is ok (and often a good idea) to drop it.

Trying something out isn’t a waste of time if it allows you to evaluate a strategy/idea and rule it out. Knowing what to focus your energy on is just as important as knowing what NOT to focus your energy on. Sometimes the only way to know these things is through trial and error. Don’t stress, just move on.

3. Make a Schedule… Then Stick With It!

Now that you know what your goals are and what business strategies you want to focus on, schedule time to actually do them.

Ok, we know that sounds simple but this is actually very easy to overlook. Rather than just having a long and daunting to-do list, set aside time for specific tasks. Once the time comes, really focus on that task. We are guilty of letting certain things slip through the cracks and have found this method to be a simple and effective game-changer.

4. Schedule YOU Time and Let Go of the Bad Days

Don’t forget to schedule time for yourself. When you run your own business it can be especially difficult to separate working hours from non-working hours. However, if you aren’t taking care of yourself, you can’t take care of your business. Whether this looks like having a hard out at the end of the day or making sure you’re taking your lunch hour to eat instead of answering emails, make sure you’re setting aside time just for you.

Additionally, give yourself flexibility to have good days and bad days. We all have ups and downs, in business and in life. It is easier said than done, but really make an effort not to linger on the bad days. Try to learn from them but don’t obsess. There is a certain amount of letting go that is healthy. Although it can be a hard task, practice makes it easier every time.

5. Learn to Love Zoom

With many businesses switching over to digital platforms this year, we know screen fatigue is real. BUT we’re here to make the case for embracing the tools that enable us to work smarter, not harder. (Ok, ok, we know that phrase is a little cliched, but it’s a cliche for a reason!)

We believe in the power of Zoom to help your business grow past the pandemic. Its easy to use hosting abilities offer many benefits that address a range of needs, making it a flexible and valuable tool across industries. We especially appreciate that it is an easy way to expand a client base from a local range to one that is unrestrained by location.

6. Reconnect and Renew Relationships

During this time of reflection, take a moment to reach out to and check in on past clients. A warm hello goes a long way to see how they are doing. Perhaps they won’t need your services right at that moment, but reminding people you care about their well being and progress is always good practice. These renewed relationships can generate a renewed interest in your company and lead to recommendations passed along to family and friends. Never underestimate the power of a friendly email.

7. Support Fellow Business Owners

Becoming a part of a community of business owners is a great way to give and receive support. Start by supporting local business owners in your area by referring your customers to those whose services you like. Uplifting the businesses in your area is a great way to uplift your community as a whole.

This can also look like joining a leads group. These are groups of business owners across different industries that support one another by sending referrals without creating competition. Of course, if you’re not able to commit yourself to a leads group, there are many networking resources, such as LinkedIn, that allow you to meet other professionals and develop relationships that will benefit both parties.

… And Don’t Forget to Ask for Help

Whether you follow this list to a T or have your own ideas for resolutions in the coming year, remember that it’s ok to ask for help. If you need assistance reevaluating your business goals, updating your website, improving your SEO ( the list goes on), we are here to help you assess your needs and find the best ways to achieve your goals.

Contact us with any questions, because helping you improve your business is our business.

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