Website designs for accessibility: best practices that benefit everyone

An accessible website isn't just a nice-to-have feature - it's essential. At Digital Presence in Christchurch, we believe that designing websites with accessibility in mind creates better experiences for all users, regardless of their abilities. When your website is accessible, you're not only complying with guidelines and regulations but also expanding your reach to a wider audience.

Why accessibility matters for your business

Did you know that approximately 15% of the global population lives with some form of disability? That's over a billion potential customers who might struggle to use your website if it's not designed with accessibility in mind.

Aside from the ethical considerations, accessible web design offers tangible business benefits:

Broader audience reach: an accessible website design can be used by everyone, including people with visual, auditory, neurological, and physical impairments.

Improved SEO: many accessibility practices align perfectly with SEO best practices, helping your website organically rank higher in search results.

Enhanced user experience: features that help users with disabilities often make the experience better for everyone.

Legal compliance: many countries already have laws requiring websites to be accessible, so making your website design accessible now reduces the risk of future compliance issues.

7 Accessibility best practices that benefit all users

As a leading web design agency in Christchurch, we integrate accessibility into every project we undertake. Let's explore how you can do the same.

1.   Optimise colour contrast for better readability

Poor colour contrast makes content difficult to read for users with visual impairments, but it affects everyone, especially in challenging lighting conditions like bright sunlight. For example, a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text is recommended. While black text on a white background provides excellent contrast (21:1), using slightly softer combinations reduces eye strain for all users.



2.   Choose typography that works for everyone

In the early days of the web’s existence, wacky typography on websites was thought as a way to stand out amidst the sea of plain text website designs. With limited tools and font choices, web designers were exploring how to make their websites memorable. However, as web site design has matured, there’s been a welcome shift towards readability and user experience. Clear, readable text improves the experience for all visitors to your site. These typography choices benefit everyone - not just those with visual or cognitive disabilities.

• Use sans-serif fonts like Arial, Verdana, or Calibri, which are easier to read at various sizes

• Maintain a minimum font size of 12px (9pt)

• Keep line length between 70-80 characters

• Use left-aligned text rather than justified blocks

• Include options for users to resize text if needed

3.   Create clear navigation paths

Navigation should be intuitive for all users, including those using screen readers or keyboard-only navigation. Improving navigations helps everyone find what they're looking for more efficiently, leading to better engagement and conversion rates for your Christchurch business.

• Use descriptive link text rather than the generic.

• Ensure all interactive elements are keyboard-accessible.

• Create logical tab order through interactive elements.

• Use breadcrumb trails to help users understand their location.

4.   Implement responsive website design

Responsive web design isn't just about looking good on mobile devices—it's a fundamental accessibility practice. Users with disabilities often rely on the ability to zoom and reorient content. Responsive website design principles create a seamless experience for all users, regardless of their device or abilities. Here’s what Digital Presence’s web design services in Christchurch prioritise:

• Layouts that adapt to any screen size.

• Text that remains readable when zoomed to 200%.

• Interfaces that work in both portrait and landscape orientations.

• Calls to action (CTAs) that are large enough for users with motor impairments.

• Content that never requires horizontal scrolling.

7.   Make media accessible

Multimedia content, like images, videos, and infographics, enriches the visitor experience by making information more engaging, easier to understand, and faster to absorb. It breaks up large blocks of text, and can also help explain complex ideas clearly, catering to different learning styles. Overall, multimedia not only enhances storytelling but also builds trust and connection with the audience, but it needs to be accessible to truly add value.

• Include descriptive alt text for all meaningful images.

• Provide captions and transcripts for video content.

• Avoid auto-playing media that could disrupt screen readers.

• Ensure animations don't flash more than three times per second.

• Provide user controls for all media playback.

How Digital Presence can help your website be seen by all

As a leading website design company in Christchurch, Digital Presence integrates accessibility into every aspect of the web development process. We understand that creating an accessible website requires expertise in both design and technical implementation.

By partnering with our web design agency in Christchurch, and investing in website accessibility, you'll ensure your website not only looks fantastic but provides an inclusive experience for all users. By offering an inclusive online experience, you gain a competitive advantage over less accessible competitors as you have made it easier for more visitors to engage with your site. Many accessibility best practices also align with SEO principles, helping to improve your search engine rankings. Using clean, accessible code not only creates a better user experience but also reduces long-term maintenance costs. By offering an inclusive online experience, you gain a competitive advantage over less accessible competitors and open the door to higher conversion rates by making it easier for more visitors to engage with your site.

Enhancing accessibility boosts your brand reputation, improves SEO, reduces maintenance costs, and gives you a competitive edge. An accessible site reaches more users, leading to higher conversion rates. Our Christchurch search engine marketing experts can help you leverage accessibility improvements to strengthen your overall digital marketing strategy.

Take the Next Step Toward an Inclusive Web Presence 

Accessibility isn't just about compliance—it's about creating websites that truly work for everyone. At Digital Presence, we're passionate about building inclusive digital experiences that help Christchurch businesses connect with their entire audience.

Ready to make your website more accessible? Contact our team of web designers in Christchurch today for a comprehensive accessibility audit and implementation plan. Together, we can create a digital presence that welcomes all users and strengthens your business.

Digital Presence is a full-service web design and digital marketing agency in Christchurch, specialising in accessible website design, SEO, content marketing, and Google Ads services. We help local businesses create impactful online experiences that reach their entire target audience.