Blog Post: Website Accessibility – Why It Matters & How to Get It Right.
If Your Website Isn’t Accessible, You’re Losing Customers (and Breaking the Law)
Most business owners don’t think about website accessibility—until it becomes a problem.
Maybe a potential customer can’t navigate your site because the text is too small. Maybe someone using a screen reader can’t book an appointment. Maybe you get hit with an ADA compliance lawsuit (yes, that’s a real thing).
The bottom line? If your site isn’t accessible, you’re excluding a huge portion of your audience.
Let’s break down why accessibility matters, the biggest mistakes businesses make, and how to fix them (without making it complicated).
1️⃣ What Is Website Accessibility (And Why Should You Care)?
Web accessibility means making sure everyone—including people with disabilities—can use your site without barriers.
👀 Vision impairments? They need high contrast, readable fonts, and screen reader support.
🖱 Limited mobility? They need full keyboard navigation (no mouse required).
🔉 Hearing impairments? They need captions & transcripts for audio/video content.
💡 Cognitive challenges? They need clear layouts, simple navigation, and easy-to-read text.
This isn’t just about doing the right thing (which, let’s be honest, it is). It’s about business, user experience, and legal protection.
✅ More potential customers – Over 1 billion people worldwide live with a disability.
✅ Better SEO – Google prioritizes accessible websites.
✅ Fewer legal risks – Websites that aren’t accessible can be sued under the ADA.
The question isn’t “Should I make my website accessible?”
It’s “Why wouldn’t I?”
2️⃣ The Most Common Website Accessibility Mistakes
Chances are, your website has at least one of these accessibility issues:
❌ Tiny, hard-to-read fonts – If users have to squint, they’re gone.
❌ Poor color contrast – Light gray text on white? Bad idea.
❌ No alt text on images – Screen readers rely on this to describe images.
❌ Videos with no captions – 85% of Facebook videos are watched without sound. Captions help everyone.
❌ Navigation that requires a mouse – Some users can’t use a mouse. Keyboard navigation is a must.
Each of these issues frustrates users, lowers conversions, and hurts your site’s ranking.
3️⃣ How to Make Your Website Accessible (Without Overcomplicating It)
The good news? Fixing accessibility doesn’t have to be a nightmare.
Here’s where to start:
🔹 Text should be easy to read. 16px minimum, strong contrast, no fancy fonts.
🔹 Every image needs alt text. This helps visually impaired users (and boosts SEO).
🔹 Captions & transcripts for videos. 85% of videos are watched on mute anyway.
🔹 Make sure everything works with a keyboard. No mouse? No problem.
🔹 Use descriptive link text. “Click here” = bad. “View pricing plans” = good.
4️⃣ The Legal Side of Website Accessibility (Yes, You Can Get Sued)
Here’s the part most businesses don’t know: Website accessibility lawsuits are on the rise.
In the U.S., businesses must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If your website blocks access for disabled users, you could be legally liable.
🚨 Major brands have already been sued:
🔹 Domino’s Pizza – Sued because their site didn’t work with screen readers.
🔹 Beyoncé’s Website – Sued for not being accessible to blind users.
🔹 Thousands of small businesses – Facing lawsuits they never saw coming.
The lesson? If your site isn’t accessible, fix it before it becomes a legal issue.
5️⃣ The Cloud Nine Web Solution: Accessibility Built In
We don’t just build stunning websites—we build accessible websites that perform for everyone.
✅ Easy navigation & clear design
✅ High-contrast, readable text
✅ Full keyboard + screen reader support
✅ Alt text, captions, & compliance checks
✅ Better SEO & legal protection
♿ Accessibility isn’t just a checkbox—it’s a better way to build websites.
Want to make your site accessible (without the headache)? Let’s chat. 📩
