Simple tips for maintaining accessibility on your website
Once people start running their own websites we teach them how to keep them as accessible as possible. However, you our clients, are not web designers and don’t worry if you do forget the odd thing!
However, we have identified one of the most common problems that can make a real difference to your websites accessibility – that is how you create links (hyperlinks) with your website text. This is mainly an accessibility issue but it does also help people that are less confident with using the internet – statistically that is older users.
The key thing to remember is this:
Please make sure that the link makes sense – even in isolation/ out of context.
For example, when you create a link most people use the following technique:
- Please see HERE for more information
- This is incorrect as the world “here” does not make sense in isolation. It says here but Where IS here? WHAT is here?
- Please try to create links where the WHOLE link makes sense e.g.
- Please see here for more information about this subject
- Or
- Follow this link for more information about what I am talking about in this section
This method makes it easier for;
- hesitate users to IDENTIFY the link;
- helps people using trackerballs or less precise mouse alternatives to SELECT a link;
- makes sense for people using speech readers to READ links in isolation (often using a different “voice” than the main text.)
Remember a little accessibility goes a LONG way in getting your website noticed…