The audit is usually up to 500 words which outlines the major areas with accessibility issues and also your accessibility strengths. Unlike most audits we also look at your website capability to perform on the newest technologies such as iPads, PDAs, mobile phones, gaming consoles and HD TV.

These Overview Audits are created for you to pass on to your web designer or implement yourself. We do not make any changes to your website for you. Please advise us whether the improvements will be carried out by a trained web practitioner or a talented amateur web designer so that the wording of the audit can be delivered appropriately.

The current price (2010) for an Overview Audit is £50

Unlike most audits we also look at your website capability to perform on the newest technologies such as PDAs, mobile phones, iPads, gaming consoles and HD TV. We do not make any changes to your website for you but we are explicit (even to code line number) as to where the issue is and accessible web techniques to use instead.

Please advise us whether the improvements will be carried out by a trained web practitioner or a talented amateur web designer so that the wording of the audit can be delivered appropriately.

• The current price (2010) for a Full Audit is £350.

Sites over 25 pages will incur an additional fee in negotiation with the client.

Getting more business from your Website.

Website problems and how to resolve them.

Presentation created by Clive and Jess Loseby ©2009 Access-by Design (www.access-bydesign.com) Distribution allowed only for non-profit and with full accreditation please.

Common Problems 1- 4

• My website content is out of date…
• My website is no-where on Google…
• My website doesn’t always work…
• My products/services don’t sell online…

These are the four main problems identified by the business community that effect the performance, capability and effectiveness of their website.

Problem #1: My website content is out of date.

If your website is out of date – find a way of editing SOMETHING.

Ideally, you would have a dynamic website that you could edit yourself, but if not there are other ways of adding new content – even if you are not ‘allowed’ to make changes to your website yourself.

• Get a blog – there are lots of free blogging portals that can be added (almost) seamlessly to any website so you can add news and events yourself.
• Use social networking. All sites such as facebook, twitter and myspace allow you to make ‘badges’ so people can visit your page and talk to you.
• Use online image portals such as flicker or video such as youtube. All can be added as links or attachments to your website.
• Add testimonials – add via a blog, mailinglist or free guestbook. People buy services from business they trust.
• There are many newsletters and/or mailing lists available (often free) to keep clients up-to-date with products and services. You can refer to your website via links to highlight key areas/products.

Dos & Don’ts when using additional features such as social networking and free are:

• Keep it Professional. Only use a personal blog if your personal activities are relevant to your business – you have a reputation to maintain which can be shattered by a misguided ‘joke’ posted by a ‘friend’. Also remember that most social networking site carry adverts – some may directly contradict your company ethos or even be by your competitors!
• Keep it Focused. You might well ‘be’ your business but your customer will probably still not want to see pictures of your last holiday or read ‘funny’ comments left by your friends.
• Think about Longevity. Nothing looks worse than an out of date news page or blog. Only start something if you KNOW you have the time to keep it going.

Problem #2 My website is no-where on Google.

People tend to forget that Google is a business too and it wants to look GOOD. Any search engine is only as good as its results. It tailors its own search index criteria too look for websites that will show how effective IT is as a search engine. If you don’t give it want it needs – you won’t make the front page. Google looks for four main aspects to a website. Presently these are:

• relevancy
• traffic
• activity
• and classification.

So – why SHOULD Google visit your website? Give it a reason!

Reason #1) You have added a new entry to your blog.

• Every time you add a blog entry Google revisits your website (providing it has been set up correctly, of course).
• Blogs talk about your business in a way that can be clearly identified as relevant.
• Blogs create activity and traffic.

Reason #2) Your RSS Feeds.

• RSS feeds show Google your website updates regularly.
• RSS feeds help contextualise your business within a global/national market.
• RSS create activity, traffic and classification.

Reason #3) Google sees that people are using your links as a general resource.

• Links create communities and customers.
• Well selected links classify and legitimize you by contextualisation and association.
• Links create activity and traffic.

Reason #4)

Google identifies your site as have interesting, well labelled images.

• Images have the same properties as textual content (Only if ‘alt’ tag is used).
• Images classify and contextualise by descriptions.
• Images can be ‘tagged’ which create relevancy and are independently searchable.

Google Dos and Don’ts are;

1) Keep Professional.

• Don’t use methods such as ‘squeeze’ pages, javascript redirects to ‘bump up’ your hits, auto refreshing pages, multiple ‘copy and paste’ for extra content or spam people with ‘news’ emails or you WILL be marked down by Google.

2) Keep Focused.

• If you use Adsense, make sure you choose adverts that are relevant to you.
• Don’t use single words as meta tags. Think about relevant phrases instead.
• Don’t overuse keywords/phrases. or you WILL be marked down by Google.

3) Think about Longevity.

• Do check links regularly as websites change and delete pages all the time,
• check RSS feeds are working regularly
• and don’t take on a Blog if you can’t keep it up-to-date or you WILL be marked down by Google.

Problem #3 My website doesn’t always work.

Problems with websites are often caused by incompatibility.

Not only are there lots of internet browsers now – there are lots of versions too.

Most websites are only designed to work on one version of Internet Explorer – but there a 3 versions in high use in the UK and they are very different. Other popular browsers in common use are;

• Safari
• (Mozilla) Firefox
• Google Chrome
• Opera
• Flock (watch out for that last one as it is created for social networking addicts and set to be a big hit.).

There are usually around 3 versions of each browser in use at any one time. Are you sure your website works on these? This chart usually makes businesses scared.

Be VERY scared!

The following is a list of browsers/internet ready devices that are in common use in the UK.

Web Browsers:

• Internet Explorer 6-8.
• Mozilla Firefox (3 versions)
• Safari (3 versions)
• Opera (3 versions)
• Google Chrome (Beta).

On mobile devices the most used browsers are;

• Windows Mobile
• Safari Mobile
• Opera (SSR – Small Screen Rendering)
• Firefox Mobile (Beta)

plus a range of brand-specific browsers such as;

• Polaris
• JB5,
• BOLT
• Blazer
• Skyfire.

Monitor screens now range from;

• 1280 x1024+ / Widescreen  – which is the currently the most commonly used monitor size in the UK
• 1024 x 868+ which has previously been standard screen size across all age groups,
• 800 x 600 which still covers between 10 and 20% of internet users in the UK and all new Netbooks
• 640×480 – which is estimated to still effect between 1-5% of UK internet users but vitally, is STILL the default resolution on low-end screens such as those used by patients in hospitals and within the public sector departments.

As well as these screen sizes and resolutions, most mobile web devices display web pages on portrait NOT landscape screens.

Other new considerations include;

• Internet enabled HD-TV (often powered by Yahoo)
• Internet enabled Sky + boxes
• Internet enabled Wii and X-Box 360
• Wireless internet enabled games consoles such as Nintendo DS, PSP and Ipod Touch.

(PS there are 40+ other web browsers in common use not mentioned here…)

How to make your website work on everything!

The good news is there is one complete solution.

The best (and possibly, only) way of making your website work on all these browsers and devices is to adopt modern and word wide web standards which cover design and accessibility across all technologies – both now and those that may emerge in the future.

• The most well known of these is called WC3 Guidelines (Word Wide Web Consortium) , which in spite of being published over 8 years ago, are still widely ignored.
• The second are the WCAG, which are the Word Wide Web Consortium Accessibility Guidelines, which promote web accessibility
• Lastly is Web 2.0 – which separates how a website looks from its content, enabling and encouraging worldwide distribution and freedom to access information – whatever you are using to view that information.

Many business (and sadly, even web designers) do that think that the either the demand or need is there to adopt these accessible web design techniques. However, it is precisely these techniques which ALSO allow your website to be viewed all the browsers and platforms we previously listed.

Why limit who can see your websites and buy your products and services simply because your website doesn’t work? Don’t settle for second best – ask your designer to adopt accessible web design techniques.

Problem #4: My Products/Services don’t sell online.

To identify what your products or services are not selling online its often easiest to look at successful e-commerce websites and ask yourself what makes them different to you?

Research has identified four solid facts about successful online shops all have to do with the clients ‘shopping experience’.

1) Clients feel safe and secure.

Research has shown that If a client;

• feels they have left the website they were on;
• feels that their personal details may be unsafe;
• can’t clearly see confirmation of what they have bought (and when it will be delivered BEFORE paying)
• can’t easily get help if they get stuck during the shopping or checkout process ;

that they will stop and leave the shop.

2) Clients feel calm and at ease.

If a client feels at all;

• unsure
• panicked
• frustrated due to slowness or complexity of the process

then they will leave the website (even at the very last stage of checkout).

Check your shopping experience from start to finish on a someone else’s unfamiliar computer – would YOU buy from you?

3) Client can see clearly what they are buying.

Images on many web shops are terrible!

• Look at eBay to see images by the most popular sellers.
• Look at the ‘big boys’ shops and how easy the image options they offer are.
• Contact your manufacturer – most will provide high quality images free for web distribution.

4) Clients feel they have options.

Successful online shops usually have most(if not all) of the following options:

• visible contact information;
• an FAQ or Help page;
• optional telephone payment;
• one-click buying option;
• optional account sign-up;
• instant email confirmation and shipping details;
• instant, accurate stock information;
• pictures of their products IN the shopping cart;
• multiple shipping/Postage options.

Check your shop site and make sure you follow these examples of good practice.

In conclusion.

To resolve your website problems take the following action:

• Help clients FIND you
• Make clients feel WELCOME
• Make clients feel SAFE
• Make clients feel INTERESTED
• PROVIDE clients with the ability to choose you and your services.

For any help and advice with what you have read here, please contact Clive Loseby on 01243 514454

©Access-byDesign 2009

Seminars and workshops are led by Clive and Jess Loseby, who  are confident and friendly speakers with  national and international experience of leading seminars and workshops for ages two to eighty years! Both have been invited to speak at business platforms,  conferences  and forums of every size, from small groups  to gatherings of as many as five hundred people.

Jess is a respected digital art and media trainer  who has worked as senior associated lecturer  and visiting lecturer in a number of universities and academic conferences and widely across schools in Sussex and Hampshire speaking on  disability awareness for KS1,2 and 3.

We are fortunate to have the use of a fantastic conference area which can provide training and workshop facilities (including PCs and internet access) in Hampshire where we can present bespoke seminars and workshops primarily based around  understanding  accessibility and the internet.

These presentations and/or workshops are useful and informative across a wide range of business, community and academic settings including;

• An introduction to basic  web accessibility
• Accessible techniques, language and attitudes for data entry for the web
• Helping local authorities  to ensure web accessibility
• Parish Councils and accessible community websites
• Accessible web techniques for school websites – teachers and/or administrators
• Helping teachers support accessible web design techniques and language with children (KS2 and 3)
• Accessible techniques for use on community websites
• Accessibility websites and charities
• How to meet  and exceed your legal accessibility obligations for accessibility on you website
• Business websites and the DDA
• Accessible design and marketing – how to reach your maximum audience.
• Accessible web techniques for students studying entry level web design (KS2-MA level)
• Accessible web design for people and small businesses who design and run their own websites
• How to combine visuals and text online to aid understanding of concepts and programmes.
• How to provide cheap but effective alternative media for people with visual or audio needs.
• How to be dyslexia friendly in web and print.
• How to use inclusive language in your web  writings.
• How to use inclusive language in your printed material.
• “Why make my website accessible?” The BIG question.
• “I don’t have disabled customers”. Web accessibility and the small business.

We also offer software and web techiques including;

• How to take better digital pictures
• Make your images web friendly for use on your website
• An introduction to Photoshop
• An introduction to Flash
• An introduction to Flash Video
• An introduction to Video Editing
• An introduction to DVD creation
• An introduction to interactive CD Creation

These are just a few titles that we have found helpful when training local business, community groups and students. However, all seminars and workshops are bespoke and we are happy to discuss any of your ideas for disability training and the internet.

Prices are individual but start from £500. Contact us for an informal chat today on 01243 514454!

Web accessibility is no longer just for ‘disabled websites’.  If you have a website, you MUST try and adhere to basic web accessibility guidelines and web standards* . The ‘disabled pound’ is worth £80 billion – your business simply cannot afford to discriminate online – even if you were not aware you were!

We can audit your website for you.

• Access – By Design accessibility audits are quality assured by trained, certified professionals.
• Access – By Design are proud to belong to The Guild of Accessible Web Designers and follow their code(s) of conduct.
• Access audits follow stringent worldwide accessibility guidelines and international web standards, many of which have been in place for over eight years .
• Audits do use some automated testing but manual checks are ALWAYS carried out by an real person as auditor.
• Audits are either carried out by or secondarily checked by a REAL disabled person  who either uses assistive technologies to view the website or who have a disability that significantly affects their use of computers and browsing the internet

We offer two kinds of audit:

• The Overview Audit.

This audit is often all a small to medium website needs to significantly improve the access on their website.  The audit is usually up to 500 words which outlines the major areas with accessibility issues and also your accessibility strengths.  Unlike most audits we also look at your website capability to perform on the newest technologies such as PDAs, mobile phones and HD TV. These Overview Audits are created for you to pass on to your web designer or implement yourself.  We do not make any changes to your website for you. Please advise us whether the improvements will be carried out by a trained web practitioner or a talented amateur web designer so that the wording of the audit can be delivered appropriately.

• Access – by Design Full Audit.

This is a full investigation of your website with a complete check across all three main accessibility priority areas with practical and realistic advice on how issues can be fixed or accessible alternatives provided . Unlike most audits we also look at your website capability to perform on the newest technologies such as PDAs, mobile phones and HD TV. We do not make any changes to your website for you but we are explicit (even to code line number) as to where the issue is and accessible web techniques to use instead. Please advise us whether the improvements will be carried out by a trained web practitioner or a talented amateur web designer so that the wording of the audit can be delivered appropriately.

*These are NOT the same thing and do not ensure accessibility or web compliance in their own right.

Yesterday I went to the CUTEC conference here in Cambridge which provided a forum for encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship. One of the major themes this year was around social responsibility and empowering individuals – big aims for a room of techies and ambitious PhD students. In particular cloud computing was very much viewed as the way forward and the democratisation of information and accessibility to services – resulting, for example, in the wife of one panelist being able to get real time advice on breast feeding at 4am from other mothers via her iPhone. In this context I was interested to see that the French courts have refused to uphold a new law allowing officials to cut off the internet connection of persistent online infringers.

The Constitutional Court held that only a court could do that – on the basis that access to online services is a human right. That’s the first time I’ve heard of internet access being referred to as a human right, and I question whether an English court would reach the same view – and clearly on one level it’s not in the same league as the rights to life, to freedom of thought and religious beliefs. But there were many inspirational (as well as aspirational) stories at the CUTEC conference about precisely this issue – that internet and mobile technologies do change lives and communities; that widespread access to and democratisation of services could be the catalyst for social change and improvement in developing nations. I suspect there’s a fundamental tension here between the increasing attempts to regulate the online world (with admitedly varying degrees of success) and the desire to fully exploit its potential and enable people all over the world participate in the online revolution. ”

Posted by Sarah on June 12, 2009 at 09:59 AM

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

1. This is incorrect as the world “here” does not make sense in isolation.  It says here but Where IS here? WHAT is here?
2. 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…

We think these elements are top of the list as to why our websites are different to all the others out there.

• Firstly, you run your website yourself. If you can send an email you or anyone in your company can do it without any special software – just an internet connection . Why pay some who knows nothing about you and your business to run the most global department of your company?
• Becuase all you need is an intenet you can run your website from anywhere. How about the train on the way home by ‘Web  ‘n’ Walk’ on your laptop? Or perhaps you want to ad an urgent newsflash  to your website by changing your homepage using your mobile phone! If you or your staff need flexible working hours ALL of you can be updating areas of the website ALL AT THE SAME TIME, from home, from the office or even from another country.  Our websites are truely flexible and mobile.
• Our SEO rating is currenty 93% for our websites. What does that mean?  Basically, that the Search Engine Optimisation facilities that we use AS STANDARD get your website found in the page-ranking race. You simply do not need to pay out again for another company to get your website found on the internet
• Our websites are always written to web standards but also employ multiple visible and ‘behind the scenes ‘ aids that allow users with disabilities access to your information and/or service and products
• All our themes are tested by REAL people – both able bodies and disabled.  Although we use some automated testing when checking our sites meet the HIGHEST access standards, we also actually test them ALL individually.
• All our themes have also been tested on everything we can lay our hands on – from the most beaten up pc with a small  low resolution monitor to the most state-of-the-art phone with  mobile broadband and small screen rendering.  Our websites, work.
• With our websites, you don’t get great, contemporary designs – you get the design YOU want (not the one your designer thinks you should have)  AND a local team of friendly faces that will support and  guide you though training and getting your business online, no matter what your level of IT skills are. We never ‘abandon’ our clients. We are always here to help and grow the online sector of your business as fast (or as slowly) as you want to.

Any of that sound good to you? Call us today for a no obligation quote on 01243 514454

Beyond the confusion, website accessibility means that the whole website content can be accessed by all visitors via the technology they are using. Primarily this indicates assistive technologies (e.g. speech readers, screen magnifiers and mouse-less computers etc). The myth is that web accessibility is only for disabled people. Web accessibility includes all people and web technologies – even “non-disabled” technologies such as ‘alternative’ internet browsers, mobile phones, TV internet, high resolution screens and low-speed connections. Accessible design simply means your website will reach the widest possible number of people.

Surprisingly, a few checks can be all that is needed for a small website to pass the basic requirements;

• The key to accessibility is testing. Ask your designer (or do it yourself!) to test that your website works on all platforms, screen resolutions and with assistive technologies. (NB: There is a misunderstanding that validation to “WC3 Web Standards” equals accessibility. It doesn’t.)
• Remove tiles or “noisy” backgrounds on pages.
• Use contrasting colours (e.g. light background equal dark text, dark background equal light text)
• Do not use framesets or tables for layout.
• Do not use images that contain more than 10 words of text information
• Remove flashing images.
• It’s tempting to add “text only” versions to an inaccessible website. Although this seems a “quick fix” it still does not guarantee accessibility and is largely seen by the disabled community as tokenistic. Demand the best for your company – integral accessible design.

If you have any further questions about your websites accessibility or would like a no obligation, FREE accessibility audit please email us at info@access-bydesign.com or see our accessibility pages on our website for help and links to resources.

Jess Loseby

For CoC