Proactive Accessibility: Making Your Site Inclusive & Effective | Wes Buckwalter | SMS | Bonus Ep
Honest Ecommerce · with Wes Buckwalter · September 12, 2024 · 36 min
Summary
This episode illuminates the critical, often overlooked area of web accessibility (WCAG compliance) for e-commerce businesses. It highlights how proactive measures can prevent costly lawsuits and expand customer reach to the 25% of the population with disabilities. The discussion emphasizes that accessibility isn't just about compliance; it's a significant growth opportunity for online stores.
Key takeaways
WCAG compliance is not binary; it's a spectrum. Aim for continuous improvement, understanding that even high scores (e.g., 94%) are good, and focusing on major gaps (e.g., being at 44%) should be prioritized.
Proactively address web accessibility to avoid lawsuits that are increasingly targeting smaller merchants (down to $1M/year in revenue). Don't wait until a lawsuit forces action.
Recognize that accessibility improvements often overlap with SEO best practices (e.g., proper alt tags for images), offering a dual benefit for your online store.
View web accessibility as a growth opportunity: making your site inclusive can open your business to 20-25% more customers, translating to increased revenue.
Don't just rely on your own perception; audit your site through the lens of users with disabilities (e.g., colorblindness, screen reader dependence) to identify critical barriers.
On this bonus episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Wes Buckwalter. Wes is the CEO and Creative Director at SeaMonster Studios. We talk about ADA & WCAG guidelines, agency & business's responsibility in site compliance, accessibility from different user perspectives, and so much more!
What does this episode say about shopify & ecommerce platforms?
WCAG compliance is not binary; it's a spectrum. Aim for continuous improvement, understanding that even high scores (e.g., 94%) are good, and focusing on major gaps (e.g., being at 44%) should be prioritized.
What does this episode say about dtc strategy?
Proactively address web accessibility to avoid lawsuits that are increasingly targeting smaller merchants (down to $1M/year in revenue). Don't wait until a lawsuit forces action.
What does this episode say about conversion & cro?
Recognize that accessibility improvements often overlap with SEO best practices (e.g., proper alt tags for images), offering a dual benefit for your online store.
What does this episode say about founder & leadership?
View web accessibility as a growth opportunity: making your site inclusive can open your business to 20-25% more customers, translating to increased revenue.
What does this episode say about shopify & ecommerce platforms?
Don't just rely on your own perception; audit your site through the lens of users with disabilities (e.g., colorblindness, screen reader dependence) to identify critical barriers.
