Best Practices for Website Accessibility: Blog Feature by a Web Design Specialist for Estate Agents
As an estate agent, your website is your shop window to the world. It’s where potential clients can browse properties, learn about your services, and get in touch. Making sure your website is accessible is crucial for reaching everyone, including people with disabilities. You want all potential buyers to have a seamless experience while navigating your site.
Think of accessibility as more than just a check on a list. It enhances user experience and can improve your website’s SEO. If you’re looking to spruce up your digital appearance, consider hiring a Web Design Agency. Meanwhile, let’s dive into some key practices that can make your estate agent website a user-friendly platform for everyone.
Start with Simple Navigation
Nobody wants to be stuck in a maze trying to find their way out. Keep navigation simple and intuitive. Use standard, familiar menu structures. Your site should be easy to move around, whether someone is using a mouse, keyboard, or screen reader. Consider adding a sitemap. This helps users find pages quickly and suits screen readers well.
Ensure Text is Readable
Your site’s readability can make or break user experience. Don’t overwhelm with long paragraphs or tiny fonts. Use a minimum font size of 16px for body text. Contrast is essential too, especially for users with visual impairments. Aim for a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1. Use tools online to check these ratios.
Add Alt Text to Images
Images are everywhere on estate agent websites, showcasing properties and staff. Ensure each image has alt text. Alt text allows screen readers to describe what’s in the image, making your site more accessible to visually impaired users. Keep it concise but informative. Forgetting alt text is a common mistake, but one that’s easily fixable.
Offer Video and Audio Transcriptions
Got video tours or audio content? Make sure there are transcriptions and captions. This isn’t just for those with hearing impairments. Search engines also can’t ‘watch’ video, so these added texts help with indexing. Many tools today can help generate captions automatically, making your job easier.
Test Your Website
Testing isn’t only for bug-catching. Run your site through accessibility testing tools regularly. They will point out areas that need improvement. Better still, get it checked by actual users with disabilities. Their feedback is incredibly valuable and can uncover things automated tests might miss.
Form Field Clarity
People often overlook forms, yet they are crucial for queries, bookings, and newsletters. Ensure each field is labelled clearly and includes placeholder text where necessary. Error messages should be straightforward. Users should know what went wrong and how to fix it without having to guess.
Keyboard-Accessible Functions
The use of keyboards by those who can’t operate a mouse must be considered too. Make sure all functionalities are navigable through a keyboard. This includes dropdowns, modal popups, and sliders. Focus indicators should be obvious, allowing users to see where they are on the page easily.
Consistent Layout and Design
Consistency isn’t just aesthetically pleasing; it reduces the cognitive load on users. Stick to similar layouts across pages. Your headers, footers, and navigation should be uniform. It helps users predict where information will be, making for a smooth experience.
Colour Choices and Accessibility
Be mindful with your colour choices. Beyond aesthetics, colours affect accessibility. Ensure that your design is navigable for colour-blind users. Don’t rely solely on colour to convey important messages, like errors or notifications.
Time to Upgrade Your Website
Poor accessibility isn’t just a user issue; it’s a missed business opportunity. If you’re inspired to make these changes but don’t know where to start, perhaps it’s time to consult experts in Web Design for Estate Agents. Making improvements will surely pay off in user satisfaction and business success.
