The purpose of Search Engine Optimization is to make content readable and understandable to maximum people. One of the sure-shot ways to ensure this is to make sure that your site is accessible to all. You must design the website, keeping in mind that a huge scoop of used pool uses assistive technology. Thus, one way to make the website accessible is to keep in mind the needs of these users.
Australian Internet Advertising is a certified SEO agency that assists businesses in Sydney in their SEO. The main focus of AIA is to increase your revenue generation using their work experience of 20+ years. They are capable to convert your website into a revenue-generating machine. They understand your business and create content for your website that invites maximum traffic but at the same time is accessible to everyone.
The link between SEO and Accessibility-
Search engines like Google tend to prefer those pages which have content that is clear and correctly ordered. Google, in its mission statement, says that its purpose is to “organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.” Google is regular in evolving to align with the principles of “universal accessibility”.
Thus, if you want to be placed higher in SERP, you must adhere to the WCAG.
WCAG-
WCAG is a set of guidelines for web developers to make their content on the website more universally accessible. These guidelines were created by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). This is an organization that runs with the sole purpose of making the internet accessible to everyone. With the constant evolution of time, W3C keeps on releasing guidelines; the latest ones are the WCAG 2.1.
Why are you required to comply with the accessibility norm?
Firstly, it broadens your pool of potential users. An accessible website also has a higher probability of return visitors and users who spend more time on the page. Secondly, since not many websites take accessibility into consideration, it provides you leverage over your competitors in the market.
It also makes your content future-proof. With the development of technologies, there are new ways to access information and if your website does not keep pace with these developments, you are doomed to fall behind. To stay at the top of SERP you must be on your heels, constantly evolving with technology and the needs of the users.
How to make your website in compliance with WCAG?
WCAG has released 4 major principles which essentially form the foundation of accessibility rule. If web developers follow these 4 rules, their content stands passed on the anvil of accessibility. The four rules are:
- Perceivable– the content on the website must be present in such a way that everyone is able to access it by at least one of the senses. This also holds true in the case of features such as links, text boxes, and buttons. If these contents are hidden, the website cannot be termed as a perceivable one.
- Operable- a website wherein all users can interact and navigate without any difficulty is considered to be an operable one. All the interactive features must be accessible to all users without being subject to any exclusion.
- Understandable– the information which is being delivered by the website must be comprehendible to each of the users. The users must be protected against the input errors on pages that may lead to legal commitments or any sort of financial liability. The web pages should not be unpredictable and should be transparent in approach.
- Robust- Each of the users must be able to interpret the content of the website by the agents which he uses. For example, Assistive technologies such as screen readers must be able to access the website. The content, thus, must be assistive technology-friendly.
Furthermore, below are a few elements that make the website more accessible:
- Offering text for non-text content.
- Ensuring the readability of the code.
- Logical formatting of code with no frivolous additions.
- Proper use of headings.
- Colour contrast.
- Keyboard navigation.
- Clear language.
Conclusion-
Since SEO and accessibility are tightly intertwined, adopting accessibility in your SEO strategy can put you ahead of your competitors. Thus, accessibility must be your consideration while creating and optimization of the website.
