Improving eCommerce Accessibility to Welcome All Customers
With the growth of online shopping, many in retail have realized the importance of addressing eCommerce accessibility to ensure people with disabilities are welcomed.
In addition to being the morally right thing to do, this is also an opportunity for brands to reach consumers who are often neglected. Moreover, because many people with disabilities often rely on the help of friends and family members, improving eCommerce accessibility also helps the people around them.
Here are some facts to consider:
- Over 9 million Canadians have a recognized disability.
- Canadians with disabilities have a cumulative annual income of more than $171 billion.
- Canadians with disabilities have a cumulative annual disposable income of more than $82 billion.
- Thirty per cent of Canadians consider accessibility when looking for a store.
- Seventeen million people provide support to a friend or family member with a disability.
Canadians with disabilities clearly have strong purchasing power. By improving eCommerce accessibility, brands have the opportunity to do the right thing while becoming more profitable. After all, treating all customers with courtesy is the foundation of customer success.
Improving eCommerce Accessibility
To begin, there are many different types of disabilities including physical, mental, developmental, and learning, affecting vision, hearing, and more. Moreover, most disabilities are non-visible, which is to say they’re not immediately evident. In fact, less than a third of individuals with disabilities have visible disabilities.
To help brands with eCommerce accessibility, the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) created the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). When designing an online store, the WCAG recommends:
- Content should be functionally available using a keyboard.
- Users should be able to navigate, find, and view links easily.
- Text content should be readable and accessible.
- Ensure that store content is compatible with user tools such as screen reading software, screen magnification software, speech recognition software, etc.
- Online stores should be mobile-friendly with responsive layout displays.
- Content layout is well structured for search engine optimization.
For more information about meeting WCAG standards, you can use this quick reference guide.
Drive Your Brand Online
If you’re looking to improve eCommerce accessibility for your brand, Marketsupport can help. We offer eCommerce audits including compliance for your owned digital assets and third-party platforms to ensure you’re being represented properly.
Call 1-877-421-5081 or visit our website to book a consultation today.
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