All Things Web

In this, the second lesson of our Web Accessibility Basics series, we’ll discuss What Makes Your Web Site Accessible. This discussion will include some basic items that will improve the overall accessibility of your web site, and we’ll include a link to a list of 10 things you can do to your web site to make it accessible from the WAI.

While there are tons of items that help make a web site accessible, we’ll focus on three key items in this article.

1. Well organized Semantic Layout
2. Text Based Navigation with section ID’s.
3. Alt Tags and Title Tags for Images and Links

1. Well Organized Semantic Page Layout
One of the easiest ways to improve your web sites accessibility is to organize the content in a well structured layout. By using the generally accepted global structure as proposed by the W3C you can ensure that your document will be organized properly and be easily disected by your visitors. We encourage the use of valid HTML and CSS as your core.

Then combining Header Tags and paragraphs along with well defined sections is your great .

2. Text Based Navigation with Section ID’s
After developing your core structure, you need to incorporate text based navigation at the beginning of your document allowing your visitors to skip to the core sections of your page identified by ID’s. At a minimum you should have three key sections to your page, Main Navigation, Secondary Navigation and Main Content. This ads a main layer of general accessibility to your site.

3. Alt Tags and Title Tags for Images and Links
Text based document readers, and aural readers are unable to disect information from images. It is very important that any image has an ALT tag to describe the information the image is being used to display. Along with your ALT tags, all of your text based links should include “titles” that describe the information you are linking to.

While this is a very limited discussion on web accessibility, these concepts are solid foundations to turning your web site into a fully accessible one.

This will be the first lesson in our four part lesson on web accessibility. We’ll define web accessiblity, and discuss why you as a web site owner should care.

Lets begin by defining web accessibility. Now, I will generally use information from the WAI or Web Accessibility Initiative to discuss these topics. I see no reason to attempt to re-write what has already been written so eloquently.

Web accessibility means that people with disabilities can use the Web. More specifically, Web accessibility means that people with disabilities can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with the Web, and that they can contribute to the Web. Web accessibility also benefits others, including older people with changing abilities due to aging.

Web accessibility encompasses all disabilities that affect access to the Web, including visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive, and neurological disabilities. The document “How People with Disabilities Use the Web” describes how different disabilities affect Web use and includes scenarios of people with disabilities using the Web.

Millions of people have disabilities that affect their use of the Web. Currently most Web sites and Web software have accessibility barriers that make it difficult or impossible for many people with disabilities to use the Web. As more accessible Web sites and software become available, people with disabilities are able to use and contribute to the Web more effectively.

Web accessibility also benefits people without disabilities. For example, a key principle of Web accessibility is designing Web sites and software that are flexible to meet different user needs, preferences, and situations. This flexibility also benefits people without disabilities in certain situations, such as people using a slow Internet connection, people with “temporary disabilities” such as a broken arm, and people with changing abilities due to aging.

Source: WAI Introduction

So in basic summary, web accessibility is developing a web site so any user can use, interact and receive information from the page. With a minimum of 10% of the population having some sort of disability, it is very important that you take notice of this need and begin to work towards basic Web Accessiblity on your web site.

Now that we have an idea of what web accessibility is, I’d like to discuss why it’s important to your business. In a time that you must differentiate yourself from the competition and laws are getting more strict regarding accessibility in both the workplace and online, making your web site accessible can be a positive in both business growth and reputation.

The Web is an increasingly important resource in many aspects of life: education, employment, government, commerce, health care, recreation, and more. It is essential that the Web be accessible in order to provide equal access and equal opportunity to people with disabilities. An accessible Web can also help people with disabilities more actively participate in society.

Source: WAI Continued

By working to make your web site more accessible, you open your business to a new level of potential clients and customers that you were unable to reach before, due to the inability of those visitors to see the information on your web site.

In our next article, we’ll discuss what makes a web site accessible.

I think that there is a fear holding many small businesses from reaching their true potential. That fear is their company web site, and how to manage it.

It is my belief that many small business owners simply do not understand the power of the web, and that their focus should be almost 100% web when it comes to new business development. In most markets and for most product mixes people start their search for a provider using a search engine. Search engines are now the number one resource for people seeking information.

Gone are the days of the Yellow Pages, Phone Directories, Local Business Directories and arrived are the days of search engines. Their not perfect, but they are fast, anonymous and allow users to find the information they are looking for. All business owners must realize that internet is the only game in town worth spending money on.

But wait, perhaps as a restaurant owner, you don’t understand how you could help build business using your web site, or perhaps you are scared of this unknown world that you’ve never approached. The internet is a great place because you can experiment, and change things on a whim, and without waiting for a brochure to be printed, or for next years Yellow Pages to come out, you can change your specials, or mantra, or product list immediately and dynamically for the whole world to see.

Finding the right web partner that will guide you through the process of bringing your web site into the 21st century is the most important step in getting your business online and building your business utilizing the internet. Look for someone who is willing to chat with you, discuss trends and information with you, someone not afraid to hold your hand and educate you. Make sure that person has successes under their belt, make sure that they have proven sites under their belts. This is your business, don’t trust a brother, sister, mother, aunt, uncle, friend, third cousin of your mechanic to do your web site because they can save you some money. This is your business, treat it in that way, and you’ll do well.

I originally posted this article on WebProWorld and an old blog I had on my companies web site. I’m reposting here because I feel it is a very important subject that every company needs to review.

As a web designer, I get to see my fair share of great, okay, and poor web sites each and every day. While everyone will have their own opinion on what makes a good web site, I thought that I’d walk through the top 10 traits of a bad web site, one that in the long term will hurt a business more than it will help a business.

I’ll count these down from # 10 and arrive at my #1 sin for web sites. Make sure to avoid these ten items and you’ll be on your way to success with your web site.

10. Flash Intro Page:
Okay, I’m not sure why so many companies feel that these are great ideas for their web site. I cannot name the number of times that I’ve found such a site, and tried to find the “skip intro” link on the page. The only thing more frustrating than a flash introduction is one that you can’t skip. These items take up bandwidth, and studies have shown no one actually watches them. Save us all some headache and skip this. If you want to have a flash company introduction, offer it as a link somewhere deeper in your web site.

9. Large Image Files:
Yes pictures are pretty, and they help tell a story, but they are not the foundation of a great web site, even if you are a photographer. Users today can be on a variety of services, perhaps they are on broadband, then lots of photos isn’t bad. Or they might be on dialup still, then your web site won’t load quickly enough, and they’ll go somewhere else. I read recently you have 4-5 seconds to make your impression or the visitor will be off to another web site. Finally, the user could be accessing your site from a PDA or Cell Phone and if that is the case, your site may be completely unable to function within the device. Any of these users will not be back if your site takes too long to load, and doesn’t have the information they are looking for at their fingertips.

8. Fade In / Fade Out on Page Changes:
Okay, I thought the design community would see this feature as one that shouldn’t have been used in a public setting, but even today, I still see sites that fade between page changes. This takes time, and really is simply a useless gimic that some web designers use to make a web site more “attractive”. Business owners, if your web site does this, it doesn’t help, it hurts, and it doesn’t make you look professional. Please stop.

7. Bad Site Navigation:
People visit your web site for one thing. To get information. That’s it. Nothing else. Build navigation links that will make sense to visitors, especially those that may not know the hot terms for your business. Site navigation should be easy to find, always located in the same spot on the page, be text based if possible, and be clear. Your site isn’t better because someone visits 10 pages before finding the info they want, it is simply more frustrating. Make everyone’s lives easier, make your navigation a major piece of the site, and put some real thought into how it’s laid out.

6. Broken Scripts:
If a page is public, it needs to work. Test it, double test it, make sure it works, and visit your site frequently to make sure there are no issues. I have been to some major organizations web sites recently where I run into JavaScript or other scripting errors that keep me from actully getting to information on their web site. Always make sure to test something before it is made live. Once live, always check on it to make sure it’s still working.

5. No Solid Content:
This is actually one of my bigger issues with web sites, but unfortunately I could only place it at number 5 on the list. I’ll give you an example. I am currently in the process of looking for a new home. I did a search for “Home Values” and visited a site. What I got was a web site that discussed markets in each state, on one page. No real deep meaningful content. But it was filled with “ads” (we’re getting to that one) and it was well ranked in the search engines. Amazing in my eyes. If you are going to have a web site. Try and ensure that you are going to provide lots of good information, and that you’ll do everything you can to keep that information current.

4. Ads vs. Content:
I cannot explain how bad this is for web sites. I’m seeing this more and more frequently, web designers, business professionals linking ads on their web sites. I’m not sure what a person can be thinking in regards to placing ads from Google or Yahoo on their site where they are selling their services. I know I might step on some toes here, but if your web site cannot make money without plastering ads all over the place, well, it might be time to find a new business. Now, I’m strictly discussing service professionals here. Real Estate Agents, Web Designers, Accountants, Lawyers any type of business that isn’t in business to sell ads, such as a newspaper, or similar site, it is really quite tacky if you have Google Ads plastered on your home page right below your company logo.

3. Random Link Pages:
While I understand the importance of In-Bound-Links to SEO, I do not get why companies must feel that a good link exchange with every web site in the world is of any value. I promise you that if you are a florist, and you have links to a Harley Davidson dealership, a barbershop, an accountant and an amusement park on your site, you don’t get the point of linking. Please don’t link to any site, unless it is going to be a value to your visitors, and it is actually something related to your business.

2. Bookmark My Site Buttons:
Love these, I really do. Because, people can’t find the Bookmark button on their own, your site is so good you need to tell me, so I can remember to bookmark your site. Computers and the internet have been around for a bit now, bookmarks are used by lots of people. However, using up valuable real estate on your web site to promote such things is a waste of space for the limited return you’ll see for your efforts.

1. Innaccessible Site:
This is a big topic for me, especially as I learn more and more about the subject of Web Accessibility. If your site cannot be visited by a blind person, and easily understood, then you’re making a grave mistake. You’re probably unsure of your site’s status when it comes to web accessibility, however work with a local professional, and they’ll help you get your site viewable by all that visit.

Hopefully some of these things will help you make a better web experience for your visitors and your customers.

A key question is whether your web site needs a new look or not. The answer is quite simple. If you can answer no to any of these questions, then it’s time for an update.

1. Have you added new content to your site within the last 6 months?
2. Is your web site using valid code?
3. Is your web site accessible?
4. Is your web site bringing you new customers?
5. Do your customers use your site as a resource?

These are five simple questions that if you can answer no to any of them, it’s time for an update. In the same way that you wouldn’t run the exact same sales ad each week in the newspaper, your web site needs to be updated frequently with new information that any visitor can access.

Helping small businesses with their web sites are why we’re in business. Let us help today.