Big benefits for small business
For small businesses, every customer interaction can have a high impact-- either positive or negative. Ensuring your website is accessible means you can welcome the most people possible to your website. That in turn enhances your reputation, protects you from legal troubles, and deepens customer loyalty.
A relationship your customers can count on
Small businesses know better than anyone the importance of building relationships and loyalty with customers. But if a customer can't interact with your website, they will leave and find one that better meets their needs.
Not all accessibility needs are obvious. A simple widget or checklist will miss opportunities to fix issue before a web user encounters them. By scanning and checking the accessibility of your website in the same way real people do, you increase engagement and develop trust that your business is the one that can best serve every customer.
Accessibility protects your business
Regulations and laws surrounding accessibility are easy to understand for physical spaces, but can be challenging for businesses that have an online presence. You might think because of the size of your business that ADA, EAA, or other countries' laws don't apply. The truth is that there are very few exceptions or allowances for organizations when it comes to accessibility. The good news is that compliance doesn't need to be expensive or time-consuming.
Generally speaking, websites that include e-commerce must be accessible, as this is a part of compliance standards for organizations doing business in most countries. You can check country-specific regulations on our global-listing page.
Accessibility helps you too
Creating websites built for accessibility help your customers engage with your organization. But accessibility also benefits your business in other ways.
When you take steps to increase your website's accessibility, you are essentially inviting a large number of new customers to interact with your organization. Globally, more than 1 billion people identify as disabled, and millions more regularly use assistive technologies. An accessible website allows a user's own accessibility tools and strategies to work better, so they stay with your website longer and easily complete transactions.
What many business owners don't know is that the benefits extend beyond people. A website built with accessibility best practices is more easily found and "read" by search engines. This improves your ranking, which in turn makes it more likely to be visited by potential customers and clients.
Access to expertise
Our global network of partners is available to help you make the most of your website. From strategy to development, we can connect you with a range of service providers that fit your growth, your timeline, and your budget.
