Accessibility isn't a checklist, it's just good design
When web accessibility comes up in design conversations, it can feel like a list of technical obligations. Rules to follow, boxes to tick, legal requirements to meet.
But for a small business, accessibility is actually something much simpler, it's the choice to make sure nobody is accidentally left out. That your website works for everyone who lands on it, regardless of how they see, hear, or interact with a screen.
The other thing worth knowing: almost everything that makes a site more accessible also makes it a better experience for everyone else. And most of it quietly helps your search rankings too. If you want to delve deeper on how SEO works and what's changed in 2026, I've written about that separately.
Here are four straightforward things worth getting right.
What is alt text and why does it matter?
Many people use screen readers, software that reads page content aloud. Without a text description, a screen reader simply says "image" and moves on. The visitor misses whatever that image was communicating.
When you upload a photo, take ten seconds to add alt text. Not the file name, an actual description of what's in the image and why it's there.
Instead of: Photo123.jpg Try: A handwritten wireframe sketch on a clean wooden desk
It takes seconds and makes a real difference.
Use headings in the right order
Headings aren't just for making text look bigger, they're the structure of your page. Screen readers and search engines both use them to understand what a page is about and navigate through it.
H1 for your main title. H2 for your main sections. H3 for anything nested within those. In that order, consistently. It's a small discipline that makes your pages significantly easier to navigate for everyone.
How to check colour contrast on your website
Light grey text on a white background isn't just mildly annoying, for a lot of people it's genuinely difficult to read. Low contrast is one of the most common web accessibility issues on otherwise well-designed sites.
It's very difficult to actually check colour conrast by eye, so if you're not sure whether your text is readable enough and passes web accessibility standards, run your colours through a contrast checker. There are free tools online, like Eight Shapes contrast checked, that tell you whether your text is readable enough against its background. In this short clip you can see how quickly it tells you whether a colour combination passes accessibility standards, and where it falls short.
The Eight Shapes contrast checker, free, quick, and worth bookmarking.
Why descriptive link text matters
"Click here" doesn't tell anyone anything. For someone using a screen reader, a page full of "click here" links is genuinely unusable, there's no way to know where each one goes without reading everything around it.
Instead of: Click here Try: Download the free guide or Get in touch
Descriptive links are clearer for everyone and they also give search engines better signals about what your pages are about.
Why these changes for web accessibility also matters for search
Google can't see your images, so it relies on alt text to understand them. A proper heading structure gives search engines a clear map of your content. Easy to read, well-organised pages keep people on your site longer, and Google pays attention to that.
Building an accessible site and building a well-optimised site are largely the same thing. You're not doing extra work, you're doing the same work better.
The quiet truth
An accessible site is a thoughtful one. When you build with everyone in mind, you're not ticking a box, you're demonstrating that your business is considered, professional, and genuinely welcoming.
That's worth more than any technical checklist.
FAQs
Web accessibility means making sure your website can be used by everyone, regardless of how they see, hear or interact with a screen. For small businesses it matters because an inaccessible site excludes potential customers, and in some cases can create legal risk. The good news is that most accessibility improvements also make a site better for every visitor.
What is alt text and why do I need it on my website? Answer: Alt text is a short description added to images that tells screen readers and search engines what an image shows. Without it, screen readers simply skip the image entirely, leaving a gap in the experience for visually impaired visitors. It also helps Google understand your content, which is good for search rankings.
How do I know if my website is accessible? Answer: A good starting point is to check your colour contrast using a free tool like the WebAIM Contrast Checker, make sure all your images have descriptive alt text, and test your site using only a keyboard to navigate. For a more thorough audit, tools like WAVE or Google Lighthouse will highlight specific issues and tell you how to fix them.
%20(1).jpg)
