Unfortunately, using the internet in an accessible way is still not a given today. People with physical or cognitive impairments regularly face difficulties on the internet, both in their private and professional lives. However, time is of the essence: by June 28, 2025, all websites and online shops must be accessible. This requirement results from a recently enacted legislative change, ensuring that digital content is accessible to everyone. Making the internet accessible is therefore more important than ever. How do you make the internet accessible? You will learn about this in this article.
But what exactly does “accessibility” mean in terms of the internet? Accessible internet means making it easier for all people with various limitations to access the internet, allowing them to access digital content. This includes people with limited vision, the blind, the hearing impaired, as well as individuals with motor or cognitive impairments, and also those who are temporarily restricted or older. By adapting your website, you ensure that no one is excluded from accessing information due to disabilities or age-related limitations.
1.Accessible Content for Your Website:
Content is arguably the most important aspect of a website, and now everyone can enjoy your content—thanks to an accessible content framework. Our society is aging, and the proportion of people living with various limitations is growing. It should therefore be a priority to ensure that, regardless of their limitations, everyone can access your website and perceive and understand texts, images, videos, etc. Thus, it is crucial that you reach your target audience in an accessible manner and make your offerings visible to them.
2. Accessible Corporate Identity:
A corporate identity stands at the forefront, as the better it is defined, the more uniformly a brand is recognized in the market and anchored in the minds of its prospects. In terms of websites, this includes points such as:
– Logo: The central visual symbol of the company.
– Colors: The main colors used in design and communication.
– Fonts: The typographical design used in all communications.
– Images and Graphics: The visual style shaped by images, illustrations, and graphics.
3. Accessible Website:
In an increasingly digital world, it is all the more important to have an accessible web design, and it is indeed more than just an option—it is a necessity. Accessible websites not only broaden your audience but also improve user experience and strengthen the positive image of your brand. The better your website is optimized for user-friendliness, the better it will rank on Google, which naturally includes accessibility.
4. Accessible Customer Experience:
A good, user-friendly customer journey means that users can interact with your brand easily at any time and from anywhere. All important information is accessible without barriers, so your customers’ expectations are realistically raised and met. More value should be placed here, as otherwise, people with limitations may not be able to access your offers and the content you work so hard on. Every interaction with your users is a chance to win a new customer who is enthusiastic about your brand.
5.Accessible Advertising:
Digitally designed, accessible campaigns can also win new customers who you might not have been able to reach before. New prospects don’t just come by themselves; people want real experiences and access to brands they understand and value and with which they can identify. However, many websites and online shops do not offer accessibility, and traditional advertising media such as ads, newsletters, and social media often do not consider the needs of all users.
6.Accessible E-Commerce: An Inclusive Shopping Experience for All
With the growing importance of the issue of accessibility, it is increasingly important for online shops to focus on digital accessibility. What is a matter of course for many—booking a flight quickly or searching for new clothes—is often an impossible hurdle for people with limitations, making it all the more important to facilitate access for people with limitations.
7.Creating an Accessible Brand:
In an increasingly digital world, communication via websites, social media, and platforms is becoming more important. Through posts of blogs, images, and videos, but also through color and font settings, textual descriptions, and emojis, you can niche a brand and win a customer base. With accessibility, it is possible to make your brand more experiential and especially accessible to all—unfortunately, many of the websites are still not adapted to the demands of accessibility.
8.Accessible Internet – We at BFSG Help Implement It:
Would you like to learn more about how to make your website accessible, or do you need support in implementation? Contact us! We specialize not only in developing accessible websites but also in making your marketing strategies accessible and adapting your entire brand to comply with the Web Accessibility Enhancement Act, so you can reach your target audience in an accessible way.