The SMB Guide to Making Your Website and Documents Digitally Accessible 30/12/25
Have you ever thought about how many potential customers leave your website because of accessibility issues? It’s not just a guess. A UK Click-Away Pound survey found that 69% of disabled internet users leave websites that aren’t accessible. For small and medium businesses (SMBs), this represents a significant missed opportunity – not just in revenue, but in reputation.
So, how do you make your website and documents digitally accessible? This guide will show you simple, actionable steps to make your online presence welcoming to everyone.
Understand How People Use Your Site
It’s easy to assume your website is intuitive because it works for you. But accessibility means thinking beyond your own experience. Some users:
- Navigate entirely with a keyboard instead of a mouse.
- Use screen readers that read text aloud.
- Rely on voice commands or alternative input devices.
Actionable Tip:
Conduct usability testing with real users who rely on assistive technologies. Watch how they navigate your site, where they get stuck, and how they interpret your content. Often, small design changes – like adding descriptive link text or improving tab order – can remove major barriers.
Make Your Visuals Accessible for All
Visual accessibility is one of the most overlooked areas. Millions of people have some degree of visual impairment, including colour blindness and low vision.
Best Practices:
- Maintain a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text. Use free tools like WebAIM Contrast Checker.
- Avoid relying on colour alone to convey meaning. For example, don’t use “red text” for errors without adding an icon or label.
- Ensure images have alt text that describes their purpose, not just their appearance.
Example:
Instead of “image of a chart,” write “Bar chart showing sales growth from January to June.”
Make Documents User-Friendly
Many SMBs share important information through PDFs, Word files, or PowerPoint presentations – but these are often inaccessible by default.
Checklist for Accessible Documents:
- Tag PDFs with headings, paragraphs, and tables so screen readers can interpret them.
- Add alt text for all images.
- Use logical reading order so content flows correctly.
- Test documents with accessibility tools before publishing.
Pro Tip:
Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat have built-in accessibility checkers – use them before sharing files.
Make Reading Easier and Reduce Mental Effort
Accessibility isn’t just about disabilities – it’s about making content easier for everyone.
Guidelines:
- Use plain language and avoid jargon.
- Break text into short paragraphs with clear subheadings.
- Choose readable fonts like Arial, Verdana, or Sans-Serif.
- Use a minimum font size of 14pt for body text.
- Avoid all caps and italics – they’re harder to read.
Example:
Instead of “Utilise our comprehensive solutions,” say “Use our complete solutions.”
Support People with Hearing or Mobility Needs
Accessibility goes beyond visual or cognitive needs. Millions of people have hearing or physical disabilities that affect how they use technology.
For Hearing Impairments:
- Provide captions or transcripts for all video and audio content.
- Captions help not only deaf users but also people watching videos on mute.
For Mobility Impairments:
- Ensure your site is fully keyboard accessible. All links, buttons, and form fields should work with the Tab key.
- Avoid features requiring fine motor control, like drag-and-drop interfaces.
Accessibility isn’t a one-time project – it’s an ongoing process.
How to Stay Ahead:
- Test your site after every update.
- Include an accessibility statement with contact details for feedback.
- Use analytics to spot drop-offs – these often indicate usability or accessibility issues.
Make Accessibility Part of Your Brand
For SMBs, accessibility can feel like another task on a long list. But it’s a smart investment:
- Builds trust and inclusivity.
- Improves customer experience.
- Reduces legal risk (ADA and other standards apply to many websites).
Good News:
Accessibility and aesthetics can coexist. Thoughtful design choices – like high-contrast colours and clear typography – can make your site both beautiful and inclusive.
Ready to Make Your Website More Accessible?
Accessibility is not just a technical requirement – it’s about people. It’s about ensuring everyone can read your content, fill out your forms, or download your documents.
By investing time in accessibility, you’re opening doors and removing barriers. Whether you’re checking colour contrast, adding alt text, or testing keyboard navigation, each step brings you closer to a more inclusive experience.
Ready to transform your site into an accessible, modern platform?
Contact us today for expert guidance and start creating a website that works for everyone.
Article used with permission from The Technology Press.
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Have you ever thought about how many potential customers leave your website because of accessibility issues? It’s not just a guess. A UK Click-Away Pound survey found that 69% of disabled internet users leave websites that aren’t accessible. For small and medium businesses (SMBs), this represents a significant missed opportunity – not just in revenue, but in reputation.
So, how do you make your website and documents digitally accessible? This guide will show you simple, actionable steps to make your online presence welcoming to everyone.
Understand How People Use Your Site
Add Your Heading Text Here
It’s easy to assume your website is intuitive because it works for you. But accessibility means thinking beyond your own experience. Some users:
- Navigate entirely with a keyboard instead of a mouse.
- Use screen readers that read text aloud.
- Rely on voice commands or alternative input devices.
Actionable Tip:
Conduct usability testing with real users who rely on assistive technologies. Watch how they navigate your site, where they get stuck, and how they interpret your content. Often, small design changes – like adding descriptive link text or improving tab order – can remove major barriers.
Make Your Visuals Accessible for All
Visual accessibility is one of the most overlooked areas. Millions of people have some degree of visual impairment, including colour blindness and low vision.
Best Practices:
- Maintain a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text. Use free tools like WebAIM Contrast Checker.
- Avoid relying on colour alone to convey meaning. For example, don’t use “red text” for errors without adding an icon or label.
- Ensure images have alt text that describes their purpose, not just their appearance.
Example:
Instead of “image of a chart,” write “Bar chart showing sales growth from January to June.”
Make Documents User-Friendly
Many SMBs share important information through PDFs, Word files, or PowerPoint presentations – but these are often inaccessible by default.
Checklist for Accessible Documents:
- Tag PDFs with headings, paragraphs, and tables so screen readers can interpret them.
- Add alt text for all images.
- Use logical reading order so content flows correctly.
- Test documents with accessibility tools before publishing.
Pro Tip:
Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat have built-in accessibility checkers – use them before sharing files.
Make Reading Easier and Reduce Mental Effort
Accessibility isn’t just about disabilities – it’s about making content easier for everyone.
Guidelines:
- Use plain language and avoid jargon.
- Break text into short paragraphs with clear subheadings.
- Choose readable fonts like Arial, Verdana, or Sans-Serif.
- Use a minimum font size of 14pt for body text.
- Avoid all caps and italics – they’re harder to read.
Example:
Instead of “Utilise our comprehensive solutions,” say “Use our complete solutions.”
Support People with Hearing or Mobility Needs
Add Your Heading Text Here
Accessibility goes beyond visual or cognitive needs. Millions of people have hearing or physical disabilities that affect how they use technology.
For Hearing Impairments:
- Provide captions or transcripts for all video and audio content.
- Captions help not only deaf users but also people watching videos on mute.
For Mobility Impairments:
- Ensure your site is fully keyboard accessible. All links, buttons, and form fields should work with the Tab key.
- Avoid features requiring fine motor control, like drag-and-drop interfaces.
Read our latest insights
