Are you wondering how to optimize content for visually impaired readers? As a marketer, expanding your reach is always the goal. Taking care to make your posts accessible for all is a savvy business move, not to mention an ethical choice. By taking a few simple steps, you can ensure that your content is optimized for those with visual impairments. New features and accessibility tools make it easy to create more accessible posts, so it’s well worth taking the time to familiarize yourself with them. You don’t have to be a marketing strategist to get started with these tips:
Why You Should Make Posts Accessible to Visually Impaired Readers
At least 1 in 5 people report having a disability or impairment. Up to 70% of websites have accessibility problems, and approximately one-third of individuals with disabilities experience difficulties accessing goods and services. To avoid shutting out up to 20% of your potential audience, you’ll need to apply a few strategies to promote online accessibility. Major platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn have introduced features to boost the accessibility of images, text, and video, so you should begin by focusing on the design and media of your content. Here’s how:
Tips for Optimizing Your Content for Visually Impaired Readers
To make text, images, video, and links more accessible, try implementing the following guidelines:
- Choose simple fonts that are large enough and easy to read (sans-serif is a safe choice).
- Make sure that font color contrasts with background color.
- Feel free to use emojis, but don’t use them to replace key words and only use them once to ensure an optimal experience for screen reader users.
- Use high-quality photos with good lighting, angles, and a clean background. When using edited images or illustrations, consider using a tool such as Who Can Use to help you determine the best color palette.
- Add alt text to images. Although tools are available to automatically generate alt text, writing it yourself is the best option. Effective alt text objectively describes what’s in the picture.
- When creating videos, avoid overlaid effects. If using strobe effects, warn viewers in the title.
- Ensure that talking head videos are accessible for those who rely on lip-reading. To do this, make sure the face of the speaker is well-lit and ask him or her to speak at a comfortable speed with neutral facial movements.
- Use high-quality subtitles. If possible, write your own or edit them if using an autogenerator.
- When adding links, be sure that the link is obvious. Using “click here” or “read more” helps screen reader users identify the location of a link.
Promoting accessibility is a goal that all brands should strive for. By following these simple tips, you’ll create more accessible content and possibly broaden your reach. If you’d prefer to seek professional help with content creation or website development, reach out to a marketing strategist. Our team is happy to assist you in designing a customized plan to meet your needs, so please contact us to learn more.