Like any store or restaurant, your website needs to be accessible in order to increase traffic and drive sales. In 2021, that means making sure your online presence is compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). But how exactly does that benefit you? The experts at SAUCE Advertising are here to break down the answer—and share how we can help you build an ADA-compliant website.
What Does “ADA Compliant” Mean for Websites?
The ADA is a government-created set of standards that helps ensure all technology is accessible to people with disabilities. So, by making your website ADA-compliant, you’re ensuring that everyone—including those with hearing- or vision-related impairments—can access your products or services.
“As a business owner, ADA compliance is so important,” says Tina Chovanec, president and owner of SAUCE. “Not only because of its SEO value, but also because it’s the right thing to do.”
Benefits of ADA Compliance
Widens Your Target Audience
No matter what industry you’re in, understanding your customer base is crucial. But without an ADA-compliant website design, you’re missing out on a large chunk of searchers who simply can’t access your site.
“71 percent of people with disabilities who come to your website—or anyone else’s—will turn right back around if they think it’s hard to use,” Tina says. “That’s a lot of potential customers who are trying to see what you offer but can’t. It’s a lot of people who, with a few web updates, you can turn into loyal customers.”
Strengthens Your SEO
Google’s job is to meet a user’s needs as closely as possible. That’s why optimizing your content for search engines is so valuable—it helps both existing and potential customers easily find you. Having an ADA-compliant website is a great way to boost your rankings. Google is much more likely to display a website that’s accessible to the largest amount of people than one that has a narrower target market.
Helps You Get a Leg up on the Competition
This point goes hand-in-hand with the previous one. But the difference between a potential customer choosing you over your competitors could come down to which one of you is ranked higher on search engines or how accessible your information is.
Good for Your Brand
In addition to being more accessible, an ADA-compliant website could lead to greater brand recognition. Once customers see and know how easy your website is for everyone to use, they can share that positive experience with others, helping spread your name around. Word of mouth can also lead to repeat business and customer loyalty.
Meets Legal Requirements
Although ADA compliance is not mandatory, following its regulations can also help you avoid legal trouble and meet updated rules to ensure your site is as accessible as possible.
How to Make Your Website ADA Compliant
Navigating ADA compliance and SEO isn’t easy, especially as standards continue to evolve. So why not trust the experts at SAUCE to do the hard work for you?
“We stay up to date on all things web and SEO—including ever-changing best practices,” Tina says. “Our team designs and enhances websites with ADA compliance and SEO in mind, giving your business a boost right from the get-go.”
See the difference our expertise can make for you: Call us today at 262-650-8300.