Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1451559
L i s te n to T h e A B M P Po d c a s t a t a b m p.co m /p o d c a s t s o r w h e reve r yo u a cce s s yo u r favo r i te p o d c a s t s 81 image, giving the website visitor a much richer experience with the content. Make sure to add a period at the end of the alt text, which signals the end of the sentence to the screen reader. Your website will also need to be accessible to individuals with hearing impairments. If you have videos on your site, be sure to include captions. Many video platforms (including YouTube) have the option to automatically generate captions for you by a computer algorithm. It's not perfect, but it's better than nothing. However, it's even better to generate your own captions to ensure accuracy. Just about any modern video hosting platform will let you upload a file containing captions so the video content can be read as text. The same goes for any audio content on your website. If you have a podcast, it's important to include a transcript of the content. There are many online tools that will generate a transcript (written by humans) from audio files you can then post with your podcast episodes. While the audio and visual accommodations described above will go a long way toward improving the accessibility of your website, there are other important elements to consider. Content Structure The structure of your content plays a significant role in how accessible your website is. Your website may be viewed by individuals with differing levels of cognitive abilities. The content should be written as plainly and simply as possible. Additionally, it should be formatted in a way that is easy to scan and digest, making use of clear headings, useful subheadings, and short paragraphs. Avoid complex formatting and multiple columns. Clarity is Key Use simple, clear fonts throughout your website. You may like that fun, scripty font that looks unique, but it can be a barrier to some and make your website difficult to read and navigate. Sans serif fonts are easiest to read, as they don't include the small decorative markings. Limit the number of fonts you use (e.g., one for body text and one for headlines). Always use at least size 12 font and use bold for emphasis, rather than italics. Color Scheme The contrast of your website colors should be high so the content is easy to read. Dark gray text over a light gray background may look interesting and artistic to you, but it can make your content difficult or impossible to read by someone with limited vision or cognitive abilities. Easy Navigation Your website navigation should be clear and simple, and it should be usable without a mouse. Many individuals with limited dexterity use their keyboard alone to navigate websites. They should be able to move through your website using only the keyboard. If you aren't sure how to make this possible, contact your website professional or your website builder platform for help. Contact Information You will also want to make your contact information readily available in multiple ways. Some individuals will be able to use your online scheduling system with no issues. Others may find it difficult to use, depending on how accessible the system is. Include an email address and phone number on every page of your website (generally at the bottom) so prospective clients can contact you if they have trouble with your scheduling system. ACCESSIBILITY MATTERS While this is not an exhaustive list, it will help your website be accessible to a larger number of people who may have differing levels of abilities. It's also a good idea to periodically test your website to ensure it is as accessible as possible. If you do a web search for "free ADA website checker," you should find several resources. As you increase accessibility, you may find that you open the opportunity to serve more and different types of clients, which can be rewarding in itself and signal a new area of growth for your business. Notes 1. ADA.gov, "Information and Technical Assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act," accessed February 2022, www.ada.gov/ada_intro.htm. 2. ADA.gov, "ADA Update: A Primer for Small Business," last updated March 16, 2011, www.ada.gov/regs2010/smallbusiness/ smallbusprimer2010.htm. 3. ADA.gov, "ADA Update: A Primer for Small Business." Allissa Haines and Michael Reynolds are found at massagebusinessblueprint.com, a member-based community designed to help you attract more clients, make more money, and improve your quality of life. BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS