What's your top web design tip for improving website accessibility? What specific element or technique do you recommend focusing on?

Question

Discover essential web accessibility tips to enhance your website's user experience. This article presents expert insights on improving keyboard navigation, boosting readability, and simplifying forms. Learn practical strategies to make your website more inclusive and user-friendly for all visitors.

Aaron Whittaker · Answer

As someone who has led web projects for clients in sectors such as home services and financial services, the most significant improvement we've made for accessibility is to improve keyboard navigation. There are many people who use a keyboard, not a mouse — whether they have mobility problems, or just a personal preference. When the tab order is correct, you can get to the next form field, button, or menu item in the proper order without any confusion. A home repair client I had once had a dwindling form that would skip fields as you tabbed through, driving users to quit and drop off. Numerous companies that have focused on fixing the order of your focuses and adding clear focus indicators have generated significantly more completed form submissions.
One little detail that is often overlooked is the visibility of the focus state. If you can't see what element you're selecting, the site is rendered unusable. We rolled out high-contrast focus outlines on a financial services website, and customers started bringing up how much easier it was to use. My advice: don't merely allow keyboard navigation — try it out for yourself. Put the mouse down, tab your way through the entire site, and see how the experience unfolds. Those repairs don't just widen accessibility; they also enhance usability for everyone.

Chris Gatseos · Answer

After working with hundreds of service businesses on their websites, I've seen one accessibility issue negatively impact conversions more than any other: poor color contrast. We had a law firm client whose dark blue text on a light gray background looked "modern" but was completely unreadable for users with vision impairments.
The specific technique I focus on is the 4.5:1 contrast ratio rule from WCAG guidelines. I use tools like WebAIM's contrast checker during every website build. When we fixed that law firm's contrast issues - switching to true black text on white backgrounds for their main content - their contact form submissions increased by 28% in the first month.
What surprised me most was that this change helped everyone, not just users with disabilities. Older prospects could finally read their service descriptions clearly. People viewing the site on phones in bright sunlight could actually see it. The accessibility improvement became a business growth driver because readable text converts better than "stylish" text that nobody can actually read.

Craig Flickinger BB · Answer

After 20+ years helping businesses with their websites at Burnt Bacon, I've seen one accessibility issue kill more conversions than anything else: form complexity. When we audit sites, we consistently find that overly complicated contact forms are blocking potential customers from reaching out.
Here's what actually works: I strip forms down to just the essentials - name, email, and message. That's it. One veterinary client was asking for pet names, ages, breeds, and medical history upfront. We cut it to three fields and their appointment requests jumped 67% in six weeks.
The real game-changer is adding progress indicators for multi-step processes. A Utah dental practice was losing patients during their online booking because people didn't know how many steps remained. We added a simple "Step 2 of 3" indicator and saw completion rates increase by 43%.
Most business owners think more information equals better leads, but accessibility means removing every possible barrier. Every extra field you require is another reason for someone with motor difficulties, cognitive challenges, or just plain impatience to abandon your site completely.

Juan Carlos Munoz · Answer

My top web design tip for accessibility is to focus on color contrast and readability. Many sites look great visually but fail because text and buttons don't stand out enough. This affects not only people with visual impairments but also everyday users browsing in poor lighting conditions.
I recommend checking your site against WCAG contrast guidelines and ensuring that important elements aren't distinguished by color alone. For example, links should also have an underline, and buttons should have a clear shape or label.
Small adjustments like these make a site easier to use for everyone, boost SEO, and often lead to cleaner, more intentional design. If you're unsure where to start, a quick contrast audit can reveal simple fixes that make a huge impact.

Jason Bland · Answer

When it comes to improving website accessibility, my top web design tip is to prioritize clear, consistent navigation paired with robust contrast and properly structured headings. The navigation bar should be easy to find and use for both keyboard and screen reader users—think logical menu order, skip links for quick access, and ARIA labels for context. This isn't just about inclusivity; it directly supports SEO by making your site easier for search engines to crawl and understand.
For a specific technique, focus on semantic HTML. Use heading tags (H1, H2, H3, etc.) to outline your content hierarchy, never just for styling. When headings are used properly, assistive technologies can skim a page efficiently, mirroring how Google interprets content structure. Supplement this with descriptive alt text for images and ensure all interactive elements, like buttons and forms, are fully accessible (with proper labels and visible focus states).
On the conversion-optimized mobile front, simplicity is key. Prioritize large, tappable buttons, minimal text input, and sticky calls-to-action that remain visible without being intrusive. Test every mobile flow with accessibility tools and real users to ensure forms are easy to complete and error messages are clear. Using responsive design isn't enough—go further by making sure color contrast meets WCAG standards and touch targets are large enough for all users.
Ultimately, accessible design and mobile optimization are inseparable from effective SEO and higher conversion rates. A site that's easy to navigate and use is one that's more discoverable and trustworthy—qualities both users and search engines reward.

Vaibhav Kakkar · Answer

We commit to responsive design because it ensures every visitor can engage with content without barriers. I make certain layouts adapt fluidly across screens whether viewed on a phone, tablet, or desktop. This flexibility creates a consistent experience and avoids frustration when people switch between devices. A responsive framework also reduces the need for multiple versions of the same site, which makes maintenance smoother and more reliable. By focusing on responsiveness, we can deliver both functionality and accessibility at the same time.
Responsiveness goes beyond aesthetics. It allows users to zoom, resize, or change their display settings without breaking the layout. Many individuals adjust their screens for better readability or to meet specific accessibility needs, and a site that adapts supports them fully. This approach reflects a respect for user choice while ensuring that design never becomes a limitation.

Tyler Archibald · Answer

One important aspect I always emphasize is an organized and clear heading structure with proper HTML tags (H1, H2, H3, etc.). Screen readers rely on this outline to help users navigate and understand website content effectively. Beyond accessibility, it's also a staple in SEO and makes your content easier for everyone to scan. If you're only going to focus on one technique, get your headings right because it's one of the simplest but most impactful improvements you can make to your website.

Will Rice · Answer

So many websites forget about alt text for images, or fail to use it properly. It's not just an accessibility feature, but it's important for cases when images fail to load too. Not only that, but Google uses alt text to help index your images, which can help boost traffic in the case that people are searching for your images. Going back to accessibility though, images with bad or missing alt text can ruin an entire webpage when using a screen reader. For example: a png of a graph containing critical information that isn't repeated in text will render that page useless.

8 Web Accessibility Tips for Improving Your Website

Table of Contents

8 Web Accessibility Tips for Improving Your Website

Improve Keyboard Navigation for Accessibility

Enhance Color Contrast to Boost Readability

Simplify Forms to Increase Conversion Rates

Prioritize Clear Navigation and Semantic HTML

Design Responsively for Universal Compatibility

Organize Clear Heading Structure with Tags

Craft Descriptive Alt Text for Images

Implement Proper Heading Structure for Navigation

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