People are not always just like you. Even though this is a simple logistics, business owners don't remember this when they set out to build a website. Everyone has varying needs, their visual aptitude varies, they want a particular software preferably, they have physical handicaps to consider and other things that make us all unique. Everyone is not the same and we should be sure not to be so narrow in our options that we bypass whole groups of people who might like to use our products or services.
Think about somebody who is getting older. Somebody that is older should have the first choice from a sales perspective because somebody who is older probably has had enough time to save money and create wealth. But, older people are beginning to have decreased eye sight. This is not a problem because the words of the text can be adjusted to a bigger size. Or, could they? If you don't consider this function when you build a website, people who need a bigger text size won't be able to use important features of the website.
During the process by which you make a website, it is crucial to consider the colors you will use. Color blindness is a not uncommon condition which numerous individuals suffer from. They may be able to distinguish between some hues but not others. Many experience what is termed "red-green color blindness". Therefore, you don't want to utilize such colors to signify something of importance. Keep away from such phraseology as "items printed in red are not currently available".
Let us think for a moment about mobility restraints. Whether due to an accident or other medical issue, there are many people who access the web, and use a keyboard, but whom can not operate a mouse. Therefore, it is important to consider other navigation options when you are ready to make a website.
It's fairly easy to create a website that will function with the keyboard alone. You can simulate keyboard navigation with ease, by just using a keyboard to navigate! Give it an hour-long trial by visiting your daily sites and using the keyboard instead of the mouse. You'll certainly find that some sites work great with it and others aren't so great. Decide how your easy or complicated your site is with keyboard navigation.
Be sure to consider the type of software visitors to your website might be using. There are over a thousand combinations of operating systems/browsers/preference combinations. Are you unintentionally excluding any of them? Think about a site that uses JavaScript to create links in a fancy drop-down menu. Did you know it's common in many workplaces to disable JavaScript for security reasons? What that means is that anyone browsing the web at their workplace won't be able to follow your links to the checkout page! When you create a website, try to create one that doesn't exclude users because of their software.
To recap, the three big issues are mobility, software, and sight. Cater to them, and they will cater to you. With these best practices in mind, you can confidently create a website that will maximize its intent. You'll get more visitors, more repeat visitors, and happier visitors. This is a great way to run a successful business.
About the Author
When a company sets out to build a website, accessibility is an important factor that is often overlooked. Two important things to take into consideration are possible sight and mobility issues that potential visitors may be faced with. Color-blindness is an issue more often than you might think.
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