Blog

Smartphone screen displaying mobile-responsive website with navigation, services, contact form, and map integration

Here's our workflow for better images — six steps, in order, applied to every image as you upload it!&nbsp; Print it, pin it near your desk, or paste it into whatever document your team uses for publishing. It takes just a few seconds per image once it's habit.<figure id="figure-l26w7l7dhzmsrlatmo" class=""><img id="l26w7l7dhzmsrlatmo" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/33AFOpqJhnJkaGDYQGvOrRNkOcSqPxQZnQIDiuqluvAAwhW1pVK4Aorg1mMzCIZh.png" alt="A women working on a computer creating alt text for accessibility " title="A women working on a computer creating alt text for accessibility " class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/33AFOpqJhnJkaGDYQGvOrRNkOcSqPxQZnQIDiuqluvAAwhW1pVK4Aorg1mMzCIZh.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;"></figure>Step 1 — Rename the file descriptively before uploading Do this first, because it's the step you can't easily redo later.&nbsp;IMG_4471.jpg tells nobody anything. blue-ceramic-mug-handmade.jpg tells search engines what the picture shows, and it's the fallback a screen reader may read aloud if alt text is ever missing.[ ] File renamed before upload, not after [ ] Words separated by hyphens, not underscores or spaces [ ] Lowercase, no special characters [ ] Describes the image, not the campaign (spring-sale-banner-3-final-FINAL.jpg helps no one) [ ] Reasonably short — three to five words is plenty Why it's first: once an image is uploaded and embedded across your site, renaming it means broken links. Two seconds now, or a cleanup project later.&nbsp; Step 2 — Ask: does this image carry information, or is it decoration? Everything downstream depends on this answer, so answer it deliberately.The test: if this image vanished, would the reader lose anything?Carries information — product photos, charts, diagrams, screenshots, headshots, anything with text in it, anything you'd describe out loud to someone on the phone Decoration — dividers, background textures, corner flourishes, abstract shapes, an icon sitting beside a text label that already says the same thing [ ] Asked the question consciously rather than defaulting [ ] Checked whether nearby text or a caption already conveys the same thing (if so, the image is likely decorative) [ ] When genuinely unsure, treated it as informative — over-describing is a smaller error than leaving someone without &nbsp; Step 3 — If it carries information, write one sentence describing what it conveys here That last word does the work. Not what's in the frame — what the image is doing in this context.The same headshot might be "Sarah Chen, founder" on your team page and "A person working at a home desk" on a post about remote work. Same file, different job.[ ] Roughly one sentence — long enough to be useful, short enough to listen to [ ] Describes the image's purpose on this page, not every visible detail [ ] Doesn't start with "image of" or "photo of" — screen readers already announce it's an image [ ] No keyword stuffing (it sounds like gibberish read aloud and stopped helping rankings long ago) [ ] Ends with a period, which gives screen readers a natural pause [ ] Doesn't duplicate a caption word for word — a screen reader user would hear it twice [ ] Complex images (charts, infographics, maps) have a fuller description nearby, since a sentence won't cover them &nbsp; Step 4 — If it's decoration, leave the field empty Empty. Not a space, not "decorative image," not a description. In Microsoft Office products, check "Decorative" and it skips that image as an Alt Text requirement.&nbsp;Empty alt text tells a screen reader to skip the image entirely. That's the goal — silence is better than an interruption that adds nothing.[ ] Alternative Text field left genuinely blank [ ] Didn't type "decorative," "spacer," or "n/a" [ ] Didn't put a single space in the field [ ] Confirmed the platform produces empty alt rather than falling back to the filename or title Some platforms auto-populate alt text from the filename or title if you leave it blank. Check yours once — it's worth knowing which behaviour you're working with.&nbsp;Step 5 — If there's text in the image, include that text No exceptions. Text inside an image isn't text — it's a picture of letters. Screen readers can't read it, search engines can't index it, translation tools skip it, and it turns to mush when someone enlarges the page.[ ] Every word visible in the image appears in the alt text [ ] Quote cards, memes, and screenshots have their text transcribed [ ] Event details — date, time, address, price, registration link — also appear as real text in the post, not only in the graphic [ ] Infographics have a text summary nearby, not just alt text [ ] For memes, the alt text conveys the joke, not just the pictureThat third box is the one that matters most. If your entire event announcement is a JPG, then for a meaningful number of people, you didn't announce an event.&nbsp;Step 6 — Read it aloud. If it sounds odd, rewrite it This catches nearly everything the other five steps miss. Alt text is heard, not read. Saying it out loud surfaces the awkward phrasing, the keyword stuffing, the redundancy, and the descriptions that technically apply but don't actually help.[ ] Read the alt text out loud, actually out loud [ ] It sounds like a person describing a picture, not a search query [ ] Someone who couldn't see the page would understand why the image is there [ ] It isn't so long you'd lose patience hearing it [ ] Any AI-suggested alt text was reviewed and rewritten, not accepted as-isAutomated suggestions have gotten decent at describing what's in frame. They remain bad at knowing what an image is doing in your post — that part is yours.<ul><li>The quick checklist:<ul><li>The whole thing on one line each</li><li>Rename the file before uploading</li><li>Ask whether it carries information or decorates</li><li>Describe it in a sentence, in context</li><li>Leave it empty if decorative</li><li>Include the text if there's text in the image</li><li>Read it aloud and rewrite what sounds odd</li><li>Fix your old images, too!&nbsp; If the backlog is bigger than an afternoon For a lot of organizations it is — years of uploads, thousands of images, a document library nobody wants to open. That's an ordinary place to be, and it's not a good use of your team's month.</li></ul></li></ul>We provide accessibility audits, ongoing accessibility support, and content remediation, including working through image libraries at scale and training your team so the next few years of uploads don't rebuild the same backlog.Contact us for help! Tell us roughly what you're working with and we'll come back with a scope and a number.

Six Steps to Better Images: A Best Practices Checklist

Person using smartphone with streaming platform accessibility features including enlarged text and subtitles

<h2>Understanding the ADA for Websites</h2>The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life. While originally focused on physical spaces, the ADA has evolved to include digital environments. This means that websites must be accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities.<figure id="figure-hx5irx1zr9msva5ck0"><img id="hx5irx1zr9msva5ck0" src="https://rjdavx8ozyznxeyh.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/production/websites/infinite-images/5dc3cb05-298f-46cb-825e-bec674cabb03-iYwq0SzOpJeqAagnT7TOH0hZbY751P.png" alt="web accessibility" class="object-cover bg-gray-100" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;" data-mce-src="https://rjdavx8ozyznxeyh.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/production/websites/infinite-images/5dc3cb05-298f-46cb-825e-bec674cabb03-iYwq0SzOpJeqAagnT7TOH0hZbY751P.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;"></figure><h3>Why Website Accessibility Matters</h3>Website accessibility is crucial because it ensures that all users, regardless of their abilities, can access and interact with online content. For businesses, making a website accessible is not just a legal obligation but also a way to reach a broader audience. By enhancing accessibility, companies can improve user experience and foster inclusivity.Moreover, accessible websites can boost SEO rankings. Search engines favor sites that offer a better user experience, and accessibility features can contribute to this. Therefore, prioritizing accessibility can also enhance a website's visibility and reach.<h3>Key Elements of an Accessible Website</h3>Ensuring a website is ADA compliant involves several key elements. Some of the most important include:<ul><li>Keyboard Navigation: Users should be able to navigate the site using a keyboard, without relying on a mouse.</li><li>Alt Text for Images: Providing descriptive text for images helps screen readers convey the content to visually impaired users.</li><li>Readable Text: Ensuring text is legible with sufficient contrast and appropriate font sizes enhances accessibility.</li></ul><figure id="figure-4oyuhuzoxmsva5ck0"><img id="4oyuhuzoxmsva5ck0" src="https://rjdavx8ozyznxeyh.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/production/websites/infinite-images/9e66acc2-a79b-4b14-bf54-d9388eec7e88-3Tpr7Vb9jjLDDrQzHTAsdCWN85yUkP.png" alt="website design" class="object-cover bg-gray-100" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;" data-mce-src="https://rjdavx8ozyznxeyh.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/production/websites/infinite-images/9e66acc2-a79b-4b14-bf54-d9388eec7e88-3Tpr7Vb9jjLDDrQzHTAsdCWN85yUkP.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;"></figure><h2>The Legal Implications of Non-Compliance</h2>Failing to comply with the ADA can result in legal repercussions. Businesses can face lawsuits and penalties if their websites are found to be inaccessible. Recent years have seen a rise in such legal actions, emphasizing the importance of compliance.Beyond legal considerations, non-compliance can harm a company's reputation. Customers value inclusivity, and businesses that neglect accessibility may be perceived as indifferent to the needs of individuals with disabilities.<h3>Steps to Achieve ADA Compliance</h3>To make your website ADA compliant, consider the following steps:<ol><li>Conduct an Accessibility Audit: Regularly review your website's accessibility using tools or consulting experts.</li><li>Implement WCAG Guidelines: Follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to ensure compliance.</li><li>Provide Training: Educate your team about accessibility best practices to maintain compliance over time.</li></ol><figure id="figure-z5iicvhqhtmsva5ck0"><img id="z5iicvhqhtmsva5ck0" src="https://rjdavx8ozyznxeyh.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/production/websites/infinite-images/4a1b97c6-5fbc-4162-950f-de6a548274fa-G7q4AcAjByXjDqpBd65SLEXnGTuC1A.png" alt="team meeting" class="object-cover bg-gray-100" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;" data-mce-src="https://rjdavx8ozyznxeyh.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/production/websites/infinite-images/4a1b97c6-5fbc-4162-950f-de6a548274fa-G7q4AcAjByXjDqpBd65SLEXnGTuC1A.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;"></figure><h2>Need help?&nbsp;</h2>Ensuring your website is ADA compliant is essential for legal reasons and for promoting inclusivity and a positive user experience. By understanding the importance of accessibility and implementing necessary changes, businesses can create digital spaces that welcome all users. Embracing accessibility not only fulfills legal obligations but also enhances a company's brand and reach. Reach out to us -- we help with compliance and offer auditing services, training, and more!&nbsp;

What is the ADA for Websites? Ensuring Accessibility and Compliance

&nbsp;Start With Your Top Twenty PagesDo we need to fix all of our images? Short answer is very likely but I have some tips to make it easier!&nbsp;How did we get here? Well, if you are like many of us, you may have migrated from website platform to website platform and sometimes those image files lose any accessibility content associated with them. Or maybe it's more that you did a large image dump into your media library or website (or even social media!) and that was it. Or you are just now learning about accessibility (or worse, you've received a threatening letter!) ...and then you look at a media library with four thousand files in it, some (maybe most?) uploaded before anyone on the team had heard of alt text, and the whole project becomes something to think about later (until you get that letter and make a dedication to get your website and digital content accessible!)Let's start with the practicality --&gt; Don't try to fix 4000 images at once. Break down the work into bite size steps... and yes, if you feel comfortable using AI, you can use AI to provide Alt Text for your images. Ok, let's talk through briefly some things to consider with using AI to create image description for Alt Text. As a caveat about AI and images, it will not recognize everything, but it's better than no description! One more thing before we talk through this more, is that you do want to be careful using AI with your intellectual property (IP), copyrighted images, and/or any which might have PII (personally identifiable information about people), or people that you know. Do you really want your likeness to be given to AI?&nbsp; Just considerations for when and with what you feel comfortable using AI to help your work!&nbsp;<figure id="figure-4dqigb2oahmsrpin2o" class=""><img id="4dqigb2oahmsrpin2o" src="https://rjdavx8ozyznxeyh.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/production/websites/infinite-images/1221d812-c97c-47b6-8730-2bf5683b2a6a-KyyQIObOlZerMxpqvCx3LtjXkbSxrn.png" alt="Compliance specialist reviewing digital quality management dashboards and regulatory data on tablet in modern office" title="Compliance specialist reviewing digital quality management dashboards and regulatory data on tablet in modern office" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://rjdavx8ozyznxeyh.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/production/websites/infinite-images/1221d812-c97c-47b6-8730-2bf5683b2a6a-KyyQIObOlZerMxpqvCx3LtjXkbSxrn.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>Set a plan - Focus on top content, especially images&nbsp; What and Why? Put your time where it benefits you the most. That's one reason that we talk so much about Alt Text here as it is one of the key factors in making content inaccessible, and opens you to liability (and no one wants that, right?) Website traffic is never evenly distributed. A small number of pages account for most of your visitors — usually your homepage, a handful of service or product pages, two or three posts that did unexpectedly well, and your contact page. Fix the images on those, and you've addressed the barriers that most of your visitors are actually encountering. The remaining pages still matter, but they're not where people are.This is triage, and triage is the correct approach when the alternative is doing nothingHow to do that - It starts with metricsPull your analytics or statistics. <ul><li style="list-style-type: none;" data-mce-style="list-style-type: none;"><ul><li>Sort by pageviews over the last six or twelve months. Take the top twenty as a starting point.</li><li>Add your conversion pages even if traffic is lower.</li></ul></li></ul>A barrier on a page with 200 visits a month that stops people from paying you matters more than one on a post with 5,000 casual readers.Handle template and sitewide images first.&nbsp; Logos, header graphics, icons, anything appearing across many pages. Fix once, fix everywhere — it's the highest-leverage work on the list.<ul><li>Then work through each page's images.&nbsp; For every one, ask whether it carries information or is decoration.<ul><li>Informative images get a sentence describing what they convey on that page.</li><li>If there's text in the image, that text goes in the alt text. Read it aloud; if it sounds odd, rewrite it.</li><li>Give decorative images empty alt text rather than skipping them. An empty alt attribute tells a screen reader to move on. A missing one may leave it reading out a filename.</li></ul></li></ul>Schedule the rest. Don't declare victory and forget. Put the next twenty pages on the calendar, or fold them into whatever content review you already do. It really is an afternoon Twenty pages or maybe, it's 4 pages a day. Whatever works for you! A few images each. Just a few seconds apiece once you've got the rhythm! That's not a project requiring a budget line and a kickoff meeting. It's an afternoon with a coffee and a spreadsheet or your website — and it's one of the highest-return afternoons available to you, because you're fixing the exact barriers that the largest number of your visitors are hitting.The rest of your library can wait. It'll be there.One thing to do at the same timeFix how new images get published, or you'll be back here in eighteen months with a fresh backlog. Whoever uploads images to your site needs to know the six-step habit: rename the file, decide if it's informative or decorative, describe it in a sentence, leave it empty if decorative, include any text that's in the image, and read it aloud. That's the whole thing, and it takes longer to explain than to do.Need more help? We provide accessibility audits, accessibility support, and content remediation, including working through image libraries at scale and training your team so the backlog doesn't rebuild itself. Contact us for a quote! Remember, Accessible Content is Good Content!&nbsp;&nbsp;

Getting Compliant: Fixing images

Designer's hand adjusting color values in digital color picker tool with healthcare landing page displayed

<h2>Understanding the Importance of Color in Accessibility</h2>Effective use of color in content creation is crucial for ensuring accessibility for all users. Colors can significantly impact readability, comprehension, and user experience. For individuals with visual impairments, including color blindness, the right color choices can make the difference between inclusive content and inaccessible information.When designing accessible content, it's important to consider both color contrast and the way different colors interact with each other. A strong contrast between text and background can enhance readability, especially for users with low vision. Additionally, understanding how colors work together can prevent confusion for those with color vision deficiencies.<figure id="figure-oqyexy5oe9mszorh2d"><img id="oqyexy5oe9mszorh2d" src="https://rjdavx8ozyznxeyh.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/production/websites/infinite-images/468b1ee0-2229-4b04-9389-03c0e4685f32-OmZ0CQnbfRzIWcXHEbyDqruJ0ce8Mx.png" alt="color contrast" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;" data-mce-src="https://rjdavx8ozyznxeyh.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/production/websites/infinite-images/468b1ee0-2229-4b04-9389-03c0e4685f32-OmZ0CQnbfRzIWcXHEbyDqruJ0ce8Mx.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;"></figure><h2>Choosing the Right Color Contrast</h2>Color contrast is a key factor in making content accessible. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) suggest a minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for text and background. This ensures that text is distinguishable from the background for most users. For larger text, a contrast ratio of 3:1 is acceptable.Tools such as color contrast analyzers can be used to check if your color combinations meet accessibility standards. These tools provide a quick way to test and adjust your color choices during the design process, ensuring compliance with accessibility guidelines.<figure id="figure-tlsap40qammszoripv"><img id="tlsap40qammszoripv" src="https://rjdavx8ozyznxeyh.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/production/websites/infinite-images/72c89d9e-8c59-4743-b69f-968a6055738a-HQ5XhKBYjkE1isJVos9h698CdLIHxO.png" alt="color contrast tool" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;" data-mce-src="https://rjdavx8ozyznxeyh.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/production/websites/infinite-images/72c89d9e-8c59-4743-b69f-968a6055738a-HQ5XhKBYjkE1isJVos9h698CdLIHxO.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;"></figure><h2>Color Blindness and Content Creation</h2>Color blindness affects approximately 8% of men and 0.5% of women, making it essential to consider this when creating content. The most common types of color blindness involve difficulty distinguishing between red and green or blue and yellow.To accommodate users with color vision deficiencies, avoid relying solely on color to convey information. Use text labels, patterns, or symbols in conjunction with color to ensure that all users can access the same information.<h2>Best Practices for Accessible Color Use</h2>Here are some best practices to ensure effective color use for accessibility:<ul><li>Use high contrast: Ensure a strong contrast between text and background.</li><li>Avoid color-only cues: Combine color with text or symbols.</li><li>Test with tools: Utilize color contrast checkers to validate your choices.</li><li>Consider color blindness: Choose color palettes that are accessible to users with color vision deficiencies.</li></ul><figure id="figure-8u9gnga1gdmszorkrw"><img id="8u9gnga1gdmszorkrw" src="https://rjdavx8ozyznxeyh.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/production/websites/infinite-images/468b1ee0-2229-4b04-9389-03c0e4685f32-OmZ0CQnbfRzIWcXHEbyDqruJ0ce8Mx.png" alt="accessible color palette" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;" data-mce-src="https://rjdavx8ozyznxeyh.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/production/websites/infinite-images/468b1ee0-2229-4b04-9389-03c0e4685f32-OmZ0CQnbfRzIWcXHEbyDqruJ0ce8Mx.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;"></figure><h2>The Role of Color in Inclusive Design</h2>Effective color use is not just about aesthetics; it's about creating an inclusive experience for all users. By following accessibility guidelines and considering the needs of users with visual impairments, content creators can ensure that their work is both beautiful and accessible.Incorporating these strategies into your design process can help you reach a broader audience and provide a more equitable user experience. Remember, accessibility is an ongoing journey, and staying informed about best practices is key to success. Need help? Reach out to us for training, more design tips, and help with accessible content standards! We can help you stay compliant!

Effective Color Use for Accessibility in Content Creation

Person's hands activating voice assistant on smartphone with high-contrast interface displayed in natural light

There's a field in your content editor labeled Alternative Text (it also is connected to all images on the web including those that we upload to social media!) Most people skip it, if they see it all! Yet, it's worth a few seconds of your attention per image, and it does more work than almost anything else you'll do that day.&nbsp; What it is Alt text is a short written description of an image, stored in the image's code rather than displayed on the page. In WordPress it's the Alternative Text field in the media library. Every major platform has an equivalent, usually right where you upload.Alt Text (also know as Alternative Text) does three jobs:Screen readers read it aloud. When the software reaches an image, it announces "graphic" and reads whatever you wrote. With nothing there, it may read the filename instead — which is how a visitor ends up hearing "graphic, I-M-G underscore four four seven one dot jay-peg." It displays when the image doesn't load. Slow connection, broken link, data saver on. Search engines use it to understand the picture. What does that mean? It means it helps your findability in search engines like Google. Good content is accessible content!&nbsp;<figure id="figure-kr9jgupmhomsrksg4l"><img id="kr9jgupmhomsrksg4l" src="https://rjdavx8ozyznxeyh.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/production/websites/infinite-images/713c3f0b-5d2c-43bb-8fa4-9d5632dafe03-NEUVxur8Bn5xH1oS9th4FMCbrHx5Uc.png" alt="Smartphone displaying bill payment app dashboard with utility bills, recharge, and financial management options" title="Smartphone displaying bill payment app dashboard with utility bills, recharge, and financial management options" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 60% undefined%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="Example: Utility Bills is text, but the icon is not. We can use the website without needing to know there is an icon there. If Utility Bills is embedded in the button, the we need Alt Text to tell users what it is! Decorative vs. Necessary! " data-positionx="60%" data-positiony="undefined%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://rjdavx8ozyznxeyh.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/production/websites/infinite-images/713c3f0b-5d2c-43bb-8fa4-9d5632dafe03-NEUVxur8Bn5xH1oS9th4FMCbrHx5Uc.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 60% undefined%;"><figcaption class="body-normal text-gray-500 mt-2">Example: Utility Bills is text, but the icon is not. We can use the website without needing to know there is an icon there. If Utility Bills is embedded in the button, the we need Alt Text to tell users what it is! Decorative vs. Necessary!</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;How to write one Keep it short &amp; simple! Describe what the image communicates in this context, not everything visible in the frame. The same photo can need different alt text on different pages — a headshot might be "Sarah Chen, founder" on your team page and "A person working at a home desk" on a post about remote work.&nbsp;A few rules that cover most cases:<ul><li>Keep it to roughly a sentence: If you need more than a sentence to describe a complex image (such as a explanatory diagram or an infographic) consider creating a companion doc where you can describe the image in greater detail. This can be a Google Doc, another page on your website, whatever (as long as it's available to users!). Use the alt text to direct users to the document. For example, explanation of our accessibility workflow, see __________ for full text.&nbsp;</li><li>Skip "image of" and "photo of" — screen readers already say it's an image Include any text that appears in the image. Always</li><li>Don't stuff keywords! &nbsp;It sounds like gibberish read aloud and stopped helping rankings years ago</li><li>Purely decorative images — dividers, background flourishes — get empty alt text, so screen readers skip them rather than announcing a filename - for the overzealous among us, consider carefully -- does this image communicate information or is just decorative? Decorative only? Don't add to filler.&nbsp; &nbsp;Why it's required Alt text isn't a best practice you can get to later. Under the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, providing text alternatives for non-text content is success criterion 1.1.1, Level A — the very first requirement in the standard, at the minimum conformance level. Most organizations are aiming for Level AA, which is higher still.&nbsp; WCAG is the standard referenced in ADA settlements, in the Department of Justice's Title II rule for state and local government, in Section 508 for federal agencies and their vendors, and in the European Accessibility Act.</li></ul>It's also among the most commonly cited items in accessibility complaints — partly because it matters, and partly because an automated scanner detects a missing alt attribute in seconds. Anyone can run that scan on your site. Some people run it on thousands of sites at a time.&nbsp;(We're accessibility practitioners, not attorneys, and none of this is legal advice.)&nbsp;And it helps you get found Search engines can't see images. They rely on the filename, the surrounding page, and the alt text to work out what a picture actually shows.That's what makes your images eligible to appear in image search — a traffic source most businesses never think about — and it contributes to how the page as a whole is understood. Keywords in alt attributes have long been treated somewhat like anchor text.There's a broader pattern here: alt text, real headings, descriptive links, video transcripts. All of it exists to make content understandable without seeing it, which is exactly the problem a search crawler has. You do the work once and get paid twice.While you're at it, rename your files before uploading. blue-ceramic-mug.jpg beats IMG_4471.jpg for search, and it's a much better fallback if alt text is ever missing. We'll discuss filenaming in another post and how it helps findability and accessibility as well.&nbsp;&nbsp; If the backlog is bigger than an afternoon Years of uploads with empty alt fields is an ordinary place to be, and it's not a good use of your team's week.&nbsp;We provide accessibility audits, ongoing accessibility support, and content remediation — including working through image libraries, writing alt text that's accurate rather than automated, and training your team so the next few years of uploads don't rebuild the same backlog.Contact us for a quote — tell us roughly what you're working with and we'll give you a scope and a number.

Alt Text: The Small Field That Does a Lot

Content creator's hands typing on laptop keyboard with content management interface displayed on screen

In the ever-evolving world of digital marketing, staying updated with the latest trends is crucial. Let's explore keeping content up and how it helps with digital marketing, search engines and accessibility! We'll wrap up with a few tips for keeping your website fresh -- good for a team of marketing staff or a solo enterprise!&nbsp;Creating a new post is more than just updating your blog. It’s about offering value, showcasing your expertise, and connecting with your audience. It also helps keep your website "active" in search engines and if you ensure your content is accessible, it also demonstrates that you are committed to accessibility! So, let's dive into how you can make your next post stand out (and be accessible too!) Remember: good content is good for all. Good is more than just the content itself -- it's also whether your content is accessible!&nbsp;<figure id="figure-8y6b1xbq0umsqv7gv9" class=""><img id="8y6b1xbq0umsqv7gv9" src="https://rjdavx8ozyznxeyh.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/production/websites/infinite-images/e3bc8d98-9e9d-44cf-8523-d0585d481965-3rsSDIkSSCmrEHoT23qqui4KB1K82n.png" alt="blogging concept" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;" data-mce-src="https://rjdavx8ozyznxeyh.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/production/websites/infinite-images/e3bc8d98-9e9d-44cf-8523-d0585d481965-3rsSDIkSSCmrEHoT23qqui4KB1K82n.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;"></figure><h2>Why New Matters</h2>Regularly publishing new posts helps maintain audience interest and can significantly boost your website's findability and ranking (SEO).&nbsp; Search engines prioritize active websites, so frequent updates can improve your rankings. Moreover, fresh content keeps your audience coming back for more, building a loyal reader base.&nbsp;New posts are also a way to address current trends or questions your audience might have. By staying relevant, you demonstrate your industry knowledge and commitment to providing valuable information. Making your website content accessible elevates it even more!&nbsp;<h3>Enhancing Audience Engagement</h3>Engaging content is key to retaining your audience, but accessible content is also critical. Yes, accessible content is the law (it falls under a section of the ADA), but it goes beyond our legal obligations to provide accessible services. It also ensures that all of our potential clients and customers can find and engage with our content. Did you know that 1 in 4 Americans have a disability?&nbsp; It's true! How many customers and clients are you losing?&nbsp;<figure id="figure-hz0uokl3gpumsqvhd8i"><img id="hz0uokl3gpumsqvhd8i" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/31Mt93FqbbL8DLaz54NLETHditNnxxWROmBNRreKAMHdFNEB53LSYqttM9gJiO5k.jpg" alt="1 in 4 adults in the US have a disability" title="1 in 4 adults in the US have a disability" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="1 in 4 adults in the US have a disability, CDC https://www.cdc.gov/disability-and-health/articles-documents/disability-impacts-all-of-us-infographic.html" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/31Mt93FqbbL8DLaz54NLETHditNnxxWROmBNRreKAMHdFNEB53LSYqttM9gJiO5k.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;"><figcaption class="body-normal text-gray-500 mt-2">1 in 4 adults in the US have a disability, CDC https://www.cdc.gov/disability-and-health/articles-documents/disability-impacts-all-of-us-infographic.html</figcaption></figure><h3>Tips for Writing a Successful New Post</h3><ul><li>Research Your Topic: Ensure your post is well-researched and provides accurate information.</li><li>Create accessible content: Ensure your content is accessible! Accessibility is good for everyone!&nbsp;</li><li>Use SEO Best Practices: Optimize your post with relevant keywords to improve visibility.</li><li>Engage with Your Audience: Encourage comments and respond to engage with readers.</li><li>Promote on Social Media: Share your post across platforms to reach a wider audience.</li></ul><figure id="figure-h1gstf9ou1msqv7l4x"><img id="h1gstf9ou1msqv7l4x" src="https://rjdavx8ozyznxeyh.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/production/websites/infinite-images/2422b3ac-cc4a-49ed-8155-87d7a2ecd8ed-Ik51MDC9IulVTpkqr1objvj6Ot0b6E.png" alt="content creation" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;" data-mce-src="https://rjdavx8ozyznxeyh.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/production/websites/infinite-images/2422b3ac-cc4a-49ed-8155-87d7a2ecd8ed-Ik51MDC9IulVTpkqr1objvj6Ot0b6E.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;"></figure>Remember, consistency is key. Regularly updating your blog with valuable content will keep your readers engaged and eager for more. So, take these tips and start crafting your next compelling post today! Check out our blog posts for more tips and tricks to create engaging and accessible content!

Resources

Six Steps to Better Images: A Best Practices Checklist

What is the ADA for Websites? Ensuring Accessibility and ...

Getting Compliant: Fixing images

Effective Color Use for Accessibility in Content Creation

Alt Text: The Small Field That Does a Lot

Why New Content Matters