Usability and Accessibility

While the Web is no longer a “build it and they will come” proposition, the corollary of that statement is true: “How you build it determines if they return.”

With the proliferation of the Internet, the issues of Usability and Accessibility have become important issues in both gathering visitors and retaining them as users of your site.

If you’re planning your web site and have not asked yourself the following four questions, then you need to call the experts at WRL to ensure you make the most of your investment:

Question #1: How usable is your web site?

To determine this, ask yourself:

  • Is your menu system intuitive and optimized for easy navigation?
  • Did you use web standards in your site design?
  • Does your site meet visitor expectations (most Web surfers expect to find common elements on each web site they visit)?
  • Do you have pages for a Site Map, your Privacy Policy, Frequently Asked Questions (“F.A.Q.”), a company profile (“About Us”), and a way to Contact you?
  • Does your site have a favicon?
  • Does the top left graphic return one of your visitors to your homepage?
  • Do you provide a site search function?
  • Do you provide a well–organized (human) site map for your visitors, and a site map for your search engine robots?

At WRL, we know how to produce standards–based, usable sites while wielding creativity to tell the story of your business.

Question #2: What happens when something is missing?

Web enhancing software like JavaScript and Flash can literally make your web site sing. But what happens if your visitor has them turned off, or does not have the proper plug–ins installed? Will they still have a pleasing experience on your site or have the frustration of a blank screen showing a “broken” icon?

At WRL, we make sure you have a backup plan. We ensure that your site contains code that works in any circumstance or alternate content to display if the flashier technologies are not available.

Question #3: Does your web site adhere to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)?

Ask yourself these questions:

  • Will your web site be seen in proper form by users of the three major Operating System platforms (Windows, Mac, Linux)?
  • Can you read your web site with most modern browsers – not just Internet Explorer and Safari, but Firefox, Opera, Konqueror, Flock, Seamonkey, and Chrome?
  • Is your web site Search Engine Optimized (SEO) and therefore friendly to visiting search engine spiders?

By using W3C valid code for all of our site designs, we ensure that your site content is accessible to all major modern browsers and the operating systems that support them.

Question #4: Is your site accessible to visitors who are older or who have disabilities or impairments?

If your site isn’t usable by the people you’re trying to reach, you are virtually leaving customers locked outside your door. Consider the following:

  • Can your site be read by a screen reader like JAWS?
  • Can people with vision problems use their browser to increase the text size on your pages?

If you’re isolating people from your site, you won’t meet your business goals. Can your business afford that?

Whether it is for marketing purposes, for your key demographic, or for legal reasons, WRL can strictly adhere to Section 508 when designing and coding your web site.

Ask a WRL expert about the usability and accessibility options for your site today.