Big companies are leading the way. Recently, five major gaming companies—Electronic Arts (EA), Google, Microsoft, Nintendo of America, and Ubisoft—announced their collaboration to make games more accessible.
They have teamed up under a new effort called the Accessible Games Initiative. Their goal is to make video games easier to play for everyone, including people with disabilities.
This initiative uses 24 WCAG accessibility tags to indicate which features a game has. Here are some examples:
- For people with hearing issues: Some games will incorporate narrated menus and speech-to-text chat.
- For those with vision problems: Games can offer large text, color alternatives, and clear subtitles.
- For players with motor disabilities: Certain games will allow full input remapping, enabling players to customize control buttons to suit their needs.
This is a significant step forward as it ensures more people can enjoy games, and it underscores the critical importance of accessibility in the digital world.
If major brands are prioritizing inclusive product design, your business should consider doing the same.
Why WCAG Guidelines Matter for Your Business
Your business should follow the lead of these gaming giants and make your website, app, or digital product compliant with WCAG Guidelines.
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are rules designed to make websites and applications accessible to people with disabilities.
Currently, 44% of businesses state they care about accessibility, but only 19% actually implement it effectively. This indicates a significant gap in corporate responsibility.
So, why should your business integrate WCAG compliance into its digital game plan?
1. You Reach More Customers
Imagine running a store but intentionally excluding 1 in 5 potential customers. This is effectively what happens when your website or app has accessibility barriers.
Globally, over 1 billion people have disabilities. If your site is difficult to read, buttons are unresponsive, or videos lack captions, you are actively losing potential business.
An accessible website benefits a wide range of users:
- People with vision problems who require larger text or screen readers.
- Users with hearing difficulties who depend on subtitles.
- Users with mobility impairments who cannot use a mouse and rely on keyboard navigation.
By improving accessibility, you open your business to a larger audience. This increased engagement directly contributes to sales growth.
2. Better User Experience for Everyone
Have you ever struggled with tiny, illegible text or unresponsive buttons on your smartphone screen? A confusing and frustrating website inevitably leads to a poor user experience. Accessibility addresses these issues not only for disabled users but for everyone.
Example: Closed captions are essential for people with hearing impairments. However, millions of others use captions too, such as those watching videos in noisy environments or quiet offices.
Improved usability benefits everyone who interacts with your website. Higher engagement and reduced bounce rates will ultimately contribute to increased sales.
3. WCAG Standards Put You on the Right Side of the Law
Did you know businesses can face fines if their websites are not accessible?
In recent years, thousands of lawsuits have been filed against companies with inaccessible websites. Several major brands have faced legal challenges, including:
- Domino’s Pizza: Sued because their website and app were not accessible.
- Nike: Faced a lawsuit for lacking accessibility features.
- Beyoncé’s Website: A visually impaired woman sued because she could not use it properly.
New regulations, such as the European Accessibility Act, are approaching. Businesses must act swiftly to avoid penalties.
If your site does not comply with WCAG, you could be at risk of legal action. Do not wait for a lawsuit; remediate your website now.
4. It Improves Your Google Rankings Too
The ultimate goal of your digital marketing strategy is to outperform competitors on Google. Accessibility plays a crucial role in SEO.
Google favors websites that are WCAG compliant. Your website can achieve higher rankings than competitors when it features:
- Clear, readable text (beneficial for both screen readers and search engines).
- Well-structured pages (advantageous for both users and bots).
- Fast-loading sites (WCAG guidelines encourage lightweight, efficient websites).
An accessible website naturally ranks better on search engines. This results in a higher ROI on your digital marketing campaigns and attracts more visitors and customers.
5. Your Brand Looks Good & Gains Customer Trust
Would you prefer to purchase from a company that prioritizes all its customers, or one that neglects accessibility?
Today, consumers expect businesses to be inclusive. If your website is difficult to use, they may choose a competitor instead.
By making your website accessible, you demonstrate a commitment to diversity and inclusion. Creating a better online experience and ensuring equal access for everyone will enhance your brand reputation and build greater customer trust.
How to Include WCAG Standards in Your Digital Marketing Strategies?
Integrating WCAG compliance into your digital marketing game plan is a straightforward process. You should aim for the following areas:
- Website Accessibility: Implement clear fonts, use alt text for images, ensure proper color contrast, and enable keyboard navigation.
- Social Media Accessibility: Add captions to videos, use alt text for images, write hashtags in CamelCase (#ThisIsOurCampaign), and limit emojis.
- Accessible Email Marketing: Use readable fonts, proper contrast, structured headings, and clear call-to-action buttons.
- Accessible Videos & Ads: Include captions, ensure high-contrast visuals, avoid flashing content, and use clear messaging.
- SEO Accessibility: WCAG-friendly sites tend to rank better. Utilize proper headings, descriptive alt text, and fast-loading pages.
How Can ADACP Help?
We assist businesses in testing, fixing, and maintaining their websites to meet WCAG standards.
Manual Accessibility Audits
We do not rely solely on automated scans, as they often miss up to 75% of actual issues. Our experts manually test your site to uncover all hidden problems.
Fast & Effective Fixes
We first identify the issues and then help you implement quick and efficient solutions.
Ongoing Support
We provide ongoing support to help you remain compliant as new updates and regulations emerge. Connect with us for a free consultation on WCAG training.
Conclusion
The world is increasingly moving towards greater digital accessibility. Major corporations like Microsoft and Nintendo are leading this transformation. To stay competitive, avoid legal issues, and expand your customer base, immediate action is crucial.
Do not be among the 81% of businesses that overlook accessibility. Instead, join the proactive 19% who embrace it.
At ADACP, we make WCAG accessibility compliance simple and stress-free.
Want a free accessibility scan? Click here to get a free test.