Have you ever tried to use a website or open an email, only to find that some parts are impossible to read or use? That’s exactly what happens to people who face accessibility barriers online. Web accessibility is all about making sure digital content can be used by everyone, including people with disabilities. It covers things like readable text, clear navigation, and even how images are described for those who rely on screen readers.

A great way to keep your website or marketing emails user-friendly for all is through routine accessibility monitoring. Think of accessibility monitoring as a regular check-up that catches problems before they become bigger headaches. This practice is not just about following rules; it’s about ensuring your audience feels valued and included.

The Importance of Ongoing Accessibility Monitoring

Accessibility is an evolving target. Standards shift, technologies change, and user needs grow more complex. That’s why a one-time audit is rarely sufficient. Instead, incorporating accessibility monitoring into your regular workflow offers multiple benefits:

Early Issue Detection

When you track accessibility metrics continuously, you can detect and address accessibility gaps before they become widespread or lead to costly legal issues. This proactive approach helps avoid major overhauls, saving both time and money.

Improved User Experience

The best user experiences are built on consistency and reliability. When a website is accessible, it isn’t just beneficial for users with disabilities—it enhances the site’s overall usability, making it more intuitive and enjoyable for everyone.

Brand Reputation and Trust

Demonstrating a commitment to inclusivity can significantly bolster your brand reputation. Users who find your platform welcoming are more likely to trust your brand, return for future visits, and recommend you to others.

Regulatory Compliance

Accessibility regulations, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the U.S. or the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) internationally, are increasingly enforced. Routine monitoring ensures your site remains in compliance, mitigating the risk of legal action or damage to your brand image.

Common Accessibility Barriers Identified

Accessibility issues can vary widely from site to site. However, accessibility monitoring consistently highlights some recurring problem areas. Below are a few of the most common explanations of why they matter.

Missing Alternative (Alt) Text for Images

Alt text (or “alternative text”) is a short written description of an image, embedded in the HTML using the alt attribute. This text is essential for screen readers to convey the meaning of the image to users who cannot see it.

Why It Matters

• A user who relies on assistive technology may only hear “image” or “graphic” if alt text is not provided.
• Missing alt text not only harms accessibility but also impacts SEO, as search engines use alt text to understand image context.

Solution

Always add descriptive alt text that explains what’s in the image. For example, “A smiling person holding a coffee cup,” rather than “coffee-cup.jpg.”

Insufficient Color Contrast

Color contrast refers to the ratio between the foreground (text or important elements) and the background. Low contrast can make text and interface elements nearly unreadable for users with visual impairments.

Why It Matters

• Users with color vision deficiencies, low vision, or even older monitors can struggle to perceive low-contrast elements.
• Poor contrast reduces readability and increases user frustration, potentially leading to lost conversions for e-commerce sites.

Solution

Use color contrast tools to check your text and background combinations. Aim for contrast ratios that meet WCAG standards, like a ratio of at least 4.5:1 for most text.

Keyboard Navigation Failures

Not everyone navigates a website using a mouse or a trackpad. Many rely on their keyboard (or keyboard-like devices) to move through links, buttons, and form fields.

Why It Matters

• If a website’s interactive elements are not properly coded for tab or arrow-key navigation, users with motor impairments or who rely on screen readers can become “stuck” on the site or unable to complete essential tasks.
• In e-commerce, this can cause significant revenue loss if customers cannot move through the purchase funnel without a mouse.

Solution

Make sure you can move between all clickable or interactive elements using the keyboard alone. This includes things like buttons, links, and form fields.

Missing Form Input Labels

Forms with missing or unclear labels can create major barriers. Users relying on assistive technology might not understand what data each form field requires.

Why It Matters

• For e-commerce, if a prospective buyer cannot fill out billing and shipping forms, they simply can’t complete a purchase.
• Proper labeling reduces errors, cart abandonment, and user frustration.

Solution

Always pair form fields with clear and descriptive labels. For instance, “First Name” should clearly label the first name field.

Missing or Improperly Structured Headings

Headings (e.g., <h1>, <h2> provide a logical structure for your content, enabling users with screen readers to navigate effectively.

Why It Matters

• Screen readers often rely on heading tags to jump to different sections of the page.
• A lack of proper hierarchy can make content confusing and time-consuming to navigate, especially if headings are out of order (e.g., an <h3> directly following an <h1>).

What Monitoring Reveals

Accessibility monitoring tools and manual audits can uncover pages with mismatched headings, missing headings, or headings used for stylistic purposes rather than structural ones.

Benefits of Accessibility Monitoring for Web Developers and Ecommerce Managers

Whether you’re responsible for building new platforms or maintaining existing ones, the benefits of accessibility monitoring extend far beyond mere compliance:

Reduced Development Bottlenecks

Identifying and fixing accessibility concerns early in the development process prevents technical debt from piling up. Smaller, more manageable updates are generally simpler to implement, saving development resources in the long run.

Increased Conversion Rates

Accessibility improvements often go hand in hand with better user experience. A site optimized for all users naturally boasts higher conversion rates because it eliminates unnecessary friction in the user journey.

Stronger Data

By continuously tracking accessibility metrics, you gain insight into how people actually use your site. This data can help shape design decisions and user research, contributing to a more holistic product strategy.

Mitigated Legal Risks

In many regions, having an inaccessible website can lead to lawsuits or fines. Ongoing monitoring demonstrates due diligence and places you in a stronger legal position if accessibility complaints arise.

Recommended Tools for Accessibility Monitoring

With various platforms and user scenarios to consider, it’s impossible to cover accessibility manually alone. Thankfully, a range of tools exist to help simplify this process:

Automated Accessibility Scanners

• WAVE: A browser extension that highlights accessibility issues right on the page and offers detailed explanations.
• Accessibility Radar (a11y.Radar): An advanced accessibility scanning tool that provides comprehensive reports on accessibility compliance. It integrates seamlessly with development workflows, allowing for continuous monitoring and real-time feedback during the development process.
• Google Lighthouse: An open-source, automated tool for improving the quality of web pages. It includes accessibility audits that evaluate elements like color contrast, ARIA attributes, and more, offering actionable insights to enhance your site’s accessibility.

Color Contrast Analyzers

• Contrast Checker by WebAIM: Allows you to input foreground and background colors to see if they meet WCAG guidelines.
• Accessible Colors: This gives you suggestions on how to modify your color palette for better contrast.

Screen Reader Testing

• NVDA (Windows), VoiceOver (Mac/iOS), and TalkBack (Android) are commonly used screen readers. Testing your site with these tools ensures a real-world perspective.

CI/CD Integration

• GitHub Actions or GitLab CI: Integrate accessibility checks into your development pipeline so that new commits automatically trigger testing for accessibility regressions.

Best Practices to Maintain an Accessible Website

A robust monitoring strategy is only as good as the actions you take based on its findings. Below are some best practices to ensure that your site remains inclusive:

Make Accessibility Part of Your Design Process

Rather than retrofitting accessibility at the end, consider accessibility from the start. Involve accessibility specialists, if possible, during the wireframing and design phases.

Prioritize Semantics and Structure

Use HTML elements according to their intended purposes. Properly labeled headings, lists, and form fields help both users and assistive technologies make sense of your content.

Adhere Strictly to WCAG Standards

Aim for WCAG 2.1 AA compliance at a minimum. Familiarizing yourself and your team with these guidelines reduces guesswork and ensures you’re meeting widely recognized standards.

Incorporate Regular Training

All team members, from designers to content writers, should understand the basics of accessibility. This ensures a unified approach and reduces the likelihood of new barriers being introduced.

Schedule Routine Audits

Even if your tools are robust, manual reviews are still invaluable. Implement a monthly or quarterly accessibility review process to catch anything automated tools might miss, such as nuanced usability concerns.

Create an Accessibility Statement

Let users know your site strives for accessibility. Provide them with a clear channel to report issues, demonstrating that you value their feedback and are committed to continuous improvement.

Conclusion

Maintaining a website that is usable and delightful for everyone requires consistent attention to accessibility. Through routine accessibility monitoring, you can uncover the most common barriers—like missing alt text, color contrast issues, and keyboard navigation failures—and address them long before they negatively impact the user experience or invite legal complications.

216digital offers a variety of accessibility monitoring solutions and packages. If you’d like to know more, please reach out using the contact form below.