Ways To Improve Website Usability And Accessibility

Creating a website that is both user-friendly and accessible is more important than ever. Usability and accessibility ensure that your site can be enjoyed by everyone — regardless of their abilities, devices, or technical skills. Improving these areas not only enhances the user experience but also broadens your audience and supports inclusivity.

“Accessibility is not a feature, it’s a social trend.” – Antonio Santos

In this post, we explore practical, actionable ways to improve your website’s usability and accessibility, so every visitor can navigate, understand, and engage with your content effortlessly.

1. Design Clear and Consistent Navigation

One of the first steps toward usability is creating an intuitive navigation system. Users should find what they need quickly and easily.

• Use descriptive menu labels

• Maintain consistent placement across pages

• Implement a visible search function

“Navigation should be so intuitive that users don’t have to think twice.”

2. Enhance Color Contrast and Text Readability

Many users experience difficulty reading low-contrast text. Ensuring sufficient contrast improves readability for all users, especially those with visual impairments.

Best Practices:

• Follow WCAG guidelines for contrast ratios

• Use larger font sizes for body text

• Avoid overly decorative fonts that reduce clarity

3. Enable Keyboard Navigation

Some users rely on keyboard-only navigation. Make sure your site’s interactive elements (links, buttons, forms) are accessible via keyboard shortcuts such as Tab and Enter.

• Test navigation using only a keyboard

• Ensure focus indicators are clearly visible

• Avoid keyboard traps in modal windows or pop-ups

4. Add Descriptive Alt Text to Images

Alt text helps screen readers convey the meaning of images to visually impaired users. Write meaningful descriptions that explain the image’s purpose in context.

“Good alt text is an art of empathy and clarity.”

5. Provide Captions and Transcripts for Multimedia

Videos and audio content should include captions and transcripts to support users who are deaf or hard of hearing, and to improve comprehension for all.

• Use accurate and synced captions

• Offer transcripts for podcasts and webinars

• Make controls easily accessible and keyboard-navigable

Final Thoughts

Improving website usability and accessibility is a continuous journey that benefits everyone. Small changes can make a big difference in creating inclusive digital spaces where all users feel welcome and empowered.