Last newsletter, we began our journey into talking about the keys to making Google happy — specifically, performance.
This week, we’re going to dive into the next topic of Accessibility.
When you run your site test through Page Speed Insights, this is the second metric you will receive a score on.
So what does it measure, and how important is it?
Key #2: Accessibility
The Accessibility score from Page Speed Insights measures how well your website is designed to be used by everyone, including people with disabilities. It looks at how easy it is for users to understand, navigate, and interact with your site.
This score focuses on making sure that all users, including those using assistive technologies (like screen readers), can effectively use your website and pass some really basic accessibility standards for the web.
Here’s what the Accessibility score measures:
- Text Alternatives for Images: It checks if images have descriptive “alt text” that explains what the image shows, helping users who use screen readers.
- Color Contrast: This considers whether the text on your site is readable against its background color. Poor contrast can make it difficult for visually impaired users to read content.
- Form Labels: It verifies if forms have clear labels so users know what information to provide. Properly labeled fields improve the usability of forms, especially for those using assistive technologies.
- ARIA Attributes: It looks for appropriate use of ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) roles and properties, which help screen readers and other assistive technologies interpret content correctly that isn’t always easily read.
- Keyboard Accessibility: The score checks if users can navigate your site using only a keyboard, as some users cannot use a mouse. This includes ensuring elements like buttons, links, and forms are reachable and usable via the keyboard.
- Headings and Landmarks: Page Speed Insights evaluates if your site uses headings (like H1, H2) and landmarks (like navigation and main content sections) properly, ensuring those who use assistive technologies can navigate your content correctly.
Just like Performance, the Accessibility metric follows the same percentage scores — always wanting to aim for 90-100 for the best experience.
Why does it matter?
Caring about your Accessibility score means that you’re helping your website be a more inclusive experience for all of your users.
So not only is it helping make Google happy, but you’re making everyone happy — and that should always be the driving factor.
Besides that, following accessibility best practices, also aligns with overall best practices in web design. So ignoring Accessibility, will likely hurt the usability of your site not just for those with impairments, but for all.
Next time, we’ll look at the next metric Google cares about — SEO!
Have any questions about accessibility for the web? Just hit reply and let me know!
Talk soon,
