E-Commerce Accessibility Standards You Must Understand

The online shopping landscape is booming; it will never show a sign of slowing down. Consumers prefer convenience in shopping; they open an online store and search for their desired products. The rise of e-commerce stores has facilitated consumers all over the world. Online retail sales have reached new heights in the post-COVID world. This is great news for online stores and e-commerce business owners, as they can make more money. However, there are certain challenges you will face down the road.

Is your online store accessible for all users? What if there are users with disabilities who try to access your store? It is necessary to integrate accessibility standards in your store to enhance the overall user experience. This post will uncover e-commerce accessibility standards you must understand. Keep reading to learn more!

E-commerce accessibility standards to know:

Your online store should excel in showcasing products and services for maximum digital visibility. It should present various berries to buyers for increased sales. Your online store must be universally accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. For this, you must understand accessibility standards. The following list will uncover and explain e-commerce accessibility standards you must know. Let us jump into details!

1. Screen reader compatibility:

Blind or visually impaired online users can greatly benefit from screen reader compatibility. Screen readers can convert digital text into synthesized speech or braille to enhance the shopping experience. When integrated into an online store, screen readers ensure that users understand product titles, descriptions, and prices. Moreover, they also enable users to navigate through different product categories and filters to reach their desired product(s).

Screen reader compatibility can also contribute to the overall checkout process. It ensures that users add items to the cart and complete the checkout process.

2. Keyboard navigation compatibility:

Online users with motor impairments or vision disabilities rely on keyboards or assistive technologies to navigate your store. These users mainly use screen readers and sip-and-puff devices. Your e-commerce store should be fully accessible and navigable using only a keyboard. It will allow users to tab through links, buttons, and forms in a logical order. They can also use arrow keys and the spacebar/enter to interact with elements.

When it comes to accessing drop-down menus or sliders, keyboard navigation will greatly help users. Do you want to integrate these accessibility standards into your online store? You should contact experts at https://spiralclick.com/e-commerce and let them help you!

3. Visual clarity and color contrast:

Online users with low vision or colorblindness will require proper visual clarity to access and read your content. Poor color contrast and clarity will make it difficult for them to understand interface elements and content. It is necessary for your online store to meet web accessibility guidelines and standards to help users better navigate the store. The text and background contrast should be 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text.

The UI elements on your store, including buttons, links, and form fields, must be distinguished even without color cues. It would be best to use contrast checkers during the design process to ensure that your product details, CTA buttons, and promotional banners are easily readable.

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4. Descriptive link text and buttons:

Generic phrases like “Click Here” or “Read More” are not helpful for users navigating with assistive technologies. It would be best to use descriptive text that clearly communicates the purpose of the link or button. For instance, instead of going with “Add to cart,” you should ensure “Add product ABC to cart.” Similarly, users should go with “View product XYZ” instead of “View more.”

Descriptive link text and buttons can help users better access desired products. Moreover, form inputs and buttons should have clear aria-labels or visually hidden labels for enhanced accessibility.

5. Accessible forms:

F-commerce stores rely heavily on forms. Online users expect user-friendly and highly accessible forms during the online shopping journey. From signing up to completing a purchase, forms will help everyone on each step. It would be best to ensure the accessibility of the forms for better navigation. Accessible forms must include clear and visible labels for each field. Moreover, the form should provide instructions before input.

Accessible forms must highlight and explain errors in real-time. The forms should use aria-invalid labels to convey contextual information. If a particular field is filled incorrectly, the error should be obvious and visible.

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Make your e-commerce store accessible for all users!

The accessibility of your online store makes a meaningful difference. What if users with disabilities try to access your store and purchase your products? Your online store should be accessible enough for them if they use assistive technologies. Moreover, you should maintain visual clarity in your store to make your content accessible and understandable. It would be best to seek help from professional e-commerce developers and let them make your online store accessible for global users!