The beauty of the digital marketplace lies in its potential unconstrained by physical boundaries. Shouldn’t accessing it be smooth sailing without any obstacles?
Στο Ecwid της Lightspeed, we recognize the importance of accessibility – that’s why our ecommerce platform follows standards issued under the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA.
It isn’t just about ticking a box for inclusivity – it struck a chord with online store owners.
One design template for Ecwid stores, συγκεκριμένα, proved to be a hit, thanks to its accessible design. Τώρα, it’s the go-to option for entrepreneurs who want their stores to be both easy to use and open to everyone.
What Web Accessibility Means for Online Stores and Why It Is Important
Accessibility isn’t a feature; it’s a necessity. It acknowledges the spectrum of abilities and ensures that disabilities do not deter anyone from using digital platforms.
Common accessibility requirements relate to visual, ακουστικός, motor, and cognitive abilities. This includes ensuring compatibility with assistive technologies such as screen readers for individuals with visual impairments or alternative keyboard navigation for those with motor disabilities.
It’s a common misconception that accessibility is needed only for individuals with permanent disabilities. It also caters to temporary impairments, such as having a broken arm or recovering from eye surgery.
An accessible website benefits all kinds of users. Για παράδειγμα, ένας γονέας που κρατά ένα μωρό θα επωφεληθεί επίσης από μια φιλική προς το χρήστη διεπαφή που απαιτεί ελάχιστη χρήση ποντικιού ή πληκτρολογίου.
Ένα προσβάσιμο ηλεκτρονικό κατάστημα σημαίνει προσέγγιση ευρύτερου κοινού και δυνητικών πελατών. Προωθεί επίσης τη συμπερίληψη και δημιουργεί ένα πιο φιλόξενο περιβάλλον για όλους τους επισκέπτες του ιστότοπου.
Common Guidelines for Ensuring Accessibility
ο Americans with Disabilities Act (ΕΑΒ) είναι ένας πολύ γνωστός νόμος που προστατεύει τα άτομα με αναπηρία από τις διακρίσεις. Αυτό επεκτείνεται και στον ψηφιακό χώρο, and many countries have their own set of accessibility guidelines for websites and online platforms.
ο Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) is a widely used framework for creating accessible web content. It includes four principles: perceivable, operable, κατανοητός, and robust. These principles cover a range of accessibility needs and provide specific guidelines for developers to follow.
Empowerment Through Accessibility
Σε 2020, the Lightspeed team volunteered to create an accessible, bilingual online shop for Summit School in Montreal, an organization that helps neurodivergent students reach their potential.
Επειτα, when Lightspeed added Ecwid to their lineup, we teamed up and revamped the Summit School’s website, building a Summit Marketplace με Ecwid. The Summit Marketplace showcases the works of developmentally diverse artisans, καλλιτεχνών, and entrepreneurs from Summit School.
As you might already know, Ecwid provides all users an Instant Site, ένα free ecommerce website με ένα ενσωματωμένο ηλεκτρονικό κατάστημα. There are various templates for Instant Sites tailored to different niches.
Creating an accessible website for Summit School inspired us to make a new Instant Site template.
Οπως αναφέρθηκε προηγουμένως, Ecwid was already ADA-compliant and checked all the boxes for the WCAG. Έτσι, what exactly did we decide to tackle this time?
Here’s a thing about accessible websites: incorporating accessibility features sometimes comes with sacrificing the aesthetic of the website. Για παράδειγμα, balancing color, αντίθεση, and font size can be challenging.
Επίσης, WCAG tests can sometimes show mixed results, as in the example below. A button with black text is perceived as passing the test, yet in reality, it is more challenging to read than the same button featuring white text.
Simply following guidelines isn’t enough. Our aim was to develop a template that is not only accessible but also visually appealing, ensuring easy navigation without compromising the website’s aesthetics. We advocate for the idea that accessibility should also embody beauty.
Την ίδια στιγμή, we believe that accessibility should not be sacrificed for aesthetics. Our template proves that it is possible to have both an accessible and visually appealing website.
Everything on the site, from the text size to how easy it is to get around, works for everyone. Τώρα, it’s one of our most popular online store templates among all templates for Instant Sites!
Παρεμπιπτόντως, the Ecwid ecommerce platform is accessible not just to customers but also to sellers. The Ecwid admin, where you manage your online store, is also designed with accessibility in mind. This makes it easier for business owners with disabilities to run their online stores efficiently.
Here’s what an Ecwid seller who happens to be visually impaired shared about running their Ecwid store:
“I would like to thank you very much for a great store that is convenient to manage for visually impaired sellers! And not only the website but also the app is available to you, which is not always the case!”
How Ecwid Ensured the Instant Site Template Is Accessible
Accessibility is not just about adherence to standards — it’s about real people encountering no barriers when engaging with online content. How did Ecwid achieve this?
- High contrast template: Visual clarity was a priority, enabling users with impaired vision to quickly discern the text and other elements.
- Prominent storefront focus: The layout was structured to highlight the products and storefront without unnecessary distractions or the need for additional scrolling.
- Enlarged elements: Large images and fonts were employed not merely for aesthetic appeal but to accommodate users with visual impairments.
It’s important to note that all Instant Site templates are accessible. The template in question was designed with accessibility as the primary focus while also making it sleek and beautiful. The latter might be difficult to do when ensuring a site’s accessibility, as it can be easy to overlook design elements in favor of functionality. Ωστόσο, with our templates, we were able to achieve both.
How to Make Your Online Store Accessible
Implementing an accessible online store might appear daunting, but actually, it isn’t. It starts with selecting an accessible website template, like any of Ecwid’s Instant Site templates.
Here are some additional tips to make your online store more accessible:
- Παρέχετε περιγραφικό εναλλακτικό κείμενο για εικόνες: Για χρήστες με προβλήματα όρασης, Το εναλλακτικό κείμενο περιγράφει την εικόνα.
- Συμπεριλάβετε πλοήγηση πληκτρολογίου και συντομεύσεις: Αυτό επιτρέπει σε άτομα που δεν μπορούν να χρησιμοποιήσουν το ποντίκι να πλοηγηθούν στον ιστότοπό σας χρησιμοποιώντας το πληκτρολόγιο.
- Επιλέξτε τα χρώματα προσεκτικά: Αποφύγετε να χρησιμοποιείτε μόνο χρώμα για να μεταφέρετε πληροφορίες, καθώς ορισμένα άτομα μπορεί να δυσκολεύονται να διακρίνουν συγκεκριμένα χρώματα.
- Ανακοινώστε τη λειτουργία πρόσβασης: Ενημερώστε τους πελάτες σας ότι το κατάστημά σας υποστηρίζει μια προσβάσιμη λειτουργία.
By choosing Ecwid’s pre-designed templates, you start with an accessible baseline. Customizations are welcome, but keep an eye on maintaining accessibility.
When creating a website from scratch, it’s important to consider accessibility for all users. This means starting with an accessible baseline using templates or guidelines such as WCAG, ΕΑΒ, or equivalent standards.
But beyond these guidelines, it’s also crucial to understand the specific needs of your customer base.
Για παράδειγμα, εάν τα προϊόντα σας απευθύνονται σε άτομα με αχρωματοψία, Η εστίαση πρέπει να είναι στην παροχή ισχυρής αντίθεσης μεταξύ των χρωμάτων των κουμπιών και του κειμένου για ευκολότερη πλοήγηση και αγορά.
Οι παρακάτω εικόνες δείχνουν γιατί τα ηλεκτρονικά καταστήματα που απευθύνονται σε τέτοιους αγοραστές χρειάζονται έντονη αντίθεση μεταξύ των χρωμάτων των κουμπιών και του κειμένου για να τους βοηθήσει να διακρίνουν τις επιλογές και να κάνουν αγορές.
Ομοίως, if your target audience includes individuals with mobility impairments, ensuring easy navigation through voice commands can greatly improve their browsing experience.
Check your site regularly with tools like Google Lighthouse to see how accessible your store is. Continually assessing and improving things is critical to creating a welcoming online space for everyone.
Τύλιξε
Ecwid’s accessible ecommerce platform is more than a win for a product; it’s all about making ecommerce easy for everyone. Ecwid helps online store owners get the most out of their business. Κυρίως, it ensures every customer can have a smooth shopping experience, no matter their abilities.
Θυμάμαι, accessible design is not just about compliance — it’s about creating an inclusive and welcoming online space for all. Έτσι, don’t hesitate to take the initiative and make your website more accessible! Let’s work towards a digital world that is genuinely open and inclusive for everyone.
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