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How Ecwid's Accessible Online Store Template Became a Hit

10 min read

The beauty of the digital marketplace lies in its potential unconstrained by physical boundaries. Shouldn’t accessing it be smooth sailing without any obstacles?

U Ecwidu od strane Lightspeeda, 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, posebno, proved to be a hit, thanks to its accessible design. Sada, 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, auditory, 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. Na primjer, roditelj koji drži bebu također bi imao koristi od korisničkog sučelja koje zahtijeva minimalnu upotrebu miša ili tipkovnice.

Dostupna online trgovina znači doprijeti do šire publike i potencijalnih kupaca. Također promiče inkluzivnost i stvara ugodnije okruženje za sve posjetitelje web stranice.

Common Guidelines for Ensuring Accessibility

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) je dobro poznati zakon koji štiti osobe s invaliditetom od diskriminacije. To se odnosi i na digitalni prostor, a mnoge zemlje imaju vlastiti skup smjernica za pristupačnost za web stranice i online platforme.

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) široko je korišten okvir za stvaranje pristupačnog web sadržaja. Uključuje četiri principa: uočljiv, operabilan, Razumljivo, i robustan. Ova načela pokrivaju niz potreba pristupačnosti i daju posebne smjernice koje razvojni programeri trebaju slijediti.

Osnaživanje kroz pristupačnost

U 2020, tim Lightspeeda dobrovoljno se javio da stvori pristupačan, bilingual online shop for Summit School in Montreal, an organization that helps neurodivergent students reach their potential.

Zatim, when Lightspeed added Ecwid to their lineup, we teamed up and revamped the Summit School’s website, building a Summit Marketplace s Ecwidom. The Summit Marketplace showcases the works of developmentally diverse artisans, umjetnici, and entrepreneurs from Summit School.

The Summit Marketplace was built with Ecwid

As you might already know, Ecwid provides all users an Instant Site, a free ecommerce website with a built-in online store. Postoje različiti predlošci za Instant stranice prilagođene različitim nišama.

Stvaranje pristupačne web stranice za Summit School inspiriralo nas je da napravimo novi predložak Instant stranice.

Kao što je gore navedeno, Ecwid je već bio usklađen s ADA-om i označio je sve kućice za WCAG. Tako, čime smo se točno odlučili pozabaviti ovaj put?

Evo nešto o pristupačnim web stranicama: uključivanje značajki pristupačnosti ponekad dolazi sa žrtvovanjem estetike web stranice. Na primjer, balansirajuća boja, kontrast, a veličina fonta može biti izazovna.

Također, 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.

WCAG tests may occasionally yield inaccurate results

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.

U isto vrijeme, 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. Sada, it’s one of our most popular online store templates among all templates for Instant Sites!

One of our most popular Instant Site templates

Usput, 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, što nije uvijek slučaj!”

Kako je Ecwid osigurao dostupnost predloška Instant stranice

Pristupačnost se ne odnosi samo na poštivanje standarda - radi se o tome da stvarni ljudi ne nailaze na prepreke kada se bave internetskim sadržajem. Kako je Ecwid to postigao?

  • Predložak visokog kontrasta: Vizualna jasnoća bila je prioritet, omogućavanje korisnicima oštećena vida brzo razaznavanje teksta i drugih elemenata.
  • Istaknuti fokus izloga: 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. Međutim, 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:

  • Navedite opisni zamjenski tekst za slike: Za korisnike s oštećenjem vida, alternativni tekst opisuje sliku.
  • Uključite navigaciju tipkovnicom i prečace: To omogućuje pojedincima koji ne mogu koristiti miš da se kreću vašom web stranicom pomoću tipkovnice.
  • Pažljivo birajte boje: Izbjegavajte korištenje same boje za prenošenje informacija, jer neki pojedinci mogu imati poteškoća u razlikovanju određenih boja.
  • Najavite pristupačni način rada: Obavijestite svoje kupce da vaša trgovina podržava pristupačan način rada.

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, ADA, or equivalent standards.

But beyond these guidelines, it’s also crucial to understand the specific needs of your customer base.

Na primjer, ako su vaši proizvodi namijenjeni osobama s daltonizmom, fokus bi trebao biti na pružanju snažnog kontrasta između boja gumba i teksta za lakšu navigaciju i kupnju.

Slike u nastavku pokazuju zašto internetske trgovine namijenjene takvim kupcima trebaju jak kontrast između boja gumba i teksta kako bi im pomogle u razlikovanju opcija i kupnji.

Evo kako većina ljudi vidi boje

Evo kako ljudi s protanopijom (oblik sljepoće za boje) vidjeti boje

Na sličan način, 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.

Zamotati

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. More importantly, it ensures every customer can have a smooth shopping experience, no matter their abilities.

Zapamtiti, accessible design is not just about compliance — it’s about creating an inclusive and welcoming online space for all. Tako, 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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About the author

Anastasia Prokofieva is a content writer at Ecwid. She writes about online marketing and promotion to make entrepreneurs’ daily routine easier and more rewarding. She also has a soft spot for cats, chocolate, and making kombucha at home.

Ecommerce that has your back

So simple to use – even my most technophobic clients can manage. Easy to install, quick to set up. Light years ahead of other shop plugins.
I’m so impressed I’ve recommended it to my website clients and am now using it for my own store along with four others for which I webmaster. Beautiful coding, excellent top-notch support, great documentation, fantastic how-to videos. Thank you so much Ecwid, you rock!
I’ve used Ecwid and I love the platform itself. Everything is so simplified it’s insane. I love how you have different options to choose shipping carriers, to be able to put in so many different variants. It’s a pretty open e-commerce gateway.
Easy to use, pristupačne (and a free option if starting off). Looks professional, many templates to select from. The App is my favorite feature as I can manage my store right from my phone. Highly recommended 👌👍
I like that Ecwid was easy to start and to use. Even for a person like me, without any technical background. Very well written help articles. And the support team is the best for my opinion.
For everything it has to offer, ECWID is incredibly easy to set up. Highly recommend! I did a lot of research and tried about 3 other competitors. Just try ECWID and you'll be online in no time.

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