The fantastic thing about the digital marketplace lies in its potential unconstrained by physical boundaries. Shouldn’t accessing it be smooth sailing with none obstacles?
At Ecwid by 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 nearly ticking a box for inclusivity — it struck a chord with online store owners.
One design template for Ecwid stores, in particular, proved to be a hit, because of its accessible design. Now, it’s the
What Web Accessibility Means for Online Stores and Why It Is Essential
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 corresponding to 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 just for individuals with everlasting disabilities. It also caters to temporary impairments, corresponding to having a broken arm or recovering from eye surgery.
An accessible website advantages all types of users. For instance, a parent holding a baby would also profit from a
An accessible online store means reaching a wider audience and potential customers. It also promotes inclusivity and creates a more welcoming environment for all website visitors.
Common Guidelines for Ensuring Accessibility
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) is a widely used framework for creating accessible web content. It includes 4 principles: perceivable, operable, comprehensible, and robust. These principles cover a range of accessibility needs and provide specific guidelines for developers to follow.
Empowerment Through Accessibility
In 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.
Then, when Lightspeed added Ecwid to their lineup, we teamed up and revamped the Summit School’s website, constructing a Summit Marketplace with Ecwid. The Summit Marketplace showcases the works of developmentally diverse artisans, artists, and entrepreneurs from Summit School.
The Summit Marketplace was built with Ecwid
As you may already know, Ecwid provides all users an Easy Site, a free ecommerce website with a
Creating an accessible website for Summit School inspired us to make a recent Easy Site template.
As mentioned above, Ecwid was already
Here’s a thing about accessible web sites: incorporating accessibility features sometimes comes with sacrificing the aesthetic of the website. For instance, balancing color, contrast, and font size may be difficult.
Also, 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 difficult 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’s not only accessible but in addition visually appealing, ensuring easy navigation without compromising the website’s aesthetics. We advocate for the concept that accessibility must also embody beauty.
At the same time, we consider that accessibility shouldn’t be sacrificed for aesthetics. Our template proves that it is possible to have each an accessible and visually appealing website.
Every part on the site, from the text size to how easy it is to get around, works for everyone. Now, it’s considered one of our hottest online store templates amongst all templates for Easy Sites!
One in all our hottest Easy Site templates
By the way, the Ecwid ecommerce platform is accessible not only to customers but in addition 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 love to thanks very much for a great store that’s convenient to manage for visually impaired sellers! And never only the website but in addition the app is available to you, which is not all the time the case!
How Ecwid Ensured the Easy Site Template Is Accessible
Accessibility is not nearly 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.
- Distinguished 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 essential to note that all Easy Site templates are accessible. The template in query was designed with accessibility as the primary focus while also making it sleek and beautiful. The latter could be difficult to do when ensuring a site’s accessibility, as it may be easy to overlook design elements in favor of functionality. Nonetheless, with our templates, we were capable of achieve each.
Make Your Online Store Accessible
Implementing an accessible online store might appear daunting, but actually, it isn’t. It starts with choosing an accessible website template, like every of Ecwid’s Easy Site templates.
Listed here are some additional tricks to make your online store more accessible:
- Provide descriptive alt text for images: For users with visual impairments, alt text describes the image.
- Include keyboard navigation and shortcuts: This enables individuals who cannot use a mouse to navigate your website using the keyboard.
- Select colours rigorously: Avoid using color alone to convey information, as some individuals could have difficulty distinguishing between specific colours.
- Announce accessible mode: Inform your customers that your store supports an accessible mode.
By selecting Ecwid’s
When making a website from scratch, it’s essential to consider accessibility for all users. This implies starting with an accessible baseline using templates or guidelines corresponding to WCAG, ADA, or equivalent standards.
But beyond these guidelines, it’s also crucial to understand the specific needs of your customer base.
For instance, if your products cater to individuals with color blindness, the focus needs to be on providing strong contrast between button colours and text for easier navigation and purchasing.
The images below display why online stores catering to such shoppers need strong contrast between button colours and text to help them distinguish options and make purchases.
Here’s how the majority of people see colours
Here’s how individuals with protanopia (a type of color blindness) see colours
Similarly, if your audience includes individuals with mobility impairments, ensuring easy navigation through voice commands can greatly improve their browsing experience.
Check your site recurrently with tools like Google Lighthouse to see how accessible your store is. Continually assessing and improving things is critical to making a welcoming online space for everyone.
Wrap Up
Ecwid’s accessible ecommerce platform is greater 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.
Remember, accessible design is not nearly compliance — it’s about creating an inclusive and welcoming online space for all. So, don’t hesitate to take the initiative and make your website more accessible! Let’s work towards a digital world that’s genuinely open and inclusive for everyone.
