Google’s Algorithm Update & EAA: Why Accessibility is Now a Ranking Factor
.svg)
You need to reconsider if you believe that website accessibility is just a legal requirement. In fact, it is secret ingredient for all those websites that rank on top of search engine Google.
Well, the European Accessibility Act is set to be put in force in 2025 so businesses must comply with accessibility guidelines or risk penalties. But did you know that achieving EAA compliance can actually do wonders to your website ranking?
The latest Google algorithm updates now prefer websites offering an inclusive experience. It means websites that ensure equal access for all users will be Google’s favourites. EAA compliance and accessibility improvements can help you rank higher on Google. So plan for WCAG testing and drive more traffic for your business.
What is the latest Google algorithm update?
Google constantly updates its algorithm to deliver better user experience and relevant search results. Several core updates in 2024 and 2023 emphasized page experience and site accessibility. Here are the latest updates that impacted rankings:
1. Helpful Content Update in December 2023 – Prioritizes high-quality, user-friendly content.
2. Core Web Vitals 2023-2024 Updates – Focuses on page speed, mobile-friendliness, and accessibility.
3. March 2024 Spam Update – Penalizes websites with poor user experience or inaccessibility issues.
4. Google’s EEAT- The Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness and Trustworthiness Framework is for businesses to provide good quality content.
Websites that are hard to navigate may lose rankings after these roll outs. You may lose a spot on the first page of Google results if your website lack accessibility features according to the WCAG or EAA.
How EAA 2025 compliance affects Google rankings
EAA does not directly impact your website ranking. However, EAA audits and remediation does turn your website into something that users do not want to leave. When bounce rates are low, Google perceives your website as worthy to secure the top spot on the search results.
Google has increasingly incorporated accessibility signals into its ranking algorithm. It means your website will receive the rewards if you aim for EAA compliance:
- Keyboard-friendly navigation – Ensuring users who rely on keyboard-only navigation can access the content.
- Alt text for images – Allowing visually impaired users to understand images through screen readers.
- Readable fonts and color contrast – Improving readability for those with visual impairments.
- Transcripts and captions for multimedia – Enhancing content accessibility for people with hearing disabilities.
- Semantic HTML structure – Helping assistive technologies interpret content correctly.
A website with all these features can get a better experience for users. With reduced bounce rates and increases engagement, your website will ultimately rank higher on Google.
What are the SEO benefits of investing in the EU Accessibility Act compliance
The EAA deadline is in June this year, it means you will need a full-fledged team of accessibility specialists and remediation experts. While it takes your time and resources to ensure their digital platforms meet accessibility standards by June 28, 2025. You also want to know if there are any SEO benefits in achieving compliance.
The weeks you have spent in WCAG Testing and remediation development are well worth it because they give you the added benefit of better SEO performance.
Lower Bounce Rates: Google interprets hard to navigate websites as inaccessible. The bounce rate can also be a negative signal to lower the rankings. Fix the accessibility issues, and you will see improved SEO performance.
More User Engagement: Accessible websites encourage longer dwell times. With better interaction you can even enjoy increased conversions.
Increased Mobile Usability: Some accessibility improvements like larger touch targets and readable text can even enhance the mobile experience. You should know that mobile friendly websites always rank higher.
Higher Click-Through Rates: Search engine can easily understand your site if it has well-structured content. As a result, it makes your site visible in search results.
Why is ignoring EAA 2025 compliance expensive than you think
Ignoring EAA regulations can be bad for your business in multiple ways. If you fail to comply by June 2025, you may face the following consequences:
1. Legal extortion from serial litigants
Businesses operating in the EU that fail to meet EAA standards may face fines and penalties. There will be a risk of lawsuits from advocacy groups and individuals. Plus, you cannot ignore the repercussions of government enforcement actions.
2. Loss of website traffic & customers
Recent studies show that 70% of users leave inaccessible websites within seconds.
Potential customers will leave and choose competitors who offer a better user experience with an accessible website.
3. Limited market access
Companies that do not meet accessibility standards will face operations restrictions in the EU market. This means you could lose out on a major market segment.
Only 5 Months Left: What should you do now?
Businesses must act quickly because there are just 5 months until the EAA deadline. You can use this roadmap:
Website audit- You will need one to four weeks to identify the existing accessibility issues using professional audits.
Implement WCAG 2.2 Guidelines – Depending on the website complexities you might need four to twelve weeks to implement compliance with international standards. This time frame is enough to optimize navigation, color contrast, and multimedia accessibility.
Test Accessibility Features – You might also need our expertise to test assistive technology simulations that can verify full compliance before deadline.
ADACP can help you achieve Compliance with the EU Accessibility Act
You can trust our team of accessibility specialists who can do testing, audits, and remediation for you. We can help you comply with EAA standards with a thorough website evaluation. After we identify the WCAG and EAA compliance gaps, we then provide comprehensive and quick remediation services.
We ensure your website remains accessible even after compliance is achieved. Trust ADACP to keep up with changing regulations. We can even guide your team on best practices for maintaining long-term accessibility.
Conclusion
Google’s latest algorithm updates prove that accessibility can bring you the benefits of better SEO, increased traffic and profitability. With the EAA 2025 deadline fast approaching, businesses must act now to avoid legal risks as well as capture the SEO benefits of accessibility.
At ADACP, we understand accessibility and can make your website EAA-ready. So get in touch now for automated scans through the WCAG compliance checker and free consultation for manual audits. Contact today to ensure full EAA 2025 compliance.
You need to reconsider if you believe that website accessibility is just a legal requirement. In fact, it is secret ingredient for all those websites that rank on top of search engine Google.
Well, the European Accessibility Act is set to be put in force in 2025 so businesses must comply with accessibility guidelines or risk penalties. But did you know that achieving EAA compliance can actually do wonders to your website ranking?
The latest Google algorithm updates now prefer websites offering an inclusive experience. It means websites that ensure equal access for all users will be Google’s favourites. EAA compliance and accessibility improvements can help you rank higher on Google. So plan for WCAG testing and drive more traffic for your business.
What is the latest Google algorithm update?
Google constantly updates its algorithm to deliver better user experience and relevant search results. Several core updates in 2024 and 2023 emphasized page experience and site accessibility. Here are the latest updates that impacted rankings:
1. Helpful Content Update in December 2023 – Prioritizes high-quality, user-friendly content.
2. Core Web Vitals 2023-2024 Updates – Focuses on page speed, mobile-friendliness, and accessibility.
3. March 2024 Spam Update – Penalizes websites with poor user experience or inaccessibility issues.
4. Google’s EEAT- The Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness and Trustworthiness Framework is for businesses to provide good quality content.
Websites that are hard to navigate may lose rankings after these roll outs. You may lose a spot on the first page of Google results if your website lack accessibility features according to the WCAG or EAA.
How EAA 2025 compliance affects Google rankings
EAA does not directly impact your website ranking. However, EAA audits and remediation does turn your website into something that users do not want to leave. When bounce rates are low, Google perceives your website as worthy to secure the top spot on the search results.
Google has increasingly incorporated accessibility signals into its ranking algorithm. It means your website will receive the rewards if you aim for EAA compliance:
- Keyboard-friendly navigation – Ensuring users who rely on keyboard-only navigation can access the content.
- Alt text for images – Allowing visually impaired users to understand images through screen readers.
- Readable fonts and color contrast – Improving readability for those with visual impairments.
- Transcripts and captions for multimedia – Enhancing content accessibility for people with hearing disabilities.
- Semantic HTML structure – Helping assistive technologies interpret content correctly.
A website with all these features can get a better experience for users. With reduced bounce rates and increases engagement, your website will ultimately rank higher on Google.
What are the SEO benefits of investing in the EU Accessibility Act compliance
The EAA deadline is in June this year, it means you will need a full-fledged team of accessibility specialists and remediation experts. While it takes your time and resources to ensure their digital platforms meet accessibility standards by June 28, 2025. You also want to know if there are any SEO benefits in achieving compliance.
The weeks you have spent in WCAG Testing and remediation development are well worth it because they give you the added benefit of better SEO performance.
Lower Bounce Rates: Google interprets hard to navigate websites as inaccessible. The bounce rate can also be a negative signal to lower the rankings. Fix the accessibility issues, and you will see improved SEO performance.
More User Engagement: Accessible websites encourage longer dwell times. With better interaction you can even enjoy increased conversions.
Increased Mobile Usability: Some accessibility improvements like larger touch targets and readable text can even enhance the mobile experience. You should know that mobile friendly websites always rank higher.
Higher Click-Through Rates: Search engine can easily understand your site if it has well-structured content. As a result, it makes your site visible in search results.
Why is ignoring EAA 2025 compliance expensive than you think
Ignoring EAA regulations can be bad for your business in multiple ways. If you fail to comply by June 2025, you may face the following consequences:
1. Legal extortion from serial litigants
Businesses operating in the EU that fail to meet EAA standards may face fines and penalties. There will be a risk of lawsuits from advocacy groups and individuals. Plus, you cannot ignore the repercussions of government enforcement actions.
2. Loss of website traffic & customers
Recent studies show that 70% of users leave inaccessible websites within seconds.
Potential customers will leave and choose competitors who offer a better user experience with an accessible website.
3. Limited market access
Companies that do not meet accessibility standards will face operations restrictions in the EU market. This means you could lose out on a major market segment.
Only 5 Months Left: What should you do now?
Businesses must act quickly because there are just 5 months until the EAA deadline. You can use this roadmap:
Website audit- You will need one to four weeks to identify the existing accessibility issues using professional audits.
Implement WCAG 2.2 Guidelines – Depending on the website complexities you might need four to twelve weeks to implement compliance with international standards. This time frame is enough to optimize navigation, color contrast, and multimedia accessibility.
Test Accessibility Features – You might also need our expertise to test assistive technology simulations that can verify full compliance before deadline.
ADACP can help you achieve Compliance with the EU Accessibility Act
You can trust our team of accessibility specialists who can do testing, audits, and remediation for you. We can help you comply with EAA standards with a thorough website evaluation. After we identify the WCAG and EAA compliance gaps, we then provide comprehensive and quick remediation services.
We ensure your website remains accessible even after compliance is achieved. Trust ADACP to keep up with changing regulations. We can even guide your team on best practices for maintaining long-term accessibility.
Conclusion
Google’s latest algorithm updates prove that accessibility can bring you the benefits of better SEO, increased traffic and profitability. With the EAA 2025 deadline fast approaching, businesses must act now to avoid legal risks as well as capture the SEO benefits of accessibility.
At ADACP, we understand accessibility and can make your website EAA-ready. So get in touch now for automated scans through the WCAG compliance checker and free consultation for manual audits. Contact today to ensure full EAA 2025 compliance.
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
We will contact you shortly.
.webp)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)