How to fix WCAG accessibility issues that are hurting your SEO rankings

Did you know that making your website accessible can actually boost your SEO rankings?

SEMrush along with Built With recently conducted a study to provide concrete evidence about the correlation between WCAG accessibility and website ranking. The study revealed that websites that fixed accessibility issues saw a big jump in organic traffic. They tested 847 websites and found that 73.4% of them had an increase in traffic after tackling accessibility issues. Among them, 66.1% saw an increase of up to 50%, while 7.3% had more than a 50% boost.

This study makes one thing clear—if you want more visitors and better brand visibility then fix the accessibility problems. In fact, compliance with the ADA and the European Accessibility Act should be at the top of your to-do list. Let’s discuss why accessibility matters for SEO and how you can fix common issues to beat the competition in Google ranking.

Why digital accessibility matters for SEO

Google prioritizes user experience. An accessible website means more people can navigate it easily. Offering accessibility provision for disabled users sends a positive signal to Google. As a result, your website gets higher rankings. On the other hand, if your website has accessibility issues it could push your rankings down. Because it might be hard to use for both real users and search engines.

Think about it: Someone with a visual impairment visits your site and cannot read the text or understand images. They will leave quickly due to inaccessible content. Google notices that and assumes your site is not user-friendly. The result is lower rankings.

Now that we know why accessibility matters, we will discuss how to fix those issues.

Common WCAG standards hurting your SEO  

1. Missing or Poorly Written Alt Text

The problem:

Search engines and screen readers rely on alt text to understand images. If your images have no alt text (or bad ones like “image123.jpg”), visually impaired users and Google won’t know what they’re about.

The fix:

Write clear, descriptive alt text for every image.

Keep it short but informative. For example, instead of “dog,” write “Golden Retriever playing in the park.”

Avoid keyword stuffing. Just make it natural!

2. Low Color Contrast

The problem:

Website text blending too much with the background is hard to read for people with vision impairments.

The fix:

Use contrast checker tools to test the text readability.

Stick to high-contrast color combinations like black text on a white background.

3. Missing Video Captions

The problem:

Videos without captions make it impossible for deaf users to follow along. Google cannot watch videos, so it relies on captions and transcripts to understand the content.

The fix:

Add closed captions to all videos.

Provide transcripts so users and search engines can read the content.

Use YouTube’s auto-caption feature but always double-check for accuracy.

4. Unlabeled Form Fields

The problem:

Forms without labels make it hard for screen readers to tell users what information is needed.

The fix: 

Clearly label all form fields like “FirstName” instead of leaving it blank. 

Use proper HTML tags like <label> to associate text with input fields. 

5. Pop-Ups That Block Content

The problem:

Imagine the frustration of a visually impaired user when a pop-up appears and blocks the entire screen. Users relying on screen readers may struggle to close it.

The fix:

Make easy to close pop-ups.

Avoid pop-ups that take over the entire screen.

Make keyboard friendly pop-ups that users can close them using the “Esc” key.

6. No Keyboard Navigation

The problem:

Some users rely on keyboards instead of a mouse. If your site isn’t keyboard-friendly, they can’t navigate properly.

The fix:

Test your website by using only the Tab key to move around.

Make sure users can select and activate all interactive buttons, links and menus via keyboard.

7. Missing or Incorrect Headings

The problem:

Screen readers use headings to help users navigate. Your content becomes confusing due to unclear and poorly structured headings.

The fix:

Use <h1> for the main title,<h2> for subheadings and <h3> for smaller sections.

Make sure to have a logical structure for header tabs. The content should never jump from an <h1> to an <h4>without an <h2> or <h3> in between. 

What happens if you do not fix these issues?

Ignore accessibility problems and it could make your website difficult for users. Additionally, you are also risking legal trouble. In the first half of 2024 alone, over 4,000 lawsuits were filed under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Many of these cases involved website accessibility issues. You could face fines, lawsuits and poor SEO ranking if your site is not compliant with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines WCAG.

How to get started with fixing accessibility issues with WCAG Guidelines  

• Audit Your Website – Use free scans provided by ADACP to identify accessibility issues.
•  Fix the Most Critical Problems First – Start with missing alt text, low contrast, and broken keyboard navigation.
• Keep Up With Accessibility Standards – WCAG guidelines are updated regularly. The latest WCAG 2.2guidelines set the rules for making websites more accessible. Businesses should aim for WCAG Level AA compliance to meet legal and SEO standards. Keep track of updates to avoid issues.
• Consult ADACP Experts – Accessibility issues can be tricky. ADACP-certified experts can help audit your website, fix problems and ensure quick and effective compliance so you do not risk law suits or lost traffic.

Conclusion

Avoiding lawsuits should not be your only target while achieving accessibility compliance. It is also about making your website easier for everyone to use and improving your search rankings. Google favors user-friendly websites and fixing accessibility issues helps more people engage with your content. If your site is not ranking well, poor accessibility could be part of the problem.

At ADACP, we have the experts to help. Our team can audit your website, fix compliance issues quickly and ensure you meet the ADA and the European Accessibility Act without hassle.

Want to see where your site stands? Click here for a FREE accessibility scan and schedule a consultation for a full WCAG Accessibility compliance audit today.