In today's digital landscape, having a website is essential for any roofing business looking to reach a broader audience. However, simply having a roofing website isn't enough - it's crucial to ensure that your site is accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. An accessible website not only broadens your customer base but also reflects positively on your business as being inclusive and user-friendly. Here's how you can make your roofing website more accessible.

How Accessibility Boosts Your SEO Rankings

Improving your website's accessibility does more than just make it inclusive - it can also enhance your SEO and rankings. Accessible websites typically offer better user experiences, which search engines reward with higher rankings. Practices like using descriptive alt text, proper heading structures, and responsive design not only make your site easier to navigate for all users but also help search engines better understand and index your content.

Additionally, accessible sites often load faster and are more mobile-friendly, both of which are key factors in search engine rankings. By focusing on accessibility, you can attract more organic traffic and improve your overall online visibility.

8 Tips For Improving Your Accessibility

1. Use Descriptive Alt Text for Images

Roofing websites often showcase images of completed projects, team members, and various roofing materials. While these images are visually appealing, they can be inaccessible to people with visual impairments who use screen readers. To address this, make sure to add descriptive alt text to all images.

• Describe the content clearly: Avoid vague descriptions like "image" or "photo"; instead, describe the image in detail, such as "Close-up of a newly installed metal roof with solar panels."
• Keep it concise: While being descriptive, ensure your alt text isn't overly long. Aim for a clear, concise description of what’s visually important.
• Include relevant information: If the image conveys information, such as a diagram of roofing layers, make sure to describe the key details.
• Avoid keyword stuffing: Focus on what the image represents, not on forcing SEO keywords into the alt text.

2. Ensure Your Website is Keyboard-Friendly

Many users with disabilities navigate websites using only their keyboards. For this reason, your roofing website should be fully operable without a mouse.

• Focus order: Ensure the tab order on your website flows logically from one element to the next, matching the visual layout.
• Interactive elements: Make sure all links, buttons, and forms are accessible via keyboard, with clear visual focus indicators when selected.
• Testing: Regularly test your website by navigating it using only your keyboard, identifying any elements that are difficult or impossible to access.

3. Optimize for Screen Readers

Screen readers convert text on a website into speech, allowing visually impaired users to interact with your content.

• Use semantic HTML: Structure your content using appropriate tags (e.g., <h1> for main headings, <p> for paragraphs) to help screen readers interpret the content correctly.
• Descriptive link text: Use meaningful link text, such as “Explore our commercial roofing services,” rather than non-informative text like “Click here.”
• Aria-labels: Implement ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) labels to provide additional context to screen readers for interactive elements.
• Headings hierarchy: Maintain a logical order of headings (H1, H2, H3) to guide screen reader users through the content efficiently.

4. Provide Text Transcripts for Videos

If your roofing website includes video content, such as tutorials, case studies, or customer testimonials, it's important to provide text transcripts.

• Use captioning tools: Utilize video editing software or platforms like YouTube that offer automatic captioning services, which you can then edit for accuracy.
• Include video descriptions: For videos that rely heavily on visual content, consider adding a description of the visual elements to the transcript.
• Downloadable option: Offer the transcript as a downloadable file (e.g., PDF) for users who prefer to read offline or keep a copy.

5. Choose High-Contrast Colors

Roofing websites often feature bold designs, but it's important to consider the color contrast between text and background elements.

• Use a contrast checker: Tools like WebAIM's contrast checker can help you ensure that your text color contrasts sufficiently with your background color.
• Avoid color alone for emphasis: Don’t rely solely on color to convey important information. Use bolding, underlining, or icons in addition to color.
• Consistent color scheme: Stick to a consistent color scheme across your site to avoid confusing users who rely on contrast for navigation.
• Test for color blindness: Use filters or tools to simulate how your site looks to someone with color blindness and adjust accordingly.

6. Make Forms Accessible

Contact forms, request a quote forms, and other interactive elements are key components of a roofing website.

• Label elements clearly: Ensure every form field has a clear label that is visible and properly associated with the input field.
• Use placeholders sparingly: Avoid relying on placeholder text as the only form of label; they disappear when users start typing, which can be confusing.
• Error messages: Provide descriptive error messages that explain what went wrong and how to fix it, such as “Please enter a valid email address.”
• Fieldset and legend: Use <fieldset> and <legend> tags to group related fields together, such as for a set of checkboxes, and label them for context.

7. Test Your Website with Accessibility Tools

There are various tools available that can help you evaluate your roofing website's accessibility.

• WAVE: Use the WAVE tool by WebAIM to identify accessibility issues like missing alt text, contrast issues, and structural problems.
• Axe: Install the Axe browser extension to automatically test your site for compliance with WCAG guidelines.
• Google Lighthouse: Run an audit using Google Lighthouse to assess accessibility alongside performance, SEO, and best practices.
• Manual testing: Complement automated tests with manual checks, such as navigating with a screen reader or keyboard, to catch issues that tools might miss.

8. Offer Multiple Contact Methods

Different users have different communication preferences and needs. Make sure to provide multiple ways for customers to contact you.

• Phone and email prominently displayed: Ensure your phone number and email address are clearly visible on every page, especially in the header and footer.
• Live chat: If possible, integrate a live chat feature that allows users to reach you instantly without needing to make a call.
• Accessible contact forms: Provide an accessible online contact form with clear labels and error messages, and ensure it's easy to use with a screen reader.
• Accessibility statement: Include an accessibility statement that outlines the steps you’ve taken to make your site accessible and invites users to contact you if they encounter any issues.

Take Your Roofing Website to the Next Level

Making your roofing website more accessible is not just about compliance - it's about creating a positive user experience for all visitors. By implementing these accessibility practices, you'll not only expand your potential customer base but also demonstrate your commitment to inclusivity and customer service. Remember, an accessible website benefits everyone, including your business.

Ready to take your roofing website to the next level? Set up a free marketing strategy session with us today to explore how accessibility improvements can boost your SEO and grow your business. Let's make your site work harder for you!