Introduction:
Healthcare websites are not just places to find information about a disease or condition but also places to take care of business. They're where you go to fill out forms, call for an appointment, or even apply for insurance. And that's why it's so crucial that healthcare marketers create websites that are accessible to all people who access them. In this blog post, we'll explore what makes healthcare websites inaccessible and how you can make yours more inclusive.
What is accessibility?
Accessibility is about making sure that everyone can use your website. It's not just about people with disabilities but also about ensuring your website is easy to use and works on all devices.
Accessibility has become a buzzword recently as web designers have realized how important it is for their sites' success. But what does accessibility actually mean? There are two main types: attitudinal and technical. Attitudinal accessibility means considering people with different abilities when designing content or services (for example, using images instead of text where possible). Technical accessibility refers specifically to ways in which websites can be used by those with physical impairments such as blindness or deafness - for example, providing alternative text descriptions for images. Hence, they're still accessible even if someone's sight isn't as good as others.
Why is it essential to consider inclusivity and accessibility in healthcare marketing?
If your website is not accessible, it is not compliant with the law.
If your website is not accessible, people will not be able to access your content. This can be especially devastating for healthcare providers who rely on digital media for marketing and communications purposes -- such as hospitals or medical practices that want to reach out to potential patients through email newsletters or social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter -- because these channels are often used by people who do not live near their physical location (or have other mobility issues). Suppose these individuals cannot access the content on your website due to technical barriers such as poor design choices. In that case, they may choose another option instead of contacting you directly through those channels. This could lead you down a path where fewer potential customers find their way into your office than would otherwise occur if websites were designed with universal standards in mind from the start!
When we think about user experience (UX) factors like ease-of-use/user friendliness/"usability"/and "findability," so much emphasis has been placed on making things look pretty. Still, less attention has been paid towards ensuring sites function correctly too, which can make all difference between success/failure scenarios, especially if businesses need data collectible quickly without having to wait hours upon end just trying to figure out how exactly locate information needed right away without wasting precious time doing so.
Who is affected by inaccessible websites?
- People with disabilities.
- Older people.
- Users on mobile devices.
- People with low literacy levels.
- Those who don't speak English as a first language or whose first language is different from the language of your website.
This list could go on--someone might have trouble accessing your website for many reasons, and it's essential to consider these factors when designing for accessibility!
How can you create inclusive, accessible websites?
For your website to be accessible and user-friendly, you need to keep a few key things in mind.
- Use a mobile-friendly, responsive design. A responsive site will automatically adjust its layout depending on the device accessing it. In other words, no matter what phone or tablet someone uses to visit your site (or even if they're using their laptop), all the information will be displayed clearly and comfortably onscreen.
- Make sure navigation is easy and intuitive. When designing navigation buttons or links, make sure they're large enough for users with impaired vision; if possible, use images instead of text so people who are blind can still see them clearly without having to rely solely on audio cues alone.*Think about how people might interact with each other when sharing information about themselves online through various social media platforms such as Facebook or Twitter - do these interactions involve any kind of communication between multiple people within groups? If so, think carefully about implementing this functionality into future projects before going live.
Make your website mobile-friendly.
Mobile is a big part of the healthcare marketing landscape. In fact, mobile devices now account for more than 50% of all internet traffic in the United States. If your website doesn't work well on mobile devices--or even worse, if it isn't available at all--you're missing out on an enormous opportunity to engage with prospective patients and clients.
To ensure your site is accessible to everyone who visits it, ensure you have a separate version designed specifically for viewing on smaller screens (such as those found on smartphones). If you lack the resources to build this separate version, consider using responsive design techniques instead.
Make sure your website has easy-to-use navigation.
Navigation is the most important element of your website, and it should be easy to find. Users who can't find the navigation may be encouraged to navigate further on your site.
The best way to ensure that your navigation is accessible is by making sure it's consistent across all pages of your site--and this includes having an accessible button as well as easy-to-see labels for each link in the menu bar itself.
It's also essential that you make sure all links are clearly labeled with text that describes what will happen when users click them (e.g., "Contact Us" rather than just "Contact"). This helps people who use screen readers know what they're clicking on before making any decisions about whether or not they want those actions performed on their behalf!
Avoid confusing site layouts.
In healthcare marketing, it's essential to use clear, simple language. This means that you should avoid using jargon and buzzwords when describing your products and services. It also means that you should avoid using complicated sentences with multiple clauses; instead of saying, "the new drug has been shown to reduce the risk of heart attacks by 35%," say, "our new drug reduces the risk of heart attacks by 35%."
In addition to using straightforward language on your site, make sure that all of your designs are clean and easy-to-read--this includes fonts (use sans serif fonts), colors (use less color), images (use fewer images), links (avoid too many links), ads (avoid too many ads) and popups/windows popping up unexpectedly when someone visits a page on your website (avoid using popups and windows).
Minimize the use of jargon and slang.
When writing for healthcare, avoid jargon and slang. You want your audience to understand everything you're saying, so use plain language and avoid acronyms unless necessary for the article.
When it comes down to it, everyone understands pain--even if they don't know what causes it or how to treat it. When writing about pain management strategies, avoid using terms like "neuropathic" or "myofascial" unless they are part of a more comprehensive explanation of what these things mean in layman's terms.
Use logical page order and structure.
When designing your healthcare website, use a logical page order and structure. This means that you put the most important information at the top of each page and ensure it's easy for everyone to navigate through different site sections.
For example: if you have an About Us section on your website, consider putting this information first so that users know what they're going into before scrolling through other pages. Similarly, if there are links within a specific page--for example, "Learn More" or "Read More"--make sure those links go directly back up to where they came from (instead of taking them somewhere else.
Ensure all page elements are easy to tap or click on by touch.
Make sure all page elements are easy to tap or click on by touch. This includes but is not limited to the following:
- Buttons should be big enough for people with disabilities to tap them with their fingers quickly. They should also be spaced out well so that users can easily select the buttons they want without accidentally tapping other parts of the screen.
- If you have any other interactive elements on your site that are important for users, like sliders or toggle buttons, make sure they're easy for people with visual impairments as well as those who use screen readers (software used by people who are blind) or keyboard navigation software like VoiceOver (which allows people who are blind and low vision navigate iOS devices).
- Healthcare marketers should ensure that their websites are accessible for everybody to better serve their audience, including older people, people with disabilities, and users on mobile devices
- As healthcare marketers, it is essential to ensure that your website is accessible to everybody. This includes people with disabilities, older people, and mobile users.
Accessibility means providing content in an easy-to-read and easy-to-use format so everyone can access it regardless of their abilities or circumstances. It's also good for SEO (search engine optimization) and helping you be more competitive in the marketplace because you're quickly reaching more potential customers!
Conclusion
This post has given you insight into the importance of inclusive design for healthcare marketing. As we mentioned earlier, it can be a challenging and time-consuming process to make your website accessible, but it's worth it! To create an inclusive website that serves as a valuable resource for everyone who visits it, consider following these tips: make sure your site is mobile-friendly; don't use jargon or slang; keep page layouts simple; and avoid confusing page order/structure by keeping all elements easy-to-tap or click on with touch controls.
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