How Can You Ensure Your Content is Accessible?
To help you ensure your content reaches a wide audience, we asked writers and co-founders for their best strategies. From using diverse examples to using bold text over italics, here are the top six approaches these experts shared to make your content more accessible.
- Use Diverse Examples
- Consider Reader Demographics
- Update Content Regularly
- Focus on Collaborative Storytelling
- Avoid Non-Universal References
- Use Bold Text Over Italics
Use Diverse Examples
When I look at writing content, I try to use a variety of examples. I try to diversify these examples to be inclusive of people in all stages of life. I also look to identify problems different groups may be facing. I can then work on connecting this to how my content and/or topic may be helpful in creating a solution.
Rather than offering only an idealistic perspective, I try to provide alternatives and/or modifications that are realistic to the average person. Finally, I think a great way to reach more people is to write clearly. Clear, easy-to-understand writing will help people understand your point and better connect with the topic.
Consider Reader Demographics
Copywriters must always consider readers’ ethnicity, gender identity, physical/mental ability, race, and socioeconomic status. They can use gender-neutral language (saying firefighters instead of firemen), avoid restrictive assumptions, and use CTAs that are accessible to all (e.g., a CTA of “Read Now” can be exclusionary to people with poor eyesight or blindness).
Update Content Regularly
To ensure our content is accessible to a wide audience, we focus on two key strategies: regularly updating website content and contributing to guest posts. Keeping our website content current ensures it reflects the latest trends, data, and best practices, making it relevant and engaging for diverse audiences. Additionally, by contributing guest posts to various industry platforms, we reach new audiences and bring fresh perspectives to different communities. This dual approach not only broadens our content’s reach but also enhances its relevance and accessibility, ensuring it meets the needs of varied audiences effectively.
Focus on Collaborative Storytelling
At Resilient Stories, one unique approach we take to ensure our content is accessible to a wide audience is by focusing on collaborative storytelling and crowdsourced content. We actively invite our community members to share their own stories of resilience, which not only diversifies the voices and experiences featured on our platform but also makes our content more relatable and accessible to different demographics.
We create content that caters to different preferences and needs, whether that means providing text-based articles for readers who prefer in-depth exploration, long video interviews with every author, or visually engaging posts for social media followers who connect more with images and videos.
We also focus on writing in a clear, conversational tone, avoiding jargon so our messages resonate with readers of all backgrounds. Additionally, we ensure our website and content are optimized for accessibility by incorporating features like alt text for images, readable fonts, and mobile-friendly design.
Finally, we actively seek feedback from our audience, using their insights to continually improve how we present our stories, ensuring that our message of resilience reaches and resonates with as many people as possible.
Avoid Non-Universal References
The first step is to confirm the scope of 'accessibility.' Government clients, for example, have a specific and legally required need related to that term. In general, however, one of the key things I look for is whether I've included cultural references, slang, metaphors, or similes that may not be universal. Both native and acquired English speakers may have different touchpoints (e.g., American vs. UK vs. Australia) that, even with supporting context, slow or distract members of the audience. Even if the audience is not global, regional differences may mean the message comes off as 'inside baseball' instead of the relatable, engaging message you're trying to achieve.
Use Bold Text Over Italics
I try to use bold text rather than italics as much as possible. Parentheses are also something that I avoid because they don't read well out loud on accessibility devices. I also recommend to my clients fixing contrast and text-size issues on their websites if they're not compliant with AA standards.
