$75,000 FINE – Business Impact of Failure to Comply with Web Accessibility Laws
Web Accessibility refers to the practice of making websites and web applications accessible to users with disabilities. This includes individuals with visual, auditory, physical, and cognitive impairments. In recent years, web accessibility has become increasingly important for businesses to consider. Not only is it the right thing to do, but in the United States, its the law!
A few reasons why web accessibility is helpful.
One of the main reasons why web accessibility is important for businesses is because it allows you to reach a wider audience. By making your website more accessible, you are ensuring that everyone, regardless of their abilities, can access your content and services. This can help to increase your customer base and ultimately lead to greater profits.
Another important reason to consider web accessibility is because it can help to improve your website’s search engine optimization (SEO). Search engines like Google and Bing prioritize websites that are accessible to everyone. By implementing accessibility features, such as alt text for images and captions for videos, you are improving your website’s SEO and making it more likely that potential customers will find your site. Not only that, but certain accessibility programs used by disabled patrons actively filter out non-accessible listings from the search engine results that appear during searches. In other words, your business simply will not show at all to these potential customers, giving your competitors an advantage.
Web Accessibility helps your brand image!
Web accessibility also helps to create a positive brand image for your business. By demonstrating that you are committed to making your website accessible, you are showing that you care about your customers and are willing to go the extra mile to ensure that everyone can access your content and services. This can help to build trust with your customers and improve your reputation in the marketplace.
By contrast, not being web accessible can have a negative impact on a business’s brand image. For example, if a person with a disability is unable to access a website’s content or services, they may view the business as uncaring or insensitive to their needs. This can result in a loss of trust and reputation in the marketplace. Additionally, if determined that your website is not compliant with web accessibility standards, your business may be subject to legal action and fines up to $75,000 for first time offenders, and more than $150,000 for repeat offenders.
In Conclusion
Web accessibility is an essential consideration for any business that wants to succeed in today’s digital landscape. By implementing accessible features on your website, you can reach a wider audience, improve your SEO, and create a positive brand image for your business. So if you haven’t already, now is the time to start thinking about how you can make your website more accessible for everyone.
At Rocket ADA we can provide you with a free analysis of your business’ website, as well as guidance to fix any issues that we find. Click here to order your FREE WEBSITE ANALYSIS now.
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