You've worked incredibly hard to establish a winning brand for your company or even for yourself. After months of planning, coordinating, and researching your market, you're finally ready to start building your website.

You know you need to think about SEO, mobile optimization, quick loading speeds, and of course, engaging content.

However, there's one big thing that even the most experienced website builders often overlook:

Easy accessibility.

It's your responsibility to ensure that everyone, even those with any kind of disability, can access the content on your website and even on your social media pages.

But how can you make that happen? And what is website accessibility, anyway?

Read on to find out.

What Is Accessibility for Your Website?

Before we get into our top tips for easy accessibility, let's make sure you understand what it is -- and why it's so important.

Nearly one out of every five people has some kind of mental or physical disability, meaning that close to 57 million people are living with a disability. That number is about 19% of the total population in the United States.

Most companies, however, do business with little to no thought about how people with disabilities can access their website, get into their physical stores, and benefit from their social media posts.

This isn't just ethically and morally wrong -- it also means that you're missing out on close to 20% of your market.

Most abled people don't mean to intentionally exclude people with disabilities from their market -- but they're also living in the past about what today's tools and technology make it either possible or much easier for people with disabilities to do. This includes online shopping, reading blog posts, and scrolling through social media just like everyone else.

As a company owner, it's your responsibility to ensure that your website is accessible to everyone. And as of 2018, it's also the law.

Section 508 and the WCAG 2 are legal accessibility guidelines that were recently amended to include more information and laws regarding website accessibility. Just like your physical office or shop, your website should also be ADA compliant and easily accessible/usable to those with a disability.

While yes, what counts as "accessibility" is still a bit of a grey area, the fact is that lawsuits against sites that don't make a clear attempt to follow the accessibility rules are on the rise.

Now, let's talk about the most important parts of web accessibility standards.

Understand Basic Website Accessibility Standards

Web accessibility standards can certainly look like a challenge to understand, but often, much of ADA compliance just comes down to common sense and a bit of willingness to understand how disabled people use the Internet.

In general, there are five main "pillars" of accessibility.

They are:

• Usability
• User Control
• Website Appearance
• Website Presentation
• Content Alternatives

(Here's a complete list of the ADA's Accessibility Guidelines when you're ready to take a closer look at things.)

Website usability refers to how easy it is for someone with a disability to read, click on, and interact with your website. For example, you'll need to make sure that all of your website content can be accessed by someone who us using only a keyboard and not a mouse.

User control refers to how much control people can have when they get on your website. For example, if a pop-up ad suddenly fills the entire screen, someone without the full use of their arms may not be able to close the pop-up tab, meaning they can't get on your site.

Content alternatives cover how easy it is for someone to access and understand your content in ways other than simply reading it on the page. Do you offer transcripts for those with sight issues, for example?

Website presentation primarily deals with coding and forms -- think of this as the more technical side of accessibility. How your website "works" can't interfere with someone's ability to access it.

Finally, website appearance is about how the appearance/design of your website makes it easier for those with disabilities or conditions to actually read your website, understand when a link is included, and more.

We know that it sounds like a lot.

Below, we'll cover some of the most important easy accessibility tips you need to know to protect your company and to work towards a more inclusive future.

1. Include Image Descriptions

You already know how important using images to break up your web content and to show users what your products look like is. But you need to make sure that everyone who comes to your website is able to benefit from seeing those images.

Image descriptions, also known as alt text, help those who have impaired vision or another disability impacting their site to understand what the images on your website depict.

Essentially, all you need to do is write a brief description of the image directly below it, prefacing it with the phrase: image description. This way, anyone using a screen reader will have the image description read out loud to them by their device.

Think of them as an upgrade from a standard caption, and make sure to take advantage of the SEO opportunity they provide. Include keyword phrases in your image description to rank higher for the words and phrases you'd like.

This post gives you a few excellent tips on how to write a winning image description. Be sure to do this for both your web content and for important social media images.

In addition to image descriptions, you should also consider how the background colors of your website could impact someone's ability to read it. You may want to include an option for both a light and dark background, which is especially helpful for those using a web page reader.

Finally, ensure that any text you use on your website can be enlarged if needed, and pick only clear fonts.

2. Keep Site Layout Consistent

Your website's overall design and look also impacts its accessibility rating.

While of course, it's OK for your homepage to look different from other internal pages, keep a consistent layout on things like product pages, blog post formatting, and the ways in which you include photo content on your website.

A way to navigate back to the home page through a button or clickable image is also something each internal page of your website needs to have.

You should also include a header and a footer on each page, along with menu options that allow people to sort through your internal pages to find what they need. You may even want to include a category listing for all your blog posts.

If you opt to include links in your posts, they need to be underlined and/or in a different color. They should also open up a new tab when clicked, not replace the current page that's being read.

3. Provide Closed Captioning/Descriptive Audio for Video Content

Just as with image descriptions, you should also make sure you provide closed captioning, transcripts, and even descriptive audio for any kind of video or spoken content on your website.

Closed captions also give you the chance to improve your search engine ranking, so there's more than one reason to take the time to type them out.

Descriptive audio means that your videos include all the standard dialogue that the characters are saying, but that before that dialogue begins, you briefly include audio snippets describing the scene. You should also include a description of any actions the people in your videos take.

For example, if a video takes place in a coffee shop, your descriptive audio might be something like,

"John, 30, is a white man with brown hair and blue eyes wearing a green shirt. Linda is a 20-something black woman wearing a blue dress. John and Linda are sitting at a table in a crowded coffee shop by a window, drinking coffee out of white mugs."

Think of it as a way of "setting the scene" for people with visual impairments.

Transcripts and closed captioning should include mentions of tone of voice, music playing in the background, and other noise like a cat meowing, someone clicking a button, or even a cough.

4. Adjust any Time Limits

Many websites include time limits on how much time a user has to finalize a purchase, complete a test/quiz, fill out surveys/forms, or even how long a user stays on the site before an ad pops up.

In order to improve your site's accessibility score, at least give users an option to extend their time limits if needed.

However, be aware that time limits do not have/need to be adjusted for obviously time-sensitive content, like online auctions or in-demand upcoming concerts, plays, etc.

If you do opt to include forms of any kind on your website, especially if they contain sensitive personal or financial information, make sure you give users the opportunity to review their answers/information before they officially submit it.

5. Include a Search Function and Sitemap

Not everything about easy accessibility has to do with those who have a disability.

Sometimes, the guidelines are in place to make it easier for everyone visiting your site to find what they need quickly. Install a search bar at both the top and bottom of your homepage and each internal page of your website so that people can type in (or tell their typing tools) what they're looking for.

After all, no one wants to spend their time going through your site page by page, so instead, they'll just leave -- and your search engine rankings will take a hit.

Additionally, make sure you include a sitemap. This not only allows users to understand your site's content, but it also helps Google and other search engines to crawl and index your website more efficiently. This means you'll boost usability and get a bump in your SEO score at the same time.

6. No Text Images

Lots of people don't think about the fact that screen readers aren't able to read images of text.

Let's say you want to include a screenshot of some text from another article or even a social media post in an article you're writing for your blog. You can include the screenshot of the text, but you'll also need to type out the text in the image below it.

This isn't just so screen readers can access the content. It can also be tough for many people to read text when it's been screenshotted. Often times, you'll find that it's much more effective for you to simply type out the content yourself, and then just include a link to the original post somewhere.

Follow These Tips for Easy Accessibility To Your Website

While we know that understanding the ins and outs of website accessibility can feel like a serious challenge, we hope this post has helped you to understand that easy accessibility is more intuitive than you might think.

In fact, we bet your website already has homepage buttons, menus, and a consistent layout.

Looking to learn more about how to improve your site's overall accessibility? Want to understand how you can create content that ensures everyone feels included?

We can help you with that.

In addition to providing you with the very best SEO and web design advice, we can also help you to fill your website with content that will keep the clicks coming.

Place your content order here, and add our blog to your bookmarks bar so you don't miss out on any future advice.

You've crafted a brand strategy that makes an emotional connection to your target market and helps consumers to see themselves in your story.

You have an expertly-curated social media presence, and though you're not exactly an influencer yet, you're still pretty pleased with how well your photos reflect your brand values and present your products in the best possible light.

You've even invested in promotional products that you can use to get the word out about your company both on and offline.

In short?

You've done a lot of work -- so why aren't you seeing results?

It may be because you're not taking advantage of the right blog opportunities.

We know what you're thinking: But we already have a company blog! That can't be the problem! Here's the truth: it's not your own blog that's the issue. Instead, it's that you're not dedicating enough time and energy towards guest blogging.

However, 60% of companies already use blogging on their own sites as a lead generation tactic. So, if you want to stand out, you'll need to get your content in front of a larger audience. Guest blogging can help you to do just that.

Read on to learn everything you need to know about the power of guest writing.

What Is Guest Blogging?

So, what exactly is guest blogging, anyway?

Think back to some of the websites and blogs you read every single day. Maybe you religiously check Forbes first thing in the morning or read Entrepreneur on your lunch break.

If so, then you've probably noticed that these blogs always have tons of different authors writing for their websites. Yes, some of them are standard writers just looking to add to their portfolio.

But most of them are doing exactly what you should be doing: guest posting.

In short, guest blogging/posting is when you or another representative of your company writes a blog post for a well-respected publication or blog in your specific field.

The goal here is two-fold.

One, you'll be able to spread awareness about your company to your target market, show off your expertise in your field, and likely also increase your following on social media and beef up your email subscriber list.

But guest posting also allows you to subtly "pitch" your products or services directly to readers. You can include links to product pages in your content or write about a need that your company helps people fulfill.

As an added bonus, you'll also improve your website's overall "link juice." That's because by including links back to your own website on a reputable, high-traffic blog, search engines see that a major website has "promoted" your site. This gives you a serious boost in the search engine rankings.

And even better?

If you're able to find blogs that pay, you'll be able to make a bit of extra cash by guest posting.

Now that you understand the basic definition of guest posting, let's talk about how to find blogs worth submitting to.

How to Find Blogs That Accept Guest Posts

While we know that you'd love nothing more than to be able to start your guest posting strategy by writing for some of the biggest and most highly-trafficked blogs out there, you may need to start smaller.

Remember that there are far more blog opportunities out there than you might think.

It sounds obvious, but honestly, a simple entry into a search engine is a fine place to start looking. However, you will need to be sure that you're only submitting to blogs and websites that are truly within your industry niche.

For example, if you're a car dealership, submitting to a beauty blog probably doesn't make a whole lot of sense. But if you can find a blog on DIY car repair and the latest car makes and models, you're in business.

Now is also the time to start establishing relationships with those bigger blogs you want to guest post for one day. Start linking to their posts in your own blog content, and send them an email letting you know you linked to them, and that you're always interested in guest blogging for them if they need content.

When you pitch your guest posting article idea, no matter where you're trying to place it, be honest. Let the blog know that you're writing to promote your own company and that you plan on including links to your own content in your post.

You'll quickly find that this is standard industry practice, so don't worry too much about any pushback. Still, it's always best to be upfront with other bloggers or risk getting yourself blacklisted.

Need a little help on writing a compelling pitch for an online article or blog topic?

This post will teach you everything you need to know about the fine art of pitching. Treat guest post pitches with as much professionalism and care as you would pitching an editorial to a newspaper -- a well-crafted pitch can really set you apart from the competition.

Write Quality Content First

So, you've finally landed your first ever guest post -- and though you're excited, you're also deeply afraid of messing it all up!

If you want your guest post to be a success, there's one thing, in particular, that's far more important than anything else: the quality of the content itself.

Let's quickly go over some rapid-fire tips on how to create the best guest post possible.

Conduct Topic Research

One of the worst mistakes you can make when you're guest blogging is writing about a topic that's already been covered to death, or writing on one that simply doesn't appeal to your audience.

In order to know what your consumer base is interested in, check out online forums like Reddit and Quora, and see what people in your industry are talking about. What kinds of questions are they asking? What seems to be their overarching concerns?

Write about those things.

You don't want to create what's essentially a carbon copy of the kinds of blog posts your competitors are writing about. Instead, focus on bringing new information to the table.

Nail the Tone

Remember that you're writing a blog post, not a graduate thesis.

While you still want to sound professional (here, we'd like to advocate for the power of apps like Grammarly and a simple spell check) you also need to be relatable.

So, it's OK to speak in a bit more of a casual, straightforward tone than you would if you were face-to-face with a client in a meeting. This helps your readers to feel like you're talking directly to them, encourages them to keep reading the post, and even makes them feel like they're getting insider information.

Keep things simple.

Now is not the time to show off how broad your vocabulary is or to write long, flowery sentences. Think of the easiest possible way that you can say something. Then, say it that way.

Have a Call-To-Action

Your call-to-action is the final "pitch" or "push" that you have to convince people reading your guest post to do what you want them to do.

Maybe you want them to follow you on social media, buy one of your products, or sign up for your email newsletter. Whatever the case, the call-to-action is what really makes or breaks the conversion ratio and success of your guest post.

Include a specific link to your site in the CTA, use words and phrases that make an emotional connection, build on the reader's fear of missing out or being left behind, then offer relief by providing them with a solution: your company.

Don't Forget About SEO Strategies

Though landing guest blog opportunities will almost certainly mean that more people read your content, it doesn't mean that you no longer need to think about your overall SEO strategy.

When you're writing a guest post, in addition to creating engaging, unique, and well-written content, you also need to consider the technical side of things if you want to rise in the rankings -- and stay there.

First of all, consider the internal linkings back to your own website that you want to include in your guest post. This links absolutely must be relevant to the specific content at hand, or you risk being penalized by Google.

If you're writing about a specific product, include a link to the product page. If you're writing about how you made it as an entrepreneur, include a link to your "About Me" page. If you've got any relevant blog topics on your own company blog, include internal links to them in your guest post.

Next, consider external links.

Linking to other reputable sources in your own content boosts credibility and your SEO score. To ensure that you don't end up accidentally linking to a competitor (one of your own or one of the blog your writing for) it's best to stick with statistics, interviews, or newspaper/journal articles.

You should also think about your keyword strategy.

Because you're writing on a blog that's likely more popular than your own, now might be the time to try to go after some of those higher-ranking keyword phrases you've been unsuccessful in tackling so far.

Make sure you also include some location-based keywords, and that you optimize your keywords for voice search. This quick guide to voice search optimization will be a huge help to you.

Don't Forget to Include an Author Bio

Once the blog opportunities for guest posting start pouring in, you need to think about what you plan to say in your author bio.

The most important thing here is to be sure to include links to your website and to your social media accounts. First, this helps you to determine just how effective your guest blogging endeavor was, as you can use analytics to help you see who ended up on your site from your post.

But it also allows you to strengthen your authority and promote your business one last time without coming across as desperate.

A well-crafted author bio will help you to secure not only many more blog opportunities in the future, but will also help you to grow your "influencer" status, increase brand recognition, and build your professional network.

So, what should yours include?

Talk about your education, your past work experience, any awards you've one, other publications, and of course, your hobbies. Don't be afraid to show your personality -- readers especially like that.

Want to Expand Your Company's Blog Opportunities?

We hope this post has helped you to understand why you need to start taking advantage of guest blog opportunities.

But although you now know about the importance of guest posting, you're concerned that your own writing skills just aren't up to par.

Don't worry. Instead of writing guest posts yourself, why not hire a professional to do it for you?

We have connections with tons of well-read, well-respected blogs within a variety of industries. Additionally, if you already have a specific website in mind for your guest posting opportunity, we are happy to take care of the manual outreach for you.

In addition to helping you with guest posting, we also work with some of the best content creators when it comes to eBooks, press releases, standard blog posts, and much more. We can even help you with article re-writes.

When you're looking to take your entire content strategy to the next level, create your account with us here and start placing orders today.

We can't wait to help your website get the recognition it deserves.