Accessibility is often overlooked until it starts affecting business outcomes. A website that looks modern and performs well can still lose clients if it isn’t accessible to all users. From inaccessible forms to poor keyboard navigation, small accessibility mistakes can silently drive users away, reduce conversions, and damage brand credibility.
In an increasingly competitive digital landscape, accessibility is not just about compliance, it’s about customer retention. This article highlights common accessibility mistakes that could cost you clients and explains how Digital Accessibility Testing Services can help identify and fix them effectively.
Why Accessibility Directly Impacts Business
Accessibility affects how users perceive, navigate, and interact with digital products. According to global studies, over 1 billion people live with some form of disability, and many rely on assistive technologies like screen readers, keyboard navigation, or voice control.
When users encounter accessibility barriers, they don’t complain they leave. Poor accessibility leads to:
- Higher bounce rates
- Lower engagement and conversions
- Negative brand perception
- Legal and compliance risks
1. Poor Keyboard Navigation
The Mistake
Many websites are built primarily for mouse users, making them difficult or impossible to navigate using a keyboard. Interactive elements such as dropdowns, modals, or sliders often fail to receive focus or follow logical tab order.
Why It Costs You Clients
Users with motor disabilities, power users, and screen reader users depend on keyboard navigation. If they can’t complete tasks like filling a form or making a purchase, they abandon the site.
How to Fix It
- Ensure all interactive elements are keyboard accessible
- Maintain logical tab order
- Provide visible focus indicators
- Test navigation using only the keyboard
2. Insufficient Color Contrast
The Mistake
Low contrast between text and background is one of the most common design flaws. Designers often prioritize aesthetics over readability, especially in buttons, links, and small text.
Why It Costs You Clients
Users with low vision or color blindness struggle to read content, leading to frustration and disengagement.
How to Fix It
- Follow WCAG contrast ratios (4.5:1 for normal text)
- Avoid using color alone to convey information
- Test designs in grayscale and high-contrast modes
3. Missing or Incorrect Alt Text for Images
The Mistake
Images without meaningful alternative text leave screen reader users without context. Decorative images often have unnecessary descriptions, while informative images lack proper explanation.
Why It Costs You Clients
Critical content conveyed through images becomes inaccessible, impacting comprehension and trust.
How to Fix It
- Provide descriptive alt text for informative images
- Use empty alt attributes for decorative visuals
- Ensure icons and buttons have accessible labels
4. Inaccessible Forms and Error Messages
The Mistake
Forms without labels, unclear instructions, or inaccessible error messages are major accessibility barriers. Error messages are often color-based or visually hidden from assistive technologies.
Why It Costs You Clients
Forms are essential for sign-ups, inquiries, and transactions. If users can’t complete them, conversions drop immediately.
How to Fix It
- Associate labels with all input fields
- Provide clear, accessible error messages
- Announce validation errors to screen readers
- Avoid placeholder-only labels
5. Improper Use of ARIA
The Mistake
ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes are often misused or overused, creating more problems than they solve. Developers sometimes rely on ARIA instead of semantic HTML.
Why It Costs You Clients
Incorrect ARIA usage confuses screen readers and creates inconsistent user experiences.
How to Fix It
- Use native HTML elements whenever possible
- Apply ARIA only when necessary
- Test ARIA components across multiple assistive technologies
6. Multimedia Without Captions or Transcripts
The Mistake
Videos without captions and audio content without transcripts exclude users with hearing impairments.
Why It Costs You Clients
Important information becomes inaccessible, especially for educational, marketing, or onboarding content.
How to Fix It
- Provide accurate captions for videos
- Include transcripts for audio content
- Avoid auto-playing media
7. Relying Only on Automated Accessibility Tools
The Mistake
Automated tools are helpful but catch only about 30–40% of accessibility issues. Many organizations rely on them exclusively.
Why It Costs You Clients
Critical usability issues remain undetected, resulting in poor real-world accessibility.
How to Fix It
This is where Digital Accessibility Testing Services become essential. These services combine:
- Automated scans
- Manual testing
- Screen reader and keyboard testing
- WCAG compliance audits
Professional testing ensures accessibility issues are identified from a real user perspective.
Why Digital Accessibility Testing Services Matter
Digital Accessibility Testing Services help organizations proactively identify, prioritize, and remediate accessibility issues before users encounter them. These services ensure compliance with standards such as WCAG 2.1/2.2, ADA, and Section 508 while improving overall usability.
Key benefits include:
- Reduced legal and compliance risks
- Improved user satisfaction
- Higher conversion rates
- Inclusive brand reputation
Conclusion
Accessibility mistakes are not just technical oversights, they are business risks. From poor keyboard navigation to inaccessible forms and multimedia, these issues silently drive users away. The good news is that every accessibility mistake is fixable with the right approach.
By following accessibility best practices and investing in Digital Accessibility Testing Services, organizations can create inclusive digital experiences that retain clients, strengthen brand trust, and ensure long-term success.
Accessibility is not an expense, it’s an investment in your users and your business.