Every business website in Australia should be open for everyone – no exceptions. If your website is not accessible to people with disabilities, you’re essentially turning away potential customers. Almost one in five Australians (18%) have a disability – an inaccessible website means excluding a huge segment of potential clients. It’s not just about being ethical; it’s smart business. An accessible website can tap into a wider audience and show that your brand cares about every visitor’s experience. In fact, digital accessibility isn’t a “nice-to-have” – it’s a must for any business that wants to confidently grow its reach in today’s online market.

In practical terms, web accessibility means designing your site so everyone can use it – including people who are blind, deaf, or have mobility or cognitive impairments. That involves everything from text alternatives for images and transcripts for videos, to ensuring your site can be navigated via keyboard for those who can’t use a mouse. The payoff? A better experience for absolutely everyone. Think about how closed captions not only help users with hearing difficulties but also let all customers watch your promo video on mute while commuting. Or how clear, well-structured content with proper headings benefits people using screen readers, and also makes your site easier to skim for busy executives. When you invest in inclusive design, you often end up with a cleaner, more user-friendly site overall – and that can boost engagement across the board.

Accessibility is also intertwined with SEO and overall site performance. Search engines like Google reward sites that follow best practices like fast loading times, proper heading structure, and descriptive alt text – all key principles of accessible design. Plus, accessible sites tend to have lower bounce rates; users are more likely to stay and interact when they can actually use your site without barriers. On the flip side, a slow, frustrating site will drive visitors away – especially on mobile. By making your site more intuitive and accessible, you’re also making it more effective at converting visitors into customers. It’s a bold win-win – you expand your audience and reap the benefits of better site metrics at the same time.

Let’s not forget the legal landscape. In Australia, web accessibility aligns with requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. If your site has barriers that prevent people with disabilities from accessing content or services, you could be at risk of non-compliance. But ticking the compliance box is just the beginning. The goal is to create a digital experience that welcomes everyone. When someone using a screen reader or voice navigation finds your site easy to browse, it builds trust in your brand. That trust translates into loyalty and positive word-of-mouth. Being accessible shows, you care about every customer – and in today’s socially conscious marketplace, that sets you apart from less inclusive competitors.

How can TechGlove help your business start embracing inclusive design? Here are a few quick wins we give you:

These steps only scratch the surface. True accessibility is an ongoing commitment – from your website’s codebase to your daily content updates, it requires a mindset of inclusion at every stage. But the effort is worth it. By following official Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and regularly auditing your site, TechGlove ensures your digital presence stays welcoming to all. Don’t be daunted: any issues small and build up. Begin by fixing glaring issues (add alt text to images, label your form fields), then move to more advanced improvements (ARIA labels, accessible PDFs, deeper testing).

Ready to make your site accessible—and more effective? Book a free TechGlove Accessibility Snapshot: we will review your key pages against WCAG, check alt text, contrast, keyboard navigation and captions, and send a one-page action plan we can implement immediately.