Is Your Website Actually User-Friendly? Why UX & Accessibility Matter More Than Ever

A website can be visually stunning, but if it’s difficult to navigate, slow to interact with, or inaccessible to users with disabilities, you’re losing potential visitors and customers. In 2024, user experience (UX) and accessibility are not just optional—they’re essential for engagement, conversions, and even SEO rankings.

Google has made it clear that a great user experience is a ranking factor, incorporating signals from Core Web Vitals and the Page Experience update. That means a website that’s hard to use can hurt your search visibility and revenue.

The good news? You can easily check if your website is user-friendly and accessible with a free Website Health Check that uncovers hidden usability issues.

Common UX Mistakes That Drive Users Away

1. Confusing Navigation & Layout

A well-structured website should allow users to find information quickly and effortlessly. However, poor navigation and cluttered layouts make it difficult for users to explore your site.

• Menus that are hard to find or too complex
• Lack of clear headings or a logical page structure
• No search functionality for content-heavy sites

2. Slow Interactions & Poor Responsiveness

Website responsiveness isn’t just about page load speed—it’s also about how quickly users can interact with different elements.

• Interactive elements (buttons, forms) take too long to respond
• Pages feel sluggish due to excessive JavaScript
• Forms don’t provide real-time feedback or validation

3. Inconsistent Mobile Experience

With mobile traffic dominating the web, a poorly optimized mobile experience can significantly hurt your conversions.

• Content is cut off, forcing users to zoom or scroll awkwardly
• Buttons are too small or too close together for touchscreens
• Mobile pop-ups that are difficult to close

Accessibility Gaps That Exclude Users

More than a billion people worldwide live with disabilities, and inaccessible websites prevent them from accessing information, services, and products. Ensuring an inclusive web experience is not only the right thing to do but also a legal requirement in many countries.

Common Accessibility Issues:

1. Poor Color Contrast

• Low contrast between text and background makes reading difficult
• Lack of alternative color schemes for users with visual impairments

2. Missing or Improper Alt Text for Images

Images play a significant role in web content, but without proper alternative text, visually impaired users miss out on key information.

• Screen readers rely on alt text to describe images for visually impaired users
• Without alt text, essential visual information is lost

3. Keyboard Navigation Issues

• Users with mobility impairments rely on the keyboard, but some websites trap focus (e.g., in a pop-up)
• Missing focus indicators make it hard to see where a user is navigating

4. Unlabeled Form Fields & Buttons

Forms are a fundamental part of most websites, but without proper labeling, they become unusable for assistive technologies.

• Placeholder text is not a substitute for proper form labels
• Screen readers can’t interpret vague button descriptions like "Click Here"

5. Auto-Playing Animations Without Controls

Animations can enhance user experience but can also create barriers.

• Flashy and complex animations can trigger seizures in some users
• Lack of pause/stop buttons can be overwhelming for neurodiverse users who may struggle with sensory overload.

How UX & Accessibility Affect SEO and Business Performance

Ignoring UX and accessibility doesn’t just affect users—it can directly impact your website’s performance and profitability.

• Google prioritizes user-friendly websites in search rankings.
• Poor accessibility can result in legal penalties (e.g., ADA lawsuits).
• Bad UX leads to high bounce rates, which reduces conversions.
• Mobile usability issues drive away a growing segment of users.
  

A small investment in improving UX and accessibility can lead to higher engagement, better SEO, and increased revenue.

How to Detect UX & Accessibility Issues Automatically

While manual testing can help identify some usability problems, it’s time-consuming and may not catch everything. That’s where our Website Health Check comes in.

With just a few clicks, we would be able to identify:

• Navigation and layout issues
• Mobile usability problems
• Core Web Vitals performance
• Accessibility compliance gaps

Find out if your website is truly user-friendly and accessible. Our Website Health Check will give you actionable insights to improve your site’s performance, UX, and SEO.