WCAG 2.1 beyond compliance: Discover the business benefits of web accessibility

Today, everyone’s talking about WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) – and for good reason. The digital landscape is shifting towards greater inclusivity, better user experiences, and more meaningful interaction with digital services. But there’s more to accessibility than simply ticking a compliance box. There are clear business benefits too.

What is WCAG, and how is it changing the digital landscape?

From June 2025, WCAG 2.1 (AA) will be enforced as a legal requirement in the EU and is no longer a business recommendation. Web accessibility focuses on inclusivity and ensuring that everyone, regardless of disability, has an equal right to access digital services and content.

However, aligning with these guidelines does more than avoid legal risk — it opens doors to better digital experiences, broader audiences, and more substantial brand value.

The legal aspect is one part of it, but focusing on accessibility is also good for your business. 

The benefits of focusing on accessibility

Yes, the legal side of WCAG compliance is essential. However, there are several practical and commercial reasons why your business should prioritise accessibility. Let's break them down.

Reach a bigger audience

By including accessible content and functionality, you reach more people who might be interested in the products or services you offer, growing your target audience. Visitors can more easily digest your content, take actionable steps, and use various supporting tools more efficiently, e.g., screen readers. 

Improve the user experience

Structure, navigation, and intuitive design are essential to enhancing user experience and ensuring your website is accessible to everyone. This means the number of visitors is more likely to stay longer, engage more, and take action at a greater scale as more people are included.

Boost SEO and organic growth

Let's not forget that accessibility is also a big part of content creation, where texts, visuals, and structure are just as important. Ensure that heading hierarchies are followed, alt. texts are added, and links are descriptive to inform visitors what to expect when clicking on them. Sound familiar? In other words, you'll boost SEO and become more visible in search engines, fuelling your organic growth.

Strengthen your brand

Talking about inclusivity is one thing. Showing that you mean it is another. Making your digital content and services more accessible is a clear, visible way to demonstrate your values, which can reflect positively on your brand.

Accessibility is more than functionality and design – it's also content

It's easy to forget, but accessibility is not just about the functionality or design. Another essential part is content creation. Small things that are easily forgotten but have a big impact are:

• Following correct heading hierarchies.

• Writing clear, descriptive link text (not just “click here”).

• Adding meaningful alt text to images.

• Structuring your content in a way that makes sense when read aloud or navigated by keyboard.

These practices support users with different needs and help search engines better understand your content. Therefore, these actions will also benefit your on-page SEO efforts.

How do you know if you meet the WCAG level 2.1 requirements?

The first step is to conduct an accessibility audit covering the whole website to pinpoint any problems and suggest fixes in a report. By combining automated tools and manual testing in the analysis, essential real-life issues are identified in addition to the automated ones. A team of developers, content creators, and designers evaluates the results in relation to the compliance requirements against WCAG 2.1 (Level AA).

From the analysis's output, a report covering multiple areas is created so that everyone on your team, who plays a vital role in the initiative, can understand the audit's impact, scope, priorities, and recommended actions.

How to become compliant with WCAG level 2.1

Every website is different, but implementing the proposed actions from the audit is planned and executed by a team consisting of a developer, designer, and content creator. Some common issues with easy fixes that have a significant impact are:

• Adding alt.text to images.
• Improving colour contrast.
• Ensuring all content is accessible via keyboard.
• Labelling form fields clearly.
• Using descriptive link text instead of "click here".
  

How long does it take

For an average-sized website, conducting an audit and implementing recommended actions typically takes 4–6 weeks, depending on the complexity and scope. Our team works closely with you throughout the process to ensure the changes are implemented smoothly and effectively.

Are you wondering how to get started or whether your site is ready for WCAG 2.1?

Contact us today, and let's take the first step together.