When reviewing new WordPress sites, one of the most common issues I see isn’t design, speed, or even SEO—it’s usability. Buttons are hard to read, text is too small, forms don’t work well on mobile, and images have no context for screen readers.
Most of the time, this isn’t intentional. It usually happens because accessibility isn’t part of the build process. People focus on how the site looks, but not how easy it is to use for different visitors.
In practice, improving accessibility doesn’t require advanced tools or technical knowledge. It comes down to a set of simple adjustments that make your site easier to read, navigate, and interact with.
Table of Contents
Quick Answer / Summary
To make your WordPress website accessible, focus on clear text, readable colors, proper headings, descriptive image alt text, simple navigation, and usable forms. These improvements help all visitors—not just those with accessibility needs—and can be implemented without complex tools.
Why This Matters
Accessibility directly affects how people use your site.
If visitors struggle to read content, find links, or complete forms, they leave. This affects engagement, conversions, and even SEO over time.
In most sites I build, improving accessibility also improves overall design quality. The site becomes cleaner, easier to scan, and more consistent across devices.
It’s also worth noting that search engines rely on structured content (like headings and alt text), so accessibility improvements often support SEO as well.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Use Clear, Readable Text
Start with your text. If people can’t comfortably read your content, nothing else matters.
- Use a font size of at least 16px for body text
- Avoid light gray text on white backgrounds
- Keep line spacing comfortable (around 1.5)
- Break content into short paragraphs
When I set this up on WordPress sites, I usually check both desktop and mobile views. Text that looks fine on desktop is often too small on mobile.
2. Choose High-Contrast Colors
Color contrast is one of the biggest accessibility issues.
Make sure:
- Text clearly stands out from the background
- Buttons are easy to see
- Links are distinguishable from normal text
Avoid combinations like light gray on white or bright colors on bright backgrounds. If you need help choosing readable combinations, see How to Choose Website Colors and Fonts for a New WordPress Website.
A simple test: if you have to look twice to read something, the contrast is too low.
3. Structure Content with Headings
Headings are not just for design—they help users and search engines understand your content.
Use them in order:
- One H1 per page (usually the title)
- H2 for main sections
- H3 for subsections
In my experience, many WordPress sites skip heading structure and just style text visually. That makes content harder to scan and harder for screen readers to interpret.
4. Add Alt Text to Images
Alt text describes images for users who can’t see them.
In WordPress:
- Go to the image settings
- Fill in the “Alt Text” field
Keep it simple and descriptive:
- Good: “Person working on a laptop at a desk”
- Bad: “image123” or leaving it empty
If the image supports the content, describe what it shows. If it’s purely decorative, keep the description minimal.
5. Make Buttons and Links Clear
Users should immediately understand what a button or link does.
Instead of:
- “Click here”
Use:
- “View pricing plans”
- “Download the checklist”
Also make sure:
- Buttons are large enough to tap on mobile
- There is space between clickable elements
- Links are visually distinct
I usually test this by clicking through the site on mobile. If anything feels difficult to tap, it needs adjustment.
6. Improve Navigation Simplicity
Navigation should be predictable and easy to follow.
Keep it simple:
- Limit main menu items
- Use clear labels (avoid vague names like “Resources”)
- Keep structure consistent across pages
If users have to think about where to click next, navigation needs improvement.
7. Make Forms Easy to Use
Forms are often overlooked, but they’re one of the most important interaction points.
Check that:
- Each field has a clear label
- Error messages explain what went wrong
- Fields are easy to tap on mobile
- Required fields are clearly marked
When I review contact forms on new sites, I often find missing labels or unclear error messages. Fixing these usually improves conversions immediately.
8. Check Mobile Usability
Accessibility and mobile usability overlap heavily.
Test your site on a phone:
- Is text readable without zooming?
- Are buttons easy to tap?
- Does anything overlap or break?
If something feels awkward on mobile, it will likely cause problems for a wider range of users.
Practical Tips and Observations
- Simple designs are usually more accessible
- Fewer fonts and colors make consistency easier
- Consistent spacing improves readability
- Clear structure helps both users and SEO
In most WordPress projects, accessibility improves naturally when the design becomes simpler and more structured.
Common Mistakes
- Using low-contrast colors (especially gray text)
- Skipping heading structure
- Leaving image alt text empty
- Using vague link text like “read more”
- Making buttons too small on mobile
- Overcomplicating navigation
These are small issues individually, but together they make a site much harder to use.
When to Use This vs Alternatives
For most WordPress sites, these basic accessibility improvements are enough.
If you’re building:
- Government or legal websites
- Large-scale platforms
- Sites with strict compliance requirements
You may need formal accessibility standards (like WCAG guidelines) and specialized tools.
For typical business, blog, or service websites, the practical approach in this guide covers the most important improvements.
Conclusion
Making your WordPress site accessible comes down to a few practical changes: readable text, clear structure, good contrast, usable buttons, and simple navigation.
These improvements don’t just help accessibility—they make your entire site easier to use. In most cases, they also lead to better engagement and a cleaner overall design.
Etienne Basson works with website systems, SEO-driven site architecture, and technical implementation. He writes practical guides on building, structuring, and optimizing websites for long-term growth.