Poor accessibility 'could be bad for SEO'

29th July 2008

Failing to build a website that is accessible to all web users could result in lower search rankings, according to one expert.

With 8.5 million disabled people in the UK - 3.5 million of whom cannot use a normal keyboard - businesses could be losing out in more ways than one by ignoring the importance of meeting accessibility guidelines, Graham Charlton of E-consultancy said.

As well as overlooking a potentially significant market for new revenue opportunities, an inaccessible site could be a reflection of equally inadequate search engine marketing, the expert noted.

"If your website’s not accessible for disabled users, the chances are that your search engine optimisation is not that great either," Mr Charlton stated.

A recent E-consultancy report suggested that intensifying competition in the online marketing sector is leading many businesses to increase their spending on usability and accessibility advisory services.