{"id":53758,"date":"2022-05-26T17:17:27","date_gmt":"2022-05-26T21:17:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/?p=53758"},"modified":"2024-11-25T09:36:38","modified_gmt":"2024-11-25T14:36:38","slug":"design-experiences-for-accessibility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/design-experiences-for-accessibility\/","title":{"rendered":"Designing Accessible Experiences: Getting Started"},"content":{"rendered":"

Does your business cater to your entire<\/em> audience? How thoughtful are your solutions and products, especially when it comes to being more accessible?<\/p>\n

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In terms of designing experiences with access, it\u2019s important to think outside the box and create customer journeys that resonate with people from all walks of life.<\/p>\n

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When it comes to customer experience, businesses are often focused on catering to the largest segment of their audience. But with the increasing awareness of providing accessibility for all, it has become essential to deliver an inclusive experience every step of the way.<\/p>\n

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\"Accessibility<\/a><\/p>\n

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By going beyond the requirements to ensure accessibility in experiences<\/a> \u2013 especially digital \u2013 businesses not only cater to marginalized communities, but are also able to win the loyalty of allies. To achieve this, businesses need to incorporate innovative solutions, inherently making their product more valuable!<\/p>\n

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What are the advantages?<\/h2>\n

Accessibility is great for your business<\/a>! When you go out of your way to cater to a larger portion of your audience, you not only increase reach, but also add to your brand reputation.<\/p>\n

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1. Strong brand loyalty<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Companies that go beyond the usual demands and truly care about all of their people are companies that win the loyalty of their customers.<\/p>\n

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Accessible experiences are created to make it possible for more people to navigate and use a product. With nearly 1 billion people<\/a> in the world affected by disabilities, it\u2019s important to think outside the box and cater to as many people as possible. After all, there is no way to know how much of your target audience requires better access.<\/p>\n

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To understand accessibility better, let\u2019s get the basics in order. There are three kinds of disabilities: permanent, temporary, and situational.<\/p>\n

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Consider blindness. This may be permanent for some, whereas those recovering from surgery might be facing a temporary condition. Lastly, some people simply cannot see as well under certain conditions (ex. night or dim lighting), making it a situational concern.<\/p>\n

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The great thing is, when you account for people with permanent conditions, you already make your experiences and products accessible for those with temporary or situational conditions as well! So, having an audio description of images or even narration of audiobooks makes such products more accessible to all people with compromised vision.<\/p>\n

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2. Creating a brand USP<\/strong><\/p>\n

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While accessibility is gaining momentum, it still isn\u2019t a best practice that\u2019s being implemented across all businesses.<\/p>\n

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In fact, many businesses implement accessibility measures simply to conform to the laws, not go the distance \u2013 and it shows! That’s why it\u2019s essential for businesses to take a genuine interest in incorporating accessibility into their product design<\/a>. Think about what obstacles your audience might have to deal with, and what possible solutions you can create.<\/p>\n

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\"Getting<\/a><\/p>\n

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When you are genuinely interested and passionate about creating a more accessible business, you invariably also create a USP for your business by catering to a wider audience, increasing reach, and winning the loyalty of a larger group of people \u2013 those that value a society of equals.<\/p>\n

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3. Increased market share<\/strong><\/p>\n

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When your focus is on catering to a larger number of people, you send one critical message to your customers: they matter. Their concerns are being taken into consideration \u2013 and actually addressed.<\/p>\n

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It shows that you aren\u2019t just about the bottom line, but about understanding your customers and delivering on their needs, ensuring that every customer gets the best experience possible.<\/p>\n

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The outcome? As trust increases, so does your customer loyalty, inadvertently increasing your market share. This gives rise to long-term brand loyalty, also increasing customer lifetime value as you gain more promoters ardently advocating for your brand!<\/p>\n

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How do you create experiences for everyone?<\/h2>\n

Not every business focuses on creating experiences that promote equity. So if you\u2019re leading the way, it\u2019s likely that you\u2019ll need to walk the path less taken, innovating unique solutions that meet your specific requirements.<\/p>\n

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After all, in a market driven by intense competition that\u2019s all about the ROI, being a business that focuses on every potential member of your audience helps you stand apart from the crowd. But forging your own path requires innovation in the process itself.<\/p>\n

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So, how do you get started?<\/h3>\n
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  • Listen to your customers<\/strong>
    \nDo you frequently reach out to your customers to understand their concerns? If you don\u2019t, it\u2019s time to start!
    \nSpecifically, start asking them what changes might add the most value. Perhaps it\u2019s just installing a ramp for wheelchair users in a specific area, or adding in a more color-blind friendly coding system (perhaps guided by design instead of color) that would help \u2013 just take a look at Trello!<\/li>\n
  • Brainstorm solutions<\/strong>
    \nContrary to popular belief, customers don\u2019t have all the answers! However, they do know their concerns. So listen to the meaning behind their words and understand the concerns that need to be addressed.
    \nFor example, Instagram Reels introduced captions, making their videos more accessible to audiences that might not be able to follow the audio!<\/li>\n
  • Ask focus groups<\/strong>
    \nSo you know the concern and you have an idea \u2013 it’s time to put it to the test! Before you roll it out, test it with a focus group to see whether it adequately addresses the concern at hand, which will help you get a better idea about market reception.
    \nThis will help you work out any concerns, further refining your approach for maximum impact!<\/li>\n
  • Roll out<\/strong>
    \nOnce you\u2019ve got an idea that works, it\u2019s time to get started. Implement the more accessible product design and improve accessibility for a wider audience, increasing reach and ensuring higher satisfaction!<\/li>\n
  • Listen and repeat<\/strong>
    \nNothing is perfect, and it\u2019s essential to always keep your ear to the ground. So, once you have a more accessible design in place, there\u2019s still plenty more to be improved. Listen to the feedback pouring in and always be on the lookout for ways to refine, improve, and evolve your solutions.
    \nA business that listens is a business that prospers!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Bring it all together<\/h2>\n

    The experiences you create will be what your customers remember you by. The emotions you evoke are very strongly attached to your brand. And that\u2019s exactly what accessible experiences can do for your brand \u2013 make you unforgettable!<\/p>\n

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    Moreover, they open the door to a wider audience, increasing reach and creating a product that truly resonates. So, if you\u2019re looking to get started on the journey to accessibility, we\u2019ve got the platform for you! Keeping accessibility in mind when it comes to survey participation<\/a>, we help you truly connect and gather feedback with every member of your audience to hear their feedback!<\/p>\n